FIMLA Lake Association Launch Lake Stewardship Plan

Robert Powell | Aug 05, 2010

Gord Rodgers, FIMLA President, presenting a copy of the lake plan report to Ron Vandewal, Councilor for Loughborough District, at the FIMLA annual meeting.

Fourteen Island and Mink Lakes Association (FIMLA) launched a lake stewardship plan for the Fourteen Island watershed at their annual general meeting on August 1.

The plan establishes a baseline for monitoring changes to the natural environment and the impact of future development around the lake. Recommendations are provided that address what needs to be done to protect and enhance the local environment for everyone to enjoy. Each recommendation is accompanied by a set of actions to achieve these aims.

It represents the views of the local community in the FIMLA watershed area. FIMLA executive plan to present the document to South Frontenac Township Council and other agencies, and request that they take into account the lake stewardship plan when considering any plans or developments that could impact on the area.

It has taken a group of dedicated residents living around the lake more than three years to research and write the plan. They followed an exhaustive process of engaging the lake community through surveys, workshops, meetings and updates in newsletters and on the FIMLA website, reaching out to the communities around all five lakes in the watershed (Fourteen Island, Mink, Little John, Little John's Sister and Buffy Lakes).

The process helped the community identify what they value about living on these lakes and the challenges to be addressed to protect them. In developing the plan the FIMLA lake plan committee has worked with the Ministry of Natural Resources to conduct fishery surveys. A water quality review has also been carried out by Ontario Lake Assessments. As a result of these efforts the community has become more involved in the stewardship of their lakes. A water quality program for all five lakes has been implemented and more people are directly involved in fisheries management on the lakes. Further goals have been set for on-going planning, education and other initiatives to reconcile sustainable development of the lake community with protecting and enhancing the natural environment for generations to come.

Presenting the Lake Stewardship Plan to FIMLA members at the annual meeting, FIMLA President, Gord Rodgers, congratulated the lake planning committee on a fine product. He stressed that the Action Plan is the most important part of the report, and finished with a call to action stating that, "Volunteers are encouraged to come forward to help achieve the plan’s goal and objectives”.

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