Welcome to the July Edition of Watershed Watch

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Welcome to the July Edition of Watershed Watch

Summer is in full swing across the Kawartha Lakes, and the season is inviting us all to slow down, explore, and reconnect with the natural beauty that surrounds us. Whether you're paddling across a quiet lake, hiking under a canopy of green, or enjoying the chorus of frogs at dusk, it’s clear: water is at the heart of summer in the Kawarthas.

In this month’s issue, we’re excited to launch Watershed in Focus - a special five-part series that will run through the fall, highlighting the 27 subwatersheds that make up the Kawartha Conservation watershed. We begin with a closer look at five distinct and vital systems: Balsam Lake, Blackstock Creek, Cameron Lake, Cawkers Creek, and East Cross Creek. These waterways help shape not only our landscapes, but our local economy, biodiversity, and way of life. You’ll hear from our Director of Integrated Watershed Management,

Nancy Aspden, and Aquatic Biologist Brett Tregunno, who bring science and storytelling together to help us understand why these waters matter.

We’re also proud to introduce you to some of the incredible summer staff who are helping keep our conservation areas safe, beautiful, and accessible. From trail work to permitting support to water quality monitoring, their passion and dedication are on full display, and their stories offer a glimpse behind the scenes of the work we do every day.

So, whether you’re reading this lakeside or in your backyard with a cold drink, we hope this edition inspires you to appreciate, protect, and celebrate the watershed we all call home.

As always, we want to hear from you! If there are stories, projects, or topics you’d like to see covered in future issues of Watershed Watch, we’d love to know. Please share your ideas by emailing jchambers@kawarthaconservation.com.

Thank you for being part of the Kawartha Conservation community and for your continued commitment to the health and sustainability of our watershed.

Warm regards,
The Kawartha Conservation Team