WOLF LAKE COTTAGE ASSOCIATION
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Contents
1. President’s Message
2. KHSS Overview
Update
Comment
3. Executive
4. President’s Report
5. FR 58 Road Update – North Shore (FR 59) see attachment (mailed copies only)
6. Road Fees & Membership Dues Invoice
7. Results – Water Test August, 2002
Attachments (mailed copies only)
i. Wendy Moore FOCA article – Cottage Life Nov./Dec. 1998
ii. Wolf Lake Ballot Results KHSS August 2002
iii. WLCA letter - Letter to the Editor, Peterborough Examiner (sent but not received)
iv. WLCA letter – Mr. Jim Whelan September 13th, 2002
v. WLCA letter – Mr. Bob Walsh February 27th, 2003
vi. Recreation Reserve Act Bill 239
i. Announcement
ii. Compendium
iii. Bill 239
vii. LSC Press Release Bill 239
viii. SGKH Press Release Bill 239
ix. Chris Hodgson appointment 2003
ii. Membership Directory (also Membership Fee and 2002 Ballot schedule)
iii. WLCA Constitution
v. Minutes AGM August, 2002
vi. Past President Message
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
It has been some time since the Summer AGM’s of 2002. As the new President of the Association I would like to begin by thanking the past Executive for their dedication and hard work. I would like to thank all those cottagers that were able to come out and voice their opinions, concerns and accolades at the 2002 AGM’s. In what continues to be a very difficult issue facing Wolf Lake Cottagers, the KHSS, it is no surprise that we needed to conduct two annual general meetings, both with spirited discussions. I am aware that sometimes it can be difficult, but I believe, and I’m sure most would agree, that it is only through discussion that a consensus can be reached on such an important issue as the KHSS. I would like to welcome those new cottagers who have joined us on Wolf Lake in the last year or so. We trust that you will enjoy Wolf Lake and all it has to offer. I encourage you, if you have not already done so to get involved, your voice is important.
There remains much work to be done on this KHSS issue, especially considering recent developments. Including the appointment of Mr. Hodgson by Mr. Eves and Mr. Ouellette to lead a new round of consultations, a Provincial Election, and the most important discussions to come, that being the management phase. I would therefore encourage all private property owners to become more involved in the KHSS process as it will have a direct impact on your cottage experience, now and in the future.
This Newsletter which had been slated to go out in the fall fell victim to the KHSS process and its many delays, extensions and announcements. With little official contact over the Winter and Holiday Season, work by the Executive had continued behind the scenes. I encourage everyone to take the time to read through the Newsletter as it contains pertinent information. There continues to be meaningful e-mail contact between members that are “wired” so please check the attached directory to ensure that your information is correct and updated. There is no better way to keep informed of what is happening. Thanks to the efforts of Dan Delong you may also find the Wolf Lake website at, http://www.oocities.org/wlcaont/index.htm helpful.
Please note the “Road Fees and Membership Dues” invoice is included in this mailing and I would ask for your prompt attention to this matter.
Regards,
Todd Kearney
WOLF LAKE COTTAGE ASSOCIATION
EXECUTIVE 2002/2003
PRESIDENT
TODD KEARNEY FR 59 #137. 705-656-1022.
43 Smith Drive, Halton Hills, Ontario, L7G 5K7.
905-877-3274. smrtkearney@sympatico.ca
VICE PRESIDENT
PETER BOONSTRA FR 58B #292.
892 Orchard Cres., Peterborough, Ontario, K9L 6B5.
705-742-0147. pboonstra1@cogeco.ca
SECRETARY-TREASURER
JANIS YOUNG FR 58H #48. 705-656-2473.
45 Glenwood Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M6P 3C7.
416-604-0973. silverowl@sympatico.ca
LAKE STEWART
DIETER MARSCHKE FR 58E #20. 705-656-1708.
358 Dickens Drive, Oshawa, Ontario, L1K 1N5
905-723-6567. dfmm@enoreo.on.ca
ROAD STEWART
MARTHA HUNTER FR 58 #758. 705-656-1901.
19 Maria Street, Peterborough, Ontario, K9H 1B5
705-745-7179. davidhunter2@sympatico
Ontario Living Legacy – North Kawartha Signature Site (KHSS)
Overview
Brief Background
Ontario's Living Legacy (OLL) began when Premier Harris implemented the Lands for Life Round Table discussion during 1997 and 1998. The purpose was to gather ideas from the public on how to best manage Crown Land and resources. About 15,000 submissions were received and 242 recommendations were made in the consolidated report from the three Round Tables within the Province.
