International Snowmobile Safety and Awareness Week is fast approaching – Jan. 18-25, 2025.  

Did you know?

It has been more than 70 years since the first snowmobile was made.

There’s a familiar name behind the invention of the snowmobile, you might have heard of it -- Bombardier.

Joseph-Armand Bombardier, a Quebec mechanic, invented the motorized sled in 1927 using a propeller. Bombardier used the wheel and track system to further improve his invention, and in 1935, the first snowmobile was born.

Did you know?

Each winter, snowmobilers ride an estimated 150 million km on Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) snowmobile trails . 

Did you know?

There’s an app for snowmobiling trails in Ontario.  The ‘Go Snowmobiling Ontario’ app displays trails, points of interest, Snow Tours and your current position. As long as it’s regularly connected to the Internet, it also provides the latest trail conditions and allows you to plan your route. You can learn more about the app and download it here: https://ofsc.evtrails.com/#

Did you know?

You can take an online snowmobile safety course. The Safe Riders! Snowmobile Safety Awareness Program provides basic essentials about snowmobile safety and includes short quizzes to help you test your knowledge about safe snowmobiling practices. Take the course here: https://www.ofsc.on.ca/safe-riders/

Tips for riding with caution, care & control on OFSC Trails

Source: Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC)

In addition to snowmobile trail safety fundamentals like avoiding alcohol/drug impairment and excessive speeding, and to always “know before you go” on any ice, the OFSC reminds snowmobilers of best practices for recreational riding with caution, care and control on OFSC Prescribed Snowmobile Trails, including:

• Always stay on the trail
• Only ride trails showing as Available (Green) or Limited Availability (Yellow) on the ITG
• Ride within your abilities and comfort level
• Know your sled and its capabilities, keep it well-maintained
• Always ride with a companion(s)
• Ride in single file on the trails
• Ride your side of the trail
• Leave plenty of space between you and the sled ahead
• Take responsibility for the rider behind you
• Be especially vigilant coming into corners or cresting hills
• Pass groomers and other riders cautiously
• Always stop at crossing roads and take extra caution riding trails on active logging roads
• Slow down at night or when visibility is poor, when non-motorized users are on the trail, or when passing through towns or residential areas
• Stay alert to the trail ahead and aware of your surroundings
• Stop on the trail at locations with clear sightlines in both directions
• Check area the ITG and weather conditions before your ride
• Before leaving home, notify someone where you will be riding and when you expect to return
• Always carry an emergency kit, snacks, extra fuel, a tow rope and a communication device.

Source: Federation of Ontario Cottagers Associations & Cottage First Insurance

With the temperature dropping, our thoughts turn to preparing our cottages for the cold and snow to come. For some, this means closing the cottage until the spring. For others, it is a time to prepare for life on the lake during the winter. Regardless, we all do our best to prepare our properties to withstand the toughest weather Canada can throw at us. Some property owners have opted to give their waterfront structures a helping hand, through the installation of bubblers.

What Are Bubblers?

For those who are unfamiliar, ‘bubblers’ are a type of de-icing system, intended to prevent the build-up of ice at or around waterfront structures like docks and boathouses. There are several different types of systems, but generally these devices use air or propellers to create zones of agitated and warmer water to prevent ice from forming. Protecting our cottage properties is understandable and an increasing number of cottagers in Ontario are turning to these devices as part of their winter preparation.

However, if you are a regular bubbler user, or if you are considering installing one at your property, it is important to plan carefully and be sure that you are not contributing to a significant hazard on the lake.

Creating a Hole in the Water

Bubblers are often turned on and left largely unattended by property owners throughout the winter. Without careful planning, management and consideration of the nature of your waterfront area, your bubbler can de-ice a significantly larger portion of the water than is necessary to protect your property. This is especially true in shallow or sheltered areas, or when several bubblers are active near one-another, with multiple property owners inadvertently creating a massive hole in the ice, hundreds of feet in size. These holes in the ice can pose a serious safety risk to winter users of our lakes, especially at night or during storms with poor visibility.

Legal Implications

Section 263 (1) of the Criminal Code of Canada is very clear that those who make or cause to be made an opening in ice are under a legal duty to guard the opening in a manner adequate to prevent persons from falling in by accident, and adequate to warn them that the opening exists. If you fail to perform these duties, the Code states that you may be found guilty of serious offences, up to and including manslaughter.

