In-Water Structures Restoration Projects

Baptiste Lake – In-Water Structures Project

Delivered in partnership with Baptiste Lake Association, North Hastings Community Fish Hatchery, and Bancroft Area Stewardship Council, Watersheds Canada led a fish habitat restoration project on Baptiste Lake, Ontario. Thanks to the hard work of community volunteers, 20 brush bundles were deployed into strategic back bays. This project was funded by Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund, Bass Fishing Hall of Fame, Ontario Bass Nation, Ontario Federation of Anglers & Hunters (OFAH) Community Conservation Fund, and iA Financial Group.

Canonto Lake – In-Water Structures Project

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 and Lanark County Stewardship Council, conducted site visits to determine and map out enhancement sites for the in-water brush bundle structures. The goal of this project was to make fish habitat enhancements in Canonto Lake, Ontario through the deployment of 18 in-water brush bundles structures.

Christie Lake Fish Habitat Project

Cottage development along Christie Lake, Ontario has resulted in the loss of in-water structures due to cottagers removing and “cleaning up” their shoreline properties. This project created brush/tree bundles and sunk them in waters greater than 12 feet deep to provide fish habitat without impeding boat traffic. These in-water structures (often called fishsticks) provide excellent nursery habitat for many species such as walleye, yellow perch, bass, crappie and panfish.

Dalhousie Lake Fish Habitat Project

The goal of this project was to make fish habitat improvements in Dalhousie Lake, Ontario by naturalizing shorelines and providing fish habitat. In fall of 2014, two walleye spawning beds were enhanced, 20 fish habitat structures in the form of tree/brush bundles were placed in the lake, and six shoreline properties were stabilized where runoff, erosion, vegetation removal and nutrient loading have affected fish habitat.

Diamond Lake Fish Habitat Project

Delivered in partnership with Diamond Lake Association, Watersheds Canada led a fish habitat restoration project on Diamond Lake, Ontario in September 2024. In total, 20 brush bundles were deployed on the lake in strategic back bays away from boat traffic routes. This project was generously funded by Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund, Bass Fishing Hall of Fame, and Ontario Bass Nation.

Farren Lake Fish Habitat Project 2022

Watersheds Canada staff and 18 volunteers were together on Farren Lake, Ontario to build 29 new fish homes made of branches and root balls. These brush piles were deployed at 10 locations on the lake. They will become underwater woody debris areas that provide excellent habitat for fish like smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, northern pike, sunfish, and yellow perch, and other wildlife.

Kashwakamak Lake Fish Habitat Project

This project was implemented in 2019 by Watersheds Canada and Peter Johnson, the Lake Steward of the Kashwakamak Lake Association, and with generous funding from the LUSH Charity Pot. Locations were chosen where the bundles would both increase wildlife habitat availability while also avoiding human activities such as boating. Reintroducing this woody debris to the lake bottom improved the fish habitat on Kashwakamak Lake, Ontario.

Lake St. Peter Fish Habitat Project

Delivered in partnership with the Lake St. Peter Property Owners Association, Bancroft Area Stewardship Council, and North Hastings Community Fish Hatchery, Watersheds Canada led a fish habitat restoration project on Lake St. Peter, Ontario. Twenty piles of woody debris were deployed. This project was generously funded by Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund, Bass Fishing Hall of Fame, Ontario Bass Nation, and the Scanlan family.

Mazinaw Lake – In-Water Structures Project

Mazinaw Lake, Ontario supports a cold-water fishery such as Lake Trout, Walleye, Smallmouth Bass and Burbot. There are over 300 properties along the waterfront of the lake, which include many boat in access only properties. With confirmed funding from Fisheries and Oceans Canada Recreational Fisheries Conservation Partnership Program, Watersheds Canada with support from the Mazinaw Property Owners Association, and Lanark County Stewardship Council, conducted site visits to determine and map out potential enhancement sites for the in-water brush bundle structures. Consideration was also made to avoid the confirmed locations of the lake trout spawning beds.

Mink Lake – In-Water Structures Project

Delivered in partnership with the Algonquin College – Pembroke campus, Muskrat Watershed Council, and Mink Lake residents, Watersheds Canada led a fish habitat restoration project on Mink Lake, Ontario. Twenty piles of woody debris were built on land by fifteen community volunteers and Watersheds Canada staff. After the bundles were built, they were anchored with concrete blocks and then deployed into strategic areas away from boat traffic routes. This project was generously funded by Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund, Bass Fishing Hall of Fame, and Ontario Bass Nation.

Mississippi Lake Brush Bundle Project

One of the largest inland lakes in South-Eastern Ontario, Mississippi Lake is less than an hour’s drive from our Nation’s Capital. That being said, it has a high level of development pressure. Mississippi Lake is known for its recreational cool and warm water fishery, particularly: Walleye, Northern Pike, and Smallmouth and Largemouth bass and is a popular destination for year round fishing from over 1,200 permanent and seasonal properties, as well as day users.

Olmstead-Jeffrey Lakes Brush Bundle Project

This community-led collaborative project on Olmstead and Jeffrey Lakes, Ontario added 18 piles of woody debris back into the two lakes in order to create habitat for wildlife. In fall 2021, local organizations and volunteers came together to gather on-land woody debris like sticks and snags, tie them together with rope, anchor them to concrete blocks, and add them back into the lakes. Sunken logs, trees, branches, and root balls provide excellent habitat and are required to maintain healthy populations of key recreational fish species in the area such as walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, brown bullhead, and channel catfish. This project was made possible because of generous funding from Bass Pro Shops & Cabela’s Outdoor Fund and the Pembroke Petawawa District Community Foundation.

Papineau Lake Brush Bundle Project

Over 20 community volunteers of all ages worked together on Papineau Lake, Ontario to restore in-water fish habitat. In total, 20 woody debris piles were made and deployed in the lake. This will benefit smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, and northern pike in the lake. This project was funded by Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund, Bass Fishing Hall of Fame, and Ontario Bass Nation.

Paudash Lake Brush Bundle Project

Delivered in partnership with the Paudash Lake Conservation Association and Ontario Bass Nation, Watersheds Canada led a fish habitat restoration project on Paudash Lake, Ontario. This project was funded by Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund, Bass Fishing Hall of Fame, and Ontario Bass Nation.

Pine Lake Brush Bundle Project

The chosen location for this enhancement project was Pine Lake, about 60 minutes west of Perth in the Township of North Frontenac, Ontario. This lake was previously identified as having been impacted by fish habitat loss. This In-water Fish Habitat Enhancement project would not have been possible without funding from the LUSH Charity Pot, as well as Nathaniel Holloway who was the volunteer who initiated this project.

White Lake – In-Water Fish Structures

Through the hard work of community volunteers, White Lake Preservation Project, Arnprior Fish & Game Club, Lou Laventure’s team and Cedar Cove Resort staff, we were able to build and anchor 16 bundles and 19 recycled Christmas trees (donated by Home Hardware in Perth) for 19 sites on White Lake, Ontario.

Wollaston Lake – In-Water Fish Structures

Delivered in partnership with the Wollaston Lake Home & Cottage Association, North Hastings Community Fish Hatchery, and Bancroft Area Stewardship Council, Watersheds Canada led a fish habitat restoration project on Wollaston Lake, Ontario. This project was generously funded by Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund, Bass Fishing Hall of Fame, and Ontario Bass Nation.

Our Programs