In 1999 Premier Harris introduced Ontario's Living Legacy as the second phase of this process. Also identified were several "signature sites" within the Province - one of the sites being the North Kawartha Signature Site.
A Local Stakeholder Committee (LSC) was appointed by the MNR to do further study and consultation and to make certain recommendations to the Minister of Natural Resources. The LSC goal or objective taken from the OLL Land Use Strategy – July 1999 was "To protect the natural and recreational values" of the site.
Some of the significant points the project was bound by were:
· The Kawartha Highlands Signature Site (KHSS) will receive protection by being designated either a provincial park or conservation reserve, or a combination of the two categories.
· The designation will apply only to Crown land.
· The designation of the KHSS under appropriate legislation will be completed prior to December 2003.
· Traditional recreational activities will continue in the final designation, including, but not limited to: canoeing, angling, hunting, hiking and snowmobiling.
· Commercial forestry or hydroelectric development will not be permitted in the KHSS.
The LSC was formed and given two years to provide “advice” on:
· the most appropriate protection designation for the KHSS (i.e. provincial park or conservation reserve or some combination of the two);
· appropriate minor revisions to finalizing the KHSS boundary;
· management policies within the protected area;
· developing and implementing co-stewardship management of the area.
It was also announced early in the process by area MPP Chris Hodgson and echoed by the LSC that the answer for the KHSS would be a “made in Kawartha solution”, implying local stakeholder input.
The OLL process was actually preceded by the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Round Table. I have had little experience with that process but will attach an article written by Wendy Moore the Executive Director of the Federation of Ontario Cottager Associations (FOCA) published in Cottage Life (Nov./Dec. 1998) for your information. I am also toying with the idea of constructing a timeline around these processes so that a better basic understanding can be easily attained.
OLL – KHSS Overview Con’t
Update
Shortly after the last WLCA AGM in August 2002, while awaiting a decision from the Government, the Minister of Natural Resources, Mr. Gerry Ouellette finally released the LSC’s Recommendation Report for the KHSS. This was presented to the former Minister of Natural Resources, Mr. John Snobelen, in November 2001. Before finalizing his response to the recommendations, Mr. Ouellette accompanied the release with a letter dated September 23rd, 2002, requesting public comment on the report by October 31st, 2002. The WLCA Executive agreed not to make a submission on this report during the October 12th, 2002 Executive meeting.
As a result of the public input received, the Minister, Mr. Gerry Ouellette made an announcement on December 12th, 2002, on a new Land Use Designation (LUD) for the KHSS. The Minister introduced legislation, first reading, to create a new protected area category called a Recreation Reserve and provided a further 45-day public comment period. Please see attached the announcement and the
Recreation Reserve Bill, Bill 239.
As a result of this announcement, on December 19th, 2002, the LSC produced a press release opposing the action and Bill 239. See attached.
The Stakeholders Group of the Kawartha Highlands also published a press release supporting Bill 239. See attached
In anticipation of a Spring election the Ernie Eves Ontario Government prorogued the Legislature on Wed. March 12th, 2003, until April 30th and this meant that any Bills that were on the order paper had effectively died there, including Bill 239.
On March 18th, 2003, Premier Ernie Eves and Minister of Natural Resources, Jerry Ouellette, announced that outgoing Haliburton-Victoria-Brock MPP, Chris Hodgson, our area MPP, would lead yet another consultation process with stakeholders in the KHSS. He was charge to find a consensus on the appropriate level of protection and traditional uses. No timeline was given.
As everyone is aware the controversy surrounding the release of the Ontario Government’s budget has likely ended the speculation for an early Spring election.
The process currently stands with Mr. Hodgson meeting with four groups, LSC, SGKH, OFAH and Partnership for Public Lands. The MNR is working with these groups to form a consensus on developing a “Charter” to determine the level of protection and traditional uses. Mr. Hodgson has inferred that the KHSS will fall under the Park Act with specific legislation where applicable to supercede the Park Act. Unfortunately at this time no consensus has been reached with some major issues being:
i. the name, i.e. the use of the word “Park”
ii. the rights of property owners to construct roads to their property.
iii. free use policy
and I suspect many more.
OLL – KHSS Overview Con’t.
