{"id":6567,"date":"2023-07-10T11:44:17","date_gmt":"2023-07-10T15:44:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lsrca.on.ca\/?page_id=6567"},"modified":"2023-11-01T14:48:47","modified_gmt":"2023-11-01T18:48:47","slug":"stories-of-lake-simcoe-science-to-action","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/lsrca.on.ca\/index.php\/home\/stories-of-lake-simcoe-science-to-action\/","title":{"rendered":"Stories of Lake Simcoe &#8211; Science to Action"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"6567\" class=\"elementor elementor-6567\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6e738764 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6e738764\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7d9ba614\" data-id=\"7d9ba614\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-21f6ef28 elementor-widget__width-auto elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"21f6ef28\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.20.0 - 26-03-2024 *\/\n.elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}<\/style><h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"> Stories of Lake Simcoe - Science to Action<\/h1>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-79bbe00 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"79bbe00\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-0e874b7\" data-id=\"0e874b7\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-27d1c51 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"27d1c51\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Stories of Lake Simcoe: Science to Action<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d14491c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d14491c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.20.0 - 26-03-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p>Originally published as a storymap, this story series provides a behind-the-scenes look into our work monitoring and restoring the Lake Simcoe watershed. View the original storymap, including interactive maps and a data dashboard,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.lsrca.on.ca\/watershed-health\/stories-of-lake-simcoe\">www.lsrca.on.ca\/watershed-health\/stories-of-lake-simcoe<\/a>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2ca69ea elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2ca69ea\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Lake Simcoe Watershed<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d204eee elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d204eee\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The Lake Simcoe watershed is a vibrant and diverse ecosystem and a precious source of water. It&#8217;s also a centre for tourism and recreation &#8211; generating over $450 million annually for the local economy &#8211; as well as industry and agriculture.\u00a0Our lives and that of its plants and animals rely on its health.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d199d4b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d199d4b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What is a Watershed?<\/h4>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4537e8e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4537e8e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>A watershed is an area of land drained by a river or stream. Similar to the branch of a tree, creeks flow into streams, which then flow into larger streams, eventually forming one main trunk, or river.<\/p><p>In our watershed, all of these rivers ultimately drain into Lake Simcoe. Within this system, everything is connected to everything else. In other words, actions which take place at the top of the system can and do affect those downstream.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b9e5f29 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b9e5f29\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Exploring the Watershed Stories<\/h4>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c82762a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c82762a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Because lake health is dependent on so many factors, monitoring programs on the lake take a holistic approach. This means we look at numerous parameters and how they interact and impact each other.<\/p><p>As you scroll through this storymap, you&#8217;ll see some highlights from our monitoring and restoration work.\u00a0Some stories also include a link to &#8220;Explore the Watershed&#8221; where you&#8217;ll be able to view water quality indicators such as phosphorus, chloride and sediment concentrations, as well as brook trout biomass.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-b74304a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"b74304a\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-691ff10\" data-id=\"691ff10\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f6716d2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f6716d2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Our Stories\u200b<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-468c4b2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"468c4b2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">A View of the Lake <\/h4>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-543ca93 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"543ca93\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Read about aquatic plant biomass and new invasive species, how quagga mussels are changing the lake, and how we work to restore the Lake Simcoe watershed.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-98bceb2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"98bceb2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">From the Land to the Lake<\/h4>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d5dada1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d5dada1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Learn about three water quality indicators &#8211; phosphorus, salt and sediment &#8211; and how we&#8217;re working to restore the Holland Marsh.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8da7cbe elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"8da7cbe\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Stories Fish Tell<\/h4>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a015f11 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a015f11\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Learn about brook trout populations across the watershed and how streambank naturalization improves fish habitat.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7cae5b6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7cae5b6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Forestry in a Climate of Change<\/h4>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-773afd0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"773afd0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Read about Newmarket&#8217;s urban forest and how we&#8217;re adapting our forestry program to prepare for the impacts of climate change.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4e3a3e5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"4e3a3e5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Take \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bAction<\/h4>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1150a79 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1150a79\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Ready to complete your own restoration project? Learn about our restoration funding program designed to help you complete your own environmental restoration project.