Percy Lake Ratepayers’ Association 2002 Newsletter

President’s Message

I must apologize for this very late start in reporting to the membership of the PLRA. The OPSEU strike first delayed this communication. We needed to get information regarding the lake trout rehabilitation project with which we have been so involved for the last two years. I didn’t realize that our MNR friends were on strike. Actually, in March I had started to write the annual missive and here’s how it went:

“The sun is bright in a very clear, blue sky this Saturday, March 16th morning at Percy Lake. But, it’s -12° C. I’m starting the newsletter early this year, but will finish it within a month or so. It will be interesting to see if ‘ice-out’ falls within Gord Benner’s recorded dates of April 5th to May 7th. A week ago I might have bet on a new early record, but right now the old record looks safe.

This has been a somewhat bizarre winter, weather-wise. It’s the only winter that I can remember in which I couldn’t clear a skating rink on the lake during the Christmas/New Year’s break. In fact, we could have been water-skiing a lot easier than skating… throughout January. Maybe we should keep records of ‘ice-in’. If anyone has kept these, please pass them on to me. Snowmobilers and cross-country skiers didn’t have a very good season. Even downhill skiers were off to a slow start and early finish. Anyone who doesn’t yet believe in Global Warming should give his/her head a shake. The bare patches in the bush at this time are a first in my memory.”

Later, by Victoria Day, it appeared that summer had come and gone and Sir Sam’s should open the ski hill again, using natural snow. The black flies had been out, went back into hibernation, and probably conferred with the Farmers’ Almanac for advice on their next move. One day, in the cold of May, a hummingbird flew right up to me, as if to remind me that my feeders weren’t yet in place. However, he might simply have wanted a hot chocolate, instead!

It took me until after the OPSEU strike to make contact with MNR biologist David Flowers. We needed to know if/when we were going to start rehabilitating the lake trout spawning beds (i.e. throwing rocks into the lake in a designated location). We needed to set a weekend aside when we could meet with lots of person power and the best way to coordinate this was through the newsletter. The directors of the PLRA wish all cottagers a happy and sunny summer… with just enough rain to feed the plants.

Gerry Roberts

Current Executive 2002

• President: Gerry Roberts, Lot 4534
• Treasurer: Graham Warren, Lot 4466
• Directors: Warren Currie, Lot 4514; Henry Dykstra, Lot 4490; Susan Russel, Lot 4469; Jim Shephard, Lot 4494; Dave Taylor, Lot 4525

Past Presidents

• Warren Currie: 1998, 1999, 2000
• Sylvia Winder: 1996, 1997
• Dick Graesser: 1994, 1995
• Sylvia Winder: 1992, 1993
• Henry Dykstra: 1990, 1991
• Gord Benner: 1988, 1989
• Jim Shephard: 1986, 1987
• Dave Lindsay: 1984, 1985
• Dennis Woodbridge: 1982, 1983

Percy Lake Trout Project

As it turns out, the MNR has already introduced 5000 Kingscote Lake strain of lake trout into our lake this past April. These fish are in the 6-8 inch (15-20 cm) size. Another 750-1000 two years of age trout of 10 inch (25cm) length will be introduced this fall. There will be another study this fall (possibly using some of our ‘old Percy Lake SWAT team’) to investigate the best area for spawning shoal rehabilitation. Hopefully, this can be done in daylight and warmer temperatures.

We will, then, be throwing rocks NEXT summer. This species transplant is a very important undertaking, one of the first in our region. To underscore its importance we may see our water levels regulated differently from our neighbouring lakes and may even see the implementation of some new fishing regulations for Percy Lake. The MNR is excited about this project and we should be as well. We will not receive any more information until after this fall’s study. So, wait until our Spring 2003 Newsletter (in the spring this time. honest) for our rock-throw weekend.

Fire Pump Key

In response to the members’ wishes at the 2001 Annual Meeting we are going to leave the fire pump unlocked. Any member who does not know how to use the pump should attend our upcoming Annual Meeting. This pump works very well, if you know how to start it. Many of our illustrious directors have been fooled in the past by the pump’s complicated simplicity. In other words, if you are really mechanically minded and will obviously not have a problem starting it, remember Murphy’s Laws. Take a lesson!

It must be noted that the directors agreed with the ‘no key’ concept with some misgiving. Let’s hope that there is neither theft nor vandalism of the pump! The pump is for fires which cannot be contained by a garden hose. If the pump is found to be used for anything trivial, the ‘no key’ concept may have to be rethought.

Membership Sign

We have copied the Haliburton Lake initiative which was started in the 1980s and has been very successful in increasing membership and building a sense of community. Every paid member for 2001 will receive a plastic plaque to be nailed to his/her sign post. Each successive year, upon receipt of membership a new stick-on number will be distributed. These plaques will be delivered by one of your PLRA directors. Additional holes should be predrilled to avoid cracking when nailing/screwing.

Fridge Magnets

Each member will receive, with the membership plaque, a PLRA fridge magnet for writing memos or whatever. On the memo boards are some phone numbers and information, useful to Percy Lake cottagers and their guests. In case you are wondering, the drawing is an outline of the lake. Additional memo boards may be purchased from Gerry Roberts for $3.00 each.

