E.L.C.A. Eagle Lake Conservation Association P.O. Box 539, South River, Ontario, P0A 1X0

NEWS AND PROJECTS

LAKE PLAN UPDATE

In 2005, the ELCA retained Planscape, a Bracebridge based company, to assist in the preparation of a Community Lake Plan for Eagle Lake. To seek the input of the residents of Eagle Lake, a questionnaire was prepared and mailed to all the Lake property owners. Approximately 1/3 of the residents completed the survey. The results were compiled and analyzed by Planscape and used in preparing the recommendations in the Plan. In addition a public workshop was hosted in 2006 for additional input. Planscape made a final presentation at the Annual General Meeting on July 28th, 2007. The final Plan, incorporating amendments made at the AGM, is available below. We anticipate that the Plan will evolve as time goes by in order to stay current with the issues faced around our Lake.

The Plan includes recommendations for amendments to the existing Machar Township Official Plan to provide stronger guidance with respect to development on and near the Lake. These amendments would encourage all development to be low profile and to maintain naturalized shorelines. There would be minimum standards for lot sizes and restrictions on the size and type of development. Site plan control would be required for new development and significant redevelopment. See Appendix 3 for the full text. An Implementation Committee is working with Machar Township Council to get these amendments to the Official Plan in place. Part of the process will involve the holding of a public meeting. Watch for further information on this.

A summary of the Lake Plan is being prepared, and a copy will be provided to all Lake residents by summer 2008. This summary will also include advice and suggestions on how we can all be good stewards of the Lake.

• Eagle Lake Community Plan
• Appendix 1 - Existing Official Plan Policies - Township of Machar
• Appendix 2 - Existing Zoning Regulations - Township of Machar
• Appendix 3 - Proposed Official Plan Policies
• Proposed Official Plan Schedules A1 and A2
• Community Plan Maps

NEWS

ELCA WINS COVETED
JERRY STRICKLAND AWARD

In the fall of 2003, the Eagle Lake Conservation Association was awarded the Jerry Strickland Award of Merit. This award is presented by the Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Association (FOCA) to a member association. The association chosen must have realized a significant accomplishment which benefits their cottagers in general, and its work with members and the surrounding area.

Judging for the award included the following criteria: Environmental Activities, Land Use Planning, Research and/or Education, Recreational Boating, Taxation and Political Activity.

The Award for the Eagle Lake Conservation Association was presented to Gail Henderson, accompanied by Lynn Loney, at a special presentation in Toronto during the FOCA Fall meeting, by Environment Committee Chair, Catherine Mackenzie. This was indeed an honour that is shared by many, many volunteers, cottagers and year-round residents of Eagle Lake and Machar Township.

SPECIAL PROJECTS

Over the years the Association has sponsored a number of special projects to fulfill its key objectives. These are dependent on the availability of funding and the active participation of Association volunteers. In the past few years there have been a number of examples of these types of projects.

LAKE MARKERS

Anyone who has boated on Eagle Lake is well aware of the many hazards that exist, especially for power boaters. As a result of financial cutbacks, the Ministry of Natural Resources of Ontario stopped putting marker buoys out on Eagle Lake. Because they are essential to safe boating, the Association assumed the responsibility for putting the markers out in the spring and removing them in the fall.

WATER QUALITY SURVEY

Monitoring of water quality has been conducted by volunteers for over 20 years.

Every spring a sample of water is sent to the Dorset Environmental Science Center to be analyzed for phosphorus content. Phosphorus is measured because it is the element that controls algal growth. Generally, more phosphorus means more algal growth. An increase in phosphorus concentrations in a lake is likely a consequence of human activity in the watershed. Throughout the summer, Secchi disc measurements are also taken to help detect changes in water clarity - this may also indicate changes are occurring in the algal biomass of the lake. Results from these tests indicate that the water quality has declined over the last 20 years but Eagle Lake is still considered to be a low nutrient lake. However, we must all remain diligent in protecting it.

Here are a few things we all can do to protect our lake from deteriorating further:

• try to maintain a natural shoreline to increase nutrient uptake by plants and reduce erosion and nutrients leaching into the lake
• use low phosphorus detergents and soaps in our washing machines and dishwashers
• avoid fertilizing our lawns
• do not use soaps or shampoos in the lake
• pump out your septic tank every 3 - 6 years

LOON SURVEY

The relative health of a lake can be easily measured by the health of its wildlife, especially those at the top of the food chain. For 27 years a member of the Association has completed an extensive survey of the loon population on Eagle Lake to determine the number of both adult and juvenile loons. Any significant decrease could be attributed to a number of causes. It could be as a result of human activity and pollution, speed boats and other recreational use. A decreased loon population could also indicate a decline in their food souce and/or deterioration of the lake condition. The use of lead sinkers and lures, and discarded fishing line kills loons, as well as other wildlife and fowl species, when dumped overboard or left on the shorelines. Even noise can cause the young to die. Young loons can only dive to about four feet at first, and motor oil can result in the death of these young birds, as well as their parents. Please remember to stay far away from these birds while they sit on their nests, and even after they leave the nest with their young.

SEPTIC SYSTEM TESTS

Pollution from leaking septic systems is a serious threat to Eagle Lake. The water in the lake is not quickly regenerated. In effect the lake itself has a slow flush. In 2001 the Association purchased and distributed dye tablets to every residence on the lake, including those who are not members of the Association. Flushing these tablets in the toilet and doing a visual check outside for signs of the dye would indicate if the septic system was leaking. As a result of the focus on septic systems, many cottagers had their septic tanks checked and cleaned out that year. Regular maintenance and proper use will help to ensure that your septic system continues to function properly.

FISH RE-STOCKING

The fish natural to Eagle Lake are brook trout, lake trout, whitefish, brown bullhead, white sucker and the smelt. Programs to stock the lake with walleye, rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, and yellow perch have taken place over many decades. To help address the decline in the numbers of rainbow trout caught, the Ministry of Natural Resources approved a license to the ELCA back in 1999. With funding from the ELCA, Machar Township and local enthusiasts, 4,000 rainbow trout were released into the lake. This project has come to an end. Further restocking initiatives may someday be needed to maintain the rainbow trout fishery. However, we would have to work with the MNR to determine what type of fish, if any, would be suitable for our lake, given the condition of the water quality and chemistry, now and in the future.