CHARLESTON LAKE BOATER AWARENESS & SAFETY INITIATIVE (BASS)
Great news! The Charleston Lake Association Boater Awareness and Safety Initiative made it into the October issue of Cottage Life
See article
LUCKY’S ADVENTURES
A cute story about a baby loon on Webster Bay – by one of our residents (Anne Huot)
click here to read
BLUE-GREEN ALGAE BLOOM
The Provincial Park Superintendent advised us on Oct 13, 2021, that there was a blue-green algae bloom near boathouse cove and Slack Bay. Water was tested and the Public Health Inspector for Leeds and Grenville confirmed blue-green algae blooms with elevated toxins. The bloom has since dissipated. We are sharing the following information on blue-green algae to make you aware and to educate our members.
Blue-green algae blooms are a natural seasonal phenomenon that may appear in our lakes, rivers and ponds. Many of these blooms are relatively harmless; however, some species have the potential to produce toxins which may be harmful to people and animals. The presence of blue-green algae and its toxins can only be confirmed through a laboratory test, so we recommend taking a cautious approach when you suspect a blue-green algae bloom. Toxins that can cause skin irritation, nausea and vomiting, and in higher concentrations, liver problems are released when the cells break down.
The health unit advises people using surface water for recreation and drinking, to become familiar with blue-green algae so they can make informed decisions on when to avoid contact with the water. Algae blooms do degrade with time; however, it is not possible to say whether the toxins have completely left the area. Once the toxin is released from the cell, where it goes is dependent on the local characteristics of water movement in the area. The toxin will eventually be diluted into the body of water as any other soluble compound.
LEVEL 2 LOW WATER CONDITION FOR CATARAQUI REGION (July 12, 2021)
Kingston ON – Cataraqui Conservation with their Low Water Response Team has confirmed a Level 2 Low Water Condition today for the area extending from Napanee to Brockville and north to Newboro due to the continued lower than normal amount of rainfall for the month of June. “The month of June was wetter than May, however the rain deficit continues with the monthly regional precipitation average being only 68% of normal. Without an extended period of normal rain or higher than normal rain it will not be possible to move out of a low water condition. Some relief in the form of cooler, wetter weather is forecast which may improve conditions over the month of July,” explained Cataraqui Conservation Watershed Planning Coordinator, Holly Evans.
“All monitored inland streams are flowing below the average flow rate for this time of year, and many have triggered low water thresholds. If the region does not see sustained amounts of rainfall this month it is likely the Cataraqui Region will stay in a Level II Low Water Condition for July.”
Low water conditions are based upon precipitation and stream flow indicators and a Level 2 low water confirmation is determined by Cataraqui Conservation and the Cataraqui Region Low Water Response Team as part of the Ontario Low Water Response Program.
A Level 2 low water condition is the second of three levels and reflects a potentially serious water supply problem if current precipitation and stream flows trends persist. Level 1 ‘Minor’ suggests a potential water supply problem and Level 3 ‘Severe’ indicates a failure of the water supply to meet demand.
Residents on groundwater systems or that draw from inland lakes or streams are asked to voluntarily conserve water by following water conservation practices:
- Reduce non-essential water uses.
- Limiting outside watering of plants and lawns. If you must water your lawn, early morning or later evening watering reduces evaporation.
- Note that lawns naturally become dormant during times of low water and will recover quickly. Lawns that have turned brown from the drought are not “dead”, the grass has just gone dormant from lack of water. When rainfall returns, the grass will come out of dormancy and perk back up.
- Limit washing vehicles, driveways, and sidewalks. Use a pail of soapy water to wash your car and rinse off quickly with a hose.
- Repair leaky plumbing or fixtures to help curtail water wastage.
If a water well supply becomes low or dry, well owners are encouraged to review the Ontario Government’s “Managing your well in times of drought publication(https://www.ontario.ca/page/managing-your-water-well-times-water-shortage), and contact a local licensed water well contractor (https://www.ontario.ca/page/find-licenced-well-contractors) to assess the well and provide recommended solutions.
Municipalities may invoke water use bylaws and residents should find out what bylaws are in effect in their municipalities regarding water use as well as outdoor fires.
To help Cataraqui Conservation staff track the spread and seriousness of low water impacts on the region ,we are asking for help from the public in collecting this information. If residents have a low water concern, please let us know by filling in this quick online form:https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/7955b90fe7814d0bbef6f9b870ec6da9
Cataraqui Conservation will continue to monitor water levels and will provide updates as conditions change.
CHARLESTON LAKE ASSOCIATION AGM
July 17, 9:00 am you can join the zoom call
https://bcg.zoom.us/j/95583282807?pwd=bkZmWmgwdDYraEZxaC9JU25OY1dzUT09;
or JOIN FROM AUDIO DEVICE OR PHONE (manual dial in)
CHARLESTON LAKE FIREWORKS
Bang, boom, kaboom! After checking all the options; the best, safest decision agreed upon by Athens Township, Charleston Lake FX Committee and COVID restrictions is this: fireworks will be postponed to Saturday July 31st, 2021.
DEBUNKINIG 4 COMMON MYTHS ABOUT TICKS (Cottage Life Article)
Click here
CHARLESTON LAKE ASSOCIATION INFO CENTRE
The Information Centre is now open for the 2021 season!
