Fall 2013 for viewing - Kennisis Lake Cottage Owners` Association

Fall 2013
Kennisis Breeze
Kennisis Lake Cottage Owners Association
Where Have All The
People Gone?
www.klcoa.org
KLCOA Members Take Keen Interest in AGM 2013
Many of us may have
closed the cottage for the
winter, but Haliburton
Highlands is far from
closed! If you are
interested in the weekly
activites planned in the
area, go to
www.experiencehaliburton.
com
Sign up for the weekly
email listing all of the
upcoming local activites all
year round! You will be
surprised at the number of
ongoing events throughout
the year!
For More Related
Topics, visit
www.haliburtonforest.com
www.klcoa.org
www.fyihaliburton.com
www.foca.on.ca
__________
At our AGM, Aug. 31st 2013, numerous KLCOA members testified their interest and support for
our cottage community organization with their presence and their input. Many thanks to all who
contributed to agenda, chock-full of committee activity reports and guest speakers, Susan
Norcross, Ward 4 Councillor with Deputy Reeve, Murray Fearrey as pictured above. For more info
about the agenda items, visit www.klcoa.org for the AGM fall 2013 Minutes.
This year, our keen members did not hesitate to accept nominations for Board positions which
resulted in an election for the 16 Director positions. Thank you to those who offered their support
and congratulations to those who were elected. After the election and the first meeting of the
Board of Drectors, the NEW BOARD of Directors for 2013 and 2014 is as follows:
Tony Lepine: President (presidents's message on pg. 2)
Jim Prince: Vice President
Chris Riddle: Vice President
Tayce Wakefield: Secretary
David Austin: Treasurer
Graham Beach
Gary Benson
Gary Bouwmeister
Cam Douglas
Tina Fagg
Jeff Gardner
Duncan McCallum
Terry O'Connor
Janis Parker
Gary Pike
Deb Wratschko
Associate Directors (non-voting)
Bill Wiggins (past president)
Peter Jones
President's Message:.Tony Lepine, KLCOA
Greetings from your new president. At the October 12th board meeting I was elected
president along with the other members of the executive: Chris Riddle and Jim Prince
as Vice Presidents, Tayce Wakefield as Secretary and David Austin, Treasurer.
Thank you to Bill Wiggins, the outgoing president for his 4 years of service and leadership.
Bill remains on the board and will continue to provide guidance to the board as past
president.
Thank you to all members who attended the AGM. The number of members in attendance
was the largest I have seen since I started attending AGM meetings
in 2003. The agenda was quite full, in part due to the need to hold elections. A first for me
was the need to hold a balloted election. The results were shared in an e-blast shortly after
the meeting and may also be found in the minutes of the AGM which have been posted on the Tony Lepine, President (left) is
KLCOA website or on page 1 of this newsletter.
supported at AGM by Bill
Thank you to Deb Wratschko who organized the balloting and to the KLCOA members who Wiggins, Past President (right)
assisted her: Shirley Weeks as scrutineer, Tina Fagg and Joan Middleton as counters. The
election process Deb implemented would even make Elections Canada envious!
I am thrilled with the new board. The knowledge and skill set that both the newly elected and re-elected directors
bring to the board is second to none. I will shamelessly tap that expertise to help maintain and improve the quality of
our lake and lake community. We had a spirited first meeting with all directors expressing interest in multiple areas.
Join us at the spring meeting to learn more.
The association will soon be impacted by a new act that will be put into law by the Ontario Government sometime in
2014. The Ontario Not for Profit Corporation Act (ONCA) will force all not-for-profit corporations to modify their bylaws so they are in compliance with the act. As a result, a by-law committee has been formed to review and update our
by-laws. The team will be working over the coming months to ensure compliance with ONCA. Once our new by-laws are
available, they will be shared with our members to seek their approval. For anyone who is interested in knowing more
about ONCA, a wealth of information is available at the Ontario government’s website.
