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Spring 2012 Newsletter

Year 2012 Events at a Glance

Saturday, June 30 (rain date Sunday, July 1) Rock Bass Fishing Tournament in the morning followed by a Wiener Roast at noon. Open to all ages. (See pages 5-6 of this Newsletter.)

Saturday, July 7 Loon Lake Wine Tasting Event, 2-5 pm at the Doan’s cottage (See page 6 for more details)

Saturday, August 4 (rain date Sunday, August 5) Annual Regatta at Sunrise. (See page 6 of this Newsletter and program flyer on the last page.)

Saturday August 11 (rain date Sunday August 12) Annual General Meeting at the Government Dock at the end of Loon Lake Road. (See page 6 for more details.)

Check the Bulletin Boards on Loon Lake Road or Gregory Lane for more

information prior to the events.

President’s Message

Most of the time, our LLPOA Annual meetings are not very exciting affairs. We review the meeting minutes from the prior year, discuss the water test results, and hear reports from the Shore Reps. However, last year’s meeting was different. A motion was proposed that would direct a significant portion of our savings to the Gregory Road culvert project. As most of you know, the culvert has been showing signs of age for a number of years and an engineer’s analysis declared that the culvert should be replaced. A number of quotations were received by the Gregory Road Association for the project and most were pretty expensive. The rationale for the motion was that since the flow of the water through the culvert affected the water quality of the whole lake, then the whole Lake Association should contribute to the costs of the project.

Well, the motion set the fox among the chickens! A number of folks felt that the Gregory Road group was trying to rob the LLPOA coffers by ‘stacking’ the meeting. Another group were angry that no notice had been given and that the motion was ‘sneaky’. Another group saw the motion as legitimate and wanted the Association to accept responsibility for the whole culvert project. After much discussion, it was agreed that there would be an all-member vote at another meeting. When the vote was finally held (with a record turnout) the motion was defeated and the issue was put to bed. As President, I felt that the motion was unfortunate. It was very polarizing and did not foster calm and thoughtful discussion of the real implications of the motion.

But the rationale of the motion was legitimate. The health of our Lake is dependent upon all parts of the Loon Lake watershed. Our water quality can be affected by the beaver dams on the south shore, by the use of winter salt on the north shore highway, by the flow from the east swamp area, by the bottleneck at Sunrise, by the integrity of individual cottage septic systems, and by other natural factors such as the varying winter snow levels. The watershed is a whole system that is interconnected. The water in front of my cottage is not independent of the water in front of your cottage - we’re all in this together.

We are facing numerous looming problems such as new building developments, trends to ‘upsize’ traditional cottages into summer homes, more power boat traffic as populations rise, and increasing silt and sediment levels due to decreasing downstream water flow. In order to have a positive, forward-thinking approach to these issues we need a Lake Plan. Over the past few years, the Executive has encouraged the membership to participate in a Lake Planning process with little success. Some people have told me that they worry that a Lake Plan will be either a pie in the sky ‘value statement’ or a prescriptive list of Do’s and Don’ts developed by the Enviro-Nazi brigade! Don’t worry -a committee does not impose a Lake Plan but facilitates the development of a long-term cooperative grass roots agreement based on extensive surveying and member feedback. A Lake Plan is only successful if it represents the will of the membership.

We need to get started. I hope that all of the people who were concerned last fall about the expenditure of our money will be equally willing to step up and assist in beginning the Lake Plan process. Our membership sheet that accompanies the Newsletter asks for volunteers who would be willing to help. Please, step up and volunteer. Meetings will be short and communication is through email and conference calls. Please help out.

Since I have resigned a few times already, I won’t embarrass myself by doing it again. But with two new Vice Presidents, I see a brighter day for the LLPOA. My thanks to the Executive and specifically to Mieke for all the great work she does on our behalf. Have fun, play safe and volunteer. See you at the Regatta.

All my best wishes for you and yours,

Joe Harwood, President/Chair Loon Lake Property Owners Association llpoahaliburton@gmail.com

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Winter at the lake. Do you recognize this location?

