Fish Habitat Creation
The lake is known for its recreational cool and warm water fishery, particularly: Walleye, Northern Pike, and Small and Largemouth Bass. The lake is also a popular destination for year-round fishing from over 1200 permanent and seasonal properties, as well as day users.
As development on the lake increases, the amount of woody debris along the shorelines and in the lake is decreasing. This debris is a healthy component of lake environments and it provides habitat for fish, turtles, birds, invertebrates and more.
Mississippi Lake is less than one hour’s drive from Ottawa and it has a high level of development pressure. The lake is known for its recreational cool and warm water fishery, particularly: Walleye, Northern Pike, and Small and Largemouth Bass. The lake is also a popular destination for year-round fishing from over 1200 permanent and seasonal properties, as well as day users.
As development on the lake increases, the amount of woody debris along the shorelines and in the lake is decreasing. This debris is a healthy component of lake environments and it provides habitat for fish, turtles, birds, invertebrates and more.The MLA embarked on a two-year project (2017 and 2018) in partnership with Watersheds Canada to help restore some fish habitat.
More info about the project
As mentioned, underwater woody debris (sunken logs, trees, branches and root balls) is a healthy component of lake environments and is great habitat for fish, turtles, birds and invertebrates. While beavers, wind, erosion and water inflows from rivers and creeks naturally deposit debris in lakes, human activity and development reduce the amount of woody debris in the lake.
The MLA participated in a project with Watersheds Canada to help promote the health of wildlife populations and improve water quality by creating additional woody debris habitat using brush piles/bundles. These bundles provide enhanced aquatic habitat for a variety of fish species and other invertebrates, amphibians and reptiles.
Volunteers from the MLA and Watersheds Canada gathered and created a dozen brush bundles each year. Using the MLA’s pontoon boat and GPS coordinates, the volunteers deployed the bundles into areas of the lake in need of restoration. Care was taken to ensure that the bundles were anchored and were sunk in areas deeper than 12 feet, so as not to impede boat traffic.
The project was funded by Fisheries and Oceans Canada Recreational Conservation Partnerships Programs, Watersheds Canada and Mississippi Lakes Association.
Full Report of Fish Habitat Project
