Experts gathering for Erosion and Sediment Control Symposium

Officials from Parks Canada (Trent-Severn Waterway), Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, City of Kawartha Lakes, Kawartha Conservation, Otonabee Region Conservation Authority, contractors and more will gather on Feb. 28 in Fenelon Falls for the Erosion and Sediment Control for Near-Water and In-Water Works Symposium.

“We’ve heard from a number of our municipal partners, contractors, builders, landscapers and others in the industry this topic is of great importance to them, and we’re excited to be able to bring together a vast network of industry experts and professionals to talk about erosion and sediment controls and best practices,” explained Ron Warne, director, planning development and engineering with Kawartha Conservation.

Scheduled from 9:30 am-3 pm at the Fenelon Falls Community Centre, this free event is targeted at landscapers, contractors, municipal staff and others who obtain permits and work in and around water and would like to hear from industry professionals on issues, challenges and success stories regarding erosion and sediment control.

“Kawartha Lakes is aptly named, and with so many lakes, rivers, streams and other watercourses throughout not only Kawartha Lakes, but our entire watershed, erosion and sediment control is a huge issue we all need to understand more,” said Kawartha Conservation planning and regulation technician Stacy Porter. “This will be a great opportunity for anyone who works in construction, landscaping or around water in our watershed to come and hear from leading experts across all levels of government and industry professionals, while taking part in a valuable learning opportunity.”

Natural erosion by wind, water and moving ice has been occurring at slower rates since the formation of earth. However, human interference with land such as construction activities and earth moving projects accelerates this process. The sediment laden runoff from construction sites due to accelerated erosion is detrimental to aquatic habitat and can cause damage to downstream areas and infrastructure.

Earth moving projects and even small residential construction projects are a large source of sediment pollution in the watershed. Sediment that enters into the lakes and rivers can clog fish gills and smother fish eggs, increase drinking water treatment costs, transport nutrients that increase the potential for toxic blue-green algae, reduce water depths that affect navigation, and fill up storm drains and catch basins, which can increase the potential for flooding.

“We have quite a bit of new development and economic growth happening across our watershed and in our communities,” said Mr. Warne. “The timing of the Erosion and Sediment Control Symposium will help our municipal and development partners ensure they have the best, most current information on best practices to ensure development and construction work is conducted with erosion and sediment controls top of mind.”

The Fenelon Falls Community Centre is located at 27 Veterans Way, Fenelon Falls. Register for this event at workingaroundwater.eventbrite.ca by Feb. 21. For more information about the Erosion and Sediment Control for Near-Water and In-Water Works Symposium, contact Stacy Porter at 705-328-2271 Ext. 231 or