TABLE OF CONTENTS Preamble and Acknowledgements ........................................preceeding pages Table of Contents......................................................................................................i Summary................................................................................................................... iii 1 Introduction ..............................................................................................................1 What is a Lake Stewardship Plan? ...............................................................................1 Do Bobs and Crow Lakes Need a Lake Stewardship Plan? .....................................1 How was the Plan Developed? ...................................................................................2 Principles Behind the Stewardship Plan.......................................................................3 Developing the Vision ...................................................................................................4 Information Sources and Support ................................................................................4 Seven Objectives ...........................................................................................................6 Initial Considerations for Implementation ...................................................................6 2 Bobs and Crow Lakes – a Perspective...................................................................7 A Brief History of the Bobs and Crow Lakes Area.......................................................7 The Geographic Setting..............................................................................................12 The Landscape.............................................................................................................14 The Administrative Setting...........................................................................................15 3 Water Quality and Water Levels ...........................................................................17 Overview of Water Quality .........................................................................................17 Options for Action – Water Quality............................................................................24 Overview of Water Levels ...........................................................................................25 Options for Action – Water Levels..............................................................................28 4 Fisheries and Fishing ..............................................................................................29 Overview of Fisheries ...................................................................................................29 Options for Action – Fisheries and Fishing ................................................................32 5 Natural Environment ..............................................................................................33 Overview of Natural Environment .............................................................................33 Options for Action – Natural Environment ................................................................44 6 Boating and Recreation ........................................................................................45 Overview of Boating and Recreation .......................................................................45 Options for Action – Boating and Recreation..........................................................47 7 Emergency and Municipal Services....................................................................48 Overview of Emergency and Municipal Services....................................................48 Options for Action – Emergency and Municipal Services ......................................49 8 Development..........................................................................................................51 Overview of Priorities for Enjoyment of the Lakes ....................................................51 Options for Action........................................................................................................57 9 Sense of Community..............................................................................................59 Overview of Sense of Community .............................................................................59 Options for Action – Sense of Community................................................................59 10 Moving Forward.....................................................................................................60 Glossary.........................................................................................................................61 References....................................................................................................................68 Greater Bobs and Crow Lakes i TABLE OF CONTENTS Stewardship Plan List of Maps 1 – Relationship of Bobs Lake to Frontenac Axis and Champlain Lake........... 7 2 – Bobs Lake 1820 ................................................................................................ 10 3 – The Rideau River Watershed with Bobs and Crow Lakes........................... 13 4 – Location of Bobs and Crow Lakes and Major Access Routes................... 14 5 – Bobs and Crow Lakes ...............................................................follows page14 6 – Narrow Water Bodies and Steep Areas........................................................ 53 List of Figures Vision Statement...................................................................................................... 4 Summary of Resource Documents Prepared and Workshops ......................... 5 History of the Lakes ................................................................................................. 8 Physical Characteristics of Bobs and Crow Lakes ............................................ 15 Definitions of Trophic Status ................................................................................. 18 Bobs Lake Mean Chlorophyll ............................................................................... 18 Crow Lake Mean Chlorophyll.............................................................................. 19 Bobs Lake Total Mean Phosphorous ................................................................... 19 Crow Lake Total Mean Phosphorous .................................................................. 20 Bobs Lake Water Clarity........................................................................................ 20 Crow Lake Water Clarity ...................................................................................... 21 Optimal Trout Habitat Graph, Green Bay.......................................................... 22 Optimal Trout Habitat Graph, Crow Lake.......................................................... 22 Bobs Lake Annual Maximum and Minimum Water Levels 1900 to 2005........ 26 Bobs Lake Annual Range of Water Levels 1900 to 2005 .................................. 26 Rule Curve Governing Operation of the Bolingbroke Dam ............................ 27 Supporting Natural Environment Document ..................................................... 33 Environment Canada Guidelines for an Ecologically Healthy Watershed ... 34 Ribbon of Life ......................................................................................................... 35 Common Aquatic Plants...................................................................................... 36 Common Shoreline Shrubs and Herbs ................................................................ 37 Benefits of Protecting the Ribbon of Life............................................................ 37 Common Trees in the Bobs and Crow Lakes Watershed................................. 38 High Priority Bird Species Common to the Area................................................ 39 Mammals in the Bobs and Crow Lakes Watershed.......................................... 40 Reptiles and Amphibians in the Bobs and Crow Lakes Area .......................... 41 Rare and Species at Risk in the Bobs and Crow Lakes Area........................... 42 Invasive Species Found in the Area.................................................................... 43 Five Activities That Can Negatively Impact the Natural Landscape............. 44 Lot and Building Requirements for Three Municipalities................................... 54 TABLE OF CONTENTS ii Greater Bobs and Crow Lakes Stewardship Plan Stewardship Plan Summary An action-oriented document developed by the community… The Bobs and Crow Lakes Stewardship Plan is an action-oriented document developed by the community to reflect and preserve the special character of the lakes. Implementation of the Plan’s recommendations result in the protection of our lakes’ unique areas and features through education, land use regulation and stewardship approaches. It sets goals and objectives based on seven themes to clearly define the targets to be used as measures of success. Provides scientific and social information about our lakes… The Plan provides information on the history of the lakes and how they have changed and continue to change, an analysis and review of how we see the current situation on the lakes and the ecosystem and the pressures and challenges we see for the future. The guiding principle in preparing the Plan has been to reflect the values that people place on the lakes and how they feel we