Enough said for now. I do not want to monopolize the newsletter. In closing have a safe but fun winter. See you at
the spring meeting.
Yours truly,
Tony Lepine, President KLCOA
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Photo Contest: Honorable Mentions
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Dysart et al initiates a “Repurpose” Initiative
The Dysart et al Environment and Green Enery Committee is encouraging residents to repurpose items. “Turn that
unwanted item that you are about to landfill into something pretty or useful.” Your ideas and your imagination can save our
environment and our landfill sites.
We all remember how soup or coffee cans were repurposed for ashtrays or cans for turpentine to clean our oil based
paint brushes. Those days are soon gone but here are some additional ideas that might work for you:
 from an old bedsheet to a leaf hauler (Spread the sheet on the gound, rake leaves into it and haul the leaves to
your compost pile
 from dryer lint to firestarter (Cut off bottom half of a paper coffee cup, fill dryer lint into the cut off cup, pour some
melted paraffin wax over lint and cover with wood scraps or saw dust. When hardened, light the paper cup. The
wax and lint will burn long enough to start your fire.)
 Use fallen pine needles to cover your gardens, rather than store bought mulch. It keeps the weeds at bay but
water soaks through easily.
 Our floating dock needed to be replaced. When the new dock arrived, we began dismanteling the old one. To our
surprise, the underside of the dock boards looked almost “new”. Rather than take the wood to the landfill, we
rebuilt the frame, turned over the boards and extended the “stationary” dock for a larger seating area. It turned
into a family project that interested our grandchildren, helped “Grandpa” and avoided the landfill site.
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Photo Contest: Honorable Mentions
6 Eco Friendly Tips for Closing the Cottage
The Ontario Ministry of the Environment recently released a 3 ½ minute humourous video urging cottagers to
consider thehealth of the lake when closing the cottage. Visit www.twitter.com/environmentont
to view the video or even post a link to your facebook page.
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Photo Contest: Honorable Mention
Photo Contest: Honorable Mention
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Foiling Fouling Geese
Canada Geese over-concentrations are a common problem on Haliburton shorelines these days. This article is about
foiling these potential foulers!
For a variety of reasons, Canada Geese love lawns or areas where the vegetation is cut low on shorelines. They are
a tundra species that feels at home in open areas with unobstructed sight lines for safety reasons. They like to take
their young up onto lawn-like open areas to forage where it is easier to see any approaching predators such as foxes
or coyotes. They also love to eat the high carbohydrate shorter grasses offered up by lawns or lawn-like
environments created by humans bringing suburbia to cottage country. This food then turns into up to pound of feces
a day fouling properties and adding E-Coli to the lake.
The key to discouraging Canada Geese from congregating on shoreline open spaces is to make sure that they see a
wall of plant material 24" high when they look at a shoreline from the water and not large expanses of inviting
manicured lawns,
Leora Berman, from "The Land Between" organization, has just completed a shoreline Canada Geese control project
at Head Lake Park in the Town of Haliburton. Large numbers of geese had caused the public beach area to be
closed due to E-Coli contamination for many years.
Berman studied how the geese were using the area surrounding the park for two years before designing her control
strategy. The geese used one area for nesting in the early spring, a second for feeding the young before they learn to
fly and a third, the main park area, for foraging during the lead up to the annual southern migration.
Lines of "flashing tape" were used to discourage Geese from using the nesting area while rows of vegetation, planted
perpendicular to the shoreline every 20 meters, were employed to giving adult geese a sight line camouflaging the
lawn-like fledgling feeding zone.
The result has been a ninety percent drop in the geese population in Head Lake Park, dramatically reduced fouling of
park open spaces, and a beach that's once again open for swimming.
Canada Geese are an iconic national symbol for most Canadians. Unwittingly, humans have created open spaces
that extend a virtual invitation to these majestic birds to congregate in non-traditional areas creating all sorts of
conflicts in the process. Many now consider the geese as pests but the problem has been caused by us, not them.
