December 2025
Dear Lake Friends and Neighbours,
As the year winds down and the snow settles on the lake, it’s time to pause and reflect on the value of this special place to our own well-being and that of our families. Time at the lake allows us to reflect and reconnect. We rely on a healthy lake environment for our own rejuvenation.
But the lake doesn’t look after itself. It takes the commitment of the entire community to ensure that this precious resource persists. The Rideau Lakes Environmental Foundation (RLEF) was founded in 1991 to enable our collective care.
We need your help to continue our work. As the year ends, please
remember the lake in your charitable donations.Please give online at http://www.rlef.ca/give
In 2025, the RLEF had an active and useful year.
Action
RLEF monitors the regulatory environment, and maintains an “Action Fund” to ensure that we are ready to respond when there is a threat to our lakes.
Westport Sewage Treatment
Sewage treatment in Westport has been a challenge for many years, and recent development has put a strain on capacity. Westport was considering dumping treated effluent into Upper Rideau Lake as one way of coping with this growth! Thanks to the concerted efforts of the Upper Rideau Lake Association – supported by the RLEF and many other local lake associations – effluent dumping is no longer considered a viable option. This situation still needs active monitoring, and we will remain engaged.
Rideau Lakes Township Development
Local lake associations believe the Township of Rideau Lakes could do more to honour its Official Plan (OP) commitments “to preserve and enhance water bodies and their environment by encouraging development and redevelopment which is environmentally sensitive and which protects, improves or restores water quality and the shoreline environment.”
Three recent approvals — on a very small lot, on a very steeply sloped lot, and 30 meters (rather than 120 meters) from a provincially significant wetland — cause particular concern. RLEF is working jointly with the Upper Rideau Lake Association (URLA), the Otter Lake Landowners’ Association (OLLA), the Chaffey’s Area Lakes Association (CALA), the Big Rideau Lake Association (BRLA), and Rideau Lakes Township Council and staff to ensure environmental issues remain at the forefront of decision-making.
Long Island, Big Rideau Lake, Preserved
RLEF supported the Rideau Waterways Land Trust in the acquisition of 31 acres on Long Island in Big Rideau Lake. This significant conservation effort protects much of the shore of Lost Lake, ensuring the integrity of terrestrial and aquatic habitat.
Research
Understanding the lake is key to looking after it, so RLEF supports research that builds our knowledge of the lakes we all share.
Bass Spawning Sanctuaries
RLEF has been working with the Fisheries Conservation Foundation (FCF, Dr. David Philipp & Dr. Steve Cooke) since “COVID-times”. RLEF-supported documentary research into the impact of fishing on bass populations showed significant increases in populations when male bass were not removed from their nests by pre-or early-season fishing. This work fed into a project to develop Bass Spawning Sanctuaries (BaSS) that shows great promise.
In 2024, RLEF helped the Fisheries Conservation Foundation broaden this initiative beyond Charleston and Opinicon lakes, to include Big Rideau, Upper Rideau and about a dozen other lakes in the area. The FCF has been working with the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) to obtain approval to expand the Bass Spawning Sanctuary program to 13 additional lakes, likely beginning in 2027. RLEF will continue to support these efforts.
Trout Telemetry
RLEF has supported studies of fish movement in Big Rideau Lake for many years, and we’ve learned a lot about the impact of moving Bass during tournaments. This type of study was extended to Lake Trout beginning in August 2025: 18 receivers were put in place and dozen trout tagged to validate their placement. More trout tagging will take place when the season opens in 2026, with the help of 4 volunteer fishermen from Big Rideau Lake Association.
Research Grants – Call for Proposals
RLEF has committed to supporting further research work on our lakes. We have issued a Call for Proposals for projects to start in 2026, and look forward to learning more about how our lakes work, and what we can do to help them prosper.
Lake Health and Water Safety
RLEF supports projects that protect, preserve, and enhance our lake environment, including shoreline restoration, habitat reconstruction, and water testing, along with initiatives that make our lakes safer, including the private hazard markers throughout Big Rideau Lake and Upper Rideau Lake.
Cow Island Environmental Programs
RLEF is working with the Big Rideau Lake Association to support Environmental and Lake Safely projects on Cow Island, through the BRLA Day Camp educational programs.
Shoal Markers
RLEF supports the placement of Shoal Markers on Big Rideau Lake (through the Doug Good Shoal Marker Fund) and on Upper Rideau Lake.
You Can Help – Give before Year-End
RLEF relies on the generosity of the community to do this work. We ask that you continue to support our efforts to protect and preserve this special place. As a registered Canadian Charity, all donations to RLEF are tax deductible.
You can Give Online at http://www.rlef.ca/give
Online donations are processed by Canada Helps, and a tax receipt is provided right away.
You can also mail a cheque made payable to RLEF to PO Box 93, Portland, ON, K0G 1V0. But act quickly if you wish this to be received before December 31, 2025. Tax receipts for donations received by mail will be sent out by February 28 of the following year.
You Have Our Gratitude
Thank you in advance for your generous support of our work. We could not do it without you.
With fond memories of warm water, and a quiet optimism for the year ahead,
jennifer
J. Trant, Grindstone Island, Big Rideau Lake
President, Rideau Lakes Environmental Foundation (RLEF)