The Haliburton Highlands Outdoors Association is aiming to restock around 30,000 fish into 12 area lakes this year, says its president Dan Smith.

Efforts began April 9, with volunteers transporting rainbow trout and lake trout into Maple, Glamor, Clement, and Kashagawigamog lakes. As of April 22, Smith said the HHOA had stocked approximately 15,000 rainbow trout and 5,600 lake trout.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry assisted hatchery staff April 21, using a helicopter to transport 2,000 ‘Haliburton Gold’ lake trout into Devil’s, Concession, Sheldon, and Rainy lakes.

“Stocking thousands of fish in multiple lakes is a very big job that involves a lot of moving parts and a lot of people power,”

Smith said. “Timing is critical. Water temperatures have to be just right. It’s a lot of coordination and hard work, but it’s well worth the effort to help maintain good fishing in our lakes.” Smith said the local restocking program is done in partnership with MNRF, which studies and tracks fish population levels and identifies lakes that are struggling.

He noted all fish are raised at the Haliburton hatchery, located on Gelert Road.

“Usually, we’ll do most of our restocking the old-fashioned way – we have a big trailer with a water tank on it that can hold 700 gallons of water. We’ll net the fish out of the big tanks in the hatchery and put them into the trailer. We have a water pump that circulates the water to keep it oxygenated, then we drive to whatever lake we’re stocking,” Smith said, noting they can be on the road for up to an hour before transporting the fish.

The MNRF assists with restocking on lakes that are difficult to access, Smith added. Fish are piped into six holding tanks on the chopper and released as the pilot hovers over its targeted lake.

Most stocking takes place in early spring INSTANT REFUND PROGRAM as soon as the ice has melted. Smith said the timing is perfect as cold water holds more oxygen, creating less stress for the fish in their new environment.

Smith said the HHOA restocks lakes for two reasons – to improve recreational fishing, and to protect and rebuild dwindling natural fish populations.

“It’s a big thing for our tourism sector. If we’ve got a good fishery up here, it attracts more tourists to our area, which in turn brings dollars to the area,” Smith said.

Some lakes, like Glamor, are targeted every other year, while popular spots such as Maple Lake and Kashagawigamog are stocked annually. The most recent lake rehabilitation HHOA participated in was on Salmon Lake, just north of Buckhorn in Peterborough County. Thousands of ‘Haliburton Gold’ lake trout were dropped there for three straight years from 2019 to 2021.

“I’m told by fishermen who go there regularly that the lake is a healthy fishery again,” he said.

Smith estimated the HHOA has raised and stocked more than 800,000 fish since efforts began 30 years ago. He said Haliburton has the largest community fish hatchery in the province, run largely by volunteers.

Paudash put-in

Smith attended a stocking on Paudash Lake April 16, when 2,600 lake trout were transported from the North Hastings Community Fish Hatchery in Bancroft. About 30 people attended the put-in, including Highlands East mayor Dave Burton, and coun. Angela Lewis.

Mike Thomas, president of the Paudash Lake Conservation Association, said restocking efforts have been ongoing for eight years, with almost 35,000 fish finding a new home at Paudash.

He said fish are raised for two years in Bancroft before being stocked. Estimating the cost at $6 per fish, he said Paudash Lake has received $200,000 of lake trout since 2017.

Scott Ovell, the County’s director of economic development and tourism, is on a road show – selling a municipal accommodation tax (MAT) to lower-tier governments.

He began his virtual tour with an April 9 Highlands East meeting, explaining that much like the short-term rental bylaw, the MAT will be the job of Algonquin Highlands, Dysart et al, Highlands East and Minden Hills.

And it may very well be worth the effort, he indicated, estimating four per cent charged on short-term rentals could bring more than $2 million to County coffers. It is not known what the breakdown of that would be for each municipality. He did acknowledge, however, that the figure is based on full compliance, whereas they expect 65-70 per cent will play ball in the first year.

Ovell said the program has mandatory requirements, which include that at least 50 per cent of revenue go to one or more eligible tourism entities that are not-forprofit. The money must be exclusively used for promoting and developing tourism.

He noted there is some discretion with the other 50 per cent, which would go to Highlands East. All townships get half of MAT revenue. For example, he said North Hastings had used MAT tax revenue for roads, since travellers use the road network.

