16 Spring KL Newsletter_Newsletter

S pr i n g 2 0 1 6
Newsletter
Volume 3 2 , Numb er 1
Lake Water Monitoring Program – Spring 2016
I
n the Fall 2015 Newsletter, we provided
an update on our partnership with the
Fleming
College
Environmental
Management students as we entered our
fourth year of water quality monitoring and
testing of the lake.
From
September
until
December, five exceptionally
capable Fleming students developed a 10 Year Lake Health
Monitoring Plan for the monitoring and reporting of chemical, biological, and physical
changes to the lake. The students focussed on identifying
which elements to test, when to
test them, and where to test for
them. The students then performed the testing identified in
the new 10 Year Plan and continued the testing on the lake inflows and
outflows identified in previous reports.
Additionally, three shoreline and three
open water sites were established, tested
and analysed for pH, conductivity, alkalinity, dissolved oxygen, temperature and
plankton community structure.
In general, here’s how Kushog Lake measures up:
Testing confirmed that Kushog continues to be a cold water lake with low
nutrient concentrations and deep, transparent waters.
Kushog Lake sits on bedrock that does
... continued on Page 7
Have You Ordered Your Love Your Lake Property Report?
L
ast summer the entire shoreline of Kushog Lake was assessed, from the water, for development, vegetation and habitat. This information was used to create a unique and tailored shoreline property report for each property owner. Your
property report contains a summary of the features observed on your property, with voluntary recommended actions you can take to
protect or restore your shoreline. It also explains how these actions can positively contribute to the health of Kushog Lake. The data
collected during the shoreline surveys and the resulting reports are not used for any regulatory purposes. Your property report is confidential and only you have access to it. The goal of Love Your Lake is to educate and engage waterfront property owners to contribute to a cleaner, healthier lake for wildlife and future generations.
If you own waterfront property on Kushog Lake you should have recently received a letter from Love Your
Lake with your individual SURVEY CODE so that you can order your personalized, confidential property
report electronically (free) or by mail ($20). If you are a new property owner or changed your mailing address,
you may not have received your report. Just email info@kushoglake.org to get your ordering instructions.
KLPOA does not have access to individual property reports; however, we have received a report with lakewide data, which provides a good benchmark for measuring future changes to shoreline health.
Many thanks to our Lake Steward, Rita Moore, for coordinating this program through C.H.A. on behalf
of the World Wildlife Federation and the Centre for Sustainable Watersheds. Now it’s up to each of us to
read our property report and learn more about what we can do to protect the health of Kushog Lake.
KUSHOG LAKE PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION
BOARD OF DIRECTORS • 2016 - 2017
5
President, Newsletter, Database
Past-President
Vice-President
Secretary
Treasurer
Lake Steward
Advertising, Communications
Picnic Coordinator
Director
Director
Director
Environmental Consultant
Norma Goodger
Wayne Black
Jere Pike
Rob Rick
Ron Bobbie
Rita Moore
Bob Phillips
Susan Harvey
Milt Sheppard
Elinor Hamilton
David Langer
Dagmar Boettcher
705-489-2966
705-489-3534
705-489-4838
705-489-3730
705-489-4837
705-489-4455
705-489-4841
705-489-2657
705-489-2950
705-489-3573
416-209-6569
705-457-5968
The Fine Print
KLPOA's Privacy Policy:
KLPOA supports and abides by the requirements of the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Data Act (PIPEDA). KLPOA only collects personal data with
approval, using fair and lawful means, and only uses it for the purpose for which it was collected or as required by law.
KLPOA is supportive of the idea of the right of individuals to inspect their data as it appears in KLPOA’s lists, and to have it corrected if found in error or lacking in
completeness.
KLPOA does not sell, lease, rent out nor lend out information lists containing personal information. In the event that KLPOA considers a request for the use of a list
to be beneficial to the membership of KLPOA, then KLPOA may release it to another agency with the approval of the persons in the list. Agencies wishing access to
lists containing personal information have to pay the cost of KLPOA seeking approval for its use.
If you would like to see a copy of your record, please email Norma Goodger at info@kushoglake.org. A .pdf copy of your record will be emailed back to you.
Policy re Use of Social Media:
THE BOARD of the Kushog Lake Property Owners has the following policy regarding social media:
i) The Administrator is expected to forward, without prejudice, to the community issues of interest to or which have an impact upon the property owners; ii) Issues
presented may contain both pros and cons; iii) No personal political positions will be posted by the Administrator or any Board Member; iv) As a means of engaging
one another in positive discussion, members as a whole ARE entitled to express their opinions concerning the impact issues may have on themselves or the community; v) The Board and/or the Administrator, reserve the right to remove any postings that contravene this policy.
Stay Connected – Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation:
KLPOA may have email addresses for you and your family in our confidential database. Maintaining this important communications link allows us to share time-sensitive information with you. As of July 1st, 2014 Canada’s anti-spam legislation came into effect, but it does not apply to non-commercial activity. However, KLPOA
respects your privacy and will immediately remove your email from our database upon request.
Please Support Our Advertisers...
Aaron Galbraith Landscaping . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Algonquin Residential Building Consulting . . . .20
Boshkung Lake Tree Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Century 21 Granite Realty-Dagmar Boettcher .10
Century 21 Granite Realty-Denise LeBlanc . . . .6
Century 21 Granite Realty-Lee Gauthier . . . . .18
Chestnut Park Real Estate-Greg McInnis . . . . .20
Classique Custom Homes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Cottage Country Building Supplies . . . . . . . . .16
County Sign & Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
DEAR Carolyn Dental Hygiene Studio . . . . . . .10
Dollo’s Foodland Minden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Don Barker Heating & Cooling . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Donald J. Lange, Barrister & Solicitor . . . . . . . .8
Easton’s Minden ValuMart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Eco-Choice Pest Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Floyd Hall Limited Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Generator Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Haliburton TimbrMart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Highland Appliances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Hudson Henderson Insurance Brokers . . . . . .22
Kushog Marina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
2 • Kushog Lake Newsletter - Spring 2016
Mill Pond Restaurant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Miller Pest Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Minden Drugstore - PS Pharmasave . . . . . . . .16
Minden Electric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Nails by Tanya . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Norm Barry Hot Tub Maintenance . . . . . . . . . .6
Northland Marine & Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Ox Narrows Lodge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Pepper Mill Steak & Pasta House . . . . . . . . . . .8
Pine Spring Valley Resort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Pump Shop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
ReMax Haliburton Highlands Realty-Kulas . . . .22
Ridgewood Ford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Roy Petry Renovation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Royal LePage Trillium Lakes of Haliburton . . . .12
RPM Recreation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Thomas Contracting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Tom Prentice & Sons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Tubby’s Leisure Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
WAI Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Walker’s Heating & Cooling . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Wine Store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
President’s Message
NEWSLETTER
1117 Graham’s Lane
Algonquin Highlands K0M 1J2
KUSHOG LAKE NEWSLETTER is usually
published twice per year by the Kushog Lake
Property Owners Association. One subscription
is included with membership and is sent to the
home address of each property owner on the
lake.
