2018 In-Water Structures Project – Canonto Lake
Canonto Lake is located in the township of North Frontenac, northeast of the town of Ompah, Ontario with a lake perimeter of 17.4 kilometres, a maximum depth of 21.4 metres and an average depth of 3.8 metres. Located in the Mississippi River watershed, the lake is fed from Palmerston Lake to the southwest and it drains into the West Branch of the South Clyde River at its outlet.
With confirmed funding for 2018 from Fisheries and Oceans Canada Recreational Fisheries Conservation Partnership Program, Watersheds Canada, with support from the Canonto Lake Property Owners Association (CLPOA) and Lanark County Stewardship Council (LCSC), conducted site visits to determine and map out potential enhancement sites for the in-water brush bundle structures. Underwater woody debris is a healthy component of lake environments. In total, 18 in-water brush bundles structures were deployed around the lake.
Sunken logs, trees, branches, and root balls provide excellent habitat for wildlife, including fish, turtles, birds, invertebrates, and more. Beaver activity, wind, erosion, or water inflows from rivers or creeks naturally deposit such woody debris into a lake. However, human activity and development have significantly reduced the amount of natural woody debris in lakes. Communities can promote the health of wildlife populations and improve water quality by creating additional woody debris habitat, such as in-water structure of brush piles or bundles. These brush bundles can provide fish with a food source, as well as shaded areas to rest, spawn, and escape predators.
Brush Bundle sinking into location.
Volunteers deploy brush bundles into Canonto Lake.
Thanks to Fisheries and Oceans Canada – Recreational Fisheries Conservation Partnerships Program and many volunteers, we were able to successfully, enhance the fish habitat of Canonto Lake with over forty-five in-water brush bundles structures.
In partnership with grassroots organizations and local volunteers, Watersheds Canada has completed many fish habitat restoration projects across Eastern and Central Ontario over the past nine years, including walleye spawning bed enhancements, cold-water creek enhancements, trout spawning bed enhancements, and in-water habitat enhancements through the deployment of brush piles (woody debris). If you think your Ontario waterfront community could benefit from a fish habitat enhancement project, please check out the free Fish Habitat Enhancement Toolkit: Watersheds.ca/download-the-fish-habitat-enhancement-toolkit/
Thanks to:
Canonto Lake Property Owners’ Association