Lake Planning Activities - An Update

Last year the Battersea Loughborough Lake Association was exploring whether and in what manner to undertake a Lake Planning project for Loughborough Lake. The members of the executive reviewed the process followed by a number of lake associations in the area, some of which undertook an extensive four year planning process. The results of all the studies seemed generally similar in nature, culminating in reports on the state of their lakes and including similar lists of priorities and possible actions. 
The issue of lake planning was reviewed and discussed at the Association’s AGM in August 2009. Aquestionnaire was distributed concerning lake planning and it was provided again in the Fall 2009 newsletter of the Association, which again reviewed this issue. Only four responses were received. All revealed similar concerns about the lake, relating to such matters as water quality, fishing, water levels, and noise. Even among the few who responded, there was no strong desire to undertake a large scale lake plan. Some concerns were expressed about the cost, time, and effort that would be needed for an exercise that would produce results similar to those arising from other lake studies.

Last November, four members of the BLLA Board of Directors met with representatives of the key environmental agencies in the area — the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ministry of the Environment, and the Cataraqui Conservation Authority. At this meeting we reviewed the status of Loughborough Lake and the programs and activities that the agencies have for the lakes in the area, and we identified a number of activities and projects that would benefit Loughborough Lake by complementing the work of these agencies. The Board of Directors has concluded that instead of undertaking a costly and extensive lake planning study the preferred approach is to pursue these complementary activities over the next few years. For 2010, three projects are being initiated.

The first project is an enhanced water quality monitoring

program under the MOE Lake Partner Program. Historically we have had two sampling stations (one in each basin). After consulting with MOE it was concluded that sampling at more stations consistently throughout the year would increase the environmental information. MOE has agreed to fund the analysis for a total of 5 stations for the next 3 years. There will be two stations in the West Basin and three stations in the East Basin of Loughborough Lake. The other two projects being developed with MNR are a Creel Fish Survey and a Shoreline Assessment. Both of these projects are awaiting the MNR approvals and funding.

Members who would like to get involved with projects on the lake, or who have projects to suggest, are encouraged to contact any board member.