At least one issue per year is distributed to each
waterfront property owner on Kushog Lake,
whether paid-up members or not. Please support
your association by joining.
MEMBERSHIP All waterfront property owners
on Kushog Lake are automatically members of
the Kushog Lake Property Owners Association.
Only members who have paid the $35 annual
membership fee are eligible to vote.
GIFT SUBSCRIPTIONS are $10.00 each per
year. Send the newsletter to your kids or grandkids – let them know what’s happening on the
lake. Also a great way to keep multiple owners
informed.
ADVERTISING Your continued patronage of
our advertisers is greatly appreciated. Please
mention that you saw their ad in the newsletter.
NEWSLETTER EDITOR is Norma Goodger
(705) 489-2966. Please call, write or email if you
have suggestions or submissions, or to report
address and email changes.
email: info@kushoglake.org
www.kushoglake org
Follow us on Facebook:
KUSHOG LAKE PROPERTY
OWNERS ASSOCIATION
KLPOA is a member of
A
fter what seemed like a very long (although warm) winter spring has finally arrived. I’m looking out at blue
water and wondering who will be brave enough to tackle the
cold to connect my docks.
The water level in Kushog exceeded historic highs for much of April
but is now slowly receding. Apparently the ice went out at the usual time. But what
made this spring different from other years is the way the ice came up over the
shoreline. Usually, the water level rises, creating water between the ice and the
shore. This year it was so cold, especially at night, that the risen water kept freezing over - I could walk from the shore right onto the ice. The ice at the shore was
very powerful, causing damage to my shoreline structures. Many of you have probably had the same experience.
I’ve had a lot of fun posting current news and lake history on Facebook – both
on the KLPOA page and the Friends of Kushog Lake group. The group is where
you can share your news with others. Check Facebook for very current news.
We’re also in the process of creating a new website, replacing our primitive 1pager that we’ve had for many, many years. Our first crack at the design is up and
running. The design is going to change as we play with different design programs,
and the content will expand once we settle on a design. But check it out now –
there’s lots to read, and much more to come. We welcome your comments and suggestions.
We’ve had positive feedback from the Love Your Lake shoreline evaluation project that we carried out last summer. By now you should all have received a letter
from Love Your Lake with your personal survey code. If you haven’t, please let me
know.
If you’re planning some shoreline restoration work, consider consulting one of
the organizations that have met the requirements to be recognized by CHA as Lake
Protector Service Providers: Shoreline Naturalization Designers, Native Tree and
Plant Suppliers, Landscapers for Plants, and Hydroseeding with Native Species.
The list and other helpful information is on our website under Resources>Shoreline Health. Keep in mind that even a small area with native plants will help.
If you have grass to the lake – simply stop cutting all or part of it and nature will
re-naturalize the area over time.
It’s very comforting to know that our lake is healthy…TODAY. But it’s up to
each of us to keep it that way. If 75% of the shoreline of a lake is not in a natural
state for a minimum of 100 feet, water quality will seriously degrade over time.
We’re waiting for our overall lake report to find out where we stand, but we already
know we have a long way to go to reach that goal.
We’re excited to have a 10-year plan for monitoring the health of our lake. With
government cutbacks, it’s up to us to become “citizen scientists”. KLPOA continues to spend most of your membership fee on research to protect your investment
in our lake for years to come.
MEMBERSHIP
Your membership form for 2016-17 is enclosed. We need your support!
Your interest and participation in KLPOA is vital to retaining and improving
the quality of life you currently enjoy on Kushog Lake.
New property owners are especially encouraged to join and to become
involved in the association. New ideas and energy are needed to ensure
the future of the lake as we know it. This is your lake, now and for the
future!
Kushog Lake Newsletter - Spring 2016 • 3
4 • Kushog Lake Newsletter - Fall 2015
No Problems With My Septic – It’s Working Well – Right?
• When I flush the toilet everything goes away
• I have not had any back-ups
• There are no visible signs of pooling water by my tank or
tile bed
• No bad odours
So my system is working well – isn’t it?
Not necessarily! While one function of your septic system is to get
the waste out of your cottage or house, there is another function
that is equally critical: Your system needs to treat the waste before
it goes back into the water table and in many cases back into your
lake. Remember a drop into your system means a drop out of the
system.
How do you know if your septic system is properly
treating your waste water to protect your lake?
In a municipality near Lake Huron almost every septic system in
the area, many hundreds of systems, has been inspected over the
last 8 years. Almost half of those systems ( 47%) were not working properly!
Many lakefront property owners here in the Highlands have
voluntarily had their systems professionally inspected with a prop-
er, lid-off inspection. Once again a high % of systems were not
working properly including systems which were very new.
So how do you protect our lake, your family’s health,
your septic investment and your property value?
The Coalition of Haliburton Property Owners Associations has
been studying this issue for years. Here are some steps recommended by C.H.A. and available on our website www.cohpoa.org.
1. Have your septic system inspected by a licensed septic inspector. This summer The C.H.A. will be providing a list of
inspectors who are recognized under the Lake Protectors
Service Provider program on our website.
2. Follow the C.H.A.’s Septic Tips.
3.Watch Poop Talk – It’s All About The Water – the Made in
Haliburton, entertaining video that has been seen over all
North American and Australia on our website.
Ensuring that your septic system is heathy is one of the two most
important things you can do to protect your lake!
Author Paul MacInnes, Chair of the C.H.A., is a
Passionate Lake Protector
Article provided by C.H.A. www.cohpoa.org
Tile Bed
Dos and Don’ts
Properly Operating Tile Bed
The tile bed is a very important component of
your septic system and its proper functioning is
essential to minimizing negative impacts on lake
water quality.
Here are a few tips on what to do and not do on your tile bed.
• Never fertilize your tile bed area or any other area of your waterfront property. Fertilizer is a nutrient source for your lake and contributes to rapid
algae growth and decreased water quality.
