Lake Ecosystem Advisory Committee

The Lake Ecosystem Advisory Committee is a Committee of Council that was formed in 2020 to support the health and welfare of the Township's lake ecosystems and the enjoyment and use of lakes by residents, visitors and future generations.

The committee’s mandate includes hosting an annual Lake Associations Forum where Lake Associations and residents can network with one another other, share best practices, voice common concerns, and discuss emerging trends. It also provides feedback on Township policy, strategic plans and budgets, and coordinates and collects feedback from lake associations throughout the year.

In 2021, the Township introduced the Lake Ecosystem Grant Program. This committee reviews all grant applications and recommends which projects should receive funding under the program.

The committee partners with different agencies to conduct research, data analysis and public education and outreach activities on lake ecosystems.

Current members

• Councillor Steve Pegrum
• Councillor Randy Ruttan
• Alan Revill, Desert Lake Property Owners Association
• Janet Brown, Dog & Cranberry Lakes Association
• Justin Connidis, Garter Lake Lane Association
• Joseph Buckley, Fourteen Island and Mink Lakes Watershed Association
• Terry Mauer, Inverary Lake Residents Association
• Tim Upton, West Devil Lake Property Owners Association
• Ellie Prepas
• Gerrit Buitenhuis

Meetings

Members of the public are encouraged to attend committee meetings. You can find agendas, minutes and dates of upcoming meetings on CivicWeb or on our main Events calendar. You must register as an attendee before the meeting.

Highlights from the July 18 Lake Ecosystem Forum

The Township’s Lake Ecosystem Advisory Committee held their second annual Lake Forum on July 18, 2024. Approximately 30 residents came out to network and learn from our two speakers, Holly Evans from Cataraqui Conservation and Dr. Brian Cumming from Queen’s University. 

Evans passionately shared her view that people are part of the ecosystem; lake conservation is not only about wildlife but also about our own self-preservation. She talked about invasive species present in our area, showed us what invasive phragmites look like, and explained different ways to effectively remove phragmites. Evans also told us about the new Cataraqui Region Invasive Phragmites Management Area.  During her talk, she provided practical examples on how we can provide public and staff education on phragmites. Recommendations moving forward on removing phragmites include cleaning equipment after working in areas with phragmites, accepting removed plants at landfills free of charge, and to apply roadside pesticides that target the invasive species. To learn more on spotting and reporting invasive species, you can download the app EDDmaps.

Dr. Brian Cumming from Queen’s University spoke about aquatic ecosystems and his research on lake trout. He explained how a quarter of the world’s trout lakes are in Ontario and described how they are different from other lakes. Ontario lakes are deep and have the right water temperature and dissolved oxygen levels for lake trout to thrive. These lakes are however under stress from the cumulative impacts of climate change and nutrients. Ice cover in the winter helps the lake water to refresh/mix – less ice coverage means that the water does not mix the same way. He also shared findings from his own research on Desert Lake and Big Salmon Lake. Dr. Cumming provided examples of future management options including strict land use policies for development and redevelopment, considering cumulative impacts of nutrients from development, sewage system management and inspections, and protecting shorelines and spawning areas.

During the networking session, there was discussion about septic reinspection programs, aquatic weeds and blue green algae, and lake water sampling programs.