Having created the problem it is now up to us to understand the impact of what we have done and to find ways to
eliminate or minimize the root causes of problem geese populations.
So help your lake and yourself by planting native plants that grow to 24” or higher on your shoreline and Foil
Those Fouling Geese.
Author Terry Moore is Research Director for the C.H.A. and a Lake Steward on Halls/Hawk Lakes
Article provided by
Canada geese and goslings near Pine Point
June 2013
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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 and non native plants are not well suited to life in the
Highlands. They need water – something the experts say we may soon be short of, fertilizer which pollutes our water
and costs money, and cutting and trimming which adds 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 point in the Highlands is more than 500 metres from water….. how far from the lake is your
septic system?
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? 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 as well as coming from our pets, fertilizer use and wildlife such as geese, birds etc.
This pictures shows why native plants absorb far more nutrients than non-native species such as grass
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. and a Member of the Haliburton Highlands Stewardship Council.
Article provided by
New Act Expected to Provide Up-to-Date Rules
Ontario’s new Not-for-Profit Corporations Act will provide not-for-profit corporations with up-to-date rules
to run the organization, and will ensure greater transparency and accountability.
Existing not-for-profit corporations will have a three-year transition period once the Act comes into effect to
make any changes to their incorporation and other documents necessary to bring them into conformity
with the Act. Existing corporations are encouraged to review their documents before the end of the
transition period. (KLCOA Board of Directors has established a working committee to align our orgaization
with the new Act.)
The government has also given a grant to Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO) to support the
sector during the transition period.
The Act is targeted to come into effect in 2014. Amendments to more than 80 statutes including the Act
were introduced in the legislature in June 2013. It is anticipated that these amendments will be debated in
the legislature in fall 2013.If the amendments are passed by the legislature, the Act is anticipated to come
into force no earlier than six months after passage in order to ensure adequate time for not-for-profit
corporations to prepare for transition.
Check the Ministry of Consumer Services’ website regularly to confirm the effective date. More information
is available online at www.sse.gov.on.ca/mcs/en/Pages/Not_For_Profit.aspx.
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Bottle Drive Supports Fire Department
The bottle drive set up on a trailer at
W. Everitt's Enterprises's Ltd. has brought in
$650.00 so far.
Miles Maughan, the Fire Chief for Dysart et al,
is seeking to purchase the following items:
Pelican 9430 remote light approximately
$1,200.00
Akron Piercing nozzle approximately $500.00
Please continue to drop off your bottles as the
bottle drive will continue to help make this
purchase a reality. This purchase will help all
of us in the event of a fire emergency.
These items can be viewed on the Pelican
Website and the Akron Website.
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Rock Bass Derby Winners
On Saturday July 6th, Kennisis Lake Cottage Owners Association hosted their annual rock bass
fishing derby. The event was organized by Mike Neely. Thank you, Mike! A total of 141 pounds
of rock bass were caught by the participants. The winners in the 12 and under category were
Meghan Beaton and Megan Neely. They caught a total of 20.1 pounds of rock bass. The winners
in the 13 and over category were Jack McTiernan and Owen Genautis. They caught a total of
41.1 pounds of rock bass. Congratulations and thank you to all of the participants. It was a great
day of fun and fishing!
Many thanks to our volunteers who made the July 1st KLCOA
fireworks display a success. Many thanks to Steve Ashfield,
Graham Beach and Mark Burley who operated the events for the
safety of all of us. Thank you to Doug Mahood for offering his
marina as the venue.
Thankyou to Viper Marketing, Bouwmeister Landscaping and
Admark Corporate Sports for sponsorship of the Aug. 3rd
fireworks display.
