Balsam Lake Association August 2023 Membership Meeting a Success

Thanks to all who came out to the Balsam Lake Association's August 19, 2023 members meeting. The Coboconk Legion was bursting at the seams with over 175 cottagers and residents from around the lake joining us for the event. The agenda included, Fire Chief Terry Jones kicking the session off with a safety message and Mayor Doug Elmslie sharing the City of Kawartha Lakes strategic planning process and focus on protecting the environment in the face of unprecidented growth. Dave Mowat, former Chief of the Alderville First Nation joined as the key note speaker on the Indigenous History of the area and Jeff Berthelette covered the importance of protecting the lake from the spread of invasive species. Unfortunately we ran short of time to have Jennifer Wilson cover the plans for the Summit Wellness Centre but Jen was available with the site plans and to answer questions. The Kawartha Fire and Rescue crew was also on site with one of their new rescue boats. 

We recorded the session for those not able to join. You can access the recording using the link below. (Note: it's a large file so please give it a minute to load)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/15aHuW4yRoPj4FyklXOVRIfh6swwZK89i/view?usp=drive_link

Indigenous History of Balsam Lake

Balsam Lake Association in-person members meetings are back this summer for the first time since the pandemic! Join us on Saturday, August 19, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm at the Coboconk Legion for a talk on Balsam Lake past, present and future. We're excited to have Chief Dave Mowat joining us as the keynote speaker to share the Indigenous History of Balsam Lake, along with Mayor Doug Elmslie to talk about the City of Kawartha Lakes strategic plan on protecting the environment and Jeff Betherlette from the Ontario Federation of Hunters and Anglers on how to protect Balsam Lake from the transfer of invasive species and Jennifer Wilson from the Coboconk, Norland and Area Chamber of Commerce with an update on the Summit Wellness Centre. Admission to the event is free. 

In-Water & Shoreline Work

We've recieved several inquiries from BLA members about in-water and shoreline work around the lake. In-water and shoreline work is regulated by Parks Canada Trent-Severn Waterway (PC-TSW) who require that a permit be obtained before in-water or shoreline work is undertaken. Here's information from PC-TSW on the permitting process and who to contact if you have questions or concerns with work underway. 

To obtain information on in-water and shoreline work permitting, such as policies and application forms, please visit the Rideau Canal and Trent-Severn Waterway page of the Parks Canada website at Permits - Trent-Severn Waterway National Historic Site (pc.gc.ca) and Legislation and policy - Trent-Severn Waterway National Historic Site (pc.gc.ca)

Please note that the holders of permits for in-water and shoreline works are required to post a notification page at the waterfront and roadside of their property.  The notification page is included as part of their permit and includes the permit number and contact information for the Trent-Severn Waterway Office.

Should you witness shoreline or in-water work that you have concerns about contact the Trent-Severn Waterway via e-mail at on-tsw-vnts.permits-permis@pc.gc.ca and include as much of the information listed below as possible:

• Permit number (if available)
• Date(s) you witnessed the work occur
• Description of the work
• Photos of the work
• Name of contractor 
• Name of property owner
• Property location (911 address and body of water)

City of Kawartha Lakes Seeks Input on Short Term Rentals

The City of Kawartha Lakes is currently seeking public input on the impacts (positive and negative) of short term rentals in the municipality through a short survey. The survey results will be combined with 2022 complaint monitoring to inform a draft regulatory by-law. "A Public Meeting is planned for the end of February 2023. Comments from the Public Meeting, along with all other public input will be brought to Council outlining options to regulate and license Short Term Rentals in Kawartha Lakes by March 31, 2023." The City's survey can be accessed through the link below. The survey closes Feb 15, 2023

https://www.kawarthalakes.ca/en/news/kawartha-lakes-is-seeking-public-input-via-a-survey-regarding-short-term-rentals-in-the-municipality.aspx

Signs of Spring in Balsam Lake

Balsam responds quickly to springtime conditions. This significant season brings brighter light levels and longer daylight triggering plant growth on land and in the water. The increased sunlight also heats the surface waters gradually warming to greater depths as summer temperatures arrive.

This natural spring process triggers the regeneration of plant and animal life along the shoreline and later in June and July to the deeper waters of the lake.

For keen Lake observers you make see sudden changes in the water colour immediately after ice disappears continuing through June. Bright greens, changing to a murky reddish brown later in a week or sudden crashes leaving a crystal clear blue appearance are signs that aquatic life is preparing for a healthy and normal summer ahead.

This kaleidoscope of colour results from underwater life taking turns at exploding in the water column (called blooms) and in turn being consumed by other plankton or simply dissolving away to provide nutrients to the life beneath the waves. Each of these species of algae and plankton communities are responding to precise water conditions. For thousands of years, specifically sequenced, these aquatic species bloom and disappear giving life to another species in the food web beneath the waves. Aquatic biologists monitoring the health of the underwater food web study the blooms to forecast fish and ecosystem health and water quality.

This photo shows healthy shoreline algae in Balsam from mid May, 2020. This species attaches to rocks and logs in the wave zone. Importantly, it provides early season invertebrate grazers with food and dense growth to hide emerging (fish) fry from predators.