Comment
As a result of opposition to both Bill 239 and the LSC’s Recommendations Report, the Minister of Natural Resources finds itself back at sqaure one after having initially deciding not to take the advice of the LSC and attempting to create a new LUD for the KHSS. It should be noted that the Minister was under no obligation to accept the LSC recommendations initiated by the previous Minister of Natural Resources, John Snobelen. As a result of this action the LSC certainly must have felt betrayed after its two years of work. (i.e. to select between a Provincial Park and/or Conservation Reserve with boundary adjustments, as was narrowly mandated by the government at that time.) The process that had fallen behind schedule under the LSC now finds itself further delayed and at risk of running into the December 2003 deadline. What is more disappointing is that the whole process is now at risk pending a Provincial election. What little chance there was for a local solution seems to have all but disappeared as it has risen beyond the local level and become a Provincial / Environmental issue, bringing more unnecessary political baggage with it and catching Wolf Lake Cottagers in the middle.
Please stay involved, or get involved as it is our voice that is the most important. We are the families with private property that will be directly affected. As way of an example I have provided a case of an Algonquin Park private property owner which has recently come to my attention.
I have also attached the 2002 KHSS Wolf Lake Ballot with responses. There has been great discussion surrounding this ballot outside Wolf Lake since our AGM, particularily with Bob Walsh and the group known as “The Supporters of Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park”. I have attached some of WLCA correspondence surrounding these discussions for your information. Mr. Walsh is an Anstruther Lake cottager and Co-Chair of this group along with Michael and Nancy Jack, and Dana Dvorak.
President’s Report
The Executive has had two meetings since the summer AGM’s. The first on August 18th, 2002 was to establish the responsibilities of the new Executive. The list of the new Executive and contact information is included. Please feel free to contact these individuals with any concerns you might have. The results of the KHSS ballot which was conducted during the summer of 2002 was discussed at some length and ended with general agreement, under the options provided, that a “buffer zone” was preferred with a Provincial Park designation, over a Conservation Reserve, beyond the “buffer zone”. It was agreed that the WLCA would become a member of the Stakeholder Group Of Kawartha Highlands, SGKH. It was considered important to maintain a level of information and participation with respect to the KHSS, given the importance of the issue. Fire pumps were discussed and agreed that they were cost prohibited at this time, approximately $1200 per pump. Further investigation at the next AGM was agreed to. This discussion also led into liability, where a discussion ensued on Incorporation. It was agreed that if we were to purchase fire pumps and begin having a social event of some type that liability insurance would be required and therefore Incorporating the WLCA a likely necessity. Water testing, road maintenance, the WLCA directory and Constitution were briefly discussed.
The second Executive meeting was held on October 12th, 2002. With the break-ins on Loon Call Lake, 14 or so I believe (they were apprehended), and work being done by Susan Baird on Cottage Watch, it was agreed that we would become more active in this regard. As per discussions with Susan “Cottage Watch” signs should be erected at the entrance to FR 58 and 59 and hopefully at Anstruther Lake Road at Hwy. 28. The WLCA will provide an engraving tool for cottagers to engrave valuables. I recently read that cottagers were using their license plate numbers, but hopefully we will have more information along with decals and pamphlets in the next mailing. I updated the Executive on two SGKH meetings and one NORKLA, (North Kawartha Lakes Association) meeting that I attended. Incorporation was again discussed and with the cost for the do it yourself package in the “few hundred dollar” range it was agreed that we would move forward with this item. If anyone has any expertise and would like to lend a hand it would be much appreciated. Again we briefly discussed the “Road” and electronic mailing of the Newsletter to save on cost and time. It was agreed that the WLCA would not make a submission to MNR, Mr. Gerry Ouellete regarding the LSC’s Recommendation Report deadline October 31st, 2002.
I have been working diligently with the SGKH to persuade the MNR to address the camping on the islands with little success. As it stands at this point two MNR technicians should be visiting our lake in the next week or so to evaluate the carrying capacity with respect to camping. Factors such as soil depth, availability of fire wood, proper privy and fire pit conditions should be factors in evaluating the suitability of these islands for overnight campers, group camping and motor boat camping. However with an impending Provincial Election and the future of the KHSS still in limbo, the MNR has not been motivated to address these “smaller” issues.