LLPOA 2011 AGM Meeting Highlights

Twenty-five members representing all of the designated “shores” attended the AGM held at the Government Dock on August 6. Joe Harwood chaired and ‘Mieke Foster took minutes. The following is a brief summary of the meeting.

1. The 2010 AGM Minutes as summarized in the Winter Newsletter were adopted and the meeting agenda was approved.

2. Bonnie Hinchberger provided an interim 2011 financial report. See the final report on the next page.

3. Rather than making donations to various charities to recognize the passing of long-time Loon Lake residents, it was agreed that a single donation to Haliburton Highlands Health Services (HHHS) was a more appropriate option. All agreed to support a $300 donation to HHHS.

4. Mieke reviewed past membership numbers. Over two-thirds of property owners are LLPOA members. See page 5 for membership numbers for the past 12 years. Joe reiterated that newsletters are sent to all property owners to increase awareness of practices to maintain and improve lake health.

5. Mieke reported that the fishing derby was successful in terms of the number of fish caught and members attending.

6. Bonnie reported on Regatta finances. Income from activities such as the raffles and the Silent Auction helps to offset expenses such as prize ribbons, Port-a-Potty rental, etc. The Regatta is largely self-financing. Mieke thanked new volunteers who helped with event announcing and ribbon distribution. Thanks also to the Sunrise cooks.

7. Shore Reports: North: Ian reported on the excessive speed of motorcycles along the highway in front of his cottage. South: Mike reported that the Beaver Pond is sustaining itself and that there is new construction along the road. West: Background information was provided on the need to replace the Gregory Road culvert and progress to date. A motion was brought forward on behalf of Doug Harper that the LLPOA provide funding to support the installation of the replacement culvert. Extended discussion both for and against the motion followed. It was agreed to inform the larger lake community and meet again on Saturday, September 3 at 10am to put the motion to a vote.

8. The newsletter remains the best way to connect with all property owners. Advertisements will be needed to help offset printing and distribution costs. Additional email addresses are needed for timely message distribution.

9. Joe continues to receive first-hand information for the LLPOA History Project. An on-line approach may be helpful.

10. It was suggested that we publish a civic address-based list of property owners to complement the Loon Lake Community map. It would include all owners except those who have asked not to be included.

11. Two types of water testing is done over the summer. See reports on page 3. All things considered, our lake is in good condition.

12. Stephen reported that job and budget cuts in Parks Canada will have an impact on the Trent Severn Waterway (TSW). The federal and provincial governments have agreed to meet to discuss TSW governance. All agreed to support the Coalition for Equitable Water Flow with a donation of 50 cents per member.

13. Joe reported on the work of the Coalition of Haliburton Associations (CHA), a non-political interest group focused on the health of our lake communities. They recently produced an excellent Lake Steward’s Manual with lots of in-depth information on maintaining and promoting lake health.

14. Joe reported that the Lake Plan is on hold.

15. In 2008, the LLPOA began work on a set of by-laws but they did not move beyond the draft stage. Joe hopes to bring them forward for update and approval.

16. Other Business: It was noted that Highlands East should be contacted to repair the Government Dock.

17. Most members of the 2010-11 LLPOA executive were acclaimed with several new positions identified and filled. See full list below.

LPOA 2011-2012 Executive Positions & Volunteers

President - Joe Harwood Past President – Mike Miller First Vice-President – Jennifer Atkins-Mandel Second Vice-President – Jennifer Miller Treasurer – Bonnie Hinchberger Communications - Mieke Foster North Shore – Ian Burgess South Shore - Michael Miller East Shore & Backlotters – Dave Kerr / Joe Harwood West Shore – Peter Sibley Sunrise – Lyle Wetlaufer Water Committee – Peter Sibley Ice Watch – Mike Grinnell Loon Survey – Mike Grinnell Lake Steward – Joe Harwood / Mike Grinell Member at Large – Vacant

LLPOA Special Meeting September 3, 2011

Forty-two paid-up members representing all shores as well as absent property owners, were present to vote on the motion that the LLPOA give $2,000 to the GRCA for improvements to the Gregory Road culvert. There was no discussion as the subject had been communicated by email and posted on the bulletin boards. In a recorded vote, 12 approved and 35 did not approve the motion.

