Pakenham, Ont. landowner ordered to carry out $1M in remediation work for destroying fish habitat

A brook trout is seen in this April 2008 photo from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. (THE ASSOCIATED PRESS / U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Eric Engbretson )

An Ottawa Valley landowner has been ordered to carry out an estimated $1 million in remediation work after destroying a fish habitat on a tributary on the Indian River.

The Ontario Court of Justice issued the order against the owner following an investigation by Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

A news release says the Pakenham, Ont. resident constructed a berm to create a large pond between August 2018 and October 2019 that blocked a passage to 1.8 kilometres of upstream fish habitat.

The project harmed the native Brook Trout population and violated two sections of the Fisheries Act, according to Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

The design and implementation of the court-ordered remediation work will be overseen by the federal government.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada is reminding the public to review its website when working on projects near water.