Shoreline restoration on Lake Scugog

Kawartha Conservation says it has funding for shoreline naturalization and related projects across its watershed through its Water Fund landowner grants, and it suggests a site visit to support the application. We can build the river rock and planting to the plan it approves.

Lake Scugog is a flooded marsh. Kawartha Conservation's plan describes it as a shallow, man-made impoundment with a thick layer of bottom sediment, averaging 1.4 metres deep and reaching 7.6 metres near Caesarea. Soft bottoms change how the toe of a rock slope is set, which we plan for.

About 172 kilometres in total, including 30.6 kilometres around Scugog Island, by the conservation authority's count. Much of it has been altered by homes and waterfront access, which is why restoration work here focuses on sloped stone and planting.

On the Kawartha lakes, almost always two. Parks Canada permits all work on the bed and waters of the Trent-Severn lakes, including shoreline stabilization, and the conservation authority permits work in its regulated area along the shore. We prepare and file both.

Kawartha Conservation's published guidance steers away from hardened shorelines, meaning retaining walls, sheet piles and armour stone at the water's edge. What it recommends is river rock in mixed sizes on a 3:1 slope along the natural contour, native plants and a no-mow buffer. We design to that, and put armour stone where it earns its place: steps, seating walls and terraces up the bank.

On lakes that hold walleye and bass, which is most of the Kawarthas, Fisheries and Oceans Canada's timing window keeps in-water work off-limits from March 15 to July 15 while fish spawn. Parks Canada permits are valid for one year, so we file in fall or winter and schedule the build for the open window.

Kawartha Conservation publishes its timelines: a streamlined permit is checked for completeness in 10 days and issued within 14 more, a standard minor permit in 14 plus 21 days. Parks Canada asks for applications several months before the start date. That is why fall is the time to start.

Yes. Removing a failed timber, concrete or stone wall is shoreline work too, so it goes through the same permits, and the bank is re-sloped and planted where the wall stood.

By the length of frontage, the slope, how machines and stone get to the water, and what the permits require. You get a written price after the site visit, with the permit work priced in the same quote.