SPRING 2018

WHITHER THE Newsletter WATER LEVELS? Safety, Environment & Community As we went to press in mid-March, President’s Message the waters in Lake and the St. Lawrence River stood at 74.89 Change is often about advancement and meters, a little over a foot above the By Allison Burchell-Robinson, betterment, but we still throw up roadblocks. norm which is 74.02 meters. That TIA President It took TIA more than 25 years to convince the represents a record drop of 3.7 town fathers to build a wash room at the town feet from last year’s peak over the dock in . months from June to December. At The word change can be used as a verb and its peak in 2017, the water in the river Change can also be inconvenient or cause as a noun. The river changed course. A change reached 75.91 meters or 6 feet, six serious damage as in the water levels last year. in the course of the river was noted. Did you inches over the norm. know that there are five or six definitions of Boat owners were not able to get their boats this word in each category in the dictionary? A in or out of boathouses. Docks and lawns were Historically, however, winter water very simple word with many connotations and under water. The wake from inconsiderate boat levels have not proved to be accurate yet so often viewed by many as a threat and owners caused serious erosion and damage to indicators of spring peaks. one to be avoided at all costs. As a toddler, shorelines and buildings. Due to a cold and wet start to the my son decided that he was not going from Today, new changes are in the wind as the winter, the International Lake kindergarten to first grade because he didn’t Town of Leeds and the Ontario-St. Lawrence River Board want to change teachers. introduced their upcoming Official Plan has been allowing maximum My early summers in the thousand islands with several workshops open to the public output from the lake, reducing it were spent in a cottage lit by kerosene and to make their opinions known. This fall from time to time to manage ice then by gas lamps. My job was to clean the a conference “Ecosystems, Shorelines, conditions. A stable ice cover is kerosene lamps and to this day I cannot Education and Official Plans”, organized by necessary to avoid ice jams which abide the smell. Despite this aversion, that the Thousand Islands Watershed Land Trust could produce flooding. didn’t stop me, as a young adult, from striding was held. Please see the article by Don Ross in The great unknowables in the down to the dock to advise the Hydro crew this newsletter. equation are hydrologic . . . read that that they were not welcome. No way did I Change has opponents and proponents. RAIN and SNOW. The Board’s Rob want electricity in the family cottage. When There are among us those who would build Caldwell says it’s highly doubtful that we moved down river to our current island, bigger marinas and more condominiums. the combination of factors which I immediately discontinued the telephone There are those who would go backward as produced last year’s record high service and dismantled the antennae on the in “Yes, I prefer to row from the Town Dock to water will occur again. But then, it roof that allowed decent television reception. the Lake Fleet Group”. Other prefer the status would have been considered highly No changes for me. quo. What will happen down the line is still doubtful last year too. Today, we have all the conveniences in the unknown, but what is known is that we will To stay in the loop, go to the Board’s cottage and I wouldn’t have it any other way. adapt. We will change as changes are made. website at www.ijc.org/en_/islrbc, or I bet earlier cottagers accepted change slowly By the time you read this the seasons will find “International - St. as well but eventually the outhouse went have changed. Happy Change! Lawrence River Board” on facebook. away, the at Ivy lea was built, the ice house disappeared and water flowed upward.

Photography by Doug McLellan – Our Roots – History of the Thousand Islands Association

This history of the Thousand Islands Association is taken from the report compiled by Veronica A. Cooper in 1995 based on information from the Mark your calendars - the Boat Museum will be opening for the Gananoque Reporter and the association’s annual meetings. It covers the years season on May 19, 2018. With a 1934 through 1988. This is the third of a series of articles that will present the full season hosting exciting events, history of the association. be sure to red circle these dates and come join us on the river!

Nickel Cup Hydroplane Regatta 1964 -1974 June 2-3, 2018 Come experience the 3rd annual deckers. Shoal islands are no longer for sale. festival featuring an action $100.00 was given to Half Moon Bay to help with packed weekend of exhilarating By Allison Burchell-Robinson the continuation of church services. hydroplane races at the Museum.

