Happy Canada Day!

On behalf of the PLRA Board, we extend our warmest welcome and wish you all an enjoyable and pleasant summer at Percy Lake with friends and family. For the coming week, we wish you all a happy holiday, especially the long week-end be it celebrating Canada Day and/or Independence Day. Transiting from winter to spring, while ice thickness and snow depth was “average” this winter, the ice break-up in the spring affected a number of docks – some broke free, while others became “twisted” or shifted somewhat, likely due to a west wind right at the time of break- up.

Needless to say, the weather this spring, accompanied by an inordinate amount of rain, has been erratic and somewhat unpredictable, resulting in record high water levels in many lakes and rivers. While the trees and plants are flourishing, many communities, Minden for example, have experienced flooding to a degree that led to an emergency situation. So if we dare predict the weather this summer, the safe bet may well be rain.

Current Matters

Internet Service: There have been a number of concerns raised by residents of the Haliburton and Percy Lake areas with respect to the reliability and quality of internet service provided by Bell. The Percy Lake Board will try to keep you informed about the status of service and actions that may be taken to improve the service.

Roads and the Oblong Bridge: While some road work has been slated for this year, unfortunately there is no work being planned for the bridge at Fort Irwin. This remains disconcerting, and even moreso, considering the condition of the bridge, its vital importance, and the potential impacts from the rather excessive rainfall this year alone. Landfills: The West Bay Landfill will continue to operate as in the past. Any changes regarding waste disposal and landfills that may be proposed at a later date by the province and municipality would be subject to consultation.

Break-in and Entries (B&Es): As noted in the April 2017 Update, 7 B&E’s were reported after Christmas at cottages on Percy and Ross lakes. The B&E pattern was fairly consistent – cutting phone wires to disarm alarms systems, forced entry through windows or doors, extensive rummaging, but little to no destructive activity. Following these break-ins, two OPP officers snowshoed to cottages on Johnson Bay Rd. on January 13, 2017, and “tagged” cottages along the way as an indication of their presence. An OPP officer will be attending our AGM this year, and this will likely be an important item for discussion.

Love Your Lake (LYL) Program

Those who participated in this shoreline evaluation program in August 2016 would have received confidential feedback on the health of their shoreline. In total, 110 properties were assessed, representing about 10 km of shoreline on Percy Lake.

Each property was classified into four possible categories (natural, regenerative, ornamental and degraded), based on shoreline development, retaining walls and shoreline vegetation. According to the methodology used, 12 properties were classified as majority natural, 10 as majority ornamental, 86 were considered majority regenerative and 2 were not classified.

Details of the program and the evaluation are available in the “Percy Lake Shoreline Assessment Summary Report”. If you wish an electronic copy of the Summary Report, please let me know via e-mail (annatilman@sympatico.ca). Also, refer to the website: LoveYourLake.ca for more information.

Upcoming Events – Summer 2017

We have a number of events, informative and social, this summer. So mark your calendars accordingly, and plan on your family and friends joining in, and participating in these events.

1. PLRA Annual General Meeting (AGM) – 2017 Saturday August 5, 10:00 AM
   The AGM will be held at Bernie’s Circle. Guest speakers are Dysart Township’s Reeve Murray Fearrey, Walt Mckechnie, Councillor Ward 5, and Tim Negus, OPP’s Community Safety and Media Relations Officer, Haliburton Highlands Detachment. The AGM is a time where questions can be raised for our elected officials, information is exchanged, and is a great social opportunity for you to get to know your neighbours and renew your annual membership! Light refreshments will be served. Please mark this date in your calendar and plan on attending – and bring a chair (or two)! Hopefully the weather will cooperate, and if not, we will find an alternate location and let you know. Stay tuned for further details as we get closer to the date. Hope to see you there!
2. Angling Activities
   1. Full Season Youth Angling Contest – 16 Years and Younger
      This contest is open for the entire legal fishing season for both lake trout and bass. If you prefer to catch and release, you will need to have a witness to measure the fish length, take a photo, record the date and for entry in the contest, email the information including the anglers name and age to any director or to info@plra.net. This contest is open to Percy Lake Ratepayers’ members and their families. Trophies will be presented at the following year’s AGM. Tight lines usually means “fish on”, so young anglers, let’s see your photos and hear your fish stories.
   2. Fishing Tournament – Saturday August 19
      PLRA’s Catch and Release Fishing Tournament will be held from 8:00 AM to noon that day. The tournament is open to members (and family) of the PLRA. Click here for rules for both the Youth Angling Contest and the one-day fishing tournament. Youth can enter both contests.
3. Pot Luck Social Event – Saturday August 19 4:00 PM
   We are planning on holding our annual social event on the afternoon of August 19 on the beach at the Winder family cottage. For this year, we are considering holding a ZERO-WASTE POT-LUCK PARTY. (In previous years, this event has been a Corn Roast and BBQ.) These events, rain or shine, have proven to be great fun for everyone. Stay tuned for further details on this fun-filled active day. Suggestions and volunteers are most welcome.

PLRA Membership – Reminder

The annual PLRA membership fee is a modest $30 per family. A reminder to renew and/or join PLRA was sent out a couple weeks ago, so this is another reminder of the value of joining PLRA.

These fees pay our major expenses, including membership in organizations including Coalition of Haliburton Property Owners’ Association (CHA), the Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associations (FOCA), and the Coalition for Equitable Water Flow (CEWF) and for expenses incurred by PLRA’s annual obligations and events. A membership form is included for your convenience.

PLRA Board

Our current Board members are as follows:

• Anna Tilman: President
• Brian Edey: Secretary
• Koko Yamamoto: Treasurer
• Graham Warren: Past President
• Jack Russel: Past-past President
• Lou Kiriakou: Live Release Bass Tournament and Newsletter Printing
• Jim Richert: Full season Fishing Contest and Lake Development
• Katherine Nanowski: Member-at-Large
• Lake Steward: Mick Tilman

Have a great time this summer, and I look forward to meeting you at our AGM and the Pot-Luck event and of course, on the lake or thereabouts.

Best regards,
Anna Tilman, President PLRA, annatilman@sympatico.ca