The Coalition of Haliburton Property Owners Associations (CHA),working with Julia Sutton and their technology partner (TechnicalitiesPlus) have created a web page that will present you with a selection of "Native" trees, scrubs, grasses, wildflowers and ferns for your property. The tool has options to specify your soil, sunlight, moisture, and location.
Read MoreMark your calendar, because we have another awesome line-up of events at the lake this summer!
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Again PLCA will sponsor and organize this celebration of our country’s birthday. Decorated boats will meet at 2 p.m. between the two islands at the entrance to North Bay. The parade will end at the Lakehouse restaurant. All members will have food and beverage waiting for them. This is complementary for members and non-members will pay a nominal fee to help support the expense incurred by your association.
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We are currently working on the Summer 2018 edition of the PLCA newsletter and we want to hear from you! Do you have something funny, informative, interesting, nostalgic, historical, conservational or enlightening to say about life on Paudash Lake? If you do, we would love to read your article and consider it for publication in our newsletter and/or blog.
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by Mike Thomas, PLCA President -- As you may have already seen, your Board decided it was time to change the way we charge (or don’t charge) for the events the PLCA does every year. At the winter board meeting a Financial Task Force presented their report to the Board about the ‘state of financial affairs’ and suggestions on how to maintain a healthy financial situation into the future. The recommendation to charge a nominal fee to non-members who attend our events was passed by your Board. The events include the July 1st barbecue, rock bass derby, regatta (members and non-members have always paid but now non-members will pay a higher fee) and movie night.
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By David Reid & David Kells -- When the Alberta forest fires swept through Fort McMurray and nearby communities last summer you may have wondered what fire protection services are available for cottages, homes and businesses on Paudash Lake; what happens if there is a forest fire? Owners of properties that are accessible only by water, or are on roads too small for a fire truck will have a special interest in this subject. Most know that we access these emergency services by calling 911, the emergency response system for fire, medical emergency, and police emergency calls (e.g. motor vehicle collisions with injuries, break and enter in progress, active fight, family dispute with violence). For non-emergency, non-life threatening police calls (e.g. discovery of a cottage break-in or theft) call 1-888-310-1122. All calls are answered immediately, 24/7, by a live dispatcher. This is the Smith Falls Ontario Provincial Police communication centre and they will dispatch a local officer to start the investigation.
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By Mike Thomas -- In 2016, the ‘Love your Lake’ program assessed 423 properties totaling about 39km of shoreline on Upper Paudash Lake. The shoreline survey involved an assessment of the entire shoreline of Upper Paudash Lake. The report we received summarized the information on shoreline classifications, development, runoff, invasive species, habitat and recommendations and restoration opportunities. This report can be used as a source of information on the current physical conditions of Upper Paudash Lake and as a baseline to compare future surveys. It can also be used by PLCA and other partners to determine opportunities for restoration, education and stewardship on a lake wide level.
Shoreline lengths for each property were obtained from municipal property information. For properties without this data, lengths were estimated. Results were based upon the number of properties within each shoreline classification. Properties were assigned an overall category corresponding to the classification that made up the largest portion of the shoreline...
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By Ashley White, MD, MPH -- Waterfront vacant land on Paudash Lake is now a rarity. Most strips on the busy, popular parts of the lake have buildings – for better or for worse. The remaining slices of land on the quieter parts of the lake come with road or boat access problems. These can be overcome with time, money and love but, it can be annoying. So it was really exciting when my family decided to purchase a sliver of land with easy road access on Paudash Lake this spring. Over the long weekend, we gathered there to ‘move in’. How exactly does one move into land? We didn’t know. I brought some solar lamps, thinking I could landmark a bit of a driveway. Is it called a driveway when there is nothing at the end of the way? My brother brought a trailer to clear brush and some garbage (an unfortunate trade off for good access).
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FOCA is pleased to be able to announce that, effective June 1st, 2017, Ontario Regulation O.Reg.161/17 came into effect. The important changes now mean that a person can occupy public lands without a permit from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry - subject to some conditions, and only if allowed by municipal bylaw or Federal statute. This applies to: docks, boat lifts, boat ramps, and marine railways; swim rafts; single-storey boathouses; break walls and related backfill; recreational boat caches which includes canoes, kayaks and motor boats; ramps and jumps and slalom courses; bridges, culverts and causeways; recreational camping units (21 days); ice fishing huts...
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By Jan Hudson Krueger -- Paudash Lake was, once upon a time, much more shallow. A dam was erected at the northern-most end to raise the water level high enough so that boats towing logs could navigate the narrows and bring their loads to the sawmill at the outlet to the Crowe River. You can see the underwater rock ledges that mark the original shoreline. Way under the water!
