Community restores fish habitat in Papineau Lake

Submitted by Watersheds Canada

Watersheds Canada reports on an exciting community-led project that recently restored in-water fish habitat on Papineau Lake. In conjunction with Paplineau Lake Community Association (PLCA), 20 woody debris structures were created by 21 community members and Watersheds Canada staff and put into Papineau Lake in key habitat areas such as back bays. Above: Positioning a woody debris structure. Photo Watersheds Canada.

Underwater woody debris is a healthy component of lake environments that provides smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch, and panfish with a spot to eat, rest, spawn, and hide from predators. Each woody debris structure was made up of branches tied together and anchored to cement blocks. This ensures the brush bundles do not float and create a hazard.

Above: The working party for Papineau Lake fish habitat restoration. The community-led project attracted participants of all ages. Photo Watersheds Canada.

This project was completed thanks to generous support from Papineau Lake Community Association, Ontario Bass Nation, Bass Fishing Hall of Fame, and Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund. For more information about PLCA, please visit papineaulake.com To see other projects involving Watersheds Canada, please visit watersheds.ca

One comment

  1. Eve-Marie Chamot

    I hope the cord is fully biodegradable cotton or hemp rope:- nylon will biodegrade only very slowly in deep water and polypropylene will not degrade underwater at all, it needs help from UV exposure on the surface plus synthetic ropes gradually shed microplastics. Btw, the idea of concrete blocks littering the lake bottom is not especially appealing although the soft water in this lake will gradually crumble the blocks over the next 200+ years. Honestly, this is not a good idea because residents are wasting their time and money to provide more fish to attract non-residents who bring their big overpowered boats to again fish out the lake so why bother? It would be more worthwhile to have either MNR or the local municipality restrict fishing on this lake to fishing only from the shore, ie casting fishing lines only while standing on the shore:- that would effectively prevent non-residents from fishing here and also reduce the total fishing pressure. Residents would be much better off to focus on shoreline re-naturalization and also on getting new utilities such as fibre-optic telecom cable to make it easier for retirees to live here year-round (and thus boost resale values).

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