Kawartha Conservation outlines the next phase of Bobcaygeon Dam Project

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard

KAWARTHA LAKES: Efforts to protect fish habitats and improve water quality, near the Bobcaygeon Dam, are taking another step forward, as Kawartha Conservation continues its detailed study of how dam operations affect the surrounding aquatic ecosystem. The conservation authority shared its latest findings and future plans, with Kawartha Lakes councillors, during a Committee of the Whole meeting, held on Tuesday, November 4th.

Representatives Nancy Aspden, Director of Integrated Watershed Management, and Brett Tregunno, Aquatic Biologist, provided an overview of the Bobcaygeon Dam Project which has been examining the impact of water flow on fish populations and aquatic habitats downstream of the dam. The study has included: mapping high-quality habitats, monitoring water quality and levels, conducting fish use surveys, and testing alternative water flows.

Ms. Aspden noted, while the project has secured funding from Parks Canada, for 2026. Additional support from the municipality is needed to continue the next phase of work. Kawartha Conservation is requesting $32,100 from the City of Kawartha Lakes, to maintain momentum and achieve several key objectives next year. These include: expanding lake-bed mapping, recording annual variations in surface water quality, and using drone technology to access hard-to-reach locations.

“The Kawartha Lakes are an important contributor to our economic growth,” Ms. Aspden said. “We need to continue protecting our healthy fisheries; clear water; and access to our lakes, for recreational activities, now, and for generations to come.”

The project is part of Kawartha Conservation’s broader Lake Management Implementation Action Plan which guides efforts to improve water quality, restore shoreline habitats, and engage the community in stewardship initiatives. Since 2019, the organization has planted more than 111,000 trees and shrubs, naturalized over 5,500 feet of shoreline, and leveraged over $322,000 in landowner contributions to support projects on private properties.

Later, Mr. Tregunno emphasized, the Bobcaygeon Dam study is central to these ongoing efforts. “Our programs are about collaboration and community action,” he said. “By building on our successes, we’re improving water quality, raising awareness, and encouraging long-term stewardship across the watershed.”

The research also aims to provide critical insights into the health of key fish species, including walleye, by assessing spawning habitat conditions downstream of the dam. The results will inform water management strategies, to balance ecological needs with recreational and operational priorities.

Council received the presentation and will consider the funding recommendation, at the next regular council meeting, on Tuesday, November 18th. If approved, the municipal support will help ensure the project continues to build on past successes and strengthens conservation initiatives, across the Kawartha Lakes region.

By maintaining this momentum, Kawartha Conservation hopes to protect the environmental, recreational, and economic value of the lakes, for current and future generations, while promoting community awareness and engagement in sustainable watershed management.