• Plant ground covers early in the season and avoid the use of invasive or
overly aggressive species. Grass mixes are fine, however, if you do not want
to cut grass each weekend try the following ideas for tile bed ground cover.
Native Wild Flower mixes suited for your type of soil and light conditions
work quite well and look great too. Dutch White Clover is ideal as it does
not require cutting unless you want, holds up well to foot traffic, will flower
if left uncut, is drought tolerant and stays green all season.
• Allow Mother Nature to plant some of her own flora in your yard. Plants
growing on my tile bed in Haliburton include wild violets, wild strawberries,
oxide daisy, dandelion, a variety of native grasses and trilliums have recently
popped up on the edge of the tile bed area. Keep trees and woody shrubs at
least 5 meters from your tile bed as the roots can migrate into your tile lines
and potentiality cause failure. Trees such as Poplar, Birch, Balsam & Sumac
should be avoided as they are very aggressive and love septic effluent. Some perennials and even raspberries bushes can cause
some indigestion for your tile bed due to their roots.
• Never drive or park on the tile bed, operate heavy equipment such as ATVs, dirt bikes & snow machines. Avoid watering the tile
bed area when it gets dry.
A little prevention can go a long way to making your tile bed last a lifetime or two and help preserve lake water quality at the same
time.
Article written by Rob Davis - Septic Expert, and provided by C.H.A.
Kushog Lake Newsletter - Spring 2016 • 5
6 • Kushog Lake Newsletter - Spring 2016
Lake Water Monitoring Program... continued from Front Cover
not break down easily and therefore does not offer calcium
back into the lake. Calcium acts to buffer acid rain and pollution. This makes the lake ecosystem therefore a very sensitive
system. The pH for the lake ranged from 6.06-6.76, which is
considered slightly acidic (a neutral pH is 7.0). If these values
were to fluctuate, the lake flora and fauna would be affected.
Dissolved Oxygen (DO) refers to the amount of oxygen
obtainable for consumption by organisms within the water.
DO levels were taken in the north end only and were found to
be consistent with the lake status.
The Total Suspended Solids (TSS) of Kushog Lake are very
low, a reflection of the clear, cold waters.
Nitrate, ammonia, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium levels
are low in keeping with a clear, cold water lake.
Plankton serves as an early-warning indicator that the health
status of the lake’s aquatic ecosystems is in danger, and many
plankton communities have the ability to indicate indirect
effects of pollutants when many physical or chemical measurements cannot. Plankton communities in Kushog were
reflective of the cold water lake status.
The results from the benthic macroinvertebrate testing of
stream inflows revealed varying results in terms of water
quality. The three lake sites tested also revealed differences in
water quality depending on location.
Going forward we will continue to test for water quality parameters identified by the Fleming students and monitor benthic
macroinvertebrate results. At the present time, we can say that
Kushog continues to be a healthy cold water lake, essential to support a lake trout population.
Written by our Lake Steward, Rita Moore, and edited by our
Enviromental Consultant, Dagmar Boettcher.
“I don’t fish so why should I care about the lake trout?”
Lake Trout –
The Canary in the Gold Mine
Just as the canary in the coal mine foretold imminent disaster, so
does the declining presence of lake trout in our cold water lakes.
Lake trout are extremely important in measuring lake health.
They will not survive in oxygen starved, polluted water.
What’s Wrong with Grass?
We all love grass. It looks nice, is great under foot, super to play
on and most of us have fond memories of doing some of our
favourite things on grass.
So why do the lake health experts tell us not to use it around
lakes in the Highlands? Are they just spoil-sports or do they have
valid reasons for their concerns with grass in lake country? Here’s
the scoop….Commonly used grass varieties are not native in lake
country.
This picture shows why native plants absorb far more nutrients
than non-native species such as grass:
Non-Native plants:
• Are not well suited to life in the Highlands and therefore need
more inputs than native plants:
• Water – something the experts say we may soon be short of
• Fertilizer – polluting our water – and costing us money
• Cutting and trimming – adding to Global warming
These extra inputs add nutrients to our lakes increasing algae
and weed growth thereby decreasing the oxygen that fish need.
We are told that no place in the Highlands is more than 500
metres from water….. how far from the lake is your septic system?
• Do not provide any habitat for the species that we all love such
as frogs, toads, butterflies, humming birds etc.
Perhaps the biggest downside with grass is that grass does not contribute to, and in fact harms, the health of our precious lakes. Why
is that – well there are all those reasons above but the biggest one
is that grass does not do a good job of intercepting and absorbing
nutrients before they get to our lakes. Nutrients such as
Phosphorus come from:
• Our bodies, through our septic systems, where they leach into
the soil and head down to water – our aquifers, streams, rivers
and lakes
• Our pets, fertilizer use, wildlife such as geese, birds etc.
While grass roots extend mere inches into the soil, the roots of
native species extend many feet into the soil, searching for and
absorbing nutrients such as phosphorous before they can damage
our lakes. These long roots also do a better job of preventing erosion.
So why not take an area of your grass and plant it with native
plants to help protect our lakes! You can start with a small area and
then add more area over the years. Every little bit will help your
lake where you, your kids and grandchildren can make new memories!
Author Paul MacInnes is Chair of the C.H.A.
Kushog Lake Newsletter - Spring 2016 • 7
NEW - Fishing tackle supplies
8 • Kushog Lake Newsletter - Spring 2016
FROST CENTRE FIRE TOWER
T
he Frost Centre Fire Tower is one of the historical treasures that stands today high on the hill above Lake St.
Nora. The fire tower system was at its peak in the 1940’s
when more than 320 steel towers were linked by radio or
bush telephone to a local Chief Ranger’s Station.
The Steel Towers at St. Nora
The first 100 foot steel tower was erected in 1949 on
the site of the present tower. The same year a new
towerman’s cabin was built just south of the Frost
Centre (and is now part of the Algonquin
Highlands Trails Office).
The decade of the ‘70s brought to an end the use
of steel towers in Ontario for fire detection. By this
time the public was reporting 80% of the fires. The
remainder of the fires were detected by aircraft,
which have been used increasingly for this purpose
since 1945.
In 1970 the St. Nora tower ceased operation, and in 1974, for
safety reason, the tower was demolished; that same year the Frost
Centre opened with a mandate to demonstrate natural resources
management. A steel tower was taken down from Pembroke
District and reassembled on the site of the demolished tower for
demonstration purposes (you can’t climb it). This is the tower we
see today.
Life in a Ranger Cabin
The life of a towerman was a lonely one.
