LSEMP Strategies

The LSEMP includes a comprehensive set of strategies designed to cover all aspects of human activities. Here is a summary:

Watershed Planning, Regulation and Enforcement Strategy

• Protection of existing natural resource features is always less expensive than rehabilitation. This must be the first priority, and requires:
• Ongoing collaboration between municipal planning staff and Kawartha Conservation planning and technical staff;
• Effective implementation of Regional and Municipal Official Plans and Zoning By-Laws;
• Enforcement of applicable regulations to prevent and mitigate impact of developments within natural hazard areas and environmentally sensitive sites.

Urban Lands Strategy

• An objective for urban areas is the reduction of phosphorous input by 850 to 1,000 kg over the next 5 to 10 years:
• Implement best management practices and restoration programs on residential properties within Cawker’s Creek, William’s Creek and other urban subwatersheds.
• Closely work with municipal partners, small businesses and urban golf courses for reductions of nutrient and sediment loads.
• Complete and implement the Stormwater Management Plan for Port Perry and other urban areas.

Stewardship Strategy

• A wide range of stewardship actions including tree planting and establishing natural cover on water edges:
• Work toward a target of 30% total forest cover on suitable areas across the watershed as a long-term objective;  
• Increase percentage of natural cover in riparian zones to 75%;
• Maintain the Shoreline Naturalization program.
• Utilize Conservation Areas within the Oak Ridges Moraine as a model for effective stewardship practices.
• Activities recommended to reduce phosphorous input from septic systems by 25% over the next 5-10 years include:
• Continue efforts to engage lakeshore property owners into reducing their nutrient footprint.
• Develop septic system inspection programs and financial assistance for septic system upgrades.
• Legislate septic upgrades, e.g. a municipal by-law requiring a certificate of approval prior to a property sale.

Agricultural Lands Strategy

• Encourage nutrient management planning on farms and more widespread use of modern methods for fertilizer application.
• Minimize erosion using conservation tillage, grassy waterways, and other soil management techniques.
• Minimize the input of manure nutrients into the stream by managing runoff from livestock yards, improved land application techniques, restricting livestock access to waterways and installing pasture pumps for alternate watering systems.

Communications and Education Strategy

• Establish a comprehensive social marketing program involving communications, public education and demonstration projects that will create awareness of “best management practices” for both urban and rural landowners.
• The recently established “Scugog Connections” storefront project, funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation, is the primary facilitator of this objective, and commenced operation in October of 2009.

Monitoring and Scientific Studies Strategy

• All management recommendations and decisions as well as remedial actions depend on sound scientific data and knowledge:
• Continue regular water quality and quantity monitoring to detect trends and emerging threats, as well as to determine the effectiveness of remediation efforts.
• Continue research that will provide a better understanding and forecast of phosphorous and nitrogen movement and loading into the lake.
• Analyze the assimilative capacity of the watershed.