John Grant discusses the significance role of Lake Simcoe in the past as well as the important efforts made to preserve the lake both culturally and environmentally. He discusses how Roche's Point on Lake Simcoe was discussed as a possible location as the capital of Ontario, which was owned by one family but has been dedicated on a 999 year lease to the Conservation Authority (although the family still retains the right to hunt on the property. He then goes on to mention that he has served four terms as an elected municipal councilman and as such was the Durham Region and Brock Township representative on the Board of Directors of the Conservation Authority where he became aware of the fact that sport fishing on the lake is a $200 million/year industry. He also mentions the challenges of keeping the lake healthy - including keeping phosphorous levels down, which is harmful to the lake because it depletes oxygen and the cold water fishery suffers for it. From the 1970s until the 1990s trout and whitefish were almost entirely depleted and eventually had to be restocked by the Ministry of Natural Resources. Thanks to combined efforts from the Authority, the Ministry, and farmers and municipalities the phosphorous has diminished and trout have begun to naturally reproduce again. John also discusses how difficult it is to balance conservation efforts with waterside development, as well as understanding which authorities are responsible for what and securing funding in order to maintain conservation efforts.