LLPOA Executive Conference Call May 10, 2012

Instead of a face-to face meeting involving long drives and few participants, the Executive used a conference call facility to meet and review events and activities for the coming year. All agreed that pre-call email distribution of materials made the conference call efficient and well worth the nominal expense. Now if we just had a website and webmaster…

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2011 Financial Report

Submitted by Bonnie Hinchberger, LLPOA Treasurer.

Bank Balance Jan. 1, 2011 $6,427.61

Income Bank Interest 0.51 Donations 35.00 Memberships 2,275.00 Memberships, past yrs 75.00 T-shirt sales 360.00 Regatta* 1,049.00

Total Income 3,794.51

Expenses CHA Dues 50.00 CHA Steward’s Manuals 100.00 FOCA Dues 325.25 CEWF Dues 44.50 HHHS Donation 300.00 Loon Watch Program 0.00 Insurance 923.40 Fishing Derby 39.67 Mailing, Office Supplies 105.14 Regatta 1,150.08 Water Testing/Mileage 399.00

Total Expenses 3,437.04

Bank Balance Dec 31, 2011 $6,785.08

* Regatta income comes largely from the sale of Raffle tickets, and the Silent Auction. Your donations of items for the Raffle and Auction

are greatly appreciated and help support the LLPOA.

Loon Lake Maps and Civic Addressing

Most Loon Lake property owners have received their copy of the Loon Lake Community Map. If you did NOT receive your map, send an email to llpoahaliburton@gmail.com or contact a member of the executive at an LLPOA event.

Maps were distributed to everyone with a civic address but some property owners do not yet have a civic address. They

are listed as having vacant land even though they may have a dwelling on the property. To obtain a civic address, contact the County of Haliburton at 705-286-1333 X235 and speak with Kathy

Howe. New signs are $75 and damaged blades cost $25 to replace and install.

2011 Total Phosphorus and Water Quality

The 2011 results of Loon Lake water testing for total phosphorus and water clarity have been released by the Ministry of the Environment. Total Phosphorus (TP) concentrations are used to interpret the nutrient status of lakes, since phosphorus is the element that controls the algae growth in most Ontario lakes. Increases in phosphorus will decrease water clarity by stimulating algal growth.

Extreme concentrations of algae can affect the aesthetics of a lake and/or cause taste and odour problems in the water. A lake that has a phosphorus concentration of less than 10 µg/L TP (micrograms per liter) is considered to be an oligotrophic lake. These lakes are dilute and unproductive lakes that rarely experience nuisance algal blooms. Loon Lake's TP concentration in 2011 was 7.1 µg/L; consistently within the range of values measured from 2003 to 2011. There is no significant change and certainly no increasing trends.

Water Clarity: Increases in phosphorus will decrease water clarity by stimulating algal growth. However, water clarity cannot be used to infer nutrient status within a lake since light penetration can be affected by other factors in the water column. Water clarity measurements are valuable to track changes in the lake that may not be noticed by monitoring just TP concentrations. Loon Lake's water clarity measurement for 2011 was 5.4 meters, consistently within the range of values measured from 1998 to 2011. There is no significant change and certainly no decreasing trends.

The above article comes from Mike Grinnell’s Blog

Loon Lake Water Testing

Our program to test the quality of the water in the lake continued in 2011. Samples were collected from 10 locations around the lake by Joe Harwood and Gail and Pete Sibley. The samples were delivered by Joe Harwood and Chuck Piercy to SGS Lakefield Research Ltd for analysis. The results are as follows;

Total Coliforms CFU/100 ml Samples of June 7, 2011 6 - 26

Samples of August 2, 2011 5 - 44 Samples of September 11, 2011 1 - 24

E. Coli CFU/100 ml Provincial Water Quality Limit 100

Samples of June 7, 2011 0 - 4 Samples of August 2, 2011 0 - 7 Samples of September 11, 2011 0 - 7

All of the test results were well below the Provincial Water Quality Limit for E. Coli.

