SLPOA Fall 2013 Newsletter

SHARBOT LAKE PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION















FALL 2013










Septic Re-inspection and Council implement a program of mandatory IN THIS ISSUE
septic re-inspection as a means of
Once again a summer seems to have ensuring that improper or poorly- Septic Re-Inspection 1
passed by too quickly as the school maintained septic systems can be and Council
year begins. For some that means the identified so they do not Environmental Issues 2
cottage season is over for another detrimentally affect the quality of the Coordinator
year as they closed up this past waters within the Township.
Labour Day weekend while others Blue-green Algae 2
are seeing the end of the season A submission will be made to
th
approach as they hold out for Council at its September 24 Environmental 3
Thanksgiving weekend. Still others meeting calling for council to Stewardship
will get the opportunity to enjoy their approve a motion “to investigate the
piece of paradise throughout the formulation and implementation of Your Association 3 – 4
year. a comprehensive septic system re-
inspection program for the township Lake Development 4
However you enjoy it, we all wish to and further that Council establish a Chinese Lanterns 4 – 5
keep it as beautiful and clean as committee to undertake this
possible. With that in mind the investigation”. The meeting is at Lake Plan Report 5
association has been providing Picadilly Hall and the presentation
education on the impacts to the lake will be given at 6:30. SLPOA Website 5
and working together with other
associations to influence the A copy of the submission will be Lake Links Session 6
township to support goals to available on the SLPOA website at
maintain and hopefully improve the www.slpoa.ca. Membership News 6
quality of the lake.
If you are able, we ask that you
Ken Waller (Vice President) is attend the session in support of this
involved with a working group initiative. At this time, Tay Valley
composed of representatives from 8 Township has implemented
Lake Associations (including mandatory septic re-inspection and
SLPOA) within Central Frontenac similar legislation is being
that continue to work towards considered in South and North
convincing CF Township Council to Frontenac.

FALL 2013 NEWSLETTER SHARBOT LAKE PROPERTY OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION
Environmental Issues Coordinator

If you do get the chance, please say hello to Rem Westland, your Environmental Issues Coordinator from the
th
association who plans to be in attendance at the Council meeting on September 24 .

Rem Westland as the Environmental Issues Coordinator plans over the next few months is to seek guidance
from the Executive and the Membership to prioritize among the various issues of concern to all of us. He is
drawing the issues from our 2013 Lake Plan and proposes to group them within the categories of water
pollution, weeds, bacteria, and climate change (page 8 of the Plan). Most of his two-year tenure will then be
spent - working with volunteers - following up on our priorities and implementing our decisions. He’s also
tossing about the idea of a blog about our Lake (proposed by Ralph Pentland) to which all interested readers
could contribute. He foresees a kind of never-ending story which unfolds from our respective contributions.
Stay tuned!

Blue-green Algae

If you have been at the lake for any length of time I am sure that you have noticed how it has changed over the
years. This is becoming more of an issue that affects all of the property owners on and near the lake. I am sure
you have heard of blue-green algae but have you heard that it has been found in the northern colder lakes. This
was described in the Cottage Life Summer issue and they provided permission to include the article in this
email for you review.













































Reprinted with permission of Conor Mihell and Cottage Life (cottagelife.com)


2
2

FALL 2013 NEWSLETTER SHARBOT LAKE PROPERTY OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION

Environmental Stewardship  “The reason common sense often does not
prevail in cottage country is that the majority
If you get the Cottage Life magazine there was often does not realize it is the majority.”
another article of interest titled “Make a Splash”
by Allen Casey (pgs 59-63) in the Summer  “Let’s learn to speak to each other about
edition. This article is too large to include but the sustainability at the lake. Let’s succeed
basis of the article is about how environmental there.”
stewardship impacts us. Some of the key quotes  “Stewardship is about feeling engaged,
that stood out when reading the article are: feeling good.”
 “Well-meaning experts tend to present
nature as some kind of slow-motion train These are all powerful statements and we
wreck. In my years of writing about water, encourage you to read the article in full.
I’ve been doused in doom and gloom –
eutrophication, fish-habitat loss, shoreline When reviewing these statements it is almost like a
erosion, cumulative-effects issues on call to action for the association and its members.
rivers”. You can drown in the negativity. While we all wish to ensure that our lake is
The tragedy is that it leaves some people too maintained in the best quality possible for our
hopeless to even dip a toe in the stewardship enjoyment, it appears that sometimes we focus
waters. Some environmentalists will bristle more on the negative points in an effort to
at the idea, but the truth is that volunteer emphasize the importance of the issue to everyone
stewardship must be more or less fun, or it but at the same time we forget how to make it
won’t get done. We can’t achieve enjoyable for all of us to engage in the change.
environmental sustainability through work
that’s emotionally unsustainable.
Your Association
 “You can make a good start without
breaking a sweat just by changing the way The association is only as important as the
you enjoy your cottage.” members consider it to be. If we work together we

 “Modern lake stewardship relies upon a can influence the changes we would like to see as
network of regular people who gather data we are the majority that does not realize that it is
on the home waters.” the majority, as mentioned in this article.

