WC142 MayJune 2025 - Magazine - Page 31
Watersheds Canada
“Populations of walleye and lake trout are seeing declines from
in-water factors like increased prevalence of invasive species
and昀椀shpathogens,andawarmingclimatethatisleadingtoan
expandeddistributionofcompetingwarmwaterspecies.”
With all of this time, care, and expertise put into the development of the project, next comes the restoration day itself. Using
snowmobiles, ATVs, and a backhoe, 17 tonnes of washed river
rock was moved across 1.2 kilometres over Big Clear Lake by
16 staff and volunteers. The rock was then raked by hand on
the ice to form a thin layer overtop of where the historic walleye
spawning bed sits underwater.
With the ice melt that happened this spring, this rock is now
sitting on top of the spawning bed. This increase in the amount
of rock on the bed means there are more spaces available for
walleye to lay their eggs. It also means these eggs will receive
enough oxygenation to grow and hatch. This is critical timing
given Ontario’s walleye spawn in the spring.
At every step, Watersheds Canada’s fish habitat restoration
projects are hard work, from the writing of competitive funding
applications, months of planning and preparation, and manual
labour in freezing temperatures to carefully lay out the rock,
to the subsequent fish counts to monitor population recovery
and inform any other needed restoration efforts. While the
future of Canada’s freshwater fish populations is still very much
in jeopardy, it is clear that community-led restoration projects
that focus on collaboration, knowledge sharing, and on-the-ice
action are a critical place to start.
WAT E R C A N A D A . N E T
With the ice melt that happened this spring, rock
is now sitting on top of the spawning bed.
The rock was raked by hand on the ice to form a
thin layer overtop of where the historic walleye
spawning bed sits underwater.
WATER C AN ADA • M AY/JUNE 2025
31