The Water Committee plans to continue the testing program in 2012. If you want to help with collecting the water samples or could deliver them to Lakefield, please contact Pete Sibley at sibleypeter@gmail.com.

Are there Bats in your Belfry?

The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) is looking to citizen scientists to help monitor bats. A condition dubbed "White-nose Syndrome" has now killed more than five million bats in eastern North America and has spread into Ontario. The fungus seems to irritate and cause bats to awaken, so they use their winter fat stores more quickly. They may leave hibernation sites and fly around outside, often in the daytime, when it's still winter and there are no food sources available. The MNR and the Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre continue to monitor the spread of the disease and determine its impact on Ontario's bats.

Bats are an important part of Ontario's biodiversity. Eight different species of bats are found in this province; the little brown and big brown bats are the most common and both are colonial roosting bats. These bats provide a valuable

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ecological service as major predators of night-flying insects. A viable bat population provides economic, environmental, and recreational (viewing) benefits.

For these reasons, the MNR values the information provided through Summer Bat Roost Surveys in which participants count bats at summer roosts. Roost structures can include bat boxes, occupied houses, barns, churches, utility buildings, unoccupied houses, bridges and other structures. Whether the roosts are artificial or natural, monitoring summer bat populations is increasingly important because of the spread of White-nose Syndrome. Continued monitoring by citizen scientists is increasingly important to document declines, survival, and reproductive success.

Contact Lesley Hale, MNR, at Lesley.hale@ontario.ca or 705-755-3247 for more information.

Thanks to Mike Miller for suggesting this newsletter story.

“Keep the ‘Family” in your Family Cottage” – a Cottage Succession Seminar Series

FOCA is again presenting the above workshops featuring Peter Lillico, Estate Planning Lawyer. The workshops will provide financial planning and guidance to waterfront owners to ensure the cottage stays in the family for future generations. Peter is accompanied by event sponsor Cottage Succession, For location details and to pre-register contact FOCA at 705-749-3622 or info@foca.on.ca.

Gravenhurst, July 7, 10am-12pm Bancroft, July 28, 10am-2pm Havelock, August 27, 10am – 12pm

A Lake Plan In Action: The Kennisis Lake Shoreline Inventory

At a recent meeting of the Coalition of Haliburton Property Owners Association (CHA), Jim Prince of the Kennisis Lake Association, presented an interesting overview of a Shoreline Inventory initiated as a result of their Lake Plan.

As you may know, the Kennisis Lake Plan was completed a few years ago and the Association is now actively following up on the priorities identified in the plan. The Plan was generated through cooperative surveys and large group consultation. The twelve priorities ranged from Water Quality to ‘Tranquility’. One of the priorities was to evaluate the health of the shore and to make general recommendations to the Association membership about shoreline remediation. A working group was created and, throughout the summer and fall, the group performed a site survey of the entire shoreline of the lake, photographed each segment and ‘evaluated’ the condition of the shoreline on a rubric scale of 1 to 10.

The evaluation gave the shoreline a score out of 10 for the four levels of shore. A ‘10’ shoreline showed a natural water area with fallen trees, rich plant growth and a variety of underwater plant life. The shore next to the water’s edge had a variety of plants, bushes and small trees holding the ground intact. Finally, the ‘10’ upper shore area had numerous trees and leafy overhang to protect the integrity of the soil.

A ‘1’ shoreline had little or no underwater plant life, a concrete wall or similar structure at the water’s edge, sparse shoreline vegetation, a cultivated lawn and few or no trees on shore.

Following the site survey, the Kennisis working group concluded that the ‘average’ shoreline score was 6.58, with many areas a 10 or a 1. Environment experts suggest that a lake requires 75% of the shore to be ‘natural’ i.e. a 10, if the lake is to maintain a healthy water quality. While Kennisis Lake is in relatively good shape, the lake would benefit from any remediation of the existing shoreline development.

As a result of the Lake Plan, the property owners on Kennisis Lake recognize the necessity to pay careful attention to the condition of the shoreline and to use best environmental practices when modifying the shoreline. The Kennisis Lake Association is to be commended on such excellent work and the Shoreline Inventory provides an excellent model for other Associations to follow.