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7d81157 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7d81157\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">A View of the Lake<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-83b3f84 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"83b3f84\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Lake\u00a0Simcoe is a complex ecosystem with many factors impacting its health, including invasive species and climate change. Because lake health is dependent on so many factors, monitoring programs on the lake look at numerous indicators of health and how they interact and impact each other.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d832f6c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d832f6c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">You Say Weeds, We Say Aquatic Plants<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-453d998 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"453d998\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>One of our indicators of health in Lake Simcoe is its aquatic plant community.<\/p><p>Aquatic plants are a natural, normal, and necessary part of a healthy lake ecosystem.\u00a0Fish (and other animals) rely on them for shelter, shade and protection \u2026 and they also improve water quality and protect shorelines from erosion.<\/p><p>Although commonly referred to as \u201cweeds&#8221;, we don&#8217;t like this term as it implies they are a problem.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/lsrca.on.ca\/index.php\/home\/aquatic-plants\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Aquatic plants\u00a0<\/a>are only a problem if their quantities are too high, making it difficult to swim or use your boat.\u00a0And if their quantities are too high, it&#8217;s probably because of our actions on the land.<\/p><p>To better understand what types of aquatic plants live in Lake Simcoe, we monitor where plants are found (and in what amounts) and record the number of species.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4d77bf1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"4d77bf1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Aquatic Plant Biomass<\/h4>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-68cab89 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"68cab89\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>When we&#8217;re monitoring for aquatic plants, we conduct annual sampling at\u00a050 sites\u00a0across the lake each year, and do a more extensive study every\u00a05 years, sampling\u00a0244 sites.<\/p><p>Since the\u00a01980s, the amount of plants has increased because of increased phosphorus, increased water clarity, and invasive species.<\/p><h4>Starry Stonewort &#8230; the Undercover Invader<\/h4><p><a href=\"https:\/\/lsrca.on.ca\/index.php\/home\/starry-stonewort\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Starry stonewort<\/a>\u200b is one of the newest invaders, discovered in Lake Simcoe only\u00a010 years\u00a0ago. Though largely unreported, this macro-algae can double in size every\u00a02 days\u00a0during summer, forming dense, cloud shaped \u201cpillows&#8221;. What&#8217;s worse \u2013 it&#8217;s difficult to remove once it takes hold because it doesn&#8217;t respond to any herbicides.<\/p><p>When marinas and canal estates used herbicides to remove starry stonewort, it killed off other aquatic plants, allowing starry stonewort to gain more ground.<\/p><p>A shallow water plant community, dominated by Eurasian watermilfoil (another invasive plant), still retains species diversity and a &#8220;forest-like&#8221; structure with habitat and shelter for smaller fish. When starry stonewort takes hold, it causes a loss of aquatic plant diversity, shallow water habitat and fish shelter. It forms a &#8220;wall&#8221;, pushing smaller fish offshore towards predators. Starry stonewort is particularly worrisome as it can completely change aquatic plant diversity and alter shallow water habitat.\u00a0<\/p><p>Since it was originally found in\u00a02009, it has spread to\u00a035% of sampling sites\u00a0in the lake. In\u00a02018\u00a0it accounted for\u00a054% of the total plant biomass\u00a0(making it the most common \u201cplant&#8221; in the lake) \u2026 in\u00a02019\u00a0it accounted for\u00a070%!<\/p><h4>A lot can happen in 5 years!<\/h4><p>With the threat of invasive species on the rise, monitoring of plant species in Lake Simcoe is more important than ever.<\/p><p>Thanks to funding from the\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/lakesimcoefoundation.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Lake Simcoe Conservation Foundation<\/a>, our\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/lsrca.on.ca\/index.php\/about-us\/media-room\/lake-doctor\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Lake Doctor<\/a>\u00a0and his team have begun an annual plant survey to monitor aquatic plants and detect invasive species.<\/p><h4>Be on the lookout<\/h4><p>Help us prevent the spread of invasive species!\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.eddmaps.org\/Ontario\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Report sightings online using EDD Maps<\/a>\u00a0and let us know if you spot\u00a0water chestnut,\u00a0water soldier\u00a0or\u00a0asian carp\u00a0in the watershed.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-01d914e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"01d914e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Trouble with Mussels<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7e21f53 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7e21f53\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Another species that has affected the Lake Simcoe ecosystem is one that may be more familiar &#8211; invasive mussels. The introduction of the zebra and quagga mussels have contributed to aquatic plant growth by increasing water clarity. This happens because invasive mussels are incredibly good at filtering water.<\/p><p>Although this might sound like a good thing, the increased clarity lets sunlight penetrate deeper into the water and all that sun encourages aquatic plant growth.<\/p><h4>Mussel Loss, Mussel Gain<\/h4><p>Zebra mussels were once the most recognizable invasive species found in Lake Simcoe.\u00a0If you find a mussel in the lake today, you&#8217;re probably looking at a quagga mussel. That&#8217;s because we&#8217;ve seen a significant shift from a predominantly zebra mussel population to predominantly quagga mussels.<\/p><p>These invasive mussels are closely related with similar survival strategies; however, quagga mussels have several advantages that have allowed them to out-compete the zebra mussel.<\/p><h4>Zebra Mussel Population Density<\/h4><p>\u200bIn\u00a02009, our lake monitoring program sampled\u00a0747 sites\u00a0across Lake Simcoe to determine the distribution of mussels throughout the lake.\u00a0The\u00a02009\u00a0survey results showed that\u00a084%\u00a0of mussels in Lake Simcoe were zebra mussels. Within\u00a05 years, this population shifted to\u00a088%\u00a0quagga mussels.\u00a0<\/p><h4>Quagga Mussel Population Density<\/h4><p>\u200bZebra mussels have a survival strategy based on high reproduction to occupy as much space as possible. They also require a large amount of algae for food.\u00a0<\/p><p>The consequence of this strategy is that, a few years after their invasion, they \u201ceat themselves out of house and home&#8221; and the population crashes. Unlike zebra mussels, quagga mussels thrive in deep-water habitat as they are adapted to living on mud and silt.\u00a0<\/p><p>They need less food and can use other nutrient-rich particles, which comes in handy when they are cut off from algae and food particles for a large part of the year (they only have access to algae when the water column is fully mixed, in early spring, late fall, and part of the winter).<\/p><h4>Changing the Lake<\/h4><p>Like native mussels, zebra and quaggas eat algae and nutrient sediment.\u00a0What&#8217;s different is their exceptionally high filtering rate, making them highly efficient at removing these important particles from the water.