LET'S KEEP OUR MEMBERSHIP STRONG by Deb Wratschko
The 2013 membership campaign was
come very close to 600 memberships.
the lakes, that 's a very strong
members on the lake that do not use
the popular e-blast updates. These
out twice a year.
another success. Once again we have
With approximately 900 cottages on
showing.We still have approximately 50
internet and are therefore not receiving
people still get their newsletters mailed
For those people that didn't have an
opportunity to pick their stickers up
at the marina this summer, they will
be held and available again next
year after the May long weekend.
Anyone who has not renewed their 2013 membership can still do so online through our website.
www.klcoa.org
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Some Provincial Funding is Provided for Recreation
I am the Municipal Recreation Pilot Project Coordinator for the Municipality of Dysart et al. This position has been
created with grant money from the provincial government. My role is to provide free or low cost recreation for the people
of Haliburton. A few programs that are being offered include: an intergenerational walking club, a drop in recreation
program, an afterschool program for kids grades 4-8 and a library equipment loan program. In order to achieve this, I
am looking to receive donations of sports/recreation equipment that can be placed in the library loan program or used
for the afterschool programming. Some of the equipment that I hope to obtain includes: utility balls, soccer balls,
basketballs, tennis equipment, skipping ropes, snowshoes, cross country skis, walking poles, horseshoes, Frisbees,
discs for disc golf, hockey sticks, broomball equipment, floor hockey equipment etc.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. I appreciate your help!
Photo Contest: Honorable Mention
Andrea Mueller
Municipal Recreation Pilot Project Coordinator
Municipality of Dysart et al
(705) 457-1740
AMUELLER@DYSARTETAL
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KLCOA Social Committee Seeks Your Input
The KLCOA new board of directors is excited to inform all of our valuable members of the formation
of the greatest committee of all time, our exuberant Social Committee.
We are currently looking for your suggestions and input regarding events and ideas that, you, the
members, would like to see happening on our lake. In the near future we will be posting specific
upcoming events, as reminders, for everyone.
Please forward, any and all, of your spectacular revelations to the closest thing we have to “The
Paul Bunyan”, Mr Gary Bouwmiester at [email protected]
Gary eagerly awaits your
thought provoking responses.
Photo Contest: Honorary Mentions
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Photo Contest: Honorable Mention
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Reminiscing: A Piece of The Kennisis Story........
In 1969 and 1970, our Gary
Benson was President of the
KLCOA . Electronic
newsletters were not
available so graphic
communication was based on
the hand written or hand
drawn pictures. It is
interesting to look at the
issues that Gary's team was
dealing with 43 years ago!
Thanks for sharing, Gary!
Photo Contest: Honorable Mentions
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Water Levels 2013 by Chris Riddle
The 2013 water level is shown on the chart below in comparison to the multi-year average (1988 - 2010) and the extreme
high and low levels over that same period.
As of mid-October, the active drawdown of the lake by the TSW has ended and the dam is understood to be at its 'winter
set' condition of 3 logs.
For 2013, the TSW started to fill the lake early due to the lack of snow and a long-rage forecast for a dry spring (see
January 10 - February 10 on chart). Then on April 18-19 there were heavy rains (50 - 75mm reported) resulting in severe
flooding throughout the region with several roads washed out. On May 20-22 there was another series of heavy rains with
88mm reported at Environment Canada's Haliburton rain gauge. Overall rainfall for the three months of April, May & June
as recorded by Environment Canada at their Haliburton weather station was 168% of the 30-year average. The wet
weather allowed water levels to remain above average through to Thanksgiving, the end of the standard navigation
season.
This means that the lake stayed above the minimum ‘preferred level’ as identified by the KLCOA until mid-September and
was only 8” below that level by Thanksgiving. The consistently ‘above average’ water levels made navigation easier for
many.
For updates please check http://klcoa.org/stewardship-box/water-level-update.html and also www.cewf.ca
Last spring's high water levels brought severe flooding to our Haliburton community. Parks Canada
has posted the 2013 flood review which can be found at
http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/lhn-nhs/on/trentsevern/plan/plan12.aspx
Regatta 2013: A Day of Fun with Family and Friends!
