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Jeff Green | Oct 05, 2006

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Bob and Crow Lakes plan goes public

by Martin Yates

After nearly three years of work by a team of volunteers and consultants, the DRAFT of the Lake Stewardship Plan for Bobs and Crow Lakes is now ready for its first viewing by the public. The draft plan is now on-line at the web site “bobsandcrowlakes.ca” and paper copies have been placed in nine locations around the lakes for people to read and send in their comments.

The plan provides a blueprint for action for the lake community and local municipalities so that, as we move forward, we make changes in such a way that the special qualities of these lakes are maintained and not degraded through ignorance or neglect. It will become an important reference as townships revise their official plans, and the recommended actions will form the basis for the lake association’s programs well into the future.

To gather information for the plan and to find out from the community what they value and see as the most important priorities, the Greater Bobs and Crow Lakes Association (GBCLA), as the facilitator of the project, conducted a survey and held twelve workshops with different members of the community. This research, reports from volunteers and experts on different aspects of the lakes environment, analysis of forty years of water quality data, and a comparison study of regulations for the three townships around the lakes, would not have been accomplished within the three year period without a generous financial grant and support from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

The project was led initially by Peigi Wilson, then by Susan O’Brien Mactaggart, who both devoted endless hours to the plan, ably supported by the volunteer team and by professional consultants Reg Genge, of “Ontario Lake Assessments” and Randy French of “French Planning Services Inc.”

The draft plan will be available for public comment until October 31, following which the final version will be prepared and published in early spring, 2007.

Meanwhile seven working groups of volunteers will be formed to prioritize the recommended actions and prepare implementation plans. A very important activity will be to review the plan with local municipalities Central Frontenac, South Frontenac, and Tay Valley townships to gain their understanding and enlist their support.

Susan O’Brien Mactaggart, president of the GBCLA, commented. “We’re very proud of all the hard work that has gone into this stewardship plan; however, this is just the beginning, not the end of the process. This plan belongs to everyone around the lakes. It is a living document that will guide our actions as a community well into the future as everyone takes personal responsibility for sustaining the wonderful environment we all enjoy and cherish.”

Copies of the plan are located for viewing at Tay Valley township office, Glen Tay; Central Frontenac township office, Sharbot Lake; South Frontenac township office, Sydenham; the Burridge Store; Crow Lake Village store; McGowan’s store, Godfrey; Sydenham Public Library; Sharbot Lake Public Library; and Westport Public Library.