<\/p><p>Zebra and quagga mussels can filter a volume equivalent to that of Lake Simcoe every\u00a05 days!<\/p><p>With high filtering rates, these invasive mussels have removed algae and other particles from the water, moving it to the sediment at the bottom of the lake (one reason Lake Simcoe has such clear water today).\u00a0<\/p><h4>Water Clarity<\/h4><p>Secchi disk depth is one of the easiest ways to measure water clarity. These disks are slowly lowered into the water until the disk is no longer visible. The depth to which the disk is visible indicates the clarity.<\/p><p>After the mussels invaded the lake in\u00a01995, we saw a significant change in water clarity. The average disk depth increased from\u00a04.5m to 7.3m\u00a0between their invasion and when sampling began again in\u00a02003.\u00a0<\/p><p>The impact caused by these invaders is so significant that they have been called \u201cecosystem engineers.&#8221;<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a00952a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a00952a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Restoring the Lake<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b3942bc elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b3942bc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>All of our actions in and around the waters feeding into Lake Simcoe impact the health of the Lake.\u00a0But\u00a0our actions on the land\u00a0are just as impactful. That&#8217;s why protection and restoration of our forests, wetlands and other natural spaces, in addition to our watercourses, is of vital importance.<\/p><p>While part of our work involves scientific monitoring, we also work with the community to restore the watershed by undertaking improvements on the ground.\u00a0<\/p><p>\u201cWe support the efforts of people just like you &#8211; farmers, shoreline residents, and rural landowners \u2013 to protect and restore the Lake Simcoe Watershed.<\/p><p>The work that we do with private landowners is important because it allows us to restore and enhance areas that aren&#8217;t publicly owned. Homeowners that live next to a creek, stream or river, for example, want to help protect that habitat and make sure the water stays clean. We offer these homeowners funding grants to help them complete projects that protect nature in their own backyard, while also benefiting the air, water and land that sustains us all.<\/p><h4>Restoration Across the Watershed<\/h4><p>Since\u00a02004, we&#8217;ve worked with close to\u00a02,000 landowners, with a focus on\u00a03 main goals:<\/p><ol><li>Improving water quality through streambank erosion protection, limiting nutrient inputs and sediment loading, removal of fish barriers, and decreasing water temperatures.\u00a0<\/li><li>Soil conservation by addressing water and wind erosion.<\/li><li>Enhancing natural areas by increasing biodiversity and wildlife habitat, expanding buffers and encouraging other natural features such as grasslands.<\/li><\/ol><p>Alongside these homeowners, we complete projects in municipal parks (and our own conservation areas) to help enhance and restore natural features like wetlands and forests.<\/p><h4>Our actions upstream and downstream impact Lake Simcoe<\/h4><p>All of the rivers and streams in this watershed drain into Lake Simcoe. It doesn&#8217;t matter if you live in Bradford or Beaverton, Schomberg or Stroud, Pefferlaw or Pottageville. If you live in this watershed, no matter where you are, your actions have an impact on the Lake.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a1dd219 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a1dd219\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">From the Land to the Lake<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6eeecfe elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6eeecfe\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Changes to the land and rivers surrounding Lake Simcoe have led to increasing levels of phosphorus, sediment and chloride. Understanding the cause of these increases and monitoring changes overtime help us identify restoration opportunities across the watershed.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b220585 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b220585\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Phosphorus Concentration<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fa58144 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fa58144\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Phosphorus comes from many sources, but one of the most significant sources is stormwater. Stormwater picks up phosphorus as it travels across paved surfaces in urban areas. When it reaches rivers and streams, it degrades the quality of the water, making it difficult for sensitive species like brook trout to survive.<\/p><p>That&#8217;s because higher phosphorus concentrations lead to increased plant and algae growth. When the plant and algae die off, it reduces the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water (and brook trout\u00a0need high levels of oxygen to survive!).<\/p><p>Across the Lake Simcoe watershed, we sample phosphorus concentrations at nearly\u00a030 sites\u00a0and take approximately\u00a025 samples\u00a0per year, on average.\u00a0While we&#8217;ve made some progress with phosphorus in some areas, it still remains an issue throughout the watershed, with many of our monitoring stations showing average phosphorus concentrations above water quality guidelines.<\/p><p>But it&#8217;s not all bad news! Despite many stations showing concentrations above water quality guidelines, we are seeing decreasing trends in the East and West Holland subwatersheds<\/p><p>In the East Holland subwatershed, we collect approximately\u00a075 samples\u00a0per year across\u00a03\u00a0different sites. Samples are collected from midstream and are sent to an accredited lab to analyze the amount of nutrients in the water. Over time we&#8217;ve been able to decrease phosphorus concentrations in the water, but that doesn&#8217;t mean our work is done. Samples in the East Holland subwatershed over the last\u00a02 years\u00a0show that levels are still too high.<\/p><h4>\u200bReducing phosphorus is essential to a healthy lake\u00a0<\/h4><p>Because rainwater can&#8217;t soak into the ground in urban areas, it travels across paved surfaces, carrying pollutants into rivers and streams. To see any changes in concentrations, we must get stormwater into the ground before it reaches our waterways.<\/p><p>In 2018, we created a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/lsrca.on.ca\/index.php\/watershed-health\/phosphorus\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">first-of-its-kind policy<\/a>\u00a0in Canada to help control the amount of phosphorus leaving new and redeveloped properties. This means that new developments in the watershed are required to control of the phosphorus leaving their properties. If they can&#8217;t, they must pay for restoration projects to offset the phosphorus elsewhere.<\/p><p>These \u201coffset&#8221; projects must include stormwater management retrofits, like those implemented as part of the Ray Twinney Recreation Complex Retrofit in Newmarket. This project combined low impact development features such as permeable pavers and rain gardens to help capture and treat stormwater, reducing the amount of phosphorus and sediment reaching the Western Creek tributary of the East Holland.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5b7d256 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"5b7d256\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Salt<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-865c529 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"865c529\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Phosphorus has been a problem in the Lake Simcoe watershed for decades and we&#8217;ve been successful in reducing concentrations from its height in the\u00a080&#8217;s. But phosphorus isn&#8217;t the only stressor in the Lake. One of the newest challenges we&#8217;re facing is\u00a0winter salt\u00a0or more specifically, chloride.