Many were bachelors who enjoyed living
in solitude. Some were married and had
families living nearby. Understandably
boredom often accompanied such a job;
the towerman often played a musical
instrument such as a harmonica or fiddle for entertainment. Jim
Austin and Tom Walker were the first two fire rangers to occupy
the St. Nora log cabin that still stands today. On his days off Jim
Austin paddled to nearby Brady’s Lake to visit his wife and seventeen children. Although Jim was a skilled fire ranger, he
couldn’t read or write. His partner, Tom, would fill out his diary.
At that time diaries were mailed at the end of each month to the
head office in Toronto.
On one occasion, rangers Austin and Walker had a skunk
living under their cabin. They didn’t know what to do, so they
boiled water in a kettle and when they heard the skunk, poured
the boiling water on it through the floor boards. This proved to
be a tactical error because they couldn’t use the cabin for two
weeks.
Every morning for about four months the rangers walked
the long trail and climbed the hundred odd steps to their lookout. Hugh Lester described his first day in 1949 as a St. Nora’s
towerman: “I crawled up the ladder and lay on the floor
a couple of minutes before I quit shaking.” At the end
of the season, the towerman would usually return to
the bush to trap or log, waiting until the following
April to return to his fire ranger duties.
Because St. Nora’s tower was close to Hwy 35,
many visitors walked the trail to the base, but only a
few actually climbed the tower. Hugh kept a visitor’s register and
was always ready to talk conservation with his visitors.
If Our Parents Only Knew…
For me, going to the fire tower was a day’s adventure. In the 60’s
it took about three hours to get to the ‘forestry school’ on Lake St.
Nora in our cedar strip boat with the 5½ hp Johnson motor. The
climb up the hill was exhausting, but nothing compared to what
came next. Given that I now have a panic attack on the second
rung of a step ladder, I can’t imagine how I managed to climb up
the open rung ladder of the tower with only the metal hoops which
you can see in the picture, to stop me from falling backwards to
the ground. The idea was not to look down, but when there were
clouds drifting across the sky, you felt like the tower was swaying
(which it probably was to some extent) or even falling. The final
step was to climb through a trap door in the floor of the cabin. The
view was magnificent and it was great fun hearing the towerman’s
stories. But I think the hardest part of the experience was taking
that first step back through the floor onto the ladder for the
descent. I wonder now if our parents knew what we were up to in
those days! Norma
Brian Hough’s Memories of Kushog Lake
For several years we had a homemade punt. Over the winter the floorboards would dry out and shrink. Before being put in the water
in the Spring, the spaces would be stuffed with oakum - a type of fibre which swelled and filled the cracks. The punt was put into the
water and left for several days. During that time some water seeped in and the floorboards swelled making a tight seal. Subsequently
the punt was tipped over or bailed out. We had no outboard motor so we used
oars to propel it.
Through friends in Halls Lake, Dad and my Uncle learned of an old
Peterborough Lakeside boat. It had been left under a cottage on Halls Lake. The
owners were from the United States. Their son was killed during WWII and they
never returned to Haliburton. The boat was purchased and trailered to my
Uncle’s backyard in Toronto. Over a significant period of time it was refurbished. A deck was added along with a steering wheel, cables and a running light
system. Since some of the floorboards were rotten, the bottom was fibreglassed.
When the boat came back to the lake it was christened Zeke and a five horsepower Johnson outboard was added. With two people it could be steered from
the front while the second person at the rear operated the motor.
Kushog Lake Newsletter - Spring 2016 • 9
10 • Kushog Lake Newsletter - Spring 2016
even nest chose to an active feeder tree to take advantage of this
food supply. If snag habitat for sapsuckers is absent, then there
will be fewer hummingbirds around your cottage!
In biological jargon, a standing dead tree is called a snag. To many
wildlife species, snags represent the single most important element in their life cycle. There are probably over 30 species of
birds and mammals around your cottage that rely on snags for
either foraging, breeding or both. These species cannot survive
without snags.
Snags are the monarchs of the dead wood realm, with such
shoreline birds as eagles, ospreys, great horned owls, ravens, and
herons nesting in their crowns, woodpeckers excavating their
trunks, chickadees, flying squirrels, and wood ducks nesting in
their cavities, and bats and wood frogs sheltering underneath their
bark.
Woodpeckers are the classic example of snag-dependent
birds. Dead trees provide both food and shelter for these
important woodland inhabitants. In turn, the woodpeckers provide homes for other wildlife of the
forest. The best indicator of a healthy snag-dependent wildlife community is the presence of Pileated
Woodpeckers. Their habitat requirements are the
most specific of any cavity-using species, and if the
Pileated is present in your area, the chances are the area
supports a rich variety of cavity-using wildlife.
Woodpeckers, Hummingbirds & Snags
There is a unique wildlife connection between two bird species,
the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (a woodpecker) and the Rubythroated Hummingbird, that illustrates the importance of snags.
The sapsucker makes rows of small feeder holes in trees, quite
often in Yellow Birch. An adult sapsucker brings its recently
fledged young to these trees and leaves them to fed on insects
attracted to the sap running out of the holes. These feeder trees are
also used extensively by hummingbirds as a source of nectar in the
early spring when plants have not yet flowered. Hummers will
Cavity Trees are Refuges for Wildlife
To many people, trees with one or more holes in the trunk don’t
seem worth keeping. Yet to many birds and mammals, these “cavity” trees are a vital source of food, shelter, and safety. By letting
cavity trees remain on your property, you can provide important
habitat for wildlife.
In Southern Ontario, the early logging practices of the 1800s
and 1900s removed only the healthiest trees, leaving an abundance
of cavity trees for wildlife. However, as harvesting operations
began to follow silviculture principles that focused on improving
timber quality, the number of cavity trees began to decline.
Today, loggers, woodlot owners, farmers, and urban dwellers
are being encouraged to retain cavity trees when possible.
One way to enhance your shoreline buffer zone is to resist tidying up leaves, twigs, rubble, and brush piles. Course woody
debris and snags (standing dead trees) are other examples of
important habitats often destroyed by the tidy-up impulse. The
more we learn about ecosystems, the more we appreciate the key
role dead wood plays in sustaining living things.
How did the Earwig Get it’s Name?
The name Earwig comes from the
superstition that earwigs burrow into
the ears of people while they sleep.
This is a myth and without any scientific basis. Earwigs frighten many
people because of the pincers on
the back of their abdomens. Despite
their scary appearance and reputation, earwigs are not directly
harmful to humans. In fact, they are often beneficial, acting as
scavengers of decaying matter and predators of insect larvae, slug
eggs, aphids, and other garden pests.
