Drag & Spruce Lakes Property Owners Association

Hazard Buoys Removed for the Season

In keeping with our obligations with Canada’s Private Buoy Regulations under the Canada Shipping Act, this is to notify that the 10 hazard buoys in Spruce Lake and Outlet Bay (HR4 through HR8, HT1 thru 5) have been removed for the season.   They have been replaced with lower profile white markers.

A special thanks to Gary Hunt for doing the work.

If your boat is still in the water, be vigilant.  The water levels are fast approaching the fall trout spanning levels.

FOCA Elert

For the latest from FOCA - click here.

HAPPY LABOUR DAY WEEKEND!!

DSLPOA Summer Events Update

DSLPOA Sailing Day Returns with Sunny Skies

The 2023 Drag Lake Regatta was held on August 5th. Many thanks to Greg Platt and the Platt and Taylor families for organizing the event and arranging for sunny skies and fair winds.

Here are the winners:

1st Howard Sagerman and Jay Heaman - Wayfarer 16

2nd Greg Platt, Zoe Platt and Bea Freeman - Hobie 18

3rd John Wilkes and Kurt Fischer - Laser 2

4th Bruce and Cash Freeman - Laser

5th Les Gondar - Hobie Tandem Island

6th Peter Freeman and Jason Taylor - Hobie 16

A get together on the beach afterwards was enjoyed by participants, friends, and family.

Watch the website and next year’s Directory for the 2024 date!

GOLF DAY – unfortunately we were unable to schedule Golf Day this year and I know many of you have enjoyed it in the past.  If you would like to help schedule the event for next summer, please contact Jennifer Thompson ([email protected] ).

The Ced Hurd Mile Swim was organized again by Christine Young and we thank her for all her efforts to organize this traditional event and arrange for a good forecast.  Watch the website and Directory for more details.

FOCA Elert - Aug 2023

For the latest from FOCA - click here

 

ENJOY!!!

Invading Species Awareness Event - Sandy Cove on Aug 8

The Invading Species Awareness Program (ISAP) has been established by the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, in partnership with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry to address the increasing threats posed by invasive species in Ontario. The DSLPOA has received a grant from the Invasive Species Centre to help with our Eurasian Water Milfoil (EWM) program.

Following a successful event presented by ISAP last summer, the DSLPOA Lake Stewardship Committee has arranged for a repeat session this year. It’s at the Sandy Cove boat launch from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Tuesday, August 8. The event is not just for adults, as you can see from the pictures. Kids also found last year’s event interesting as they learned about some of the invasive and non-invasive species found in Ontario.

For full information - click here.

Working together to protect and preserve our lakes.

 

DSLPOA Executive Listing

As a result of the elections during the July 9 AGM, the attached PDF (click here) is an updated listing of the association’s executives, complete with their contact information.

Two long standing members of the executive “retired” at the AGM.  Karen Gingrich as the Membership Director and Donna McCallum as the Newsletter and Directory Director.  Both have been serving the association for longer than most can remember, and are well deserving of our collective thanks for the contributions they have made over these many years.  Please do not hesitate to contact them (info in the directory) if you would like to extend your personal thanks.

Jim Miners has stepped back from 1^st Vice President, but was elected to the Officer at Large position as he begins to wind down his leadership role in our EWM control program.

New faces to the executive are Rob Norris (Director, Lake Stewardship), Jennifer North (Director, Membership) and Jennifer Thompson (Director, Event Co-ordination).  Welcome on behalf of the association membership.

Invasive Species Grant awarded to DSLPOA

The DSLPOA EWM Working Group has been selected to receive a $2,000 Microgrant from the Invasive Species Action Fund to support our program to identify, monitor and selectively control Eurasian Watermilfoil in our two lakes. Details of our progress will be posted here and on our Facebook page throughout the summer.

New Invasive Species Action Fund Supports on-the-ground action in Central Ontario

 

 

DSLPOA 2023 AGM, Minutes + Presentations

The 2023 DSLPOA AGM was held Sunday, July 9. 

To view the Draft Minutes - click here

(the minutes will be finalized when approved at the next AGM)

To view the AGM presentation materials - click here

Any questions or comments should be forwarded to the DSLPOA email address - [email protected]

DSLPOA Summer Events

DSLPOA Eurasian Watermilfoil

Hello Drag and Spruce Lake Property Owners,

 

There are many signs that summer has arrived - hot days, warm nights, open dining patios, Fleming College summer programs, Music in the Park, the Summer Festival, increased activity on the water and, of course, increased activity under the water. The Eurasian Watermilfoil has already begun its annual growth cycle and the EWM Working Group is preparing for its annual program of identifying new outbreaks and monitoring and controlling previously identified outbreaks. This year we are hoping to work with our commercial dive team during the week of July 17, weather permitting. If you have already registered as a volunteer to help with this activity you will receive an email closer to that week asking for your help. If you have not registered as a volunteer and would like to, email me at [email protected] and I will pass your details along to Dominique Binckly, our volunteer coordinator.

 

There have already been a few emails and posts on Facebook indicating either floating EWM fragments or visible plants. It is important to remove all fragments from the water and dispose of them well away from the water. If we all do this along our own waterfront it will reduce the likelihood of new growth. If you believe you have found an EWM outbreak, please follow the link below to report your findings to us so that we can confirm the identity of the plant. Our shoreline plant study started last summer revealed that only 4% of plants sampled were in fact EWM. The remaining 96% of aquatic plants are important to maintain the quality of our water and the health of our lake. For those who know that they have EWM plants in front of their property you are entitled to remove these by hand after July 15 - if you choose to do so keep in mind that you can only do this directly in front of your property and the risk to a swimmer associated with entering a dense EWM outbreak is real.

 

Finally, the DSLPOA website has many resources related to EWM. Try these links to inform yourself or pass them to others who may be new to our lakes or visiting.

 

Confirmed EWM sites

 

Identifying and reporting new outbreaks

 

A video about our efforts in 2022

 

This summer we expect to spend between $25,000 and $30,000 on your behalf. If you have made a recent donation to the EWM Fund, thank you. If you haven't done so we would appreciate your contribution. Visit the top left of the DSLPOA website to make your donation to fund this important work.

 

Jim Miners

For The EWM Working Group

 

Website - Drag and Spruce Lakes Property Owners' Association

Facebook Our Community of Drag and Spruce Lakes