<\/p><p>The problem with chloride is that it&#8217;s highly water soluble. This means that once it dissolves into the water, there&#8217;s no effective way to get it out. And since we\u2019re applying so much, chloride concentrations in Lake Simcoe are steadily increasing.<\/p><p>The biggest sources of chloride are commercial parking lots, roads, and sidewalks. We estimate that each year we put down the equivalent of at least\u00a0100,000 tonnes\u00a0of salt in the Lake Simcoe watershed alone. In Canada, the number is close to 7 million tonnes\u200b!<\/p><p>Because of this, we&#8217;re seeing the concentration increase\u00a00.7 mg\/L per year\u00a0in the lake and consistently high concentrations in urban rivers and streams.<\/p><p>Across the watershed, we sample chloride levels at nearly\u00a030 sites\u00a0and take approximately\u00a020 samples\u00a0per site, per year. Site samples are compared to guidelines that outline exposure limits for the protection of aquatic life.<\/p><p>These guidelines are important because our plants and animals are accustomed to fresh water. The increasing salt concentrations affect their health and ultimately their ability to survive.<\/p><p>The majority of the sites sampled show an increasing trend in chloride concentrations, with no sites showing a decreasing trend. Although concentrations are trending up,\u00a016 stations\u00a0are still below the exposure guidelines. Unfortunately,\u00a010 stations\u00a0have concentrations above the long-term exposure limits, and\u00a02\u00a0of these (Kidd&#8217;s Creek and Western Creek) have average concentrations above the short-term guidelines.<\/p><p>Where we&#8217;re seeing the highest concentrations of chloride in the watershed is in our urban rivers and streams. In the Barrie Creeks subwatershed, for example, we collect samples at\u00a03\u00a0sites\u00a0and take approximately\u00a075 samples\u00a0per year. In the last decade,\u00a090%\u00a0of samples taken exceeded recommended chloride concentrations &#8211; the water is too salty, even in the summer months.\u200b<\/p><h4>\u200bSalty Stormwater Ponds<\/h4><p>We haven&#8217;t found any\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thestar.com\/news\/insight\/2012\/05\/26\/blue_crabs_in_mimico_creek_an_urban_mystery.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">blue crabs<\/a>\u00a0in our creeks and streams, like they did in Mimico Creek, but we are seeing some interesting changes. In\u00a02\u00a0of our stormwater management ponds, for example, we found purple sulfur bacteria.<\/p><p>This bacteria is an extremophile (which means it survives in the most extreme conditions, such as waters with high salt concentration and low oxygen) that&#8217;s similar to what is usually found in hot springs and stagnant waters. Even though it&#8217;s kind of cool, it does show that our aquatic habitats are changing \u2026 and it can even impact the effectiveness of our stormwater ponds. How does salt affect stormwater ponds?<\/p><p>Because salty water is denser than fresh water, when it enters a stormwater pond (as in the case of melting snow from a parking lot), the salty water does not mix completely with the fresh water, but sinks to the bottom of the pond. The result is that there are two \u201clayers&#8221; of water in the stormwater pond: a top layer of fresh water and a bottom layer of salty water.<\/p><p>When fresh water enters the stormwater pond in the summer through fall, rather than slowing down and depositing sediment like it&#8217;s supposed to, the water flows over top of the salty bottom. The water then carries the sediment through the outflow.<\/p><p>Ultimately, stormwater ponds that have salty water on the bottom (which are most of them nowadays because of our reliance on winter salt) are not collecting the sediment and nutrients that they&#8217;re supposed to, but releasing them back into the environment.<\/p><h4>Salt Solutions<\/h4><p>Most municipalities, including the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.barrie.ca\/sites\/default\/files\/2022-06\/Salt-Management-Plan.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">City of Barrie<\/a>, are working hard to improve their winter salt practices. We participate with municipal partners on working groups to identify salt management solutions as well as share information on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/lsrca.on.ca\/index.php\/home\/parking-lot-guidelines\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">proper salt application<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/lsrca.on.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Sand-bulletin.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">alternatives<\/a>.<\/p><div role=\"complementary\"><div><p>We also formed a Freshwater Roundtable that brings together major stakeholders, including representatives from commercially owned properties, the insurance industry, snow and ice contractors, environmental agencies, conservation authorities and government ministries. We&#8217;re working to identify barriers to adopting effective winter maintenance practices in the commercial sector and to advocate for policy and legislative changes that will support the use of these practices.<\/p><\/div><\/div><p>By working with these partners, we hope to slow the increasing trends of chloride concentrations in our rivers and in Lake Simcoe.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1ee6102 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1ee6102\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Sediment<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5650f89 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5650f89\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Like phosphorus, sediment makes its way into rivers and streams after storms.\u00a0<\/p><p>Sediment is made up of solid particles that can be suspended in the water. While a certain amount of sediment in the water is normal (and is actually a sign of a healthy river), too much can cause problems.\u00a0Significant sources of sediment include erosion from farm fields, construction sites, and unvegetated streambanks, and from excess sand used during winter road maintenance.<\/p><p>Essentially, any time you disturb soil, whether it&#8217;s in farming or construction, you expose yourself to the possibility of erosion.<\/p><p>These soils can be carried by rain or wind into rivers and streams, making\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/lsrca.on.ca\/index.php\/home\/erosion-and-sediment-control-evaluation-tool\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">erosion and sediment control measures<\/a>\u00a0during construction, and methods like cover crops and erosion controls on farms, vital to the health of our watercourses.\u00a0These muddy waters can increase water temperatures, decrease oxygen levels and smother fish spawning grounds! Too much sediment also transports other pollutants, like phosphorus, into the lake.\u00a0<\/p><p>Across the Lake Simcoe watershed, we sample sediment in the water at\u00a026 sites\u00a0and take approximately\u00a025 samples\u00a0per site each year, on average.\u00a08 of the stations\u00a0sampled show an increasing trend of sediment concentration, with\u00a018 stations\u00a0remaining steady.\u00a0Only\u00a08 sites\u00a0have concentrations above water quality guidelines.<\/p><p>\u200bSuspended sediment is one material we look for when sampling total suspended solids (TSS).\u00a0TSS consists of basically any material floating in the water column and may include any of the following pictured below. TSS concentrations over\u00a030 mg\/L\u00a0indicate poor water quality.<\/p><p>In the West Holland subwatershed, we collect approximately\u00a0115 samples\u00a0per year across\u00a04 different sites.