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2024 Baptiste Lake Walleye Spawning Bed Enhancement 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 in September 2024. Thanks to the hard work of over 15 community volunteers, a historic walleye spawning bed was restored through a three-part process. All Watersheds Canada fish habitat projects are completed with applicable permits and approval by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.

First, community members and staff swept the bed to stir up the silt. Next, a power hose was used to push the silt downstream into a silt curtain so the captured silt could be later disposed of. Finally, one tonne of washed river stone was added to the spawning bed by hand. Because walleye is a very sensitive fish species, siltation negatively affects their spawning beds. Silt covers the eggs, preventing them from being adequately oxygenated. This increases embryonic (early-stage development) walleye mortality. By removing the silt and adding new rock to the bed, more spaces are now available for walleye to lay their eggs and receive enough oxygen to grow.

This project was generously funded by Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) Foundation’s Community Conservation Fund, J.P. Bickell Foundation, Ontario Wildlife Foundation, Leveque Bros., and iA Financial Group. All Watersheds Canada fish habitat projects are completed with applicable permits and approval by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.

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:

 

 

 

J.P. Bickell Foundation

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