Earwigs use their pincers for defense and for sparing with rival
earwigs. Adults range in size from 5-25 mm. They are slender
insects with two pair of wings. Some species produce a foul
smelling liquid that they use for
defense. Earwigs also produce a pheromone (scent).
Scientists believe that this
pheromone is the reason that earwigs
cluster together in large numbers.
Earwigs are active at night. Earwigs are attracted to lights.
They can become a nuisance on porches and patios on summer
evenings. During the day they hide in cracks in damp areas. They
live under rocks and logs and in mulch in flowerbeds eating plants
and insects. In the morning they will be gathered under things like
cushions that were left outside overnight. Earwigs move into
homes to find food or because of a change in weather.
Kushog Lake Newsletter - Spring 2016 • 11
12 • Kushog Lake Newsletter - Spring 2016
All you ever wanted to know about...
CONSERVATION OFFICERS
How conservation officers preserve and protect Ontario’s natural resources.
Conservation officers (COs) patrol the
lakes, trails and back roads of Ontario to
protect our natural resources, and ensure
public safety. They are professional, armed
peace officers trained to police standards.
Their main duties are to:
• enforce the laws protecting our natural
resources
• educate the public
• conduct regular audits/inspections of
resource users, licence issuers and commercial operators
• conduct investigations and gather evidence
• present evidence in court
stances requiring immediate action,
without one
• seize items related to an offence
• ask questions relevant to the inspection
• arrest anyone who has committed, is
committing or is about to commit an
offence under many of the acts they are
authorized to enforce
In 2013, Ontario’s conservation officers:
• made nearly 300,000 enforcement contacts
• issued close to 10,000 warnings
• laid nearly 6,500 natural resource
charges
They also spent more than 12,000 hours
educating the public on
conservation and safety, providing information on:
• the regulations that protect species at
risk
• how to recognize and help prevent the
spread of invasive species
• prevention of forest fires
• boating safety and how to prepare fish
for transport
• changes to fishing and hunting regulations
• how to report known or suspected
resource abuse to the Ministry of Natural
Resources TIPS violation reporting line
at 1-877-847-7667
They also use the latest law enforcement
methods, including:
• DNA analysis
• GPS tracking
• internet monitoring
• aerial and canine patrols
• wildlife decoys
• computer data analysis
There is also a specially trained investigations unit with the capacity to focus on
major resource abusers.
Powers and authorities
Conservation officers enforce Ontario’s
natural resources laws. They investigate
and prosecute offenders under many federal and provincial statutes, relating to:
• fire
• fish and wildlife
• species at risk
• parks and conservation reserves
• forestry
• aggregates (sand and gravel)
• public lands
• public safety (e.g. recreational vehicle
use, forest fire prevention)
Law enforcement
Conservation officers are empowered to:
• stop and/or inspect a vehicle, boat or aircraft
• inspect firearms, ammunition, fish or
game
• inspect buildings or other places
• search with a warrant, and in circum-
Kushog Lake Newsletter - Spring 2016 • 13
14 • Kushog Lake Newsletter - Spring 2016
Beware – Boat Propellers… A Real Danger
This is all common sense,
but please refresh your memory for this boating season.
• Never allow passengers to board or exit your boat fom the water when engines are on or idling because the propeller may continue
to spin.
• Be especially alert when operating your boat in congested areas.
• Be extra vigilant near boats that are towing skiers or inflatables.
• Never permit passengers to ride on the bow, gunwale, transom, seatbacks or other locations
where they might fall overboard.
• Keep passengers inside the railings of pontoon boats while underway.
• Establish clear rules for use of the swim platform and boarding ladders. Never use the
swim platform or boarding ladder when the engine is on.
• Never put you boat in reverse to pick someone up out of the water; circle around again.
Did You Know? A typical three-blade propeller running at 3,200 rpm can strike 160 times in one second, and can travel from head to
toe on a average person in less than one-tenth of a second!
What you need to know about the ORV By-law
I’m an ATVer and I didn’t know all this stuff, so please read.
ATVs and other types of ORVs are popular year-round utility and > ATVs/ORVs travelling along a road must:
recreational vehicles that can offer hours of enjoyment for outdoor
enthusiasts, as long as you obey the law and follow safety precautions.
Changes to ORV and ATV Regulations
Beginning July 1, 2015, the province implemented changes to
ORV and ATV regulations. These changes include use of municipal roads in Algonquin Highlands:
• Allowing more types of off-road vehicles (ORVs) and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) - including two-up ATVs, side-by-side
ORVs and utility terrain vehicles (UTVs) - on the shoulder of
public roads, where permitted
• Mandating that all riders - including drivers and passengers of
all ages - wear an approved motorcycle helmet and use a seatbelt or foot rests, where applicable
• Children under the age of eight will not be allowed as a passenger on any ATV/ORV operating on-road
• Limiting the number of passengers to the number of available
seating positions
• Requiring compliance labels on all ATVs/ORVs
Rules of the Road
> ATVs/ORVs on the road must travel at speeds less than posted
speed limit:
• no more than 20 km/h on roads with a posted speed limit of
50 km/h or less
• no more than 50 km/h on roads with a posted speed limit
greater than 50 km/h
• be driven in the same direction as traffic
• travel on the shoulder - if the shoulder is unsafe or impassable or not wide enough, an ATV/ORV can be driven on the
travelled portion of the road
• have headlights and tail lights on
> Off-road vehicles are governed by the Highway Traffic Act,
meaning that drivers must be fully licensed and insured.
Enforcement of these regulations is the responsibility of the OPP.
General Rules:
• Driver and passenger(s) must wear an approved helmet.
• Drivers must be 12 years of age to be on age specific vehicles
on the trails, closely supervised by a parent or guardian who is
not less than 18 years of age and 16 years of age with a minimum of a G2 or an M2 drivers licence to be on the roads.
• ATV must have a green off road licence plate or other jurisdiction equivalent, be registered and carry a minimum of liability
insurance.
• Passengers must be at least 8 years of age and for a 2 up ATV
must be able to securely put their feet on the passenger foot
rests.
• A component, equipment or other feature that was part of the
vehicle when it was manufactured must remain intact, operable
and be unmodified.
• Vehicles must meet the safety standards of when the vehicle
was manufactured.
• Tires must be inflated to manufacturers recommendations.