\u00a0Samples are collected from the water column and sent to a lab for analysis.\u00a0In the last decade, 77% of samples met water quality guidelines, while 23% of samples were considered fair or poor.<\/p><p>By working with farmers in this subwatershed, we hope to tackle high sediment concentrations (and phosphorus too!) by keeping the soil, and its nutrients, in its place.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5e41ac5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"5e41ac5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Restoring the Holland Marsh<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1868c12 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1868c12\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Farmlands are a vital part of our landscape and make up nearly\u00a036%\u00a0of the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/lsrca.on.ca\/index.php\/home\/our-watershed\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Lake Simcoe watershed.<\/a>\u00a0<\/p><p>These prime agricultural lands contribute an estimated total economic impact of over $1 billion each year! In the\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.hollandmarshgold.com\/side-navigation\/our-community\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Holland Marsh<\/a>\u00a0alone, the annual value of carrots is $130 million, the onions are worth $160 million, and the salad greens are worth $160 million.\u00a0<\/p><p>The Marsh grows enough carrots that\u00a0each Canadian\u00a0can eat four pounds of Marsh carrots every year. Not surprising since the Holland Marsh contains some of the most productive and rich agricultural soils in all of Ontario.<\/p><p>The highly fertile \u201cmuck&#8221; soils in the Marsh are a precious resource but they&#8217;re not immune to issues like erosion and nutrient runoff.\u00a0That&#8217;s why we work with farmers to protect muck soils, keeping nutrients in their place and improving soil health.\u00a0<\/p><p>In the past\u00a013 years, we&#8217;ve funded more than\u00a085 projects\u00a0in the Marsh.\u00a0These projects range from funding de-dirting equipment and tile outlet control structures, to funding tree planting and cover crops. In the past five years alone, we&#8217;ve planted 2,400 ha of cover crops!\u00a0<\/p><p>By funding these projects, we&#8217;re preventing the loss of soil and nutrients, like phosphorus, from reaching rivers and streams.<\/p><h3>Marsh farmers like Ted Mendrek are doing their part.<\/h3><p>Mendrek farms is one of\u00a0125\u00a0farms\u00a0in the Marsh. In the past\u00a04 years, Ted has completed\u00a010\u00a0projects\u00a0on his\u00a055\u00a0acre\u00a0farm.\u00a0<\/p><p>&#8220;My family has been growing in the marsh for the past 60 years. It&#8217;s been a long time, and we&#8217;ve seen a lot of changes over the years \u2026 and with those changes, we&#8217;ve been adapting and changing the way we farm. We&#8217;ve been making the right investments for our farm, with the help of the Conservation Authority, and those changes have been paying off \u2013 our soil is healthy and our crops have high yields.<\/p><p>One of the changes I&#8217;ve seen over time is the loss of land from erosion. Within the past 40 years, we&#8217;ve lost at least 25 feet of land to the river, a number I&#8217;m sure will continue climbing. By planting a buffer along the canal, we hope to stop the loss of that precious land. Soil will also be held in place, preventing erosion along the banks.<\/p><p>Do you remember the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/barrie.ctvnews.ca\/winds-damage-farms-across-the-holland-marsh-1.3329900\">blowing soil in March of 2017<\/a>? I do. The Marsh was hit was an extreme windstorm and if you drove on the 400 through the farms, you would&#8217;ve seen blowing soil all over the place. This is because bare soil is susceptible to both wind and rain \u2013 to keep it on your farm, you need to plant a cover crop \u2026 the roots of these crops hold the soil in place and keep your nutrients where they need to be.<\/p><p>\u200bNot planting cover crops is such a lost opportunity because the bang for your buck is huge. These interim, off-season plants keep soil in place and improve soil health by increasing water infiltration and improving nutrient composition. Having exposed soil is quickly becoming a thing of the past, cover crops are becoming the new normal.<\/p><p>As the foundation of Ontario&#8217;s \u201cSalad Bowl&#8221; we can&#8217;t afford to have the unique and organic Muck soils erode and blow away.&#8221;\u00a0<\/p><h3>No one can deny that farming is changing.\u00a0<\/h3><p>From shifts in weather patterns, to the crop choices that are grown, and the technology used \u2013 adapting is no longer a choice, it&#8217;s a necessity. And we see our role as supportive, collaborative in an industry that already has a lot of experience with managing difficult decisions.<\/p><p>Fortunately, most of the recommended practices that help farmers also help protect land and water. This means we go above and beyond to tailor our services to this unique part of our watershed through\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.lsrca.on.ca\/Pages\/onthefarm.aspx\">cost-sharing restoration funding<\/a>. We offer\u00a0over a dozen\u00a0project types to pick from, some covering up to\u00a0$10,000\u00a0in costs.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7c32896 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7c32896\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Stories Fish Tell<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5db215c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5db215c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Rivers have often been referred to as a mirror that reflects the health of the surrounding area. Fish, their primary residents, tell us a lot about the neighbourhood.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-9baa824 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"9baa824\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-073b6e9\" data-id=\"073b6e9\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e161131 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e161131\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Did you know?\u00a0<\/strong>56 fish species have been captured in the Lake Simcoe tributaries over the last 57 years!<\/p><ul><li>39\u00a0are native species &#8211; 1 is at risk (redside dace)<\/li><li>17\u00a0are non-native &#8211;\u00a03 are aggressive invaders (round goby, goldfish, common carp)<\/li><\/ul><p>\u00a0<\/p><p>Virtually all of the\u00a04,225 km\u00a0of streams and rivers in the watershed are home to diverse fish populations. The presence or absence of particular fish species and the numbers we find tells us a great deal about the health of the river.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ee579a4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ee579a4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4><span class=\"ms-rteStyle-Accent1\">Look Out for the Trout!<br \/><\/span><\/h4><p>Brook trout\u00a0are one of the few fish in the Lake Simcoe watershed that migrate.\u00a0They have a keen sense of where groundwater is entering streams and will move to the headwaters of streams to seek out the coldwater areas in the fall to spawn.\u200b<\/p><div role=\"complementary\"><div><div><p>Brook trout clear off the soft sediments, creating a nest for their eggs to hatch and grow into small fish. The juvenile fish stay in these small streams for up to a year before moving to larger waters downstream.\u00a0In the winter months, brook trout move to deep pools where the water doesn&#8217;t freeze. They also use these deep pools to escape the summer heat.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><p>For these fish to move throughout the year, they need streams that are free of barriers such as dams, weirs and perched culverts.