How it would work is the short-term rental host would have to collect the tax and remit it to Granicus, the company hired to help the County’s towns with its STR program. Ovell said it is for the room rate only, not amenity fees or service charges, such as parking, internet or cleaning. Bookings prior to the adoption of the MAT would be excluded from paying. It is expected to begin Oct. 1.

Referencing data collected from the Ministry of Tourism, Ovell said there were more than 150,000 reserved nights in the County in 2023 – up more than 90 per cent from 2019. He said the average daily rate, at more than $350, had climbed 47 per cent since 2019. There had been a 281 per cent jump in revenue in that time period as well, to more than $54 million. He divided that by the four per cent to come up with the more than $2 million in potential MAT tax revenue.

“From an economic development and tourism standpoint, these numbers are great. This means we have a lot of people coming to the County.” He said data also indicated the short-term rental users are spending more money and staying longer – “all really good things for us.”

As for next steps, he wants councils to pass the MAT at four per cent; direct nonmunicipally retained funds (50 per cent) to a municipal services corporation (MSC) created by the County, conduct public consultation on use of funds and prepare a draft service agreement between the MSC and the townships with the goal of having a consistent agreement amongst all four. He estimated it would take 12-18 months from the effective date of the bylaw to when local governments will have a proper understanding of revenue generated through the program.

Deputy mayor Cec Ryall commented it would be, “one of the most, if not controversial, unpopular, taxes we are going to put in place especially for STR providers. But it’s something we have to do. I don’t see a way around it.” He said he is in favour of managing short-term rentals, but at no cost to taxpayers.

Ovell added that besides presenting to all four townships, he will have a report for the County soon.

Five Counties Children’s Centre has a new home base in Haliburton County, with the organization signing a five-year lease to move into the Haliburton Highlands Health Services (HHHS) site in Minden.

Bill Eekhof, communications coordinator with Five Counties, confirmed the news April 15, noting programming began at the new location this week. The children’s centre will utilize approximately 700 sq. ft. on the second floor of the community health wing, just off the main entrance.

The organization had been without a permanent space in the County since 2020 – when it vacated its previous spot at HHHS Minden at the onset of the COVID19 pandemic. Scott Pepin, Five Counties CEO, said this was a homecoming for his organization and a big win for Highlands families.

“Re-establishing our presence in Minden will save local families the need to drive to Lindsay or Peterborough to access treatment and therapy services,” Pepin said.

Five Counties specializes in speech, occupational, and physical therapy treatments for youth aged 19 and younger in Haliburton County, Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, and Northumberland County. With the Minden addition, the organization now boasts five locations in its coverage area, Eekhof noted.

Services in Minden will be available by appointment and handled by staff from Five Counties’ Lindsay and Peterborough locations.

Eekhof noted Five Counties is celebrating its 49th anniversary this year, launching in Peterborough in 1975, and has been supporting families in the County since the late 1980s. Last year, it served more than 6,200 youth – including 250 in Haliburton County.

Those local services were provided virtually and through a temporary satellite location established at Archie Stouffer Elementary School (ASES) in 2023. Five Counties also offered some services at the Community Living Trent Highlands building in Haliburton in 2022 and 2023.

“We know that early intervention – especially when it comes to how a child talks or walks – is so important to help kids reach their full potential,” Pepin said. “Parents and caregivers are dealing with so much already if their child has been diagnosed or identified with unique needs that impact their development. That’s why making it easier for families to get the help they need, when they need it, in their own community, is so essential.”

Eekhof said Five Counties would continue to use the space at ASES for physiotherapy services and its school-based rehabilitation program.

Another service

HHHS president and CEO Veronica Nelson said Five Counties is a great addition to the Minden site.

It follows previous enhancements introduced since the ER was shuttered last summer, such as the urgent care clinic operated by the Kawartha North Family Health Team, and the community nursing clinic co-run by HHHS, SE Health, ParaMed Home Health Care, and Home and Community Care Support Services.

Nelson said, “HHHS is delighted to welcome Five Counties back into our building… their dedication to the community through therapy and treatment services to support children with physical, developmental, and communication needs is inspiring.”

Nelson said HHHS still had space to co-locate services in Minden and would entertain potential partnerships on a case-bycase basis.

“Health care in Ontario looks and feels very different than it did in the recent past. Not having access to care is not an option for our community. Thinking about health care in an innovative and collaborative way is critical for optimizing the wellbeing of Haliburton County,” Nelson said.