Newmarket, Ontario - The release of Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority's (LSRCA) latest Watershed Report Card Update for 2009 brings good news for Lake Simcoe. Dissolved oxygen levels, crucial to a healthy coldwater fishery, are slowly improving.

"This is great news for the lake and also for the fishery industry," says Virginia Hackson, Chair of the LSRCA. "It's important to remember though, that while the general trend is towards an increase in dissolved oxygen levels in the lake, some years are better than others. This means we still have work to do."

Dissolved oxygen in lake water is a key indicator of the environmental health of the lake and is thus closely monitored. Higher levels are better, favouring indigenous, coldwater fish species like the lake trout.

Validation of these findings came earlier this year when the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources reported its plans to cut its lake trout stocking program in half, based on evidence that wild trout are naturally reproducing.

The Watershed Report Card reports on a number of factors in addition to oxygen levels.

Read the 2009 Update to the Watershed Report Card (PDF)

Read the 2008 Watershed Report Card (PDF)

Hard copies are also available at the conservation authority's office.

For more information, contact:

Susan Jagminas
Acting Manager
Corporate Communications
Phone: 905-895-1281
E-mail: s.jagminas@lsrca.on.ca