\u00a0When sensitive species such as brook trout are present in the water, it generally indicates that the stream is healthy, because they need cold, clean water to thrive.\u00a0<\/p><p>In the Lake Simcoe watershed, we continue to survey brook trout populations at\u00a016 sites.\u00a0We monitor long term trends in fish populations at\u00a053 sites\u00a0across the watershed.\u00a0\u200bDespite a warming climate, we&#8217;re still seeing stable populations at the sites we survey.\u00a0<\/p><h4><span class=\"ms-rteStyle-Accent1\">\u200bFinding the Fish<br \/><\/span><\/h4><p>To better understand the diversity and abundance of fish, we use a scientific survey method called electrofishing.\u00a0Electrofishing is a harmless method of capturing fish using an electrical current that temporarily stuns the fish in the water, enabling them to be caught with nets, identified, measured and returned to the stream.\u00a0<\/p><p>In the Pefferlaw River subwatershed, we survey fish for long term trend analysis at\u00a09 sites. The fish community in this part of the watershed ranges from coldwater species like brook trout and mottled sculpin in the smaller headwater streams to warm water fish like largemouth bass and brown bullhead in the wider sections of the river. A total of\u00a045 different species\u00a0of fish have been captured from the Pefferlaw River system since\u00a01930.<\/p><p>In general, the Pefferlaw River subwatershed has a relatively stable fish population. The brook trout biomass (the mass of fish per square metre of stream) for the headwater areas of the Pefferlaw River has been relatively consistent over the monitoring period.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bd52717 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bd52717\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Did you know?<\/strong><\/p><p>The outlet of the Pefferlaw River was the location of the first reported sighting of the invasive round goby in the Lake Simcoe watershed.\u00a0They were first observed in\u00a02004\u00a0and despite efforts to prevent them from spreading to the rest of the watershed, they became fully established in Lake Simcoe by\u00a02010.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9d63393 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"9d63393\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Partnering for Success<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-59771cd elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"59771cd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In addition to cold, clear, well-oxygenated water, brook trout also need a mix of quiet pools and fast water, clear sand or gravel for spawning, shade, and cover under banks. When ponds or dams are put in place, they increase the temperature of the water, impact water quality, and block fish from accessing upstream habitat.<\/p><p>This was the case in the Pefferlaw Brook. Prior to 2011, the river flowed through an online pond, known by locals as Siloam Pond.\u00a0This pond provided water for irrigation at the Mill Run Golf Club.<\/p><p>The dam that was put in place to control water levels, acted as a significant barrier to fish migration. Scheduled maintenance to the pond in 2011 provided an opportunity to create a bypass. To restore the creek and remove the fish barrier, Mill Run Golf Club worked with us to complete a pond bypass.<\/p><p>This bypass eliminated the barrier, created 500 metres of new habitat, and connected brook trout to 17 kilometres of creek upstream while leaving the pond for irrigation.\u00a0Bypassing the pond and planting more than\u00a05,000 trees and shrubs\u00a0along the streambank also helped cool the water, creating the ideal brook trout habitat.\u00a0In 2012, the water temperature reached the optimal range for brook trout.<\/p><p>After the bypass was completed, we saw an immediate drop in fish biomass, followed by a recovery to the highest biomass we\u2019ve recorded at the site within\u00a04 years\u00a0of the construction!\u00a0This was expected as the newly constructed site needed time to stabilize, and the downstream population needed time to explore its new habitat.\u00a0More importantly, brook trout are now connected with neighbouring communities (which creates a diverse population!) and have access to new habitat refuges.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0b2cac3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0b2cac3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Restoring Lovers Creek<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cbd15cc elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cbd15cc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The team at LSRCA was thrilled to find a \u201cyoung of the year&#8221; brook trout upstream of Centennial Park in Innisfil.\u00a0We only captured one baby brook trout upstream of the pond in\u00a02019\u00a0but this means that some adult brook trout made their way upstream and spawned some little ones in the fall of\u00a02018.\u00a0<\/p><p>At one time, brook trout weren&#8217;t able to swim upstream. A man-made pond, created in\u00a01967\u00a0as a recreational swimming pond, prevented fish from reaching Lovers Creek. Over time, the pond began deteriorating.\u00a0<\/p><p>To help restore the fish passage through Lovers Creek, skilled staff from the Town of Innisfil and South Simcoe Streams Network joined together with LSRCA, Lake Simcoe Conservation Foundation, Ministry of Natural Resources &amp; Forestry, Dufferin-Simcoe Land Stewardship Network and Ducks Unlimited Canada to naturalize the creek and remove the online pond. The project involved removing the online pond, creating a creek bypass, creating an open water wetland, and planting trees and shrubs along the newly created stream.<\/p><p>It&#8217;s clear that the removal of online ponds can improve cold water fish habitat and we&#8217;re excited to see brook trout swimming through this new stream to get to their native spawning grounds once again!\u00a0<\/p><h4>Be a Fish Friend<\/h4><p>Imagine seeing schools of cold water species such as brook trout right on your property. You can achieve this by taking your pond &#8220;offline&#8221; which might be as simple as redirecting the creek around your pond.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/lsrca.on.ca\/index.php\/home\/improving-streams-and-retrofitting-on-line-ponds\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">And we&#8217;ll cover up to 50% of your project costs.<\/a><\/p><p>And what if you have a stream running through your property? We&#8217;ve been working with homeowners to plant trees and shrubs along streambanks for 15+ years.\u00a0We&#8217;ve restored more\u00a09,000\u00a0m\u00a0of\u00a0streambank across the watershed since 2015! Planting native trees and shrubs can protect the streambanks from eroding, provide wildlife habitat, and filter pollutants from stormwater runoff to improve the quality of the stream.\u00a0<\/p><p>It also helps shade the water, keeping it cool for species like brook trout to enjoy.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f1e90b8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f1e90b8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Forestry in a Climate of Change<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-24ed62e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"24ed62e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em>Climate change affects the Lake Simcoe watershed&#8217;s forests, wildlife, water and aquatic life.\u00a0To adapt to growing development and rising temperature trends, it&#8217;s more important than ever to protect and restore the watershed&#8217;s natural heritage, which is closely linked to water quality and quantity. That&#8217;s why the first step is to maintain, expand and improve tree canopy cover.