BELMONT LAKE LAKE PLAN JULY 2007 PREFACE Belmont Lake is a special place for everyone residing on it, and for many reasons. It is special for its size and shape, clean water, natural beauty, wildlife, wetlands, and its ability to provide the opportunity for people to enjoy their cottage experience – whether it be relaxation and serenity, water sports, fishing or swimming. • The Purpose of the Lake Plan – To identify the significant social, natural and physical features that make the lake and its surrounding area a desirable place for people to live and visit. – The plan will recommend a series of actions that will ensure the long-term sustainability and healthy existence of the lake for future generations. – These actions encompass the lake’s health, beauty, wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities, as well as opportunities for residential and commercial development. – A living document that will continue to evolve over time as individual circumstances and issues occur and new information becomes available. – Review date every 5 years to establish new direction to meet current issues. • Thank you to the following Belmont Lake cottagers for your volunteered input along the way, every effort made is important and extremely valued: – Art Church, Jane Prendergast, Jonathan Church, Sylvie Samson, Mike Hammond, Helen Falconer, Bob Watson, Jean Gower and Julia Matys – French Planning Inc.; Randy French, Jasmine Chabot • The Lake Plan Committee expresses it’s gratitude to the following agencies that helped by providing material, advice, assistance, and encouragement: – Township of Havelock BelmontDRAFT Methuen – Crowe Valley Conservation Authority – Ministry of Natural Resources – Ministry of the Environment – MNDM – Department of Oceans and Fisheries – Ontario Trillium Foundation or other funding bodies i TABLE OF CONTENTS Preface ..................................................................................................................................................i Table of Contents ..................................................................................................................................ii List of Maps and Figures........................................................................................................................iv Section 1 Introduction ..........................................................................................................................1 1.1 The Purpose and Scope of the Lake Plan ..........................................................................2 1.2 Planning Approach ..........................................................................................................3 1.3 Information Sources and Support......................................................................................4 1.4 Report Structure..............................................................................................................5 Section 2 Vision, Principles and Targets ..................................................................................................6 2.1 Vision and Mandate..........................................................................................................6 2.2 Principles and Targets......................................................................................................7 Section 3 Lake Description ....................................................................................................................8 3.1 Historical Development ....................................................................................................8 3.2 General Location and Characteristics ..............................................................................10 3.3 Watershed ....................................................................................................................12 3.4 Water Levels ................................................................................................................14 3.5 Access..........................................................................................................................15 3.6 Ownership ....................................................................................................................16 Section 4 Social Elements....................................................................................................................17 4.1 Recreational Boating......................................................................................................17 4.2 Social, Cultural and Historic Sites ..................................................................................21 4.3 Landscape and Aesthetics ..............................................................................................22 4.5 Shoreline ......................................................................................................................23 4.4 Noise and Lighting ........................................................................................................2DRAFT 5 Section 5 Natural Heritage Features and Areas ......................................................................................26 5.1 Water Quality ................................................................................................................29 5.2 Vegetation ....................................................................................................................47 5.3 Wetlands ......................................................................................................................64 5.4 Streams ........................................................................................................................68 5.5 Fish Community ............................................................................................................71 5.6 Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat ..........................................................................................88 5.7 Exotic Species ............................................................................................................101 5.8 Rare Species and Species at Risk ................................................................................106 ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Section 6 Physical Elements ..............................................................................................................117 Section 7 Land Use ..........................................................................................................................120 7.1 Current Land Use ........................................................................................................120 7.1.1 Zoning By-Laws ........................................................................................................121 7.2 Shoreline Development ................................................................................................124 7.3 Residential Occupancy ................................................................................................126 7.4 Septic Systems............................................................................................................128 7.5 Public Lands Act ........................................................................................................129 Crown Land Use Regulation ....................................................................................129 Ontario Living Legacy..............................................................................................129 7.6 Municipal Planning Regulation ....................................................................................130 Official Plans ........................................................................................................131 Zoning By-laws ......................................................................................................131 Site Plan Control Regulations ..................................................................................131 Consent Agreement (51/26) ....................................................................................131 Provincial Policy Statement - See Appendix 4 for Provincial Policy Statement / Havelock Belmont Methuen Official Plan Comparison ..............................................................131 Section 8 Lake Concerns and Impacts ................................................................................................132 8.1 Lake Values ................................................................................................................132 8.2 Impacts on the Lake ....................................................................................................133 8.3 Lake Concerns and Solution ........................................................................................138 Section 9 Summary and Recommendations ........................................................................................139 Appendices ......................................................................................................................................145 Appendix 1 - Summer 2003 Resident's Survey Appendix 2 - Summary of Commercial Stakeholder Workshop Appendix 3 - Summary ofDRAFT Resident's Workshop Appendix 4 - Provincial Policy Statement / Havelock Belmont Methuen Official Plan Comparison Appendix 4 - Map of Ontario iii INTRODUCTION SECTION 1 Over the years the watershed surrounding Belmont Lake has seen many changes: highway improvements, property development, an increasing population