 “This is precisely the reason to become We all have an ownership in the future of the lake
involved in stewardship: for joy. Not out of and the executive of your association would like to
guilt, but because such work gives whole ask how you would like to be involved in the
families a deeper connection.” association to make it more influential.

 “There is simply too much nature – and it is Is there a session or activity that the association
too important – to leave stewardship to could set up? Should we arrange a meeting
government bureaucracies alone. And between the councilors for a session where issues
besides our clumsy political and legal can be discussed as a municipal election is
structures are not yet adapted to relating to coming? Would you like a session about cottage
unruly nature.”
succession (provided by FOCA in 2013)?
 “Perhaps the most important thing people
can do is simply to talk to neighbours about What would you like to see from the association
sustainable community values. Real change and more importantly how would you like to get
in any society happens one household at a involved?
time.”



3
3

FALL 2013 NEWSLETTER SHARBOT LAKE PROPERTY OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION

Your Association (cont’d) Chinese Lanterns

In the same Cottage Life magazine in the Cottage Recently there have been reports
Q&A section there was a letter submitted by a of bright lights over the water and
person from Sharbot Lake in which they were forest at Sharbot Lake. Are we the
interested in the best way to identify shoals. new area for UFO’s? Through
luck and not real investigation it
Does this interest you? Would you care to be part was discovered that some people at the lake have
of a group of individuals to investigate this and found and are using Chinese Lanterns also known as
determine a solution that we can work together to Sky Lanterns.
put in place. Is there perhaps another item of
interest to you that you would like to bring At first it seems to be a scary prospect to have what
forward to see what can be done? is a small paper air balloon, fueled with an open
flame flying over the area for up to 20 minutes.

Lake Development - on Highly-sensitive Lake In reviewing the product, the paper is flame resistant
Trout Lakes (if it is subjected to flame it becomes black and
flaky) and 100% bio-degradable there is a wire
Central Frontenac Township sponsored a frame to provide structure. The concept is that with
workshop on September 7th on restrictions that the flame the lantern will only rise until the flame
apply to lake development on the West Basin of burns out at which point it returns to earth as a safe
Sharbot (as well as on 3 other CF lakes). This object. This can be read on an importer’s website at
was attended by Ken Waller and Kevin Browne http://www.flyingchineselanterns.com/. The site
along with various interested property owners. mentions that you are to ensure that the wind does
not exceed 5 mph and that you are not to tie any
The goal was to clarify restrictions resulting from weights to it. Also, never use near airports,
the Ministry of the Environment’s designation of buildings, trees, standing crops or where the lantern
these lakes as “highly sensitive lake trout lakes”. could be misinterpreted as a distress call. It also
These restrictions are designed to ensure that any states that each lantern can be a fire hazard and must
development on these lakes has no impact on the land somewhere and that you should always have
water quality. These restrictions apply to newly water or a fire extinguisher nearby. And most
created lots (from severance or change-of-of-use) importantly “USE AT YOUR OWN RISK”.
and to existing undeveloped lots.
When reviewing the website it appears to be both a
A major requirement is that the septic systems on safe product and an unsafe product depending on
these lots must be set back a minimum of 300m how you interpret the information provided.
(984 feet) from the high-water mark. The major
message of the workshop was that landowners This is becoming a major topic in cottage areas to
should consult township staff before proceeding the point that an article was even produced by
with any development on the West Basin. Cottage Life. You can find the article by Penny
Caldwell on the Cottage Life website titled “Flying
A copy of the Township’s presentation as well as lanterns a fire hazard for cottages” were it discusses
the answers to frequently asked questions, can be proposed bans, studies and countries that they are
found on the Township’s website at illegal in. The link is large so we recommend that
http://www.centralfrontenac.com/documents/Gui you go to the cottage life website (cottagelife.com)
des/2013_Lake_Mgt_Workshop.pdf . and search for “Flying Lanterns” so that you can
(You will need to type this into your web browser) read it yourself.




