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About the Environment Council

Andrew Arentowicz

The Environment Council for Clear, Ston(e)y and White Lakes is a volunteer, non-profit group. Our goal is to preserve and enhance the sustainability of the local watershed environment for future generations of humans and wildlife.

As the successor organization to the Clear, Ston(e)y and White Lake Plan Steering Committee, we are working to achieve this goal by implementing the Lake Plan recommendations and action plans, which were published in 2008.

The Lake Plan Report, entitled A Delicate Balance, was the result of a three-year strategic research and planning process called Lake Planning, now being widely used across Ontario. The process included several consultation and priority setting sessions with stakeholders on and around the three lakes – cottagers, residents, on-lake businesses, and local government and agency representatives at all levels, as well as other environment stewardship groups.

Water quality was the number one issue identified as a result of this process, and we are currently working to influence change in four priority areas that contribute to it:

• preservation and restoration of natural shorelines
• evaluation and protection of significant wetlands
• prevention of pollution from septic systems
• strengthening of municipal policies, plans, regulations and programs.

How we work

The Environment Council continues to work toward its goal in an inclusive, consultative way. Council membership includes representatives from the four townships surrounding the lakes – Douro-Dummer, North Kawartha, Smith-Ennismore-Lakefield and Galway-Cavendish-Harvey – and the five property owner and cottage associations for Birchcliff, Kawartha Park, Upper and Lower Ston(e)y and White Lakes.

Andrew Arentowicz

Our approach is to be proactive and co-operative in influencing change to protect the lakes’ water quality and natural heritage features, including special areas such as protected wetlands. We are working to achieve this goal through communications and outreach to the lake community, by sponsoring research and community stewardship projects, and by working in partnership with other environment groups, governments and regulatory agencies.

Among our key environmental stewardship partners are the Kawartha Lake Stewards Association, the Kawartha Heritage Conservancy and Lakeland Alliance/Peterborough Green-Up. The Environment Council is also a partner in The Kawarthas Naturally Connected, a multi-stakeholder project led by the Kawartha Heritage Conservancy and the Ministry of Natural Resources. The project is focused on building a natural heritage mapping and policy protection system for our region.

We regularly make input to municipal planning processes and public meetings, with the aim of ensuring that County and Township policies, official plans and regulations protect water quality and the overall environmental health of our lakes.

If you’d like to join us and help protect the health of our lakes, please email us at:

info@enviroclearstoneywhite.ca.