Thanks to Joe Harwood for this report from the CHA AGM.

A Road Story – Clematis Lane Each spring, the LLPOA Newsletter features a road story that provides some background as to why a particular road was given its current name. The collected road stories will become an integral part of the LLPOA History Project. Thanks to Dave Kerr for providing information for this story.

Clematis Lane is the new name for a road that did not originally have a recognized name. Under the County of Haliburton’s Road Naming Convention, all roads with three of more dwellings are to have a separate and distinct name. Doug and Joyce Kerr put forward a road name using their surname. Unfortunately, Kerr Drive was already taken by a road on Kushog Lake that had more than three dwellings. To prevent confusion in the event of a 911 call, all road names needed to be unique so Kerrview, Kerrdale or variations of that name were not an option. A database of possible road names was available and Clematis was chosen.

Communication – What is going on - Part one

We try our best to keep members of the Loon Lake community informed. Newsletters and emails work and so do bulletin boards. Some years back, Van Holmes used some scrap building materials and created two spiffy, roofed bulletin boards, one for Gregory Road and the second for Loon Lake Road. They have held up well and provide ample space for up and coming LLPOA events as well as advertisements for missing and lost cottage paraphernalia.

Thanks, Van!!

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Communication – What is going on - Part two The following article comes from CHA. One of their services is to provide articles for association newsletters. This article was written by Bram Lebo, publisher of The Highlander and Roxanne Casey, station manager of CANOE-FM.

It’s always easy to tune into the national and international news from the Highlands, but how do you find out what’s happening right here, in our neck of the woods? You do want to keep up on things - a tax increase, change in land use or new rules at the local landfill can affect even the most occasional visitor. There are also dozens of events around the county each year, days full of activities aimed at kids, adults, visitors and lovers of arts, music, sports and nature. If you’re not tuned into local media, you could miss all the fun.

Fortunately, Haliburton County has plenty of options. Canoe FM is a local, volunteer-run radio station reaching the entire county. With hours of original programming each day, the station is a source for news, information, discussion and local events coverage. You can tune in at 100.9 on your FM dial. A bit further down that dial you’ll hit Moose FM at 93.5 FM. It’s a commercial station and therefore not as heavily steeped in that DIY country charm, but The Moose plays hit music and still covers local news and events.

For newspapers, The Highlander, available free at most corner stores, covers the entire county and offers an entertaining combination of news, arts, sports and editorial coverage. Started in 2011, the upstart has gained quite a following with its fiercely-independent approach to local news. The Haliburton Echo, though now owned by the Sun chain, is over 100 years old and has deep roots in the community. It’s a reliable source of information for the Eastern half of the county, with its sister paper, The Minden Times, covering the Western half including Minden Hills and Algonquin Highlands.

In the event of an emergency, 100.9 Canoe FM is probably your best bet. The station has a back-up generator and its team of over 80 volunteers is dedicated to keeping the community informed under any conditions, from thunderstorms to snowstorms.

Make the most of your time in the Highlands by staying in touch with local media.

The LLPOA Community

1. 2012 Membership Fees: Included with this mailing is a membership form that also has a place to apply to be part of the Lake Plan Committee as well as a section for you to tell us how you can help us or how we can help you. Annual membership remains at $25.00 per property. There is also a space for making a donation.

If you neglected to pay your membership fees last year, do include them with this year’s fees. Fees are indicated as Y (Yes, paid), N (Not paid) or D (Duplicate owner, fees paid by other owner). See the label on the membership form. Every effort is made to keep membership information up-to-date. Returning your form promptly really helps!

2. Membership Numbers: Through our database, we know how many property owners have paid their yearly membership dues. We also know that a few individuals may be forgetful. For this reason, membership labels show your status for the previous few years. These reminders often prompt members to send in dues from past years. This is appreciated! Will we finally break 100 this year?

