Lake Scugog Enhancement Project | Kawartha Conservation

The Lake Scugog Enhancement Project (LSEP) aims to improve the water quality and recreational function of Port Perry Bay through the creation of a healthy wetland habitat, waterfront trail, and installation of stormwater management infrastructure.

The range of benefits from this project is broad, including environmental, social, economic, tourism and recreation.

Project Objectives

Project objectives include:

Creating a healthy 1.4 hectare wetland habitat
Creating a 245 meter walking trail connecting four fishing platforms along the edge of the wetland.
Enhancing stormwater treatment processes through the installation of oil and grit separators.
Increasing recreation and tourism opportunities through a revitalized outdoor space.
Increasing the navigational depth of Port Perry Bay to 1.8 meter
Reducing invasive aquatic plants in Port Perry Bay by harvesting an area of 2.09 hectare.

Project status

Basic Impact Assessment - Parks Canada (In progress)

Two Basic Impact Assessment applications were submitted to Parks Canada in 2023 and are currently under review. This review will assess:

Wetland construction - Applications submitted in August 2018, July 2019, April 2022, April 2023, November 2023, with the most recent submission (November 2023) currently under review.
Spawning shoal enhancement & installation of woody structures - Applications submitted in January 2023, April 2023, January 2024, with the most recent submission (January 2024), Complete

Fisheries Authorization - Fisheries and Oceans Canada (In progress)

A Fisheries Authorization by Fisheries and Oceans Canada is required before project commencement. A component of this authorization is a Fisheries Offsetting Plan, which details the following activities:

Spawning shoal enhancement
Perched culvert mitigation
Installation of woody structures
Wetland habitat features
Fisheries and fish habitat research

The Fisheries Offsetting Plan was submitted for review in April 2019, April 2021, January 2023, April 2023, November 2023, with the most recent submission (November 2023) currently under review.

Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (Schedule B) - Ministry of Environment, Conservation & Parks (Complete

A Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (Schedule B) undertaken by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation & Parks began in 2018 and is currently in progress. This assessment evaluates risk and identifies potential impacts to the environment so that they can be eliminated or reduced during project implementation.

To date, the following project requirements have been completed for the Lake Scugog Enhancement Project.

Review of existing conditions in Port Perry Bay including sediment quantity and quality
Preliminary Design Study
Public Open House - October 25, 2016 and December 5, 2017
Report to Council - November 2015, January 2016, April 2017, September 2017, December 2017, April 2018, December 2018, December 2019, June 2020, September 2022, and February 2023.
A public notice for the completion of the Lake Scugog Enhancement Class Environmental Assessment was issued on February 28, 2023.
A 30-day Minster's review from March 30, 2023 to April 29, 2023.

Navigation Protection Program permit - Transport Canada (In progress)

A Navigation Protection Program permit is currently in progress through Transport Canada, which includes the following applications:

An application for the construction of a wetland and installation of woody structures in Port Perry Bay, submitted in 2019. The public commenting period has been completed.
An application for the Spawning Shoal Enhancement was submitted in January 2023. The public commenting period for this application closed on March 4, 2023.
Final approval is awaiting the completion of the Basic Impact Assessments for the Wetland Construction.

Project Phase and Status

Phase 1 – Oil Grit Separators (Complete
- Installation of the Oil Grit Separator at Casimir Outlet (Completed March 2023
- Installation of the Oil Grit Separator at Baagwating Outlet (Completed January 2024
Phase 2 – Fisheries Compensation
- Spawning Shoal Enhancement (Three locations)
- Perched Culvert Mitigation (Two locations)
- Woody Structures
- Wetland Habitat Features
- Fisheries Research
Phase 3 – Berm Construction
Phase 4 – Dredging and creating wetland
Phase 5 – Plantings
Phase 6 – Pedestrian bridge

About the project

The project was initiated by the Healthy Lake Scugog Steering Committee (HLSSC), a Committee of Council to the Township of Scugog. The HLSSC is comprised of representatives from:

Port Perry Business Improvement Association
Scugog Chamber of Commerce
Kawartha Conservation
Durham Region
Durham MPP Todd McCarthy
Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry
Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation
Parks Canada / Trent-Severn Waterway
Scugog Lake Stewards
Township of Scugog Council, staff, and residents
Local business owners

This project was undertaken with the financial support of the Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund, a Government of Canada’s Department of Environment and Climate Change program in partnership with Conservation Ontario. Other funding sources were obtained from the Greenbelt Foundation and the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation.

Partners

Kawartha Conservation is the scientific and technical lead on the Lake Scugog Enhancement Project.

Funding Partners

To learn more about the project, contact Kawartha Conservation's Water Quality Specialist, Tanner Liang, by email or by phone at 705-328-2271 ext. 228, or contact the Manager of Capital Projects with the Township of Scugog, Dan Rosebrugh, by phone at 905-985-7346 ext.145.