Meetings

Golden Sands
October 23, 2006

Present: Dave Lemkay, Kevin O’Connor, Weldon McEachen, Bill Clark, Howard Bernard, Norma Bailey, George Wilcox, Bill Gardner, Gail McPhee, Kathy Lampi, Carolyn Letters, Susan St. Jean

1) Meeting was called to order at 7.05 p.m. by President Dave Lemkay, who in his opening remarks outlined:

1. that that there appeared to  be sufficient interest in a boating course to proceed in planning. A motion to hold a course made by Gail McPhee, seconded by Howard Bernard was passed. Timing would be last week of June. Kevin O’Connor will determine if the Interlake Assoc wishes to co-op. Dave Lemkay will notify the instructor of our interest. Estimated cost per person is $35.00., which includes instruction and issuing of temporary and permanent cards. Plans to advertise and notify association members will be discussed at a spring meeting.

2. Steve Munger has agreed to let his name stand as a candidate on the Association’s behalf on  the Pembroke District Fish and Wildlife Advisory Committee of the MNR.

2) Bill Clark advised a draft copy of the minutes of the Sept 18 meeting had been mailed to all directors so unless changes were necessary a reading was probably not required. A motion to accept minutes by Weldon McEachen, seconded by Bill Gardner was passed.

3) The inclusion of some type of social activity at either the June or Aug (2007) full  membership meetings was discussed. A motion to include some social activity at the Aug meeting by Weldon McEachen, seconded by George Wilcox was passed. Kate O’Hara will be asked to supervise planning. Kevin O’Connor to supervise arrangements for June meeting at the Killaloe Public School.

4) Weldon McEachen delivered the Treasurers Report, which showed the Association had a balance of $2751.03 as of Sept. 19 2006. Motion by Kevin O’Connor, seconded by Susan St. Jean to accept report was passed.

5) Weldon McEachen tabled that an audit report must be done and registered by Dec 31. It  was suggested that M. T. Afelskie, CMA in Eganville be  contacted about doing the audit. Kevin O’Connor to follow up with Mr. Afelskie to determine his involvement.

6) Under New Business Kathy Lampi tabled a preliminary report on behalf of the Water Quality Committee  (Kathy Lampi, Howard Bernard, John Gulland and Steve Munger). A full copy of report is attached below. Highlights of report include:

1. there is an online study that states while cormorants do destroy vegetation in nesting areas they eat fewer fish than merganser ducks

2. The committee could not locate any ongoing, serious, consistent testing of water quality in Golden Lake. The committee is to continue its investigations.

7) There was a brief discussion regarding the status of the pickerel seeding program in Golden Lake. The moratorium is to end January 1, 2007.  There is very little information available regarding the success of the program. There have been rumours that the moratorium may be extended.

8) Dave Lemkay, Kevin O’Connor, Carolyn Letters, Susan St. Jean had met in committee to discuss what routine should be established to both improve the Association’s ability to solicit membership, maintain a more effective listing of members and their data in each zone and keep a more accurate record of membership vs. revenues in each zone. Among the options discussed were:

1. in addition to knocking on doors a follow up mailing be done with postage paid envelopes

2. zone leaders to tighten their routines to maintain a better “paper trail” of  subscriptions and revenues

3. membership cards would not carry numbers. Numbers series (ie. 100 series for zone 1, 200 for zone 2, etc.) would be assigned to each zone and leaders would fill in cards.

4. all membership dues handed in would be accompanied with fully completed information form pertaining to the specific member to be credited

5. lists of mailing and e-mail addresses of all members to be prepared by zone representative. Carolyn Letters distributed membership lists for each zone to leaders and asked they be reviewed for accuracy and she be advised.

9) Bill Clark advised that Kate O’Hara has agreed to assume his duties as Zone 2 leader. Leslie Moore will continue as zone helper in support of her efforts. 

10) Dave Lemkay gave a report covering the grant of $7,500 from The Community Futures Development Corp to erect a comfort station at the Deacon boat launch site. Full estimated cost is $15,000. The North Algona /Wilberforce Twp Council has agreed to assume responsibility for the project and invest the outstanding $7500. amount passing a motion that GLPOA would make a contribution of approximately half the shortfall during 2007. North Algona/ Wilberforce Town Council has agreed to assume responsibility for upkeep of the station.. After discussion a motion by Kathy Lampi, seconded by Howard Bernard that our association agree to partner in the project and contribute half of the cash (approx $3500) was passed.  This is recognized as in addition to our in-kind participation as supplied through preliminary arrangements and project management.

11) A motion to adjourn by Bill Clark, seconded Carolyn Letters was passed.

Water Quality Committee Report
Prepared by Kathy Lampi

John Gulland and I met with Howard Bernard September 26 at the Kokomish Café. We agreed to begin a search for information and a review of literature pertaining to water quality on Golden Lake. Howard said he would approach the Band Office to find out what was available at Golden Lake First Nation. Steve Munger who lives in Ottawa and has a cottage in the area has agreed to act as a resource and to work with the committee, thanks to Dave Lemkay’s suggestion. John and I began looking for whatever information we could find.

Howard reported in early October that the Band Office knows of no water testing programs or water quality report except for summer time testing of swimming water at the Golden Lake First Nations beach where swimming lessons take place. The beach has not been closed at any time due to pollution.

We have located a Ministry of Natural Resources report on cormorants that can be accessed on line. We hope that it can be linked to our website soon; basically the report points out that cormorants are a species native to Ontario and cites reports that indicate that on Lake Erie the cormorants eat fewer fish than do merganser ducks. The report suggests that the cormorant population is high because the cormorants are eating so well wintering over at the catfish farms in Mississippi. The report also indicates that cormorant nesting can result in damage to vegetation.

We have a copy of the Lake Clear Stewardship Plan, which is a proposal from a Bracebridge consultant to prepare such a plan. We have looked at the Bonnechere River Water Management Plan (September 2004) which examines water levels.

We have looked at the Bonnechere River Water Project Report (February 2006) which gives test results for water at several locations along the Bonnechere watershed. Water was tested quarterly at the Golden Lake Bridge and then at the Eganville Beach between 1999 and 2001. Water quality "appears to be relatively good" according to the report. Water was tested for Nitrates/Nitrite, Phosphorus, suspended solids, E Coli and Dissolved Oxygen. Levels of pollutants are very close at the two sites, indicating that either the Golden Lake is not being polluted too badly, or it is cleaning itself up over the bubbling oxygen-making route of the river between the lake and Eganville. The report also mentions nutrients loading from non-point sources. The results from our area are five years old. We have found so far no other people testing water on a regular basis.

Kevin O’Connor reported that the municipality says they do not test recreational quality of water. I have spoken with Golden Lake United Church Camp. They do not test swimming water.

Steve Munger pointed us to the lake Partnership Program which is a volunteer based water quality monitoring program run in partnership with the Ministry of the Environment. This program monitors phosphorus levels. Volunteers take water samples in May and then monthly for six months.

So far, we have found nothing to indicate any on-going, serious, consistent testing of water quality on Golden Lake.