Kushog Lake Newsletter - Spring 2016 • 15
16 • Kushog Lake Newsletter - Spring 2016
LIVING WITH PRESSURE TREATED WOOD
Recently I went to buy pressure
treated wood (PTW) for an outdoor
project. I guess it’s been a while
since I bought wood because the
green PTW called CCA (chrome, copper and arsenic) has been
replaced by brown ‘non-arsenic’ treated wood primarily Alkaline
Copper Quarternary (ACQ) and Copper Azole (CA), both of
which contain no arsenic but much more copper. In 2013 a different technology, MicroPro, arrived in Canada (see below).
Lots of people think that the old CCA wood has been banned,
but that isn't actually true. The wood preserving industry has voluntarily withdrawn CCA-treated lumber from sale for residential
use. It will continue to be used in commercial and industrial applications.
Corrusiveness
Some of these “next generation” wood preservatives are significantly more corrosive to metal than was CCA treated wood. The
increase in corrosiveness results from the higher proportions of
copper used in the formulation, and affects metals commonly used
in construction including aluminum sheet, steel fasteners and connectors that come into contact with the wood. Practices and customs that were adequate with CCA treated lumber may not be
appropriate for use with the new products.
Only hot-dipped galvanised or stainless steel nails should be
used with CCA, CA or ACQ-treated wood. If CCA, CA or ACQ is
specified, extended periods of wetting are presumably anticipated,
and common nails corrode in wood under moist conditions.
Electroplated galvanising is not thick enough to resist the corrosion effects under moist conditions.
Screws cannot be hot-dipped galvanised but are generally available in stainless steel. There are other types of coated deck screws
on the market for decking.
Use an end-cut preservative
When building your outdoor project with preserved wood, it is
important to protect the cut ends of boards from fungal decay. All
cuts and holes that expose untreated wood should be liberally
brush-coated with two applications of an end-cut preservative
(copper naphthenate in ground contact or zinc naphthenate above
ground) before the wood is installed. Always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Disposing of pressure treated wood
Do not burn treated wood. If burned, toxic chemicals may be produced as part of the ashes. Pressure treated wood should be disposed of by ordinary trash collection or burial.
Using pressure treated wood around water
PTW with high copper content like ACQ and CA-B can cause
problems for micro-organisms in fresh water lakes. Many ecologists are opposed to the use of ACQ for docks or boardwalks in
cottage. So what do you use? MicroPro 200C-TS (MicroPro
SiennaTM Treated Wood) is the only copper-based wood preserviative approved for direct contact with fresh water for use in
docks and other structures.
MicroPro Treatment (available at Emmerson Lumber)
MicroPro is the latest of the formulations for pressure treated
wood. Here there are much the same ingredients as in ACQ, the
difference being that microscopically ground copper is actually
forced inside the wood cells where it cannot come out. This means
no more corrosive effect on fasteners or aluminum caused by the
copper, no more problems with fresh water lakes and still no
arsenic or chrome. Years after MicroPro had taken over the US
market, it finally got through Canadian approvals (2012) and has
since become the standard pressure treated wood in Canada.
Working with Wood
Installation:
• NAIL BARK SIDE UP Always nail boards bark side up (annual rings
arc upward) to reduce cupping.
• DRILL PILOT HOLES Especially when fastening near the edge or end
of a board.
• BUTT BOARDS TIGHTLY Butt decking boards together firmly. As
drying occurs, shrinkage can be expected.
Safety Procedures for working with PTW
• DO NOT BURN TREATED WOOD. Toxic materials may be produced as part of the smoke or
ashes.
• Gloves should be worn to protect against splinters and abrasion.
• A dusk mask should be worn when sawing, machining or sanding any wood to reduce the
inhalation of wood dust.
• Whenever possible prepare wood outdoors to avoid indoor accumulations of airborne sawdust
from treated wood.
• After working with PTW, thoroughly wash your hands and exposed areas with mild soap and
water before eating, drinking or using tobacco products.
Kushog Lake Newsletter - Spring 2016 • 17
18 • Kushog Lake Newsletter - Spring 2016
MICE: Public Enemy Number One
Submitted by Eco-Choice Pest Control
We’ve all heard it said that mice are a reality of cottage country.
Dr. Robert Corrigan, Urban Rodentologist and role model for
mouse-catchers everywhere, calls them the second most successful mammal on earth, due mostly to their adaptable co-evolution
with the most successful mammal…us. The problem lies in keeping them outside in their space, rather than inside ours.
DEER MOUSE
Fun facts about Deer Mice:
≈ Deer mice are avid swimmers.
≈ Deer mice can find their burrows after being moved more
than a kilometer away.
The main culprit on Kushog is the deer mouse, named for its
brown back and white belly. With big, beady eyes and soft fur,
there is no denying their cuteness. There’s also no denying the
horror of finding little turds in your silverware drawer, or the danger they can pose. One mouse dropping can transmit salmonella
for up to 3 months!
So what can you do to keep the mice out of your space and protect your family and guests? It’s a big project; they didn’t get to be
the second most successful mammal without being quite opportunistic.
The basics
Look up and look around. Mice are excellent climbers and can
easily scale wood, bricks or even aluminum siding along its edge.
We catch mice on roofs all the time, and they are consistently larger than mice caught at ground level. This tells us that they enjoy
some sort of safety at height. Their other main safety comes from
cover, so take a close look around your cottage for areas of harbourage. Removing hiding spaces limits their ability to move
around safely.
The checklist
✔ Prune any branches within 6 feet (2m) of the roofline. Branches
near the roof act as a bridge for those hefty aerial mice.
✔ Keep all vent/pipe connections to house free of vegetation.
Vents should be screened with ¼” metal hardware cloth to
prevent chewing. Seal any gaps around pipes.
✔ Rake all leaves and manage vegetation around the house.
Even leaf litter provides coverage for these small rodents.
Keep grass trimmed within about 20 feet of the house.
Ground cover should be pruned and maintained.
✔ Seal any gaps larger than the size of a pencil eraser. Inspect
walls, foundation, chimneys, window and door frames, etc.
✔ Elevate wood piles off the ground and keep away from the
perimeter of the house.
✔ Windows and doors should have tight, weather-proof seals.
Garage door seals should be replaced regularly.
✔ Inspect and repair/seal any damage to roof shingles, fascia
boards, soffits, eaves and roof edges.
✔ Ensure rain cap, spark arrestor and other chimney accessories
are intact and sealed.
✔ Keep all garbage, recycling and pet/bird food in mouse-proof
containers. These items and other storage should be kept
away from walls to limit mouse access.
These are the main problem areas that we see on a regular basis,
but every situation is different. You can do all of this diligently but
if you have a large rock or wood retaining wall right beside the
cottage, the mice will have a playground. You can also cover all of
these points and still have a population living in the attic or walls.
