Managing Loon Lake's Future Anybody who reads my blog or articles I've written about Loon Lake knows

how ardent I am about the lake, a place I've been coming to since 1953. And that's 58 years ago - a long time ago! It's my home and I am a part of it! Since then, there's been many changes around the lake and in the use of the lake. All of the changes have come from habitation of the shore lands, by cottagers and a handful of permanent residents. The lake itself hasn't changed much, albeit there has been a change in the buildup of sediment on the bottom and some shoreline erosion. About ten years ago, I had a biologist tell me "you have no idea what's in the lake!" That really got me thinking and it started me studying the lake and some of the science surrounding it. Limnology is the study of lakes and rivers and it has led me to learn so much more about this place I call home. The lake generally, in my opinion, is in good health. It has, and seems to be, standing the test of time and habitation up to now. It's chemistry is good; it's fisheries are good; it's biology is good; and it is unaffected by invasive species. The forests surrounding the lake are in fairly good shape except for some damage from acid rain. But I cannot help but wonder how well Loon Lake will withstand the next few years and beyond. And I do believe that a lot of what happens in the future depends a lot on us - and what we do. And just because the lake seems to be in good health now, we can't assume that will always be the case. We've all seen or heard of actions around the lake over the years that may have raised some concerns. The actions I'm referring to are actions that are done by people that have the potential to cause problems for the lake. And these are actions aren't necessarily done within the lake itself but anywhere around the shoreline. One type of action to which I am referring would be the excess removal of shoreline trees to clear lots for cottages.

We may not always be aware of these harmful actions or if we are, we may not understand their consequences. It may not even occur to us at the time that the action being done is harmful. And we may even trivialize the action, once we know about it. It is also realistic for people to not want to question their neighbours actions, for fear of causing bad relationships. So people can tend to eventually accept what has been done. As a result, the questionable action remains and the possibility exists for other similar actions to perpetuate. Over time, one or two questionable actions may seem innocuous, but given multiple actions , it's doubtful that their cumulative effect cannot be somehow harmful to Loon Lake. It's very hard to predict their long term effect and it's even harder to prove it. But once it's happened, it's either too late or very difficult to reverse. So what can be done ? I believe it's logical that there should be an organized group of people keeping a watchful eye over Loon Lake and who can react to provide protection for the lake when needed. I also believe it's not enough to depend on a small group of neighbours or friends who can be called upon should an emergent situation arise and who may not even be available when needed or who may have "retired" from helping out. The organized group of people should consist of a group of lake stewards who operate under the auspices of a lake association - sort of as a "department" of the lake association. The lake stewards would have funding, liability insurance, recognition, direction, a broad resource base, and support of a lake association when interfacing with cottagers, residents, outside groups or governmental agencies. This is also where the term "Managing" as used in the title to this article applies.

Some definition is required - I just used the term "lake steward". This is a person who helps ensure the well-being of a lake and the lake community. While a steward may be involved with many activities, a steward could be a person who tests for water quality, monitors the results, and takes any necessary actions resulting from the results of the tests. A lake steward could also be a person who watches development and construction activities on the lake and takes actions to ensure compliance with official plans and building codes. And a lake steward could also be an individual who teaches people how they can effectively help Loon Lake. In order to make all of this possible, the group of stewards and the parent lake association would have to have a set of operating principals or guidelines. A significant amount of this information has recently been made available. The Coalition of Haliburton Property Owner's Associations has written an excellent textbook [loose leaf manual] titled "Living on the Edge - Lake Stewards Handbook Haliburton Highlands" which is a reference manual for lake stewards and lake associations. The manual is a "how to" guideline for anyone or any lake association interested in implementing and maintaining an effective stewardship program. I believe what I have presented is a "doable" solution toward providing long term protection for Loon Lake and should be carefully considered by anyone who wants to preserve the beauty and health of Loon Lake for decades to come. So far, people have not noticeably harmed Loon Lake , but the future is certainly risky and unknown. And that is why it makes good sense to be a bit more aware of what we do around the lake and to pause and think before acting, and be proactive - for the good of Loon Lake.

Mike
Disclaimer This article is published by me as a service to my readers and other interested parties. It is based on my own findings and interpretations. No scientific validation has been performed. No one should act upon comments made without considering the facts of specific situations and/or consulting appropriate professional advisors. I assume no responsibility for errors or omissions and will not accept liability of any nature whatsoever that may be suffered by use of the information contained in this article.

 2011