<\/em><\/p><p>A changing climate brings with it extreme heat, drought, flooding, more intense weather and storms, and a host of other impacts that all contribute to the potential for environmental, social and economic upheaval. These changes threaten the very survival of our trees and forests because they aren&#8217;t equipped to adapt to the current pace of climate change.<\/p><p>We&#8217;re preparing for this uncertain future by studying the makeup of our forests and learning what species will adapt or decline.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4d67d6e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"4d67d6e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Our Forests Today<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cc4846a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cc4846a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>One of the ways we measure the size of our forests is by estimating canopy cover. This is a measurement of the amount of land covered by tree and shrub canopies. This land could include the urban trees, like those in your backyard or lining your street, as well as woodlands, like those you would find at any of our conservation areas.<\/p><p>All of these trees contribute to the overall forest canopy.<\/p><p>Nearly 35% of the Lake Simcoe watershed is currently under canopy cover. As of 2018, some of the best overall forest conditions were found in the Hawkestone Creek subwatershed and on Georgina Island.\u00a0\u200bThe forests in these areas are high quality and largely untouched.<\/p><p>Over the past\u00a010 years, we&#8217;ve planted more than 220 hectares (over\u00a0400,000\u00a0trees) across the watershed!\u00a0<\/p><p>Despite increasing pressures from development and invasive species like the emerald ash borer, forest cover in the watershed has remained relatively stable since 2009. But we can&#8217;t take that stability for granted. We will continue planting trees to maintain our current cover and reach\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/lsrca.on.ca\/index.php\/watershed-health\/natural-heritage-strategy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">our Natural Heritage System target<\/a>\u00a0of 40% forest cover across the watershed.<\/p><h4>Newmarket&#8217;s Urban Forest<\/h4><p>In 2016, we worked with<a href=\"https:\/\/lsrca.on.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/UFS-Technical-Report-Newmarket-Final.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u00a0our partners<\/a>\u00a0to create a baseline of information about the urban forest in the Town of Newmarket.\u00a0This was the fifth study undertaken in York Region, but the first to be led by us.\u00a0<\/p><h4>How did we do it?\u00a0<\/h4><p>Overall canopy cover was calculated using an advanced analysis of high-resolution satellite imagery that identified canopy cover, soft and hard surfaces, and land use. Then we hit the ground to gather tree-specific data like species, size and health. Combined with the satellite imagery analysis, this data allowed us to calculate benefits of the urban forest like energy savings and carbon sequestration.<\/p><h4>What did we find?<\/h4><p>24% of Newmarket is currently under tree canopy. The most common species are cedar and pine, which make up about 20% of the species represented.<\/p><p>Like many of the Lake Simcoe watershed municipalities, Newmarket has plans to increase its overall canopy cover to mitigate the impacts of climate change. But the number of trees we\u2019re planting isn\u2019t our only consideration &#8211; we must also look at the species of trees we\u2019re planting and where we\u2019re planting them.\u200b<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-446b1e5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"446b1e5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Adapting to a Climate of Change<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ac072c5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ac072c5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>We know that climate change will impact the survival of our trees and forests. Some species will continue to thrive, while others will decline, and new species will become common.\u00a0<\/p><p>Identifying these trends was the motivation behind a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/lsrca.on.ca\/index.php\/watershed-health\/forestry\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">climate change study<\/a>\u00a0we conducted on our forestry program. We confirmed what we already suspected \u2026 extreme weather, a longer growing season, variable precipitation patterns, invasive species &#8211; these are already having dramatic impacts on our forests, and we can expect more change and challenges in the future.<\/p><h4>Something Old, Something New<\/h4><p>We created a list of tree species that reflects what trees are suitable for our changing climate.<\/p><p>Don&#8217;t worry about losing our beautiful maples (sugar, red, silver) or our provincial tree, the white pine. These\u00a0&#8220;enduring species&#8221;\u00a0are common in our watershed and will continue to thrive.<\/p><p>As our climate changes, models predict that some of our common native trees, such as white spruce, balsam fir and eastern white cedar, will become\u00a0&#8220;retreating species&#8221;.\u00a0This means the future climate may be unsuitable for these species to thrive like they once did. Although this species will still grow and form an important part of our forests, they will be subject to increased stress, slower growth and shorter lifespans.<\/p><p>Although we won&#8217;t be planting as many of our retreating species, we recommend planting more\u00a0&#8220;enduring species,&#8221;\u00a0as well as\u00a0&#8220;advancing species&#8221;\u00a0like hickories and oaks (more common in forests to the south). These species will be suitable to plant as our climate continues to warm.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/lsrca.on.ca\/index.php\/home\/tree-planting-in-a-changing-climate\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">View the full list of trees<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9720037 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"9720037\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">It's never too late to (re)connect with nature<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-028d682 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"028d682\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Healthy forests sustain an abundance of life. This life is interconnected, thriving despite disturbances and providing us with a place to enjoy all nature has to offer. David Barton knows this all too well \u2026 last year he planted thousands of trees to connect and enhance his forests and provide a place for wildlife to thrive.<\/p><h4>Growing a nature lover\u00a0<\/h4><p><em>Meet David Barton &#8230;\u00a0<\/em><em>Former motorcycle rider. Husband and father to a horse-loving family. Former researcher of atmospheric science and instructor at York University. City slicker turned nature lover.<\/em><\/p><p>David wasn&#8217;t always a nature lover. In fact, he used to love the hustle and bustle of the city, only turning to nature when the stress of the job and the drive to the office became too much. When he needed a break, he escaped to the forest, feeling the stress melt away after only a few minutes breathing in the fresh air.<\/p><p>Today, David rarely leaves his 100-acre property in King. Watching nature brings him joy and delight \u2026 the slow steps of a deer crossing his field. The flocks of wild turkeys foraging for food. The little critters exploring the forest. His love of wildlife is one of the reasons why he wanted to connect the smaller forests on his land.<\/p><p>\u201cI&#8217;ve noticed that when I\u00a0see wild turkey out in the field, and they see me coming, they start to huddle together with the larger group, squabbling and feeling skittish. I&#8217;d like to provide them with some cover to feel safe,&#8221; David explains.