2000 - 73 2004 - 83 2008 - 97 2001 - 69 2005 - 88 2009 - 94 2002 - 71 2006 - 98 2010 - 93 2003 - 78 2007 - 93 2011 - 90

3. Membership Information – It is Important! Personal information compiled from the membership forms is not shared, published, or distributed. It stays within the Executive. But, it is important to give us your contact information including home telephone and email address.

Last year, we needed to get a message out to all property owners about the September meeting to vote on providing financial support for the Gregory Road culvert. Then, earlier this spring, we sent out an email message to all property owners about the draft Shoreline Tree Preservation By-law.

More and more cottage associations supplement their annual newsletters with regular email messages. Emails are fast and can deliver important messages in a timely fashion. All LLPOA messages are sent as a Blind Copy so that no one’s email address is made public. If you do have a concern, you can always obtain an email account through G-mail and have that email forwarded to your regular account.

We already have many email addresses, sometimes two or more to a family, but our list is by no means complete or even up-to-date. Do take a moment to write down your email address when you return your membership form.

LLPOA Family Events and Activities!

It has been said that the LLPOA tends to focus on social events and not meaningful activities. Yes, we do sponsor and support social events, and just like a business-sponsored golf game, those occasions provide an opportunity to talk about issues and projects that can affect the whole lake. I know, I know, we all go to the lake to relax and get away from the hectic day-to-day lives we tend to lead. But our lake needs our care and our attention. We, the Executive, have been talking about a lake plan for many years now and can only look on enviously as other lakes develop their lake plans and then move ahead. It is exciting to listen to their progress; how much better it would be to be part of something that will have a lasting benefit for our lake and the next generation of property owners. Don’t be shy! Approach a member of the Executive at any of the following events and let us know how you can help us achieve our goal.

1. Rock Bass Fishing Derby and Wiener Roast: Mark your calendar for Saturday morning, June 30, 2012 (rain date Sunday, July 1) Open to all ages. Prizes for largest and most fish caught.

Everyone – mom, dad, daughters, sons, grandmas, grandpas, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, cousins, and friends - is invited to join in the fun.

The Fishing Derby is a family affair for the Ottens

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Registration takes place at the Government Dock at 9:30 am; fishing is from 10:00-12:00 noon. The Wiener Roast at 12:00 noon is free and is followed by the awarding of prizes at 12:30 p.m. Everyone, children and adults, is welcome. Members of the LLPOA Executive will be there to listen to your comments, suggestions, and ideas.

Thanks again to Heather and Martinus Otten who provide the hot dogs, drinks and obtain all the terrific prizes for the winners.

2. Loon Lake Annual Wine Tasting Event

3. Annual Regatta: Reserve Saturday morning and most of the afternoon on August 4 (rain date is Sunday, August 5) for the annual LLPOA Regatta. Location: Sunrise (Drive to 16294 Highway 118 or go by boat to where the lake flows out towards Stump Lake) at 10:00 a.m. sharp. Don’t be late! Check the bulletin boards and page 8 for events.

The Regatta is a family-focused fun and social event for all members of the LLPOA community. You can donate silent auction items, join in events, renew friendships, discuss lake issues, or just sit back and

watch.

You’re never too old to have fun at the Regatta!

There are lots of small ways that you can help make the Regatta a success. You can help by selling raffle tickets, managing the raffle and Silent Auction tables, giving out winning ribbons, selling T-shirts, announcing events, etc.

Thank you Sunrise!

We are especially grateful to Sunrise for letting the LLPOA use their property for the annual Regatta. Sunrise has a long history at the lake. Initially, it was a Resort that was then purchased by long-term renters. We appreciate your on-going support and involvement in the Regatta.

Action Central for the Regatta

This is where you can pay your memberships, buy T-shirts, purchase food tickets, obtain your prize ribbons, sign up for long distance races, have questions answered, etc.

Loon Lake T-shirts

Loon Lake T-shirts, in light grey or light blue will be available at all LLPOA events.

These T-shirts are a bargain at $10 each, two for $15, or 3 for $20. There are only a limited number of small and medium sizes still available

Winners of all ages from last year’s Itty-Bitty Canoe Race.

4. LLPOA 2011 Annual General Meeting: The LLPOA AGM takes place on Saturday, August 11, 10:00 a.m. (rain date is Sunday, August 12) at the Government Dock.