In 1970, the pollution problem in the Canada Day Celebrations river expected to decrease with coming In 1964, the same prevalent issues remained on the Waterfront mandatory pump out facilities for the big paramount: garbage removal, boat waste into July 1, 2018 boats but concerns remained about the the river, no bathroom for the Bay St. Dock building of cottages on the shoal islands and Crafts and boat fun during the and no plans to lengthen the dock so in 1965 the inadequacy of the survey on pollution day, fireworks in the evening. TISRA (Thousand Islands Summer Residents conducted by Leeds, Granville and Lanark Association) voted to spend $1500 of their Health Unit. There are three forms of pollution Annual Boatshow and Parade $2300.00 balance toward the bathroom project. to be dealt with: cottage, boat and industrial. July 14, 2018 Another familiar topic raised that year was tax allocation as road maintenance would be taking Come ride the river in your own boat In a recap dated 1974, the Gananoque reporter up a larger portion of tax dollars. or hitch a ride on a parade boat! highlighted the many projects undertaken by the association: have the township change the In the late 60’s TISRA decided to take a more allocation of tax dollars; the threat of winter Sailing School Starts aggressive stance towards damage to their damage and looting of cottages; the fight to July 23, 2018 property from the wash created by large preserve the ecology of the islands and the need commercial and private vessels. Member Birks Three week-long sessions of for services at the Municipal Dock; the marking reported boat washes over 6 feet with the sailing fun and river adventures off more than 125 shoals. The association also police powerless as there is no law regulating for kids aged 8-14. agreed to operate three motor boats with the this issue. Gananoque Boat Lines added a trim help of an RCMP officer to help curb speeding cap to reduce the swell created by their double Ultimate Shootout & on the St Lawrence River. Poker Run Weekend September 5-9, 2018 A season finale weekend of boat rides, races and river entertainment.

For more information please visit tiboatmuseum.org. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for up to the minute events and happenings.

Photo: Come visit Windswept lll, the Museum’s newest acquisition. This Museum is engaging, educational, family friendly, and will contribute significantly to any visitor’s Gananoque experience. Located on the waterfront, the Museum displays 10,000 years of history including the geology, the unique Frontenac Arch ecosystem, First Peoples, early settlers, shrubs and wildflowers, to soil microbes that the War of 1812, the “Golden The Beauty of glean every bit if nutrient they can from soil Age”, and early industrialization. Shorelines and decay before it reaches the water. From “Migrations”, this year’s seasonal roots in un-compacted soil to leaves and exhibit, explores the factors that branches on a healthy shoreline, rainfall and bring both nature and humans to runoff is absorbed and slowed to a trickle, the region. By Don Ross keeping nutrient from fertilizing algae and Photography by Don Ross crowds of water plants. By contrast, water that floods across hard surfaces and tidy lawns is warmed by sun, enriched by fertilizer and laden No doubt you are reading this because you with viruses, bacteria and decaying debris are a shoreline person, And no doubt you’ve makes swimming for you and the neighbours asked or are going to ask about carrying out less pleasant, and even unhealthy. some projects on your shoreline property – and are wondering about the reasons behind Remember the realtor’s line about the million restrictions and permits. dollar view? That view is what the Thousand Islands is famous for – pines towering, massive There’s much more to shorelines than a strip oaks, granite cliffs, clear waters… It’s the of land at the water’s edge. They are a broad view that never grows old. Hopefully, others transition between land and water, reaching have that same extraordinary pleasure when well inland and well into the water. They are looking across to your place on the shoreline. some of the most important places on Earth. Keeping, or restoring your place in a picture- Simply put, regulations are all about your role perfect field of view could be the hardest but in helping to protect the values we all share in most rewarding challenge you’ll ever face. And this wonderful place. as the Kentucky novelist and farmer Wendall The Museum and Gift Shop are Berry said just a few years back, “Do unto fully accessible. Admission is by There are very good reasons and very clear those downstream, as you would have those donation. Visit the website at science behind the regulations surrounding upstream do unto you”. 1000islandsheritagemuseum.com shoreline development. The efforts of the for more information. TIA, the Thousand Islands Watershed Land The many groups and agencies including the Trust, Watersheds Canada, MNRF, TIARA, TIA are together creating a handbook with the Save the River, the conservation authority reasons and how-to that will help everyone and several others, including township and understand the science and share the stories county planners, are working to track down behind the shoreline regulations. Watch these and present in clear and readable language, pages for where and how to get your copy. It just what’s behind the rules and regs. When will be worth a million dollar view. one wonders what’s behind the regulations, it all comes down to keeping the water in good health. And it takes a shoreline community and all of its members – including you, and the Hopefully this will help in the Township finned, furred, winged or leaved to keep your Leeds and Thousand Islands Official water healthy. Planning Review process. Check the TLTI website www.leeds1000islands.ca/en/ The hard work begins well back from the governing/official-plan-review-2017-18.aspx water’s edge. Whatever flows downslope for ways to have your say. will get to the water. Nature evolved an Photography by Finn Long exceptionally effective purifier – from trees, TIA Officers THE OLD BOATHOUSE

