Calling
Kawartha Lakes Shoreline Owners
Did you know?
Kawartha Lake Stewards Association (KLSA) has already re-naturalized 41 shoreline sites, covering over 5,374 square metres, and planting more than 3,000 native shrubs, trees and flowers – and yours could be next!
Want to fight erosion, attract wildlife, and keep geese off your lawn all while making your shoreline more beautiful and eco-friendly?
Join KLSA’s Shoreline Re-Naturalization Program, part of The Natural Edge initiative in partnership with Watersheds Canada!
For a small contribution (~$250), you’ll receive:
✅ A personalized shoreline planting plan
✅ Native plants and materials delivered to your property
✅ Volunteer help with planting
✅ A healthier lakefront for years to come
📅 Assessments take place in May.
🌱 Planting happens in May/June 2026 (the next planting season will happen in Fall 2026)
Let’s work together to protect our lakes and restore our natural shorelines. Interested? Contact kim.ong@klsa.info today to learn more!
Photos courtesy of Michelle Lemme.
Looking
Back
Highlights of our recent work
We’re pleased to share some of our accomplishments over the past year, as our presence continues to grow on Clear, Ston(e)y and White Lakes.
We are constantly reassessing our objectives, projects and results, and are reassured that much of our lake community is working toward a common purpose: responsible stewardship of the water and land we all love.
Here are some key initiatives:
Township Relations: We established liaison roles to strengthen our working relationships with local townships. Lois Wallace (Douro-Dummer), Cate Dandy (Selwyn) and Roz Moore with the Shoreline Conservation for Peterborough County committee (North Kawartha) are advocating with these townships on environmental issues affecting our lakes, specifically septic re-inspection, shoreland protection and development impacts. Municipal elections will be held in fall 2026, and we will be keeping these issues at the forefront in the run up to voting day.
Natural Edge Program: We built terrific momentum this summer with the Watersheds Canada/Kawartha Lake Stewards Natural Edge shoreline planting program. Our presentations at lake association AGMs and other events yielded 15 new participants. A number of assessments, and two new plantings on White Lake, have already been completed.
Prioritizing Issues
with Members of our Community
Lake Association Partnerships: On July 28, 2025, we hosted an afternoon of lively discussion with members-at-large, lake association presidents and environment reps. We prioritized these issues for action in 2026:
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Protection of shorelines from development impacts (advocacy with townships)
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Septic re-inspection (advocacy with townships that don’t have active programs)
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Other aspects of water quality (i.e. invasive aquatic species and their management)
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Engagement of association members, and others beyond that reach, so as to inform more of the lake community about these issues and the actions needed.
Perhaps the most important part of what happens next – spurring actions – will rely on the ways our valued lake associations can help spread our communication and guide their members to take positive actions.
Going Forward
Through early 2026, Environment Council worked with the associations to develop an issue-based communications plan and simple messages for the start of next cottage season. With the participation of the associations’ environment, communications and membership directors, we can all hit the ground running this season.
During our July 28 discussion, the Upper Stoney Lake Association (USLA) shared their Environment Protection Plan (EPP), which sets out seven initiatives they support. This is a very useful model, and we’ll be working with the other lake associations to encourage them to develop EPPs.
Our own strategy and action plan for 2026 is posted below.
As always, thanks to everyone who supports and champions the work of Environment Council. We are committed to protecting our lakes and shorelands for generations to come, and we couldn’t do it without your help.
EC Action Plan for 2026
Environment Council’s Long-Term Goal
To preserve and enhance the sustainability of the local watershed environment for future generations of humans and wildlife.
Priority Objectives
To protect lake water quality, human health and enjoyment of the lakes’ natural attributes.
To conserve and restore natural shorelands and wildlife habitat.
Supporting strategies and actions:
Healthy Shorelands:
Advocacy
Education
Partnership
Ramp up advocacy with local Townships for stronger, proactive regulations to protect shoreland vegetation and natural landscape from (re)development impacts (directly and with the Shoreline Conservation for Peterborough County initiative).
Educate lake residents about how natural shorelands protect lake water quality, and on the benefits to owners of retaining and replanting native vegetation on their shorelands.
Continue to support the Watersheds Canada/KLSA Natural Edge program by publicizing it and signing up participants and planting volunteers.
Continue to partner with KLT to find participants for the Partners in Conservation (PIC) program so as to help shoreland owners conserve native species and habitat.
Proposed New Initiative
Educate local developers, builders, landscapers and property maintenance people to protect shorelands during their work. Partner with ‘environmentally friendly’ people in the business to develop and deliver workshop(s) on this subject.
Does this work interest you? Please reach out via our website contact form.
Septic System Compliance
Advocate for septic re-inspection programs in Townships that do not have active programs.
Educate lake residents about good septic system practices and how these reduce harmful nutrients and bacteria in the lakes.
Use the run-up to the fall 2026 municipal elections to raise candidates’ and voters’ awareness about the environmental issues affecting the lakes and the need for Township action on these, specifically septic re-inspection and shoreland protection (see Healthy Shorelands above).
Action Plan continues below.
Invasive Species
Continue to raise awareness about and promote best practices for managing invasive aquatic species, especially starry stonewort (SSW). Stay current on SSW research, and explain the legal constraints to removal of SSW from our lakes.
Raise awareness about terrestrial invasive species (dog-strangling vine, buckthorn, garlic mustard, oriental bittersweet, phragmites) and sources of information on how to manage these.
Explain how invasive aquatic and terrestrial species damage the natural eco-system.
Proposed new initiative, dependent on finding one or two people to develop and help coordinate it: Explore partnership with KLT, KLSA, Watersheds Canada, Invasive Species Centre, and other potential partners to provide ‘on the ground’ help to identify and remove invasive species on privately-owned shorelands (often discovered through PIC and Natural Edge programs).
Water Quality Monitoring
Continue dissolved oxygen and temperature monitoring.
Continue to support FOCA/MECP Lake Partner Program water monitoring.
Lake Association Partnerships and Communications
Work with the associations to encourage and assist them to develop environmental protection plans.
With association input, develop an issue-based communications plan and simple messages to use with their members, and launch before the 2026 cottage season begins.
Encourage association communications directors and membership directors to participate in delivery of these messages to their members and beyond.
Use the above plan and messages as the basis for EC’s social media posts starting in early spring (website, newsletter, Facebook, Instagram).
