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THE CLEAR STONY
WHITE LAKES PLAN

The CSW Lake Plan, working on behalf of commercial interests, cottagers, recreational users and residents of the three lakes, is collating and analyzing data and mapping collected over the past several years on the health of the lakes.

This material is being collected through studies of water quality; aquatic vegetation growth; fish and fish spawning observations; mapping of wetlands, lake bottoms; shoreline studies; and other measures used to determine the health of lakes.

Meetings were held in 2005 and 2006 with stakeholders to determine the concerns and observations of the users of the lake. August 31, 2006 was spent touring the lakes by air and water with biologists, planners and residents allowing all to have first-hand knowledge of the scope of the project. French Planning Incorporated, the foremost Lake Plan consultants in Ontario, has been engaged to assist with the co-ordination of this phase of our work. “Our plan will contain a number of specific recommendations for all lake users to study and act on,” says Michael Harper, co-chair of the Steering Committee. “We will have a series of best practices to follow, and, with continued help from volunteers interested in the lakes, will form Action Plan groups to look at specific areas of concern.” In order to complete our goal volunteers are urgently needed in the areas of fundraising, communications, all phases of report writing, and publishing. The new Official Plan of the County of Peterborough which will be adopted by North Kawartha, Smith-Ennismore-Lakefield and Galway-Cavendish-Harvey, contains a recommendation that local Lake Plans be encouraged, as does the draft of the Official Plan of Douro-Dummer, expected to be approved in the next month or two. All four municipalities have jurisdiction over a part of the three lakes; all four have indicated their interest by sending Council representatives to participate on the Steering Committee. Next spring, when the draft of the report is ready, as many stakeholders as possible will be contacted to request validation of the material it contains and the recommendations that follow.

Your Lake needs your help. Please email cswlakeplan@hotmail.com, or call Steering Committee co-chairs Rob Little (705 877-2460) or Michael Harper (705 877-8060) to volunteer.

FRAGILE ECOSYSTEMS
Heather Brooks-Hill

Jeremy and I are just back from three weeks in Australia: an amazing experience in an extraordinary landscape of exotic scenery, flora and fauna. Sadly, the Australian continent is the most ecologically endangered on the earth. This is, in part, due to climate change and, in part, to lifestyle. The introduction of white/European farming and production styles; the introduction of cattle, flora and fauna, not appropriate for desert-like conditions, have reeked havoc with the environment and permanently altered fragile ecosystems. That coupled with no rain puts Australia at unprecedented risk.
In our area we have a very different ecosystem but one that is also at risk from insensitive development. We live on "The Land Between", a swath of delicate land that runs from Georgian Bay to Gananoque. It is the interface of the limestone and granite and is highly sensitive to change, rich in flora and fauna that need the mosaic to survive.
Remediation and regeneration is a last resort, very costly and not always successful. We will only succeed if the environment is protected. Economic development starts here!

Let us learn from others and step up to the plate to protect what we have.

International Volunteer
Appreciation Day
December 5th

This community thrives due to all of the special people who volunteer their time in this community. These wonderful people make life easier for us all!

Remember to thank your local Volunteers.

Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone.

G.B. Stern

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	*The Clear Stony White Lakes Plan, Local Archer,* *Fragile Ecosystems, International Volunteer Day.* Click on picture for larger version