Big Fish Contest

The PLRA fishing contest is open for the entire 2002 fishing season for lake trout and bass. Your entry may be reported to any member of the executive. If you prefer to catch and release, have a witness with you when you land that big one. The following rules apply:

1. The contest is open to Percy Lake Ratepayers and their families only.
2. The fish must be caught on Percy Lake by a properly licensed angler during the open season.
3. The youth contest applies up to 16 years of age.
4. The trophies are awarded in each category for bass and trout.
5. The 2002 winners will be awarded at the 2003 Annual General Meeting.

FOCA News: Lake Stewardship Program

Over the last few years the Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associations has developed a lake stewardship concept that is becoming, perhaps, its most important focus. Lake stewardship involves such activities as: environmental monitoring, restoration, education, lake planning, and political lobbying. The foremost of these would be education. We will try to pass information to the cottagers as it is received from FOCA, possibly to be discussed at the Annual General Meeting in a more informed way. Susan Russel has volunteered to be our director in charge of this program in the future.

This is one of those aspects of cottage life in which any family member can get involved. Young students who have learned some environmental science or conservation could quite possibly contribute to this program. After all, we are leaving the lake to them in the future and they just might have something to say about this and may want to help with any projects. I will paraphrase a few of the articles listed in the latest FOCA newsletter:

i) Motorboat Pollution

I got my eyes opened while reading this article. If you are in the market for a new outboard motor, you really should pay attention to this section. A consortium of universities and government institutes have compiled data on pollution by motorboats, comparing the following engine types: 2 stroke carburetor, electronic fuel injected 2 stroke, direct fuel injected 2 stroke. Large and small horsepower motors were also compared. Several chemical emissions were examined. These may be unburned additives or may be formed from incomplete combustion of the fuel, itself. Nevertheless, they are toxic and some are carcinogenic.

However, more important are the results of the studies. Four stroke motors are tens to hundreds of times LESS polluting (depending on the specific chemical emission) than two stroke motors. Their results are summarized as follows:

• carburetted 2 stroke engines release approximately 25% of gasoline deep into the lake, unburned, whereupon it dissolves evaporating much slower than a surface spill
• low horsepower 2SC are much more polluting, mile for mile, than higher horsepower engines (your traditional trolling outboard)
• electronic fuel injection is not as clean as direct fuel injection
• under-horse powered boats (i.e. boats with motors lower than the HP rating on the metal tag on the transom) pollute more than those, properly rated

It should be obvious to all that our next outboard should be a 4 stroke, properly rated to our boat. Think of Percy Lake when buying your next outboard (or when you swallow that next mouthful of lake water while swimming)!

ii) Personal Water Craft (PWC)

At every Annual Meeting we get complaints about PWCs. Legally, there is nothing that can be done about them. However, our lake is not the only one to ‘bitch and chew’ about the problems of noise, careless, and thoughtless operation of these craft. The U.S. and Canadian governments have reacted to these problems differently. For example, in the U.S.:

• 38 states have bans in specific areas
• 44 states have limits on wake jumping
• 50 states limit the time of day for PWC operation

The Canadian Coast Guard has had thousands of complaints. About 40% of all water craft collisions in North America involve PWCs. However, the Canadian regulatory scene is a vastly different one than the American. The Canadian Coast Guard has relayed the complaints to the government in order to stiffen regulations on PWCs, but has been met with government inaction. The problem lies largely with our prime minister whose home province houses Bombardier, the largest (only?) PWC manufacturer in Canada. It seems that Bombardier has lobbied the government heavily to avoid any restrictions, claiming that it is unfairly criticized. (These comments come from FOCA.)

At present there is a private member’s bill (S-26), put forth by Senator Mira Spivak lying in limbo and waiting to be addressed in the House of Commons. This bill deals with the regulation of PWCs in Canada. PLRA has a petition, provided by FOCA, for cottagers to sign at the Annual General Meeting.

Percy Lake Sportswear

It was mentioned at one of our directors’ meetings that it would be nice to have some shirts/sweaters (with ‘Percy Lake’ on the left chest area) for the membership to purchase. We decided to get samples of a T-shirt and a polar fleece (1/4 zipper pullover) for the General Annual Meeting. We’ll look into these two items, only, to keep it simple. We decided that we will have a ‘forest green’ with gold lettering. Bring your cheque for prepayment because we (I) can’t afford to get stuck with these. We will set a minimum total order of one dozen items for the fleece and two dozen for the T-shirts. If we don’t make the quota, the money will be refunded (or you can purchase an equity membership in the association… just kidding). (The membership sign has a buck, deer head. In order to put that logo on a shirt would add over $3 to the price; hence the ‘Percy Lake’ logo, instead… unless all 24 people want to pay extra for the logo.) This is not a fund-raiser for the PLRA. The fleece should cost in the $35 – 40 range while the T-shirt should be in the $8 – 10 range. They will be of good quality.

Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting will be held at the usual location at the cul-de-sac on Bernie’s Circle on Sunday, August 4th at 7:00 pm. Refreshments will be provided. Bring a lawn chair. We hope to see another large crowd. Come with lots of questions (easy ones) and words of wisdom for the membership.

Treasurer’s Report

If the treasurer’s report is not included with this newsletter it will be distributed at the Annual General Meeting.