4
4

FALL 2013 NEWSLETTER SHARBOT LAKE PROPERTY OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION


Chinese Lanterns (cont’d) Lake Plan Report (cont’d)

Through further review it was discovered that make it evergreen so that it is constantly being
the Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM) released reviewed and changed to reflect new information
a Communique on September 19, 2012 which and to provide additional sections as we work
is a follow-up to release on May 27, 2009. towards identifying changes that influence the lake
and take into account the changing dynamics for the
In summary it states that the Flying Lanterns effects of climate change.
pose a Potential Fire Hazard. The OFM has
learned that, due to their uncontrolled and If you have suggestions for the changes and would
unpredictable flight path, they can land on like to be part of a group of volunteers to determine
trees, building rooftops, or other combustible what needs to change in the document to ensure that
properties while still ignited and potentially it reflects what is needed, we would ask that you
cause a fire. The link to website to allow you to contact the executive and let us know.
review the various communiques is:
http://www.mcscs.jus.gov.on.ca/english/FireM
arshal/FireServiceResources/Communiques/OF SLPOA Website
M_Com_2012-13.html.
(You will need to type this into your web browser) We have been making changes to the SLPOA
website to make it easier to find information so it
We hope that you will take the time to review you will see differences to what is was before. In
this topic in detail and develop your support of this you will find that we are also
conclusions. If you are against the use we ask developing a Forum area to allow for better
that you approach a neighbor that may be using communication and discussion of items between
this product and discuss your concerns as they members.
may not be aware of any potential hazard as the
packaging provides an understanding that If you wish to participate in the forum you will need
makes it a safe product. to register. As this is new, there is not presently a lot
of activity, but we hope that you will take part as it
As with most things the hazard is largely develops. Some topics will allow you to open a
influenced by the user which can increase discussion while others will only allow you to
concerns. If you see a lantern being used, the participate in an active discussion. If you would like
association would like to hear about it as we to open a discussion in an area that is restricted
would like to follow-up on this topic in the please contact the executive.
next Annual General Meeting in July 2014.
As time moves on we expect this to become a strong
tool for discussion and to determine items of
Lake Plan Report importance to the members. We look forward to
your discussions and your items of interest. Please
For everyone who renewed your membership feel free to upload photos of interest as well.
you should have received a copy of the SLPOA
Lake Plan booklet. An electronic version is Please note that as this information is public to all
also available on the SLPOA website. who review it, you are required to ensure that your
posts are relevant and courteous otherwise you may
This report is not finished as our lake will be banned as a user and your comments will be
constantly change. It is the goal of the deleted.
association to add to the original document and




5
5

FALL 2013 NEWSLETTER SHARBOT LAKE PROPERTY OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION

Lake Links Session

What are the big picture changes that are affecting lake property owners and users? Want to learn how to reach
out and move people into action on your lake or in your community? Join Kevin Browne at the 12th Annual
Lake Links Workshop and find out what is happening in lake country and what you can do to get your
communities’ attention to work with you. This year’s workshop is:
 The Lake Landscape – From Political to Practical on Saturday, October 19th, 2013 from 8:30 a.m.
to 3:30 p.m. at the Perth Civitan Hall (on Hwy 43).
Focus is on strategies for community engagement with a keynote address presented by Angus McAllister,
“Getting off the Dock – Engaging Your Lake Community Into Action”. Terry Rees, Executive Director of
Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associations (FOCA) will speak to “The New Landscape in Ontario Lake
Country”. There will be a “Building your Lake Community“ panel discussion that will highlight local lake
group examples of how they brought their lake communities together to protect, improve, and celebrate lake
health.

To pre-register, please call the Centre for Sustainable Watersheds at 613-264-1244 or email
[email protected] (be sure to include your name, organization and contact information). Cost is $15 per
participant which includes refreshments and a light lunch.



Membership News

The current membership for SLPOA as of Sept 19th, 2013 is 222. This number is due in large part to our reps
that collected for us over the summer. Thank you as we appreciate your efforts.

Membership in SLPOA is not limited to waterfront properties but is available to all property owners and
businesses around Sharbot Lake. If some of your neighbours are not members of the association please
encourage them to join by filling out the membership form below or on the website at www.slpoa.ca

If there isn't a rep in your area, please consider volunteering to collect for us. If interested please contact Joyce
Waller , Secretary/Treasurer & Membership Coordinator. If you have any questions about membership please
don't hesitate to contact Joyce.

SLPOA Membership Form


Please fill out and send to: SLPOA, P.O. Box 333, Sharbot Lake, Ontario, K0H 2P0
Please print clearly and have cheques made payable to “SLPOA” Annual Fees are $20.00.

Name: __________________________________________________________________________

Lake Location: __________________________________________________________________________
(use your 911 designation. e.g 1077A Polar Bear Lane)

Lake Phone #: (613) 279-_______________ E-mail _______________________________________

Permanent Address: _____________________________________________________________________

City: __________________________ Prov/State: ________________________________
Postal Code/ZIP __________________________ Home Phone #: (_____) ______________________
By becoming a member I acknowledge that the association will use my email address to provide information relative to the association and sessions of interest.

(Note: Our membership year goes from 1 July to 30 June of the following year) 6
6