SHARBOT LAKE LAKE PLAN REPORT JULY 2013 Sharbot Lake Property Owners’ Association Township of Central Frontenac County of Frontenac Ontario SHARBOT LAKE PROPERTY OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION P.O. BOX 333, SHARBOT LAKE, ON K0H 2PO www.slpoa.ca A MESSAGE TO RESIDENTS AND COTTAGERS It has taken us a long time to get to this point in the development of our lake plan. So many people have helped with the collection of information and data. The members of our association are to be commended for their efforts and photos that have been sent in. This report will act as a baseline for monitoring purposes as well as to help clarify fact from folklore when it comes to issues that affect our lake and the environment. It was very important that we involved as much of the community as possible as part of the process which included a test/pilot survey; final survey (150 responses received); a workshop; the draft reports; communication via our newsletters, website and Annual General Meetings; fundraising as well as ongoing analysis and data collection. All of the information in this document is a result of our best efforts to bring the facts to you and any discrepancies or oversights are because we are human. As your President, it is my pleasure to bring this report to you. We all care about the state of our environment and we all want the best for future generations to be able to enjoy Sharbot Lake and the pristine surroundings we all love and cherish. Carol Coupland, President, Sharbot Lake Property Owners Association 2012-2013 SLPOA LAKE PLAN - JULY 2013 report. Refer to Acknowledgements on the following page for a detailed listing. PREFACE For those folks not familiar with the history of the Sharbot Lake Property Owners’ Association, I have been able to find some minutes from 1974 when there were eleven members. Since that time interest in the area grew and grew! In 2012, 38 years later, we have over 240 members. In 1994 a Constitution for the Association was introduced and amended in 2001. A copy can be found on our website at http://slpoa.ca/Constitution.asp as well as Our guiding principles were established by more background on our association. In the Executive team and are provided here 1976 proper installation of septic tanks once more for your reference: became the project for the year and as you know we continue to focus on the SLPOA Vision & Values maintaining of efficient systems throughout To provide credible information to residents our community. Water quality became a and Central Frontenac Township to aid in priority in 1978 and SLPOA began it’s the decision making process on area membership in the Federation of Ontario development and sustainability by Cottage Association (FOCA). establishing a “current state” overview of SLPOA concerns /issues including an We are a group of concerned residents (full historical and environmental “AS IS” Plan time and seasonal) with an enduring interest for file with the Township as an input to in Sharbot Lake, the lake area we Central Frontenac for planning purposes and inhabit. Our goal is to ensure that the area to provide a solid baseline from which continues to be as beautiful and unspoiled as growth and sustainability can be effectively possible. Our “mantra” continues to be “A managed for future generations. Concern for Property and Environment”. OUR STRATEGY STATEMENT We began our Lake Plan process in June To produce a property owners/residents lake 2009 in our Spring Newsletter with the plan for Sharbot Lake that will provide article written by Rem Westland, Past education and information to members of President, “Approach to the Development of SLPOA and residents. a Lake Plan”. It was presented as a concept at the SLPOA AGM in July 2009 and it caught my interest. At our AGM in July 2011, as your incoming President, I formally launched the project and with the approval of our membership on the approach, we were off! Funding was obtained and the reports from the sub-committees were submitted for editing and inclusion in the 1 SLPOA LAKE PLAN - JULY 2013 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The following people have helped make this report possible: • E. Stillwell – Survey analysis; draft funding proposal; Trees, Shrubs and Wildflowers • B. Wilson – Inventory of Architectural Styles & MPAC co-Coordinator • D. Searles – Crown Land Use Policies • R. Pentland – Water Quality • F. Harkness & D. Cameron – History of the Area • M. Wheeler – Memories • P. Woods – Bird Inventory • J. Moon – Wild Life Inventory • K. Waller – Geology Reports • K. Browne – Printing production • M. Giroux, Letter of reference and support to SLPOA for funding • Anne Marie Young, County of Frontenac for her recommendation on funding request • J. Gutowski, Mayor Township of Central Frontenac, information and sponsorship • C. Coupland – Chair /Project Leader; 2011/12 survey; 2012 workshop; Editor AGENCY PARTNERS • Ministry of Natural Resources - Fishing Information and surveys • Ministry of Environment – Water Quality information • Mississippi Valley Conservation • Township of Central Frontenac – Land Use and Municipal Planning • Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) FUNDING: The SLPOA would like to extend appreciation to the County of Frontenac for their financial contribution to our project. The County, through the implementation of its integrated Community Sustainability Plan, recognizes that the SLPOA Lake Plan supports the pillars of sustainability. Project funding from County of Frontenac We would also like to recognize and thank W.A. Robinson Asset Management and Lake District Realty for their generous financial support. We have also received financial donations from our SLPOA members as well as funding provided from our membership dues. 2 SLPOA LAKE PLAN - JULY 2013 Table of Contents PREFACE ................................................................................................................................................. 1 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................................................................. 2 BACKGROUND ...................................................................................................................................... 4 SURVEY RESULTS ............................................................................................................................... 5 OBJECTIVES AND RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................................ 6 SHARBOT LAKE WATER QUALITY ............................................................................................ 8 A VIEW FROM 1927…....................................................................................................................... 19 SHARBOT LAKE GEOLOGY REPORT ...................................................................................... 20 DESCRIPTION OF SHARBOT LAKE .......................................................................................... 22 CROWN LAND MAP .......................................................................................................................... 24 PUBLIC USE OF CROWN LAND ................................................................................................... 25 A SHORT HISTORY OF SHARBOT LAKE ................................................................................ 28 FIRST SETTLEMENT OF SHARBOT LAKE, 1827 .................................................................. 29 WILDLIFE INVENTORY .................................................................................................................. 34 THE COMMON LOON ...................................................................................................................... 38 LIGHT POLLUTION .......................................................................................................................... 41 FISHERY ................................................................................................................................................ 42 BIRD INVENTORY ............................................................................................................................. 49 TREES, SHRUBS & WILDFLOWERS .......................................................................................... 51 A MEMORY OF GROWING UP IN SHARBOT LAKE ........................................................... 61 MEMORIES OF THE FARM ........................................................................................................... 62 SERVICES FOR SHARBOT LAKE ................................................................................................ 65 APPENDIX ............................................................................................................................................. 66 APPENDIX A - REFERENCES ........................................................................................................ 67 APPENDIX B – PROPERTY SUMMARY .................................................................................... 69 3 SLPOA LAKE PLAN - JULY 2013 BACKGROUND The SLPOA wants to establish a 2012 baseline or snapshot, of our beautiful lake to enable future comparison of data collected as well as summarizing the results of water quality results from programs we participated in for many years. As part of the Lake Partners Program, we have been taking water samples in the East Basin and had them measured each year since 1996. Because of the trout sensitive nature of the West Basin, the Province of Ontario is actively involved in