Reports will be received, issues discussed, and the 2012-2013 Executive will be elected. Do come and be prepared to discuss the business of the lake. Let us know in advance if you have an issue you would like to discuss. Adults of all ages are encouraged to attend.

Remember to bring your lawn chairs!

The July Canoe Scavenger Hunt / Race

This is a proposed mid-July event that we feel would appeal to a teen / young adult audience. The concept is to set up locations around the lake where teams in canoes must go to find answers to questions. It’s like the Amazing Race in canoes. Teams would register at the Government Dock and obtain their first clue. First team back with the correct answers is the winner. But, we need someone to take the lead. Let us know if you can help set up this event.

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The Gull Island Markers

Last year we included a picture of the Gull Island markers.

Initially the markers were put in and removed by Van Holmes. Then Mike Grinnell volunteered. The task has now been taken on by the next generation. Ken Grinnell has taken over from his dad. Thank you Ken!

Dysart’s Cottage Kit

The award-winning Cottage Kit was developed for cottagers who rent out their cottage and want to ensure garbage and recycling are properly managed. The Kit contains printed information, a one-time Landfill Pass, transparent bags for garbage and recycling and a map of landfill sites with hours of operation. Kits are $3 each or ten for $25. The Kits are available from the Municipal Office or one of the Dysart et al landfill sites. Contact Shannon Billings at 705-457-1740 x 59.

Support our Advertisers!

If you know of or own a business that wants to spread their message, consider an ad in the newsletter. Just let us know.

Creative and Fun in Cottage Country

The Haliburton School of The Arts is a special place where beginners, professionals, children and adults gather together and create. Perennial favourites combine with new offerings and instructors. This year there are over 350 courses to whet your creative appetite.

Adults can blow glass, make paddles, sew kilts, carve birds, throw pots, take pictures, make sandals, play the ukulele, guitar, violin, cello or harp, sing, and paint, hammer or quilt. Kids can cook, paint, sculpt, learn archery, throw pots, and make skateboard decks, rings, and music. Spend a day or spend a week. Escape on your own or bring friends and family along. There’s something for everyone!

Visit www.hsta.ca or contact the school at createit@hsta.ca or 1-866-353-6464.

A Brief Commentary on the Trent Severn Waterway

Austerity: It is not yet known what the full impact of reduced funding (operating budget dropped from $16M to $13M) will be for the Trent-Severn generally, and the reservoir lakes specifically. While it may be business as usual in the canal portion this year, next year may have a shorter season and a significant staff reduction. Water management is said to be unaffected because of public safety concerns.

While a shorter season may be perceived as more water retained in the Highlands, this may be offset by having to lower water levels to winter set levels sooner. This could have repercussions for fish spawning. Intentions will be made known through future newsletters and in information posted on the website of the Coalition for Equitable Water Flow (www.cewf.ca).

Water Levels This Year: The reservoirs were filled to within 95 percent of capacity this year not necessarily as a result of good management but certainly of good luck. Anticipating the possibility of a quick, warm spring, the TSW had logs put in all dams in January. Ordinarily, they have no staff to do this then but a dam project that fell through freed up some manpower. This saved the reservoir lakes from a much lower water situation as our lake water resources maintain the canal lakes and the Waterway, especially in dry summers.

Lake Trout Survival

Lake trout inhabit only 1% of the 200,000 lakes in Ontario and a large number of these lakes are in the Haliburton and Bancroft areas. Unfortunately, trout survival is in jeopardy as they are threatened by overfishing, ecological change, habitat degradation and loss of genetic diversity. One of the strategies to give lake trout a better chance for survival is to change the trout fishing season closing date to Labour Day as this will give more time for female fish to survive until spawning. Lakes that have tried early closing dates found that fish populations increased significantly.

For more information, search the Internet for ontario lake trout in peril. If you support this change, contact Joe Harwood who, as Lake Steward, will advise CHA that the LLPOA supports this change.

