Drag & Spruce Lakes Property Owners Association

New DSLPOA Website

Coming Soon, Stay Tuned...

Launch of our new Website is Coming Soon!  

The URL will remain the same:  https://dragandsprucelakes.ca

 

Changes you’ll see:

 

Refreshed look

Improved navigation

Hot Buttons for focus areas (i.e., Membership, Donation)

Easier Sign Up for Automatic Emails

Updated improved Platform with new Features like Polling

Lead An Event!

Membership has asked us to reinstate additional Events.  We hear you and agree.

Thank you to the passionate Leaders of our current events.  Your efforts are greatly appreciated.

Join us and help lead an Event.

Available Events to Lead and we Welcome your ideas for additional Events:

- Picnic and Fun Day   - Photography Contests

- Rock Bass Derby for Kids   - Treasure Hunt

- Adult Social   - Loon Nest Building & Loon Watch

- Outdoor Music Concerts  - Community Yard Sale

Write us at [email protected]

FOCA AGM

The FOCA AGM was held March 1/25.

For everyone's information, here are two key documents from that meeting:

1. 'FOCA 2024 Year in Review' - click here
2. 'FOCA Strategic Plan 2025-2027' - click here

If you have further questions feel free to submit via email [email protected].

FOCA Elert - Feb 2025

For the latest from FOCA - click here

Learn About Invasive Species

For more information - click here

Managing EWM – Looking Back and Ahead

The quiet of winter on Drag and Spruce Lakes marks the finish of 2024’s program and the beginning of 2025’s effort.

Regular updates will be provided regarding our success and upcoming planned activities.

Outbreaks:

• 20 known EWM outbreak sites in Drag Lake and 0 in Spruce Lake
• 1 new outbreak identified last year
• 19 located close to shore, being successfully managed with a combination of matting, hand harvesting and property owner vigilance
• Primary outbreak south of Harris Beach continues to expand slowly at its southern edge
  • Working Group will redouble efforts this summer to control this growth

Goals:

Managing EWM in our lakes annually by:

• Identifying outbreaks
• Monitoring every outbreak location each year
• Selectively applying controls to some of those outbreaks
• Sustaining our Program via:
  • Property owner resources
  • Respecting and protecting the biodiversity within our lakes

To continue reading click here

Get The Lead Out

Drag and Spruce Lakes Executive is announcing a new initiative, “Get The Lead Out” of our lakes and help our precious Loon, bird and aquatic populations.  Loons are an iconic symbol of pristine wilderness lakes, where their haunting calls stir something deep within us.  Loons face many survival challenges, including those created by human activity.

Currently 21 Lake Associations have undertaken a similar initiative with Ontario’s Wolfe Lake Association spearheading the overall program.

The goals of our 2025 Campaign:

1. Increase awareness among Drag and Spruce Lake residents and visitors about:
   • The danger to wildlife, and especially to Loons, of using fishing tackle containing lead
   • Alternative fishing tackle that is available
2. Offer anglers an incentive to switch from lead tackle to lead-free alternatives
3. Collect as much lead as possible to keep it out of the environment
4. Raise awareness via the Municipality of Dysart et Al Council and encourage other local Lake Associations to Fish Lead-Free

To continue reading click here

 

EWM Matting Deployment Notice

Notice of Intention to Deploy Biodegradable Benthic Matting in 2025

The strategic deployment of biodegradable matting over Eurasian Watermilfoil
(EWM) outbreaks has been an important and effective part of the Drag and Spruce
Lakes EWM Management Program each of the past 5 summers. This year the
DSLPOA will again make application to the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
(MNR), seeking permission to deploy either untreated burlap or coconut fiber mats
at the following 7 locations.

Outbreak Description GPS
EWM 1 South of Harris Beach 45.07503 -78.40421
EWM 2 North of Blueberry Island 45.07844 -78.39328
EWM 3 South of Podmore Beach 45.08458 -78.39935
EWM 4 East End of Bonham's Bay 45.07072 -78.43500
EWM 11 Northwest of Drag Lake Lodge 45.05137 -78.42100
EWM 13 Near End of True North Rd 45.09400 -78.41180
EWM 18 Southwest of Pine Tree Point 45.07906 -78.40845

You may also refer to the map of EWM outbreak locations on the DSLPOA website
by following this link. The decision on which outbreaks will receive benthic mats is
made by the Working Group in early July following visual inspection of the 7
approved locations. Last year mats were placed only on sites 1, 4 and 11. This work
can be performed anytime between July 16 and September 30.

If your property is adjacent to one of these 7 locations and you would like to
express your concern to the MNR, please contact the Parry Sound District MNRF
office contact information as indicated below:
Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry
7A Bay Street, Parry Sound ON, P2A 1S4
[email protected]

If your have any questions about EWM inspection, monitoring or control activities
on Drag or Spruce Lakes please contact the Working Group by email.

Jim Miners
For the Working Group

FOCA Elert - Jan 2025

For the latest from FOCA - click here

Friendly Reminders