Let’s go over some methods of removal.
Sonic
Plug it in, let the sound waves scare the mice away. Sounds so
simple! Not to be negative here, but it just won’t stand alone to
solve the problem. About 50% of the cottages that hire us to help
with mouse problems have tried a sonic repellant first. If you read
the fine print on the label, it usually says “to be combined with
other pest control measures.” The sonic emission doesn’t travel
through walls so at least one device is needed per room and ultrasound is reflected by hard surfaces and absorbed by soft surfaces.
It’s just too complicated.
Repellants
We have yet to learn a successful odour deterrent, likely because
the entire house needs to be coated for it to bother them. Exclusion
is usually more realistic. Steel wool is successful because mice
won’t chew through it. If filling gaps with steel wool, make sure it
is packed tightly and check on it at least once a year because it will
degrade. Copper is a great exclusion material as well.
Traps
Snap traps are tried, tested and true, but not fool-proof. Mice don’t
see well so they travel along walls where they are offered a bit of
protection. Traps placed away from walls are usually unsuccessful
because the mice don’t find them. When placed against the wall,
mice can feel them out with their whiskers and avoid them, either
by walking around them or jumping over. Place 2-3 in a row to
increase your chances of fooling them.
Live traps are a bit of a misnomer because it doesn’t take long
for a mouse to starve. If multiple mice are trapped, cannibalism is
rampant (we tried to tell you they’re opportunistic). Releasing
them is tricky too, since they can travel far distances. The textbooks will tell you that mice remain within 30 feet of their nest or
food source. Mice around here obviously don’t read textbooks.
... continued on the next page
Kushog Lake Newsletter - Spring 2016 • 19
20 • Kushog Lake Newsletter - Spring 2016
Mice... continued from the previous page
Ever watched a mouse run across the road? That’s more than 30
feet. As I write this, there are mouse tracks from our house to our
pond, about 50 feet away.
The bucket trap can be successful, though we’re always perplexed by those who feel that drowning a mouse is more humane
than hiring our services.
Poisons
Poisons are effective but have to be approached with caution.
Always avoid a poison in pellet form. Mice tend to cache the pellets away somewhere and if a pet or wild animal happens upon a
large stash, it could be enough to harm them. If you are going to
buy a station with poison at the hardware store, make sure the
encasement is tamper proof so no curious kids or pets can get into
it. Again be wary of placement. Mouse runways are marked with
droppings, so place the station where you see the most droppings.
What we do
If this sounds overwhelming or you just can’t be bothered, or
you’ve tried everything and the varmints are still inside, we’re
Threat to Humans: Hantavirus
The deer mouse is a known carrier of Hantavirus. Hantavirus is
contracted through urine/feces of the mouse, being bitten by an
infected mouse, or contact with broken skin. Hantavirus causes
a serious lung disease called Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome
(HPS) which can be fatal if not treated.
Most people in Ontario will never be exposed to hantavirus.
But people who spend time where deer mice live may increase
the chance of exposure. These areas include hiking trails, vacant
buildings or cottages, barns and fields.
here to help. We offer a range of mouse services tailored to suit
any needs, passions or budget. We have a chemical free option, we
offer sealing services and we have developed a wildly successful
mouse control program.After all, we live in Minden and we are
proudly mouse free. That mouse that ventured from the pond to
the house…it’s not getting in.
Feel free to call us for more information or check out our website for details on any services we offer. 705-286-BUGS (2847) or
www.ecochoicepestcontrol.ca
The BEAVER
The beaver is the largest rodent in North America
They can reach over one metre in length and can weigh up to 32 kilograms
Did you know that the beaver almost disappeared from Canada in
the 1930s? It had been so fiercely hunted for its fur that measures
had to be taken to protect it. The beaver quickly recovered and
reestablished itself throughout its territory.
Without the coveted fur of the beaver, Canada might not have
attracted colonizers from Europe. That is why it is the national
symbol of Canada and is found on coins, stamps and is the logo of
Parks Canada.
The beaver is the animal which places second only to humans
in the magnitude of change which it can effect on its environment.
It does this through the dams it builds. Beaver dams are usually
about 50 m (164 ft.) in length, 2 m (6.5 ft.) high, and about 3 m
(10 ft.) through the base. Their dams help to maintain water levels
in forest streams, thus providing habitat for themselves, fish and
waterfowl. Beavers use the water to transport the logs they harvest
and to provide a safe place to escape to when necessary.
Protecting trees
Place homemade tree guards around the trunk. The guards should
be about three feet high and made of galvanized welded wire (2 x
2 or 2 x 3 inch is recommended). This material can be found in any
large hardware or home improvement store, usually sold as fencing. Try not to use the lighter chicken wire, as it is generally too
flimsy to provide good protection.
Finer-mesh screening—such as that used for windows as bug
screen—is more expensive, and you don’t need to resort to it
unless welded wire is unavailable. These can be especially effective in protecting small (two- to six-inch-in-diameter) ornamental
or specimen trees.
You may need to pin guards to the ground around larger trees,
and it’s a good idea to mulch within the guard to keep weeds from
becoming a problem.
What’s the Difference between a Dam and a Lodge?
When beavers move into an area, they first build a dam across a creek or small river to create a pond. Then the beavers can build their
home - a lodge or den. They spend their summers gathering food, piling it underwater near the lodge so that it can be reached even after
the ice forms over the pond.
Kushog Lake Newsletter - Spring 2016 • 21
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22 • Kushog Lake Newsletter - Spring 2016
Municipality of
Algonquin Highlands News
From Our Reeve, Carol Moffatt
T
his year’s budget was a challenge
before we even opened our binders –
the OPP increase this year is 5.78% but
only on the municipal portion. That translates into a $237,000 increase. Staff did a
terrific job of bringing in a 0.99% operational increase on top of that. At the time
of writing this, the Education levy had not
been announced so the final Tax Rate isn’t
yet known but recent historical trends with
the Education levy indicate that it will allow the final rate to blend
down.
Major goals in Algonquin Highlands this year are spread out
across all departments. The long-overdue expansion of the municipal office will go ahead, including a substantial accessibility component. This project is chiefly funded from Reserves we’ve been
setting aside for a number of years. The addition, along with the
new municipal broadband project will help improve corporate
efficiencies and allow day-to-day business, as well as larger projects, to thrive. Residential high speed remains a frustrating challenge across the entire County and we continue to seek solutions.
