Notification of the Minister’s Annual Reports on Lake Simcoe for 2019 - 2020 and 2021-22

The Ontario government is protecting and restoring Ontario’s water resources, including Lake Simcoe and its watershed.

The Lake Simcoe Protection Act and the Lake Simcoe Protection Plan (LSPP) provide a framework for Ontario and its partners to work together to improve and protect the health of the Lake Simcoe watershed, which contains natural, urban and agricultural systems that are vital to the region and Ontario.

The minister is required under Section 12 (1) of the Lake Simcoe Protection Act, 2008, to prepare and release a public report annually on the measures taken to implement the LSPP with a summary of advice the minister received from two advisory committees.

The reports summarize actions taken by three provincial ministries – the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, as well as key delivery partners, to implement the LSPP in the 2019-2020 and 2021-22 calendar years.

Key measures taken to implement the LSPP during this time period include:

• ongoing monitoring and research on the Lake Simcoe aquatic communities, which provides necessary information for evidence-based management of the Lake Simcoe warm and cold-water fish communities
• ongoing monitoring and research on key water quality parameters, and actions taken to reduce phosphorus and other contaminants (e.g., chloride, microplastics)
• efforts to protect water recharge functions, encourage onsite infiltration, and minimize stormwater runoff through the promotion of green infrastructure
• efforts to promote best practices in winter road salt use
• adoption of best management practices for both urban and rural stormwater management
• work to restore key natural heritage features in the watershed.
• efforts to enhance tools and promote measures to prevent, control and reduce spread of invasive species in the Lake Simcoe watershed, through programs such as the Invading Species Awareness Program.
• efforts to conduct and engage on the 10-Year Review of the Lake Simcoe Protection Act.
• advice received from the Lake Simcoe Science and Lake Simcoe Coordinating Committees pertaining to the 10-Year Review.

The conclusion in both reports reflect on the need for a long-term commitment and a recognition of shared responsibility to address emerging threats and compounding stressors in the watershed.

To view the full reports, follow the links in this notice under Supporting Materials.