From: “Brett Tregunno”
Date: January 12, 2021 at 12:12:15 PM EST
To: “‘Save Pigeon Lake'”
Subject: RE: Brief summary
Reply-To:
Hi Larry,
Here is a brief summary of our current actions in relation to Lake Management Planning and the Wild Rice issue on southern Pigeon Lake.
We are aware of your community’s concern regarding the proliferation of aquatic plants, particularly wild rice in southern Pigeon Lake, and are currently attempting to find management solutions that address these concerns. After consulting with many agencies, stakeholder organizations, academics, First Nations representatives, and shoreline association representatives, we are more aware than ever that there are no simple solutions.
Kawartha Conservation is partnering with City of Kawartha Lakes to develop a Pigeon Lake Management Plan. A significant component of this plan will detail science-based actions to address specific issues relevant to local shoreline communities. Providing responsible aquatic plant control options in southern Pigeon Lake, reducing blue-green algae blooms in northern Pigeon Lake, and maintaining important natural habitats within the lake basin have all been identified as top priority issues. The actions developed through this plan will not be legally binding, but will recommend a common approach to maintaining healthy lake conditions for shoreline communities and the natural environment. We expect to complete this Plan in early 2016 and are already undertaking certain early implementation actions.
To specifically address the issue of wild rice proliferation and potential management options, we will be forming a Wild Rice Working Group within the next month. It is our intention that this group will be represented by all key stakeholders that are related to the wild rice issue, including but not limited to: Park Canada, First Nations, Shoreline Communities, and scientists with background in aquatic vegetation. This group will be formed on a short-term basis, with a sole purpose to develop wild rice management recommendations that will inform the Pigeon Lake Management Plan and existing aquatic plant control policies. We will be extending an invitation to your community for a representative to participate on this Working Group.
At this time, we feel that the Wild Rice Working Group and the Pigeon Lake Management Plan is our best approach towards finding common understanding, agreement on and any possible solutions to the wild rice issue on southern Pigeon Lake.
Brett Tregunno
Aquatic Biologist
KAWARTHA CONSERVATION
277 Kenrei Road
Lindsay, ON K9V 4R1
Tel: 705.328.2271 ext. 222
Fax: 705.328.2286
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