Malcolm & Ardoch Landowners Association

Ron Higgins | Mar 11, 2010

Over the last two years we have been proactively working with the Ministry of Natural Resources to enhance the fishing habitat for Malcolm and Ardoch lakes. This has involved conducting walleye census in the early spring, enhancing the spawning beds for walleye and educating our membership on fish habitat and how the surrounding environment has an impact on both fish and wildlife. Our focus is now going to be on educating the visitors to our lake about the same, and trying to promote more catch and releases.

Shoreline erosion is also a problem so speed of boats along the shoreline and especially the channel between our two lakes is an environmental as well as a safety issue. Motor sizes on our small lakes is also a concern.

Lake development is a key issue and we are currently having an issue with Global Land Consortium Inc. who have allocated 33 two-acre lots for development. Our lakes cannot handle that much pressure and it will ruin the peace and tranquility for that small lake. Of course the uranium mine is always an issue until that goes away for good.

Based on the above we have been proactively involved with our North Frontenac Council and we were a key contributor to the recently revised official plan. One of the key items we were successful in having included is a review of lake plans before any new development is undertaken on our lakes. This item will allow us the opportunity to evaluate environmental impacts for any new development before permits are approved.

The key here is to have a comprehensive lake plan and that has already started for our lake.

The final key area we are working on is having all North Frontenac lake and landowners’ associations come under one umbrella group.

The purpose here will be to harmonize our individual activities and efforts. Of course there is strength in numbers so we would like to unite associations to provide a stronger voice at the local and provincial level. We have approached other associations and interest in having an umbrella group is strong, so we will have a meeting to start kick this initiative in June.