We’ll begin working on the airport business development plan,
starting with a formal survey of the lands; and we’ll continue to
work with an Airport Maintenance Operator who wants to open a
business at the airport. The new MNR base at the airport is virtually complete and will be staffed shortly, prompting us to continue to seek food services opportunities at the airport.
We intend to pursue a number of solar applications this year for
2017 installation. These will not only provide substantial green
energy benefits to the community but will also provide impressive
financial rewards to the municipality.
It’s time to undertake our required Official Plan review so
watch the township website for how you can participate. Speaking
of websites, a new one is in the works as I type.
We’ll be looking at an expansion of the Pine Springs landfill
since the Dorset site is now a Transfer Station and Hawk Lake has
only 5 – 7 years left until it, too, becomes a Transfer Station.
Landfill costs continue to rise so we seek your continued cooperation around recycling, re-use and proper hazardous waste disposal.
Fire Services is enjoying full personnel complements at all
three stations. We will take possession of two new fire trucks as
well as investing in updated radios, completing the dry hydrant
program and implementing a mental health peer support program.
The new Cultural and Environmental committees will get up
and running and hopefully provide a springboard for some terrific
new projects.
We continue to fund culture and heritage in the Dorset and
Stanhope museums. Recreation programming is thriving at both
the Oxtongue Lake Community Centre and the Dorset Recreation
Centre and the activity calendar is available via the township web-
site. Long-time employee Chris Card is now the Parks, Recreation
and Trails (PRT) Manager and our canoeing, camping, snowshoeing, skiing and hiking trails, along with regular guided experiences, are helping an impressive number of people stay healthy
and active in the outdoors.
Road construction projects continue and Kushog-ers will be
pleased to know that Buckslide Rd. from Hwy 35 to downtown
Boshkung will be done this year.
I continue to work with the MOECC to seek some reasonable
resolution on the gap in the approval process for licensing septage
fields.
Algonquin Highlands continues to enjoy tremendous financial
stability, and has the lowest Tax Arrears in the County. Reserves
are in good shape and major projects continue but like other jurisdictions we face the ongoing pressures of needs and wants against
taxation expectations and ability to pay.
As the 2016 Warden for Haliburton County, I foresee major
goals at the County level include deciding next steps around the
OPP Billing Reform and costs of policing issue; completion of the
Official Plan review; continuation of the evolution of Tourism
branding; determining the best way to diversify Tourism
Information services throughout the County; encouragement of
continued expansion of the recently-approved municipal broadband into residential service; discussing next steps regarding the
Poverty Reduction strategy; and settling into a cooperative relationship with CEWF around the ongoing issues with fluctuating
water levels.
The major challenge for the County will be continuing to seek
that ever-elusive balance of what the community needs and wants,
and what it can reasonably afford to pay. Our Reserves are low,
and we have ongoing structural and social housing needs. The
continual increase in costs combined with withering funding
opportunities and our limited tax base will continue to put pressure
on service levels and project choices but within those challenges
we’ll continue to build the best year-round community we can.
Council agendas may not be sexy but they keep you up to date
with what’s going on – visit the County site to subscribe to eupdates. Local newspapers are all online and on social media, and
you’ll find lots of newsy bits on my Facebook page at “Algonquin
Highlands Reeve Carol Moffatt.”
A. H. Township Office to Expand
The municipal office staff have outgrown their space, so a 124square-metre addition along with renovations to the existing
building will start soon with a target completion date of Aug. 31.
Kushog Lake Newsletter - Spring 2016 • 23
K U S H O G
2 0 1 6
L A K E
S U M M E R
E V E N T S
KLPOA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
KUSHOG LAKE PICNIC
Sat. June 11, 2016
Sat. July 30, 2016 - 11 am to 3 pm
Pine Spring Valley Resort
Hwy 35 at Pine Springs
Stanhope Firefighters Community Hall
- North Shore Rd off Hwy 35
Refreshments at 9 am Meeting: 9:30 am to noon
• Decorated Boat Contest: Sail Past at 11 am
Presentations:
• Special Guest Presentation: PEST CONTROL
Bill Hughson, Bill’s Quality Pest Control.
Bill’s presentation will focus on anything
you never wanted to know about pest
control, including carpenter ants,
rodents and bears. He’ll answer all your
questions and even demonstrate some
traps.
• Land & Water Activities for Kids & Adults:
Sock Hop
Wheelbarrow Push
3-Legged Leap
Jumbled Shoe Scramble
Water Balloon Toss
Tug-o-Wars
Swimming Races
Tubes of War
Noodle Races
• Latest Algonquin Highlands news from
Reeve Carol Moffatt
• Display your crafts & hobbies for sale
• Update on KLPOA’s Research Projects
Copies of Poop Talk, a video about keeping your septic system healthy and reducing the pollution into our lake, will be
available for purchase at $13 each.
Call Susan at 705-489-2657 for further information and to
volunteer to help out.
Door Prize: 2 tickets to any
Highlands Summer Festival production
‘Life on Kushog Lake’
Bring some money for refreshments and crafts (and your
membership). Also bring lawn chairs, bathing suits, your
neighbours and friends.
PHOTO CONTEST
General Rules
• Family must be a paid-up member of KLPOA to enter
• Entrants must name each photo and assign a category
• Limit of 3 submissions per category per membership
• Photos must be high resolution and submitted by email
• eMail your high-res photos to info@kushoglake.org
Winners will be announced in the Fall newsletter
See www.kushoglake.org for contest rules
Deadline: August 31st
Categories & Prizes
• Fun at the Lake - $100 Kushog Marina bucks
• Nature & Wildlife - $100 Kushog Marina bucks
• Pets at the Lake -$100 Kushog Marina bucks
• Photos taken by Kids -$100 Kushog Marina bucks
• BEST IN SHOW - $200 Kushog Marina bucks
Thank you to Kushog Marina for the prizes.
Events sponsored by
Kushog Lake Property Owners Association
www.kushoglake.org
KLPOA Has a New Website!
e m a i l : i n fo @ ku s h o gl a ke. o rg
www.kushoglake.org
We’ve moved into the 21st century with a new website. It’s a work in progress.
The design will evolve. Current News will be updated frequently. And lots more
information will be added: did you know... tips, lake history, resources and links.
Let us know what you would like to see on the website.
Like Us on Facebook
Kushog Lake Property Owners
For really current news, check out our Facebook page: Kushog Lake
Property Owners Association. This page is updated frequently with lake
news, did you know..., tips for preserving lake health, and much more. If
you have news you want to share, join the Friends of Kushog Lake
Facebook group.