Preliminary Report on the
Ecology of the Trent Watershed
Using a Floating Laboratory
ROY L. EDWARDS. Professor and Chairman
CHRISTINE D. MAXWELL, Lecturer
Department of Biology
Trent University
Peterborough, Ontario
Before describing the floating research laboratory that is being used by members of the Biology Department of Trent University, it is necessary to put the
work into perspective by outlining some of the geographic and economic features
of the area in which it is taking place. Some preliminary results from the first
year's investigation can then be presented, and an indication can be given of the
direction in which these studies may go in the future.
THE TRENT CANAL SYSTEM
The Trent Canal System is a 240-mile waterway linking Lake Ontario in the
east with Lake Huron in the west. It connects the watersheds of two rivers, the
Trent and the Severn, and consists of a series of lakes, rivers and canals in which
water levels are controlled by dams. The system was developed during the 19th
century so that ships passing through the Great Lakes could avoid the long and potentially hazardous journey around the Niagara Penisula, and Lake Erie (Figure
1).
Vessels leaving Lake Ontario enter the canal system at Trenton, 100 miles
east of Toronto, and after 160 miles reach Balsam Lake which is at the summit.
In order to do this they must negotiate 35 locks and are raised a total of 600 ft.
From there to Georgian Bay on Lake Huron involves a distance of 80 miles, eight
locks, two marine railways and a descent of 260 ft. During the twentieth century
the System ceased to be of value as a trade route and fell into general disuse.
The canal system passes through some very attractive scenery and parts of it
have always been used for pleasure purposes. Some 10 years ago the decision
was made to restore the locks and dams, repair the damage that had been caused
by erosion, and develop the whole System as a tourist attraction. Throughout
much of its length the Trent Canal can now provide excellent swimming facilities, and a good fish population of pickerel, bass and muskelunge. Cottages and
summer camps are being built along the shores of the lakes, and during the summer as many as 15, 000 vessels pass through the locks. It is estimated that this
number will rise to 40, 000 during the next few years and will bring some $20
million annually to the area. As the Trent Canal System enters this second
phase of its existence, it provides ecologists with a unique opportunity to study
the broad ecological effects associated with change.
GENERAL ECOLOGICAL SITUATION
A body of water that is completely lacking in nutrients is sterile, unable to
maintain plant life on which animals feed,   and hence unable to support a fish
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