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and time to celebrate our determination and successes!!!!!
With a huge thankyou to Susan
Nixon who was able to carry on
with Stephanie Clark's work.
Thank you!
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A Lakeside Concert at the Parkers
Again this year, Janis Parker organized a benefit concert at her lakeside home on Wilkinson Dr., featuring
singer and song writer, Thomas Kovacs. Donatations from those in attendance will raise funds for the
Volunteer Dental Outreach for Haliburton County. Janis invites any dental professionals on Kennisis Lake to
volunteer their services if possible by contacting her at [email protected] for more details. Stay tuned for
2 more lakeside concerts planned for August 2014.
Thomas Kovacs, returned this
year for another concert of
great songs, old and new,
encouraging audience
participation.
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Calling All Fishermen
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Once again this year, the KLCOA would like to involve all Kennisis Lake fishermen in helping to locate Lake
Trout and Speckled Trout spawning areas. We are surveying, not fishing this time.
WHEN: Lake Trout - Oct 15 to 31
Speckled Trout - Nov 1 to 15
HOW: - during your normal fishing times and in your usual locations during the daylight hours
- no actual fishing is required.
- use your fish finders to locate large concentrations of fish and mark on the map in red
The map is available on www.klcoa.org or in our recent eblast.
When you are done, please contact: Gary Benson [email protected] or call at 705-754-2286 or 905-427-0243
WHY: The KLCOA in partnership with the MNR is working to create a sustainable fisheries management plan
Click here for a copy of the handy and informatiive Kennisis Lake Fishing Diary.
Photo Contest: Honorable Mentions
A Chance to Save Our Ash Trees from the Emerald Ash Bore
The 50/50 Project
During the recent KLCOA & Haliburton Forest sponsored Walk Through the Woods, Peter
Schleifenbaum explained about the current pest that is attacking Ontario’s Ash trees. The pest is the
Emerald Ash Borer which was introduced to North America, likely on wood crates or pallets and has
been in Ontario since the early 2000’s. The Emerald Ash Borer population is increasing rapidly and the
pest is moving toward Haliburton County.
Between three and five per cent of the trees in Haliburton county are ash trees. By contrast, the tree
canopy in Toronto and the GTA is between 8 and 10 per cent, while in Ottawa the total number of ash
represents over 20 per cent.
The emerald ash borer infests ash trees and damages their health by burrowing itself under the bark
and disrupting the ash tree’s ability to circulate nutrients and water. Ultimately, the Emerald Ash Borer
will result in the death of all of our Ash Trees in Haliburton – unless pre-emptive action is taken!
Maintaining Ash trees in the forest is important from a biodiversity perspective. A diverse forest is,
generally speaking, a healthy forest.
The University of Toronto research staff working at Haliburton Forest, believes that if Ash trees are
protected from the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) as the insect moves through the county, the Ash species
will survive beyond the EAB infestation. The researchers believe that if 100 Ash trees around the lake
are protected and survive, this will be sufficient to keep the Ash species intact after the EAB has
passed through.
EAB can be controlled using TreeAzin, a “biologically based” liquid that is injected into the tree by
licensed professionals. TreeAzin is a derivative of the neem tree, a native of southeast Asia. Neem is
popular as a plant shine and used for control of the lily beetle on oriental lilies. This approach is being
used extensively in Southern Ontario to protect Ash trees in urban areas.
Our Ash trees near Kennisis Lake have not yet shown symptoms of EAB infestation but make no
mistake, the insect will come and all of our Ash trees will die. The trees still need to be
photosynthetically active, that is, still bearing leaves for the treatment to be effective. This is good
news as most Ash trees around the lake and in the forest are still healthy. There are two options for
mature Ash trees – protect them now or pay to have them removed after they have died.
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Ash Tree Protection from the Emerald Ash Borer - Q&A
•How much does it cost and how often is it applied?
