After many years of lobbying the hard work of or Fish Stocking Team of volunteers has paid off !!!

The Round Lake Property Owners Association and its Fish Restocking Committee is formally requesting your financial support for an exciting and impactful Lake Trout restocking program that will benefit the residents of Round Lake, Killaloe, Hagarty & Richards Township and surrounding communities.  This project represents a significant investment both in environmental stewardship and economic development for our region.

Fish Restocking Committee Members include;

President of the RLPOA -Scott Gardner

Chair-Stan Borutski

Fundraising -Chris (Chummy) Gienow

Fundraising -Chris Miller

Fundraising -Dave Klauke

Fundraising-Brendan Cybulski

Project Overview
Leadership

This project has been led by the Round Lake Property Owners Association and is supported by the Pembroke District MNRF Office. Our goal is to raise and release approximately 40,000 Lake Trout yearlings, as well as advanced yearlings, (16 months old), over the 5 year period.  We are working with various Fish Biologists as well as Integrated Resource Management Specialists from the MNRF who are very familiar with Round Lake, as they were involved in our stocking program from 2012 to 2015 which was regarded as highly successful.  We welcome their experience once again.

Project Timelines:

●  October 2025- Harvesting of spawn (eggs).  Harvesting will be supported by the MNRF District Office and volunteers from our     Fish Stocking Committee and non-committee volunteers. The MNRF will transport the eggs to the Bancroft fish hatchery to be raised to the yearling stage (12 months).

●   October 2026- 1st batch of 75 %Lake Trout Yearlings to be released (~7,500).  Remainder of yearlings to be held at the North Hastings Community Fish Hatchery (NHCFH) until May 2027 (~2,500).

●   May 2027- Remainder of Advance Yearlings to be released in Round Lake by the MNRF and volunteers (16 months old).

●   October 2027- 2nd Harvest of Lake Trout spawn (eggs), same process as 2025.

●   October 2028- 2nd batch of Yearlings to be released (~7,500). Remainder of yearling to be held at the Hatchery (NHCFH) has grown to the advanced stage (16+ months).

●   May 2028- 2nd  batch of Yearlings to be released (~2,500).

●   October 2028- 3rd Harvest of Lake Trout Spawn (eggs) supported by the MNRF, with the assistance of volunteers. Transported to Bancroft (NHCFH) to be raised to the Yearling Stage. 

●   October 2028- 3rd batch of Yearlings to be released (~4,875), remainder to be held until May 2029.

●   May 2029- 3rd batch of advanced Yearlings to be released (~1,225) lake trout (16 months old).

●   October 2029- 4th harvest of lake trout spawn, same process as previous years.

●   October 2030- Release of 4th batch of Yearlings, same process as previous years (~6,500).

●   October 2030- Harvest of 5th batch of spawn (eggs).

●   October 2031- Release of the 5th batch of Yearlings (~6,500)

A mix of Yearlings and advanced Yearlings will make this project cost-effective and improve the availability of larger Lake Trout fish sooner.  Clipping will allow the MNRF to monitor the survival rate of each year's class stocked and watch for recruitment to occur.

Round Lake Lake Trout Restocking Project and Environmental Sustainability

The Round Lake Trout restocking project is framed as a nature positive, science led program that restores native trout and strengthens aquatic ecosystem function. The project intentionally aligns with environmental, sustainability philosophy by emphasizing measurable outcomes, collaborative governance and transparent reporting.

Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health

Restoring Lake Trout, a cold water, top predator species, helps rebalance the lake’s food web, supports healthy forage populations and improves ecosystem resilience.

ISO 14001/EMS Alignment

The project is run like an environmental management system.  It sets clear objectives and targets (e.g. survival and recruitment rates, uses documented procedures, applies adaptive management and reports progress for continual improvement, matching ISO 14001 approach.

Professional Partnership and Quality Assurance

The Lake Trout will be raised at the North Hastings Community Fish Hatchery, located in Bancroft. This established facility ensures the highest standards of fish health and genetic quality, providing the best possible foundation for the project’s success.

The Ministry of Natural Resources’ ongoing involvement guarantees:

●       Scientific monitoring of fish survival and growth rates

●       Assessment of ecological impact

●       Data collection to measure project effectiveness

●       Professional oversight of all stocking activities

Investment and Impact

The total estimated cost for this project is approximately $200,000.00 upon completion. This investment will yield significant returns in multiple areas:

Ecological Benefits

●       Restoration of the natural Lake Trout population in Round Lake

●       Long-term economic stimulus for the broader region

●       Invasive species management (control the smelt population)

Economic and Community Impact:

This project will help support local businesses by increasing tourism and recreational fishing opportunities as a direct result of our stocking program. By maintaining the viable Lake Trout population in Round Lake, it will help support the local economies of KHR and surrounding communities. This project is community-minded and is for ALL RESIDENTS of Killaloe Hagarty and Richards Township and surrounding communities.

Approval and Regulatory Support:

The Pembroke district MNRF office will be supporting this project by issuing their permits required for harvesting, raising, and releasing the Lake Trout into Round Lake.

Use of Funds:

1) All donor funds to be accounted for

2) To cover the cost of raising the Lake Trout at the NHCFH

3) Educational material on fish conservation (rules, regulations, and laws) and to make sure anglers are well-versed in their responsibilities to sustain a healthy fishery.

4) To introduce an Angler Diary Program to monitor quality of the LakeTrout population

Accountability Measures

We will keep the general public and sponsors of this project up to date on the progress of this community-minded project.

Funding Structure:

Presently, we have three levels of funding, which include: corporate, small business, and residents of KHR Township and surrounding communities. Some of our Corporate Sponsors now  include the Round Lake Property Owners Association(RLPOA) Killaloe Hagarty, and Richards Township(KHR) the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (O.F.A.H.), Renfrew Power Generation(R. P. G.) as well as Bonnechere Provincial Park have pledged to support this  project throughout the 5 year duration.This list of corporate sponsors will continue to grow as the project expands in the months and years ahead.

Donations can be made through e-transfer, cash (with receipt), and cheque.  For those of you requiring a charitable receipt, payments can be made to Killaloe, Hagarty, and Richards, identified with the Fish Stocking Program in the notes section.

Future Vision:

During the duration of this Lake Trout restocking program, the MNRF will monitor Lake Trout at various stages to determine if recruitment (natural repopulation) is occurring. If there is little or no recruitment occuring further assessment and decisions will have to be made (at that time) as to options and methodologies for future sustainment. 

Why Your Sport Matters

This project represents more than fish stocking – it's an investment in the future of Round Lake and our community. The ecological balance we establish today will benefit generations to come, while the economic opportunities created will strengthen our local economy.

Your support will directly contribute to:

●       Purchasing healthy, genetically adapted Lake Trout Yearlings and Advanced Yearlings.

●       Covering transportation and stocking logistics

●       Supporting ongoing monitoring and data collection

●       Ensuring project completion and long-term success

Join Us in This Important Initiative

We invite you to become a partner in this worthwhile cause that promises lasting benefits for both our environment and economy. Together, we can restore Round Lake’s natural heritage while creating opportunities for sustainable economic growth.

For more information about sponsorship opportunities or to discuss how you can support this project, please contact us at  Stan 613-281-2519 or RLPOA.Restocking@gmail.com .

Thank you for considering this important investment in Round Lake’s future.

This project is conducted in colloboration with the Ministry of Natural Resources Forrestery and the North Hastings Community Fish Hatchery, ensuring the highest standards of environmental responsibility and scientific integrity.