Invading Species Report

Did you know that Loon Lake is participating in the Invading Species Awareness Program? The program is a partnership between the Ontario Federation of Anglers & Hunters and the Ministry of Natural Resources. Each year, Mike Grinnell samples lake water at three locations and then submits the samples for analysis. The results are in: for the year 2011, Loon Lake once again remains free of Zebra Mussel and Spiny Water Flea!

An invasive species is a plant or animal that has been accidentally or deliberately introduced to an area outside of its normal range. Without natural controls such as predators, they spread rapidly and can cause negative impacts to ecosystems and the economy. Cottagers can follow these steps to prevent the spread of invasive species: inspect and clean boats and motors, dispose of bait properly, groom pets after hiking, buy firewood where it will be burned, garden with native plants, and clean mud, seeds and plant parts from equipment.

mieke – llpoa spring 12 newsletter

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LOON LAKE REGATTA – SATURDAY, AUGUST 4th, 2012

(RAIN DATE - SUNDAY, August 5th )

10:00 A.M. REGISTRATION – Drop off raffle and silent auction items, pay membership fees, volunteer to help with events, say Hello! Come to the Registration Table.

10:15 A.M. FOOT RACES 1. Three-Legged Race - 6 and under; 7-9 yrs; 10-12 yrs; 13-15 yrs; 16+

2. Sack Race - 6 and under; 7-9 yrs; 10-12 yrs; 13-15 yrs; 16+ 3. Wheelbarrow Race - 6 and under; 7-9 yrs; 10-12 yrs; 13-15 yrs; 16+ 4. Egg on Spoon Race - 6 and under; 7-9 yrs; 10-12 yrs; 13-15 yrs; 16+ 5. Egg Toss - 6 and under; 7-9 yrs; 10-12 yrs; 13-15 yrs; 16+ 6. Water Balloon Toss - 6 and under; 7-9 yrs; 10-12 yrs; 13-15 yrs; 16+

(Please note for #4 and #5, bring own raw egg and spoon)

11:30 A.M. LONG DISTANCE SWIM – Open to Men and Women Gull Island to Sunrise Cottages. Each participant in the long distance swim will have to provide their own SAFETY Boat and arrange for this themselves. Please register at the Registration Desk early in the day.

12:00 P.M. LUNCH – hamburgers, hot dogs, pop and water – nominal fee

12:30 A.M. ITTY-BITTY CANOE RACE – canoe numbers purchased in advance

12:30 P.M. LONG DISTANCE CANOE DOUBLES – from Sunrise around Gull Island and back Two categories - over and under 40 years. Please register at the registration desk early in the day.

12:40 P.M. SWIMMING EVENTS 1. 6 and under – float race 25 m or greatest distance in 1 minute 2. a) Boys 9 and under - 25 m b) Girls 9 and under - 25 m 3. a) Boys 12 and under - 25 m b) Girls 12 and under - 25 m 4. a) Boys 15 and under - 75 m b) Girls 15 and under - 75 m 5. a) Men’s Open – any age - 50 m b) Women’s Open – any age - 50 m

2:00 P.M. CANOE EVENTS 1. a) Boys 12 and under - 150 m Doubles b) Girls 12 and under - 150 m Doubles 2. a) Boys 15 and under - 150 m Doubles b) Girls 15 and under - 150 m Doubles 3. a) Men’s Open – any age - 150 m Doubles b) Women’s Open – any age - 150 m Doubles 4. Mixed Doubles - 150 m 5. Four-In-A-Canoe Any Age - 150 m 6. Canoe Bobbing - 1 minute or 150 m 7. Five-Or-More-In-Any-Kind-Of-Boat - 150 m NO PADDLES OR OARS!! 8. In-And-Out-Race - 150 m Doubles 9. a) Men’s Singles - 300 m b) Women’s Singles - 300 m 10. Paddleboat Race - 100 m 11. Kayak Singles - 150 m

3:15 P.M. TUG-OF-WAR Kids 12 and under EAST VS WEST – NORTH VS SOUTH Regional winners square off for Lake Supremacy

3:30 P.M. RAFFLE DRAWS, SILENT AUCTION RESULTS and 50/50 WINNERS