<\/p><p>Noting many animals are drawn to the stream, he came to us to start connecting his smaller forest patches, enhancing his existing ones and planting more cover along his stream. With our help, more than 3,000 trees and shrubs found a new home.<\/p><p>\u201cThe trees planted included mostly native species. I wanted to make sure we planted what was already here 1,000 years ago because the animals will understand these species and know how to use them for their needs.&#8221;\u00a0<\/p><p>To add resiliency to this forest, we planted trees from 3 different seed zones (the area where the seed originated).\u00a0<\/p><ul><li>80% of the trees were locally sourced<\/li><li>10% were from the zone south of here\u00a0\u00a0(Kitchener-Waterloo)<\/li><li>10% were from even further south\u00a0(Simcoe-Long Point Area)<\/li><\/ul><p>But it wasn&#8217;t just about using native species. David wanted to make sure there was variety, a combination of species when we planted our rows. If you were to visit his property in the fall, you&#8217;d see the red of the sumac, the yellow of the tamarack, the bright green of the white pine amongst the vibrant colours of the surrounding forests \u2026 but these babies are only a few years old and have only been living on their new land for a year.<\/p><p>The surrounding forests also welcomed some new trees. The ash, ironwood and basswood will stand watch over time as the new sugar maples and oaks grow to match their size and strength.\u00a0<\/p><p>\u201cHiking on my property is my own kind of therapy. Spending just 5 minutes here melts the stress away.\u00a0<\/p><p>The colours, the sound of the wind in the leaves, the slow swaying movement of branches, the smell of the forest, the birds and chipmunks, it all comes together to instill peace and tranquility. I&#8217;m not a spiritual or religious person, but I feel some deep connection out in the forest.<\/p><h4>Planting 3,000 trees is just the beginning.\u00a0<\/h4><p>David plans to expand his forest, growing his own piece of paradise and providing a safe haven for the wildlife visitors he&#8217;s keen to welcome.<\/p><h4>You have the land, we have the trees.\u00a0<\/h4><p>Planting trees is one of the ways you can fight climate change. And we can help!\u00a0We can cover up to 90% of your planting costs. Find out more at\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/lsrca.on.ca\/index.php\/funding-expertise\/tree-planting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">LSRCA.on.ca\/treeplanting<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0d04202 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0d04202\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Take Action<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-20da9a2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"20da9a2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em>Help us protect and restore the Lake Simcoe watershed by completing your own restoration project (with our help!)<\/em><\/p><p>This past year the world seemed to take notice of many environmental issues such as plastic pollution, carbon emissions, the loss of forests and how the impacts of climate change will cause big shifts in how we live.<\/p><p>So, if you&#8217;ve been thinking about undertaking an environmental project, now is the perfect time to start!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-08fbd84 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"08fbd84\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Funding Your Restoration Project<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-025b2ec elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"025b2ec\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\u200bWe\u2019re in the business of helping restore our collective watershed &#8211; with people like you,\u00a0one project at a time.\u00a0If you have some ideas or if you need some inspiration, we are here for you. Whether it\u2019s on your farm, your acreage, in your neighbourhood, at your school or at your workplace, we have funding available to enhance and protect your land.<br \/><br \/><\/p><h4>Community Action Grants<\/h4><p>We don&#8217;t just fund projects for\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/lsrca.on.ca\/index.php\/funding-expertise\/in-the-country\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">rural landowners<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/lsrca.on.ca\/index.php\/funding-expertise\/on-the-farm\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">farmers<\/a>! We work with community partners and environmental organizations to complete on the ground improvements across the watershed.<\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/lsrca.on.ca\/index.php\/home\/community-action\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">What do we fund<\/a>?\u00a0Tree plantings, pollinator gardens, environmental workshops, citizen science initiatives, invasive species removal and more.\u00a0<\/p><p>We&#8217;re here to discuss our funding or other project opportunities. Reach out anytime at\u00a0<a href=\"mailto:restoration@LSRCA.on.ca.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">restoration@LSRCA.on.ca.<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6ba9def elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6ba9def\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Lake Simcoe Conservation Foundation<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1704dd9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1704dd9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Our work wouldn&#8217;t be possible without the generous support of the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.lakesimcoefoundation.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Lake Simcoe Conservation Foundation (LSCF).<\/a>\u00a0Each year, LSCF supports environmental\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.lakesimcoefoundation.ca\/projects\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">programs and projects<\/a>\u00a0that help support our vision of a cleaner and healthier Lake Simcoe watershed.<\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/app.etapestry.com\/hosted\/LakeSimcoeConservationFound\/OnlineGiving.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Donate to a cleaner and healthier Lake Simcoe watershed today!\u200b\u200b\u200b<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Stories of Lake Simcoe &#8211; Science to Action Stories of Lake Simcoe: Science to Action Originally published as a storymap, this story series provides a behind-the-scenes look into our work monitoring and restoring the Lake Simcoe watershed. View the original storymap, including interactive maps and a data dashboard,\u00a0www.lsrca.on.ca\/watershed-health\/stories-of-lake-simcoe. The Lake Simcoe Watershed The Lake Simcoe [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":554,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_eb_attr":"","site-sidebar-layout":"no-sidebar","site-content-layout":"page-builder","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"disabled","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"disabled","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Stories of Lake Simcoe - Science to Action - The Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/lsrca.on.ca\/index.php\/home\/stories-of-lake-simcoe-science-to-action\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Stories of Lake Simcoe - Science to Action - The Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Stories of Lake Simcoe &#8211; Science to Action Stories of Lake Simcoe: Science to Action Originally published as a storymap, this story series provides a behind-the-scenes look into our work monitoring and restoring the Lake Simcoe watershed. 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