For many years, the residents along Georgian Bay shores have been struggling with very low water levels. On the flip side, this year, the level of Lake Ontario has risen so much that the Toronto Islands are virtually closed till sometime in August, as of the latest report. Rivers all over cottage country, including Bancroft's York River, are flooding significantly on a yearly basis and the Trent-Severn Waterway had to remain closed over this year's Victoria Day weekend due to unsafe water levels. Driving over the canal in Peterborough showed locks full to the brim and obviously impossible to operate.
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by Mike Thomas, PLCA President -- William (Bill) Davis was born in May of 1924 in Toronto’s “Cabbagetown.” He joined the reserves the day he turned 16 in 1940 and was shipped out to the UK in 1941. In July 1944 his battalion sailed to France and immediately went into action. In late February, 1945 Bill was wounded for the second time and evacuated to Britain. While in hospital Bill volunteered for the Pacific conflict. He was subsequently shipped back to Canada but victory in the Pacific came about before his 30 day convalescence leave expired.
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Everyone loves the annual Don Thomas Memorial Rock Bass Derby! This year youths 2-18 can challenge themselves to catch as many rock bass as possible on Saturday July 9th, from 9am-noon at the Paudash Lake Marina. Participants will receive prizes and a certificate for helping protect Paudash Lake’s game fish. Registration is easier than ever, just complete the online form; it only takes 2 minutes!
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With the increasing number, size and use of cottages, the amount of sewage waste and phosphorous being produced and entering the groundwater and lake water systems is also increasing creating a higher risk for water quality deterioration. Poorly functioning, poorly maintained or under-sized septic systems are a huge factor in this regard... Council has agreed to implement a program and it is planned to start the program during the spring/summer season this year (2017). We are of the understanding that Township Staff are currently in the planning and development stages for this program. Hopefully we will be receiving information on the details of the program soon.
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"Hold on, ladies! This stretch is a real strap-snapper!" That was the usual shouted warning from Mom as she and her pals turned onto McGillivray Road, heading to the cottage from Mississauga. She would slow down a bit, but, like a horse getting close to the barn, she was too eager to get to the lake so the speed reduction was minimal.Which came first, the road or the farm for which it is named? It will remain unknown to me as the records for this area are vague and sparse. The farm was established by the senior Malcolm McGillivray in 1875, according to the rustic sign at the end of the driveway.
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Even if you own a home, you can use the principal residence exemption (PRE) on the cottage to avoid paying capital gains tax when you sell. But there are two caveats. Firstly, the property can’t be used primarily for rental income. Secondly, once you've designated your cottage as your principal residence and you sell it, for the period that you owned both your house and your cottage, you can no longer claim your house as a principal residence.
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Understanding your wake, and knowing where you are on the lake is critical to minimizing the impact of boating wakes on our lake. So when the weather warms up, ice breaks and you put your boat in the water here are some simple guidelines to follow that will increase the enjoyment of our lake for everyone!
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We have 1100 feet of shoreline at our place. When we tell people this, they often respond with a “Wow!” At which point I quickly intervene to let them know that when you consider that our dock and useable area is really only about 20 feet and the rest is shallow, weedy, and mostly unusable, it's not so “wow.” In fact, I usually use the word “crappy” to describe our shoreline. My husband hates this. “I love our shoreline,” he defends, “it's awesome!”
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Our big project in 2016 and 2017 has been and is the ‘Love Your Lake’ shoreline assessment study, in partnership with the Coalition of Haliburton Property Owners’ Associations (CHA). This summer the remaining properties on Paudash (approximately 300+) will be assessed. In April or May each property owner of lots assessed in 2016 will receive a confidential report about the results for their property.
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Everything was coated in a sturdy layer of snow for the first time in quite a few years. Like fondant on a wedding cake, the roof, the lawn, the lake, the trees, the walkway, and the roads looked fresh, clean and in waiting. A cousin said coming to Paudash was like her version of visiting Aspen, a chic Colorado Rockies ski town. All weekend, my mother referred to our home as “Aspen” and delighted in the idea of her place being a winter escape in which people could revel, never mind simply endure.
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We all care about the health of our lakes but who is looking after lake health? Governments of all stripes are cutting back on the people and programs that used to protect our lakes and give us up to date data on lake health indicators. Lake associations can help fill this void but only if all of us step up individually and become Lake Protectors. What can we do to make a difference? The Coalition of Haliburton Property Owners Associations (C.H.A.) has some of the most knowledgeable lake health scientists in Canada as scientific advisors and we asked them that question...
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