​More Federal Funding for Lake Simcoe Clean-Up

Conservation Authority will implement four watershed projects with a total value of $2.2 million

January 16, 2015 – Newmarket, ON – An investment in the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority (LSRCA) is an investment in the future health and sustainability of our watershed. That's why the Federal Lake Simcoe South-­eastern Georgian Bay Clean-Up Fund (LSGBCUF) has approved four additional LSRCA projects in Round 2 of the multi-year fund.

"We're thrilled that the federal government continues to recognize and support our on-the-ground efforts to restore the health of Lake Simcoe and our watershed," said Debbie Bath, Chair of LSRCA. "Our organization continues to deliver results. We have the leading scientific research and data, the analysis and the expertise to influence a shift towards development that is sustainable. We are leaders in project implementation and we have proven time-and-time-again that we can forge positive partnerships and leverage funding."

This infusion of $933,000 is going to mean over $2 million in projects completed in the Lake Simcoe watershed into 2017. Through Round 2 of LSGBCUF, LSRCA received support for four projects/programs:       

Ramara Best Management Practices Phase 3 ($467,953): Through this exciting collaboration with the Couchiching Conservancy, workshops and grants will be made available to landowners in the Ramara area to undertake environmentally beneficial projects on their properties. Qualifying projects may include; fencing to keep livestock out of local creeks, managing manure storage, controlling erosion on cropland and river edges, updating septic systems, shoreline plantings to reduce erosion, and creating wildlife features.

RainScaping ($250,000): This project will facilitate a shift from traditional to more sustainable development in the Lake Simcoe watershed. Funding will be used to host eight municipal workshops to introduce planning and development staff to best-practice Low Impact Development (LID) techniques. LSRCA staff will also work with municipal counterparts to identify high-visibility, LID demonstration projects in each of the eight participating municipalities. This project seeks to showcase the environmental benefits and beauty in these techniques.

Scanlon Creek Revitalization Phase ($159,000): Funding for this project supports the final steps to bring Scanlon Creek back to a more natural and healthy state; restoring  a flood plain, creating wildlife and fish habitat and allowing for unhindered migration. The last stretch of creek will be naturalized and flow around the dam, continuously and freely, for the first time in 45 years. New wetland areas will be created in the bed of the former pond, educational signage will be installed and plans for an extended boardwalk are also being developed in this final phase.

Lake Simcoe Basin Best Management Practice Inventory Phase 3 ($56,782): This project will identify and catalogue opportunities to improve fish habitat along Lake Simcoe's tributaries; creating a tool for LSRCA's staff to identify and engage landowners to implement restoration projects in priority areas. This will ensure that we are targeting our stewardship and restoration efforts to areas of greatest impact.