Reducing nutrient pollution to Lake Simcoe

Target 3.4: Freshwater Quality – Reduce nutrient inputs into Lake Simcoe by 2012.

Beginning in 2008, the government has dedicated $30 million to the Lake Simcoe Clean-up Fund. The fund has contributed to 160 projects to reduce phosphorus inputs in an effort to restore the lake's ecological integrity and coldwater fishery. Phosphorus-reduction projects included stream-bank erosion-control measures, stewardship programs, projects to stop livestock from directly accessing water courses, manure storage, planting trees and plants along river corridors, projects to contain milkhouse washwater, stormwater pond retrofits, and building engineered wetlands.

For additional information on the implementation strategies that support this target, please consult the following website: Environment Canada.

Progress Towards Target 3.4: Nutrient reductions in Lake Simcoe.

As of March 2012, stewardship projects supported by the Lake Simcoe Clean-Up Fund were preventing an estimated 2 900 kilograms (kg) of phosphorus per year from entering the Lake Simcoe watershed, as illustrated in Table 3.1. This estimated reduction to Lake Simcoe's watershed contributes to Ontario's long-term goal of reducing phosphorus loading to the lake itself by 28 000 kg of phosphorus per year.

For the most up-to-date information on this indicator, please visit CESI.

Table 3.1: Estimated phosphorus reduction as a result of completed Lake Simcoe Clean-Up Fund beneficial management projects
completed by March 2012

Project Type	Estimated Phosphorus Reduction (kg P/yr)
Rural sources	400
Agricultural sources	1300
Urban runoff and storm water	1200
Total	2900

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