The cost of treatment for an average mature-sized ash of 18 inches diameter, measured at 4 feet high,
is approximately $200 per tree/treatment, somewhat less than our original estimate if we can fine 50
participants. Licensed applicators apply the treatment. Haliburton Forest staff members are licensed
applicators.
•How and when is it applied?
The treatment is injected into the tree near its base any time from June through August. The tree “takes
the product up” through the rise in sap that occurs naturally. Under normal circumstances, a tree will
need to be treated every two years, three or four times for effective control. Total cost is estimated to
be about $800. Note that cutting and replacing a mature ash will cost you about the same amount of
money, perhaps more.
•How effective is it in the long term?
While TreeAzin has only been registered with Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency
(like all registered pesticides) for less than 10 years, test treatments have indicated that permanent
control of the EAB is possible with the recommended three or four applications. It is believed that the
ash borer will have moved on from Haliburton County or died out after the third or fourth treatment (six
to eight years) as fewer trees will be alive to host the insect.
•Where do I go for more information?
The City of Toronto has published excellent “Emerald Ash Borer” resources on their website. You can
access it online at: http://www.toronto.ca/trees/eab.htm.
- How do I participate in the KLCOA Ash Tree Protection Project- 50/50?
The KLCOA will collect participant’s names at the AGM on Labour Day Weekend and through the fall of
2013. Application of the EAB treatment will begin in 2014 when Ash tree sap begins to run – June to
August.
Contact: Jim Prince, Lake Plan Chair KLCOA - [email protected] or Mobile- 416.528.1739
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EAB Damage Under Ash Tree Bark
Application of Treeazin to Protect Ash from EAB
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The BOOM Program was fully booked with 16 spots this year. Our
revenue and expenses balanced with a $5300 budget.
T-Shirts were purchased for the students and instructors and a BBQ
was planned for the participants and families on Thursday.
Windermere Lodge location was ideal as it has a great launch area.
Thanks to Doug & Pat Lewis!!
The last week in July is recommended for another rewarding 2014
season.
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Kennisis Sailing Regatta
2013
Relaxed and Serious!
Kennisis Sailing
Regatta 2013
Results
RESULTS:
First Place – Cat and
Overall
Peter Jones & Crew
First Place –
LaserThird Overall
Reinholdt Schurer
First Place – Dingy
Keegan McCallum,
Emilie McCallum &
Crew
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KLCOA Members are Monitoring
Loon Health on Kennisis Lakes!
A reminder that the Loon Monitoring Project is active on our Lakes with the objectives of having an ongoing Loon
Population Survey and initiatives for Loon Nesting protection.
A few observations from 2013:
With 4 Kennisis Lake residents reporting from Various Locations – Bull Frog Bay, Near Kennisis Lake Dam & Paddy’s
Bay, Wilkinson Road




Many reports of single loons
One Nesting Pair Reported (June)
One nest - Single egg reported
One sighting of Loon + two chicks -east end of big Lake (end of July)
Historically there have been more Loon chicks observed!
Loon sighting information can be used to monitor loon chick survival over time as an important indicator of loon and
lake health.
The KLCOA has registered with the Canadian Lakes Loon Survey (CLLS). The CCLS started in Ontario in 1981 to
assess the long-term health and productivity of Common Loons.
• We have few volunteers in place and have started the project but we need a few more volunteers from various
locations around the lake to build the program for the next few years:
 Little Kennisis
 West Shore
 East Kennisis
Please contact Marie Roy if you would like to help out ([email protected])
Program Coordinator – Jeff Gardner
We want the next generations to be able to enjoy the call of the Loon on Kennisis Lake.
Photo Contest: Honorable Mention
KLCOA Navigational Hazard Marking Program
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KLCOA Navigational Hazard Marking Program
Photo contest: Honorable Mention
Photo contest: Honorable Mention
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Photo Contest: Honorable Mention
THE
END!
On behalf of your KLCOA Board of Directors,
Have a safe and happy winter!
See you in the spring!