Anyone interested in fishing and impacts on Bobs & Crow Lakes and for that matter, any lake in Zone 18 please visit the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) website.
The MNR website includes a Q&A document, an online survey and the dates & times of the open houses which are listed below. If you can make it to any of the open houses please do so.
| Community | Date | Location | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ottawa | May 4 | Nepean Sports Plex, Halls C and D 1701 Woodroffe Avenue |
4 p.m. – 9 p.m. |
| Kingston | May 5 | Kingston Royal Canadian Legion Branch 560 734 Montreal Street |
4 p.m. – 9 p.m. |
| Northbrook | May 11 | Northbrook Lions Hall 12328 Hwy 41 |
4 p.m. – 9 p.m. |
| Perth | May 12 | Perth Royal Canadian Legion Branch 244 26 Beckwith Street |
4 p.m. – 9 p.m. |
April 2009
The Annual General Meeting (AGM) is scheduled for Sunday, July 26 at the Bedford Hall. More details to come.
Fractional ownership
South Frontenac Council has advised our Association that Stoneridge Cove, the proposed fractional ownership development on half of the former Morter’s property on Burns Lane North, will need rezoning to enable them to build cottages that are owned and in use year round. Currently this site is zoned for Rural Residential Commercial that in part states use as a “tourist establishment”. Council has not received a request for rezoning but they have, as of mid April received a request for a building permit to construct one (1) cottage.
Boating
All pleasure craft operators will require a Pleasure Craft Operator’s Card by September 15th 2009. We are looking for instructors to provide the course and test in our area. Check out the sign boards and website for further information.
The Association has produced an 8½ x 11” laminated, foldable boating card with a map of the lakes and marine rules and regulations. The card will be available this spring. Our thanks to the Bobs and Crow Lakes Foundation for funding the boating card.
Cookbooks
The “Best of Bobs” cookbook has been reprinted and is available for sale at various camps around the lake and stores in Westport. Look for it upon your return to the lakes this summer. It makes a great gift!
Marker Buoys
The Association is investigating new buoys to replace the current ones used to mark shoals and hazards, and we hope to have some of the new buoys out on the lakes this year.
Sign Boards
We plan to have new and improved GB&CLA sign boards up for the May long weekend. Work on the new sign boards is expected to begin in mid April.
Fishing
Results of Netting
Netting done last summer in conjunction with the MNR (Ministry of Natural Resources) has revealed some interesting facts.
- No immature walleye were netted. Only fully grown adults were found, which indicates a decline in the walleye population.
- For the first time on Bobs Lake, Whitefish were netted. These fish prey on the other sport fish, so plan to target this species when you are out fishing on Bobs Lake this summer.
- The bass population appears to be healthy.
Association volunteers are working to improve walleye spawning grounds this spring, which we hope will improve that fishery.
Regulations
The Ministry of Natural Resources formed a Fisheries Management Advisory Council that is made up of area representatives. The role of the Council is to provide advice on a fish management strategy for Zone 18. The Advisory Council is studying possible regulations and impacts on all the lakes in the Zone 18 area, including Bobs & Crow Lakes.
Regulations for Pan Fish may be put into place this year. Your Association has written to the Council asking that public meetings and consultations be held before any proposed regulations are implemented.
RVCA (Rideau Valley Conservation Authority)
Spring Runoff Forecast
The lack of snow in the last half of the winter and the forecast of average amounts of rain/snow over the next few weeks means that there is little chance of flooding this spring in the Rideau Valley watershed.
The average depth of snow on March 15 is normally about 20 cm (8 inches). This year, the mid-March snow depth was zero. There have been only seven other times in the RVCA’s 34-year-history of snow measurements when the mid-March reading was zero. The most recent no-snow March was two years ago.
Flooding could still occur if we receive a heavy rain. If this happens and it appears that flooding might occur, RVCA will send bulletins to the media, municipal and provincial partners and directly to shoreline residents by email. You can get on the list by sending your email address to diane.downey@rvca.ca .
RVCA continues to keep an eye on watershed conditions with the goal of protecting life and property within the Rideau Valley.
For more information contact:
Patrick Larson
Rideau Valley Conservation Authority
613-692-3571 or 1-800-267-3504 ext 1110
patrick.larson@rvca.ca
April 18 to May 2 will be Pitch-In and Giveaway Days for South Frontenac Township
This year, Earth Day is April 22nd. In the spirit of keeping our environment clean please take some time to help us pick up litter.
For more information and details about South Frontenac’s Pitch-in and Giveaway days visit their website at www.township.southfrontenac.on.ca
Property Tax Update
On January 28th in Toronto, over 150 concerned home and cottage owners attended a public meeting to hear the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) discuss property tax reform. For updates on the meeting, and to stay on top of the latest in property taxation news, visit www.wraft.com (Waterfront Ratepayers After Fair Taxation) and www.captr.org (Coalition After Property Tax Reform).
Please note that emails to WRAFT should now be sent to wraft@bellnet.ca and for CAPTR, to bobtopp1@gmail.com.
Upcoming Workshops:
Identification of Freshwater Mussels & Native Crayfish –
Wednesday, May 27th, 9:30 am – 3:00 pm
Location: Burgess Hall, Narrows Lock Road
Presenter: Dr. Fred Schueler, Bishop Mills Natural History Centre
Registration Deadline: Friday April 24th
Registration: approx. $20.00 (to cover costs)
A copy of the booklet “Photo Field Guide to Freshwater Mussels of Ontario” is available (in a bulk order this book can be acquired from the St. Thomas Field Naturalists Club Inc. for $7 if 25 copies are ordered).
Please forward your email address and a cheque made out to Bishop Mills Natural History Centre. Cheques should be sent to Orion Clark, 691 Christie Lake North Shore Road, RR 4, Perth, ON K7H 3C6.
Excess proceeds will be returned as this is a cost recovery event that has not been offered in this area before.
If there are questions, please contact Orion at oclark@superaje.com.