Hours of Operation
May and June: Open weekends from 9 am -3 pm
July and August: Open Thursday – Monday from 9 am – 3 pm (closed Tuesday & Wednesday)
We sell the following environmental products: liquid bleach, laundry liquid, laundry stain remover, fabric softener, dishwashing liquid, toilet bowl cleaner, pet stain and odour remover, window cleaner, multi surface cleaner, liquid hand soap, bath bard, shampoo, moisturizer and babu cloth.
CHARLESTON LAKE INFO CENTRE
The Charleston Lake Association Info Centre’s foundation had begun to sag due to uneven settling of the foundation blocks. Paul Johnston stepped in and did the work and provided materials at no charge to the Association. Paul said that he felt that the Association did a lot for Charleston Lake residents and he wanted to contribute his services free of charge. Paul has been a general contractor in the Charleston Lake area for many years. If you need some renovation work done, Paul Johnson General Contracting can be reached at 613-924-9782.
STUDENT PART-TIME SUMMER EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
The Charleston Lake Association (CLA) is launching a Boater Awareness Safety initiative. One of the main components of the initiative is education and awareness.
Consequently, we are hiring summer students to assist in this endeavor. Students will be working in pairs. The main duties will be to distribute educational material and pamphlets at boat launches. The students will also be required to conduct short surveys on behalf of the CLA.
Click for more info and application form
CLA TO LAUNCH BOATING AWARENESS AND SAFETY INITIATIVE (Summer 2021)
This Summer, the CLA will launch a major new initiative aimed at reducing boat speed and noise, and to promote safe boating etiquette. The initiative, known as BASS (Boater Awareness and Safety System), will have five key elements:
- Improved signage at public boat ramps
- Traditional media (e.g. CLA member newsletter)
- Web-based media (e.g. Boating section on CLA website)
- Collateral material (e.g. educational pamphlets and plasticized map)
- Youth programs (e.g. boating safety modules via CLA summer camp)
“For many years now, about 80% of the complaints we get as an Association are related to boat noise, speed, and wake,” said CLA President Bill Hallam, “and while it is up to Transport Canada and the OPP to enforce the law, we certainly have the moral authority to promote safe and respectful boating.”
Charleston Lake is not alone in seeing an increase in faster, noisier boats. And more recently, wake boats have become more common, and when operated close to shore can cause significant shoreline erosion, and damage to wildlife such as Loon nests. The BASS initiative aims to increase boater awareness of the different Federal and Provincial laws that govern the use of powered and unpowered watercraft, and build awareness of how operators can enjoy their boats while considering the interest of other users and residents of the lake, including wildlife.
CLA is especially proud that the BASS Initiative was selected from among dozens of applications from across Canada to receive financial support from Transport Canada’s Boating Safety Contribution Program. This contribution will off set a significant portion of the costs of the initiative.
The BASS initiative was developed by a committee of the CLA Board, chaired by John Webster. Other members included Steve Arthur, Bill Hallam, Michael McAdoo, and Rocci Pagnello. Said Webster: “Our committee looked at several different ideas, and then decided that we needed to take a systematic approach that would reach boaters in several ways,” Watch for new signs to go up at the main boat launches by early Summer, along with more and better information on the CLA Website, as well as at local marinas and shops.
GYPSY MOTHS (May 2021)
In the next few days, gypsy moths eggs laid last July will hatch, bringing a wave of defoliation and ecological damage – here’s what you can do to help stop them.
Of all the thousands of invasive species globally, the gypsy moth is in the top 100 of the most destructive. It’s native to Europe, where their natural diseases and predators keep numbers controlled. It was brought to North America in 1869, to Medford Massachusetts, by a person who thought the gypsy moth could be bred with silkworms for a new fabric industry. The story goes that the moths escaped out an open window – and those few escapees have now spread across eastern states and provinces. The gypsy moth is not a strong flier – but the larvae are light, and spin silk threads that carry them aloft on the wind.
The invader’s success owes especially to the moth’s eggs. Each female can lay up to 500 eggs. The masses of firm, round eggs are covered in a peach-like fuzz coating that can cause serious skin rashes, and the fuzz helps insulate the eggs to survive cold winters. With the spring hatch, the larvae climb into trees and shrubs, feeding mostly at night, hiding out on the underside of leaves by day. Their favourite food is oak leaves, but just about any plant will do. Colonies of thousands can strip forests of leaves, weakening trees severely, and killing them if the outbreak lasts over years.
For more info, click here
TREVELYAN FARM
Recently, the Ambrose family placed their 179 acre farm on Ballycanoe Road under a conservation easement with the Thousand Islands Watershed Land Trust (TIWLT). The farm, which includes 20 acres of Leeders Creek wetland and another 100 acres of mature and semi-mature mixed forest cover, reflects the rich biodiversity of TIWLT, in the Frontenac Biosphere Reserve. A key focus of the land trust is the Leeders Creek wetland complex, because it is so very important to protecting water quality, wildlife and in its capacity to offset both floods and drought.
For more about the Thousand Islands Watershed Land Trust programs, and how you at Charleston Lake can participate, see tiwlt.ca.