As some of you have noticed the Public Access Area has been worked on in the fall. I received a letter in the fall from the MNR, Mr. Tim Gray, Project Technical Specialist, Kawartha Highlands Project Office stating that they had received funding to improve access roads and boat launches. As a result Wolf Lake access point was identified as requiring some much-needed maintenance. It consisted of gravel application, grading and ditch maintenance as required.
President’s Report Con’t.
This is also a Municipal election year. It is VERY important that we have a strong voice on the Township of Kawartha council. Please keep up to date with issues and candidates and make an informed decision come November 2003. I will update further as information and candidates become available.
Road Report FR 58 (FR 59 – see attached)
Martha Hunter has been working diligently on the road and is pleased to inform everyone that the spring grading has now been completed. It included 5 loads of gravel and 5 hours of grading. I had intended to send the 2003 invoice out with a Fall mailing, as agreed to at our last AGM, however that mailing did not happen and I have included Janis’s invoice in this package. At your earliest convenience I would request your prompt attention to the invoice. We will continue to monitor and address concerns with respect to the road throughout the summer. If you have any concerns, comments, suggestions please contact Martha or myself.
Road Fees and Membership Dues 2003
WLCA would like to thank all those who have, and continue to contribute to the maintenance of our road. For the upcoming year, 2003, in an attempt to better manage, report and deploy our resources, the WLCA as discussed at our recent AGM, would like to request payment at the beginning of each year. Your consideration and help in this matter is greatly appreciated. If you have any questions or suggestions with respect to our road please contact your President, Todd Kearney or Road Steward, Martha Hunter. Thank You.
Please forward cheques to:-
W.L.C.A.
c/o Janis Young
45 Glenwood Avenue
Toronto, ON M6P 3C7
Membership Dues: 25.00
Road Maintenance Fees: 125.00
Total Due: $150.00
WLCA directory for:
Name:
Address:
Home #:
Cottage#:
Email:
Agreed to be in directory? ‚Yes ‚No If, blank please initial your agreement.
Lake Report - Results of the water tests of Aug 20th, 2002.
Sample ID Sample Temperature °C Total Coliform E.Coli
Date & Time (upon receipt) CFU/l00mL CFU/l00mL
1: Analysis Date 19-Aug-02 19-Aug-02
2: Analysis Time 12:50 12:50
3: PWQO Limits 1000 100
4: Lot 3 18-Aug-02 20:00 8.5 40 A2C A3C <2
5: Lot 22 18-Aug-02 20:00 8.5 90 A2C A3C <2
6: Lot 28 18-Aug-02 20:00 8.5 70 A2C A3C <2 A2C A3C
7: Lot 43 18-Aug-02 20:00 8.5 10 A2CA3C 2 A2CA3C
8: Lot 56 18-Aug-02 20:00 8.5 <10 A2C A3C <2 A2C
9: North Shore 18-Aug-02 20:00 8.5 <10 A2C A3C 4 A2C
A2C - Approximate result:Background Counts >200
A3C - Approximate result:Total Count exceeds 300 colonies
PWQO - provincial Water Quality Objectives
MICROBIOLOGY REMARK CODES - EXPLANATION
The use of remark codes is required for all bacterial analysis as needed. These codes are necessary when the sample filtered has a high amount of non-target bacterial growth. This non-target growth (Background bacteria) may interfere with the detection and/or enumeration of the target bacteria (E. coli). As a result, the CFU/l00mL reported must be qualified with A2C and/or A3C (If needed). This indicates that the reported result is approximate.
A2C (Background Counts > 200) : This code is used when the non-target bacterial growth on the filter exceeds 200 colonies. This background growth may interfere with the growth and/or proper enumeration of the target colony. : This code is used when the non-target bacterial growth on the filter exceeds 200 colonies. This background growth may interfere with the growth and/or proper enumeration of the target colony.
A3C (Approximate Result: Total Count Exceeds 300 Colonies: Colonies: This code is used when the target colony (E. coli) on the filter is <150, but a total colony count (including both the target and non-target colonies) exceeds 300 colonies. Again, the presence of the background bacteria may interfere with growth and/or enumeration of the target colony.
GLOSSARY
CFU/l00mL: Colony forming units per l00mL. This is the visible bacterial growth that is counted and reported per l00mL of sample.
Target colony: Refers to the bacteria we are testing for (i.e. E. coLI)
Non-target colony: Refers to any bacteria (Background bacteria) which we are not testing for. Any bacterial growth which is not E. coli.