Another year gone...may 2019 be kind to you
Well it's almost a wrap for this year! After a busy summer followed by a dreary and snowy fall we find the Miss L.A off hibernating and all is quiet on the lake! Time to snuggle in for a long winter wait! Hibernation time? ... no way, not for your MLA!
Winter is a very busy time for our MLA Board and committees. You will find them at meetings, brain storming sessions and working to complete many of the projects that are currently running or starting some new ones!
So before we get too involved in seasonal fun and winter planning, we would like to thank our members and volunteers for helping and supporting us throughout the year. We wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a most happy holiday season!
If you happen to find yourself with a bit of time in the new year and are interested in discovering what the board and committee members are up to, or if you have an idea to share, or want to join, please send us an email at
info@mississippilakesassociation.org . You can also find us on Facebook.
Sincerely your MLA Board of Directors for 2018-2019
Rob Bell, President
Andre Langlois, Vice President and Secretary
Anne Gourlay-Langlois, Treasurer
Doreen Donald, Environment Committee
Melissa Dakers, Lake Steward
Dave Duncan, Boating and Recreation Committee
Richard Teahen, Roads Committee Chair
Carolyn Bredin, Director
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Lake Links Update
On 20 October another most successful Lake Links Workshop was hosted by Watersheds Canada. A wide variety of presenters covered various aspects of lake stewardship including making good land development decisions that will help protect our waters and property values. If you are thinking of changes to your waterside property and are interested in the impact of these changes on water quality you might want to review the information presented. A copy of the presentations can be found on the Watersheds Canada web site.
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Winter Safety
The upcoming season can be a fun time to get out and enjoy the wonders of our winter wonderland. But winter brings its share of danger so whether you are enjoying snowmobiling, ice fishing, winter hiking or just driving somewhere it is important to be aware of the dangers and be prepared.
If you are venturing on to the ice here are some Ice safety tips
Uneven
- remember—ice doesn’t freeze at a uniform thickness
- near-shore ice is often much thicker and safer than ice farther out, especially at the start of the winter season
- check thickness regularly with a spud bar or auger as you move farther out
- ice that formed over flowing water, springs, pressure cracks, old ice holes or around the mouths of rivers and streams can be weaker than surrounding ice
Colour
- clear blue ice is the strongest
- white or opaque ice is much weaker
- stay away from ice that looks honeycombed, common during thaws or in the spring
Driving on ice
- be careful when driving snowmobiles or vehicles over frozen lakes or rivers
- snowmobiles need at least 20 centimeters (8 inches) of clear blue ice
- light vehicles need 30 centimeters (12 inches) or more
- double the thickness if the ice is white or opaque
- heavy snow on a frozen lake or river slows down the freezing process
Before you venture out
- check ice conditions with local ice hut operators, other anglers or snowmobile organizations
- let others know where you’re planning to go and when you plan to return
- wear appropriate clothing and equipment for safety and comfort
Other winter safety sites that provide important information to refresh ourselves.
Be safe this winter so you can enjoy next summer on the lake.
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Christmas Bird Count - Carleton Place, 27th December; Lanark Highlands 30th December. Mark your calendars for this annual citizen science event sponsored by Mississippi Valley Field Naturalists (MVFN). Full details coming soon.
Update available.
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MLA Roads Committee - UPDATE
For all of you who currently live either full time or part time on a private road, the MLA Roads Committee is interested in hearing from you. There are about 35 private road associations around the lake that we know of as shown below.
Currently, the Roads Committee is looking to create a contact list of those owning or living on private roads around the lake, so the committee can reach out and address your issues.
If you are a private road association president or a resident, Richard Teahen, the chair of this committee, asks you to contact him at roads@mississippilakesassociation.org. At minimum the committee would like to have your:
- contact name
- email
- phone number and
- road association name
As per the MLA privacy policy this information will be protected and never shared with those outside the MLA.
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Cormorant Hunt Proposal
On November 20th, the Province of Ontario posted to the Environmental Registry plans to list the double-crested cormorant as a game bird and to establish a hunting season from March 15 to December 31 each year. Public comment will be received until January 3, 2019. If you are interested in this issue Read More
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Environment Committee Planning to Address the Threat of Eurasian Milfoil.
Although it is still early stages, plans are being developed to address the arrival of Eurasian Milfoil to Mississippi Lake.
The following links provide some background information from other lake associations that are raising awareness and trying to address this issue.
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Environment Commissioner of Ontario (ECO) Annual Report
In case you missed it in the daily news cycle the ECO's 2018 Annual Report on Environmental Protection was released on 13 November 2018.
Although recently eliminated, the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario (ECO) was an independent officer of the Legislature who reported on government progress on climate change, energy and other environmental issues.
Given the independent nature of the ECO you might be interested in reading the 2018 report on how the province is doing on protecting the environmental. Past reports on this and other issues can be found on the ECO web site.
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