President: Allison Burchell-Robinson Secretary-Treasurer: Deborah McGee

By Jay M. Siegel Directors

Rob Aitchison Troy Donovan The article on the history of the that name, and the date “1897”, being Peter Fitton Thousand Islands Association in the decoratively cut-out in the front fascia Bryan Jones Summer 2017 Newsletter was of insert. It is barely visible, in the picture. George Kittredge particular interest to me. The structure The Whites operated the entire property Ormond Murphy with three windows, in dark shadow, in as a “cottage colony”, with four units in David Orr the background of the picture of M.J. Thelma, one unit in the upper level of Paul Regan King’s Store, is our current boathouse in the boathouse, and two units in a duplex Thornley Stoker Ivy Lea. structure (still there) on the rise between Ken White My parents purchased the property Thelma and the boathouse. My guess Emeritus: Graham Armstrong, William Hale containing the boathouse from John and is that the property was also operated as Edith White in 1966. Mr. White stated the a cottage colony by the Andersons, location was known as “King’s Landing, the name referred to Marcus J. King, a The dock along the entire waterfront TIA Membership former owner of the property who sold from Thelma to our boathouse was it to John and Gertrude Anderson, who under water for much of this past Those white shoal markers are placed and sold it to John and Edith White in 1961. summer (2017), making it impossible maintained by TIA and Save the River. They to moor our boat there and thus have would not be there if it were not for you as At the time my parents purchased access to the property from the water. the program receives no outside funding. the property the lower level of the Your membership makes it possible! boathouse had been floored over and The tour boats pictured in the was no longer used to store a boat. Newsletter photo also brought to Please take a moment to consider what it It remains that way today, used as a mind more tranquil days on the River, would mean to be on the river with no shoal workshop and storage area for boating before the advent of the massive-wake- markers. You can join TIA by going to our and recreational items. The upper level creating behemoths that now churn web site thousandislandsassocation.com and remains a single room guest facility. the water and bounce us small-boat clicking on membership or you can use the There have been several renovations to River Rats about like corks. It was not enclosed form to send along with your check the boathouse since 1966 but it retains uncommon in those days for two young to the Canadian or US address listed below. the same basic outline. teenage boys to voyage from Ivy Lea to Alexandria Bay in a 12 foot “fisherman” The light colored building beyond with a 9.9 horsepower motor, or to camp Membership Fees: our boathouse with the open door about on unoccupied islands for days at was another boathouse that finally a time. I know–I was one of them. collapsed into the River. It was removed. Single: $50 (Includes 1 AGM breakfast) September 2017 Thank you for stirring up some Couple: $75 (Includes 2 AGM breakfasts) treasured memories. The large structure in the foreground Family: $100 (Includes 4 AGM breakfasts) (M.J. King’s Store) is no longer there. The Photo: M.J. King’s Store, Thousand Islands, building immediately beyond the large Annual General Meeting (AGM): Ontario. structure was and is known as “Thelma” Saturday, July 21, 2018

THOUSAND ISLANDS ASSOCIATION [email protected]

Canadian Address: P.O. Box 274, Gananoque, ON K7G 2T8 U.S. Address: P.O. Box 718, , NY 13640 thousandislandsassociation.com