Lakefront property owners help restore Carson Lake trout habitat

Earlier this month Watersheds Canada informed The Current about an exciting community-led project that recently restored brook trout habitat on Carson Lake. We contacted Wendy Wolak of the Carson Trout Lepine and Greenan Lakes Association (CTLG Lakes) who confirmed that the group had supported the project funding application. Wolak referred us to Al Best for details of the project, since he has been active in our local Fishing Management Zone (FMZ 15). Best named the members of the work party shown above: “The members of the young and eager team are (from left): Paige Jessup (Watersheds Canada), Brian Moore (a young guy from Carson Lake), Robert Pye (Watersheds Canada), Al Best (an even younger guy from Trout Lake), Chloe Lajoie, Melissa Dakers, and Jonathan Miller all from Watersheds Canada. Paige and Jonathan are interns at Watersheds Canada and they have been key players in Watersheds Canada’s habitat restoration efforts this summer.” Photo: Watersheds Canada.

Monica Seidel of Watersheds Canada said that the critical brook trout habitat was restored in fall 2024 through the planting of native plants, and the installation of coir logs and bareroot native plants. The location and project type were selected because of the damage done from severe storms over the last two years, resulting in mass slumping of the shoreline, as well as the loss of large trees. 

She said that the cold-water creek restoration began with the planting and stabilization of the shorelines of the creek. These native plants will provide the necessary shade to keep the spring-fed creek cold for brook trout populations. Next, coir logs made of fibre rolls were installed to act as a natural form of erosion control. These logs were placed at the base of the eroded slope to prevent scouring from currents and ice push. Bareroot plants were placed in and around the logs to further stabilize the shore.

Best told The Current, “This creek feeding Carson Lake was home to a population of brook trout.  The last reported catch of a brookie in Carson Lake, that I have seen, was in 2014.  Now, Dr. Steven Cooke, from Carleton University, a man who knows a bit about aquatic ecosystems, advises that ‘healthy and intact fish habitat is the foundation for productive fish populations,’ and ‘although it might seem that stocking more fish is the pathway to better fish populations, the best approach is usually to repair/restore the habitat ….’ ‘Efforts to repair and restore habitats will pay dividends for decades and have benefits that extend beyond fish to include improvements in water quality, bank stability, and overall ecosystem health.'”

Best went on to say, “This project fits well with MNDMNRF priorities and we look forward to the release of the new FMZ 15 Management Plan.”

Brian Moore (left) and Al Best prepare coir logs. Photo: Watersheds Canada

He acknowledged those involved. “A big thank you goes to some people with a vision for a better tomorrow—Brian Moore (who is also pretty good at carrying logs), Frank Burchat, and Rick Donaldson for their support and for driving the Watersheds Team up and down the hills back of Carson Lake, to Doug Beingessner and Paul Jablonski for their input into, and support of, this initiative, to the Carson, Trout, Lepine and Greenan Lakes Association Board, and to the private landowners abutting the creek where the storm damage had occurred.  The Core Team at MNDMNRF for FMZ 15 are very pleased with the outcome of this effort.”

Seidel also credited the participants in the project explaining that it was delivered in partnership with Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters – Zone E, and Carson Trout Lepine & Greenan Lakes Association, and was generously funded by Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters – Zone E, J.P. Bickell Foundation, Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters Foundation’s Community Conservation Fund, iA Financial Group, and Ontario Wildlife Foundation. All Watersheds Canada fish habitat projects are completed with applicable permits and approval by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.

The final word goes to Al Best as he explains his personal motivation for getting involved in habitat restoration, shoreline rehabilitation, and more. “We take on projects like this, not because they are easy, not because they provide instant gratification, but because they can lead to a better tomorrow.  Working together produces results.  Our grandkids are counting on us!  We press on!!  A HUGE THANK YOU to Watersheds Canada for their skills and leadership.”

Seidel,M.,Watersheds Canada(2024,Dec.5) Carson Lake fish habitat restoration project [media release]

2 Comments

  1. Eve-Marie Chamot

    Has anyone monitored the elevation of the lake in a stilling well? A rise in water elevation would also destabilize shorelines and make them more susceptible to slumping. It might be a good idea to walk down the outlet of Carson Lake to look for possible damming by fallen trees which would temporarily raise lake levels. It would also help to plant water-tolerant trees such as white cedar (Thuja occidentalis) and yellow birch (Betula alleghensis) along the trout creek so eventually they would eventually shade the creek and help keep it cool. Unfortunately deer also like to browse on these species but in that area there would be more wolf predation of deer. You could also grow the seedlings in a protected nursery until they are 5+ feet tall before planting and the deer won’t be able to browse the growing tops. Btw, you might also check for smelt infestation:- smelt have taken over Golden Lake and sharply reduced the walleye population as the smelt prey on the walleye fry before they can grow big enough to prey on the smelt.

  2. Christopher Huggett

    A fine initiative. It’s remarkable that this coordinated attempt is needed and successfully implemented by this enthusiastic group of volunteers, in a region where shoreline erosion from storm water is extremely rare. I suspect that precipitating site alteration such as the clearing of reparian vegetation and trees rendered the slope vulnerable to storm damage. Hence, better oversight of environmental regulations to prevent ATVs, and the clearing of shoreline trees is desperately needed.

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