Lake Scugog

Infobox lake
lake_name = Lake Scugog
image_lake =
caption_lake =
image_bathymetry =
caption_bathymetry =
location = Ontario
coords = coord|44|10|N|78|50|W|region:CA-ON_type:waterbody|display=inline,title
type =
inflow = Nonquon River, Blackstock Creek, Cawkers Creek
outflow = Scugog River
catchment area = 529 km²
basin_countries = Canada
length =
width =
water surface area = 68 km²
average depth = 1.4 m
max-depth = 7.6 m
water volume = 0.0957 km3
residence_time =
shore = 172 km
elevation = 249.9 m
islands = Scugog Island
towns = Port Perry

Lake Scugog is a man-made lake in Scugog Township between the village of Port Perry, Ontario and the Town of Lindsay. The lake has a water surface area of 68 km² with an average depth of 1.4 m. The lake is fed by the Nonquon, Blackstock Creek and Cawkers Creek as well as by many unnamed small tributaries. The Scugog River is the only outflow from the lake. The depth of the lake has become more shallow over the past century as development around the lake has removed most of its forest cover, allowing it to fill with silt.

The lake was formed when William Purdy dammed the Scugog River at Lindsay, Ontario in 1834 to power his grist mill. The new lake was originally very unpopular with the local residents; its formation also destroyed the wild rice stands and cranberries harvested by the native Mississaugas. Today, the lake is used for fishing and recreational boating. The lake is surrounded by swamps and marshes which provide habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife.

Lake Scogog also has an array of fish, such as muskellunge, sucker, bullhead, carp, rock bass, pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, yellow perch and walleye. [http://www.scugog-net.com/kfa/k-scugog.html link title]

The name "Scugog" may be an Ojibwe word meaning "marshy waters". However, according to "Place Names of Ontario" by Alan Rayburn, Scugog is a Mississauga word meaning 'waves leap over a canoe' in reference to the flooding of the river valley.

Fish deaths

In June 2007, waterfront residents and boaters on Lake Scugog were finding that carp had begun dying. Residents around the lake were finding massive numbers of dead carp floating and landing on shore. The Carp where dying from an unknown cause. The smell of rotting fish was everywhere. The local authorities allowed dead Carp pick-up days to keep the smell down. After MNR testing, it was suspected that the bacteria columnaris was one of the causes of this massive carp massacre. [http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_12067.aspx] [http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070712/carp_dying_070712?s_name=&no_ads=] In 2008 the Lake returned its normal state. [http://www.thestar.com/comment/columnists/article/424042]

Watershed

A list of rivers feeding to and from the lake:
* Cawkers Creek