NEWSLETTER
Summer 2021
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Reports
Summer 2021
Enshrined in our Environmental Bill of Rights (EBR) is the right of all Ontarians to participate in decisions that significantly impact our natural environment and our future. Sadly, never in the history of our Lake Association has there been a more environmentally significant provincial decision rendered so environmentally insignificant. Public participation in decision-making on Johnston Point over the course of the last seven years has been fueled by the conviction that if this Plan of Condominium is allowed with the multiple layers of provincial protection and diversity of species at risk for the mere sake of 15 houses, then NO place in Ontario is sacred from development.
Gypsy moths caused a large amount of damage to trees in our region in the spring and summer of 2020. Many trees were devastatingly defoliated by hungry gypsy moth caterpillars. You may have first noticed small black hard bits underfoot on paths and docks. I wondered what it was. It turns out it was the gypsy moth caterpillars’ droppings called frass.
A year of surprises, 2020 was a different year for Battersea Loughborough Lake Association. The virus lockdown prevented our US based residents from coming up to their cottages. Our Board of Directors decided that the slowdown in economic activity was likely to negatively impact our local businesses and took the decision not to charge for advertising in the 2020 newsletter.
Please join us for the annual general meeting of the Loughborough Lake Association on Monday, August 29th, at 14:00 at Loughborough Heritage Orchard, 3371 Lakeside Road, Inverary, Ontario.
The BLLA Board of Directors launched another membership survey early in the new year to learn about the initiatives our membership would like us to pursue. This is what you said…
One thing is true - everything changes; and nothing stays the same.
For over 33 years, Loughborough Lake has given us so much. Sadly, that changed in 2020.
My grandfather fished our lake back in the 1940’s and his signature can still be found in the historic Loughborough Inn guest register. That’s how we, New Yorkers, discovered the lake that would add so much enjoyment to our lives.
For those of you who don’t know, the Battersea Loughborough Lake Association has forged a partnership with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) and the White Lake Fish Culture Station near Sharbot Lake to release Manitou Lake Trout fingerlings into Loughborough Lake yearly. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, our dedicated volunteers were unable to take part in the project both last spring and this year.
You have probably seen this perennial grass along roadsides as a huge area of tall, lush silvery green flower heads waving in the wind. Yes, this is an invasive plant. It was introduced to North America in the 1800s and in 2005 was recognized as Canada’s worst invasive plant by Agriculture Canada. Dense stands of this grass have spread throughout Ontario threatening the habitats of the Great Lakes and inland lakes.
My first experience at Goat Island was in 2008. I had been invited on the annual Father and Son(s) Camping Trip put on by the Goat Island Men’s Association. Now, a place is only as good as the company and the men of the Goat Island Men’s Association have become very good friends of mine. This being said, Goat Island has made the top five on a list of my favourite places on earth.
In last year’s water quality article I mentioned that the COVID-19 virus had suspended the water quality testing in 2020 with an unknown future as to when it might restart. Discussion at that time related to concerns about how the volunteers at the lakes and the government testing staff at Dorset, Ontario could be kept safe. At this point, there is still no resolution but there seems to be an expectation that the program will resume in 2021.
Loughborough Lake can be difficult to navigate, especially for guests that are new to the lake. All too often, what was supposed to be a fun day on the water, especially in the East Basin, can end up with a broken propellor or worse. This summer has seen an influx of guests new to the lake, who have experienced first hand the west basin is road more travelled. We often hear people asking: Why are there no buoys indicating the shoals?