Risk Management Considerations

If you chose to operate a bubbler to protect your property, please make sure you are taking all steps possible to ensure the safety of all lake users and consider taking these risk management steps:

• Place and angle your devices with care to keep the impacted area as localized as possible;
• Talk to your neighbours to avoid doubling up in an area. It is possible that one bubbler will do the trick.
• Equip your system with a thermostat or timer control. Running 24/7 creates oversized openings.
• Place clear signs near the bubbling area, visible from all directions noting “Danger Open Water”.
• Run an amber light to mark the hazard at night and during storms. Do not use a red light, as this can be mistaken for the brake lights of a snowmobile and draw people towards the risk, rather than turn them away.
• Monitor your property. If you cannot be present, have someone check regularly to ensure the system is operating, the affected area is appropriate in size, and that the warning lights and markers remain in place.
• Where possible, a knowledgeable and experienced contractor should be used to configure the system.

Summer or winter, safety on the water is a top priority!

Source: Federation of Ontario Cottagers Associations & Cottage First Insurance (the SLCA is a member of FOCA)

Posted November 2024

The Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre (OTCC) has announced the return of their online 50/50 fundraiser.

OTCC - home of Kawartha Turtle Trauma Centre- is a registered charity whose goal is to protect and conserve Ontario’s native turtles and the habitat in which they live. They accomplish this by operating a turtle hospital that treats, rehabilitates, and releases injured turtles, by performing extensive research in the field to further conservation initiatives, and by running a comprehensive education and outreach program. A record 2,300 turtles were admitted to the turtle hospital in 2024.

Funds raised by this raffle will support the Centre’s ongoing efforts to help Ontario’s turtles. 

The raffle pot has surpassed $38,000. According to the OTCC the raffle winner will take home at least $19,000, which means the same amount will go to helping the turtles.

Ticket sales end Monday, November 25, 2024, and the draw date is Tuesday, November 26, 2024.

For more information about the 50/50 Raffle or other ways to help turtles, e-mail info@ontarioturtle.ca, phone 705-741-5000, or visit their website at ontarioturtle.ca. 

Transport Canada has opened a public consultation on the question of mandatory personal flotation device (PFD) wear for recreational boaters.  

Did you know Canada averages 111 recreational boating deaths each year? According to Transport Canada, not using a personal flotation device (PFD) or lifejacket is a leading cause of death among recreational boaters, accounting for 89% of all fatalities.

For those ‘human powered’ vessels, kayakers are more likely to wear a PFD (78%), while our canoer friends are less likely (41%).

The Drowning Prevention Research Centre Canada produced a report in 2021 that tracked recreational boating-related deaths in Canada from 2008 to 2017.

Key takeaways:

• most people who died due to a recreational boating-related incident weren’t wearing a PFD or lifejacket
• most of the people who died were adults
• most recreational boating-related deaths involved powerboats, followed by canoes
• the most common incident that led to a death was a capsized vessel, followed by a person falling or being thrown overboard

At the Federation of Cottager’s Association (FOCA) 2024 Spring Seminar, Sgt. Dave Moffatt of the Marine Unit of the OPP gave a slide presentation about PFDs and fatality rates. See his slides here (download PDF, 4 MB)

Have your say on the issue of mandatory PFDs  here, and share your comments by November 4, 2024.

Cottages and summer homes are most vulnerable to thieves and subject to damage or vandalism in the off-season—from the week following Thanksgiving to the weeks prior to Victoria Day—especially if the owners are not using them regularly in the fall, winter or spring.  From the Labour Day weekend onward, many cottage and seasonal property owners begin considering the closure and winterizing of their properties. The Federation of Ontario Cottagers Associations (FOCA) wants to help you protect your investment, year-round. Remember, the cost of owning a cottage or summer property could include the frustration and irritation of repairing damage and replacing stolen property, if no one is living there or checking it regularly.

Cottage Closing Tips from FOCA:

• Secure your windows and doors.
• Close window curtains or blinds, and put up shutters to protect the interior from marauders (animal or human), storm protection and theft prevention.
• Make sure your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working properly (replace if necessary) and ensure they have fresh batteries. You should have detectors on all floors and outside all sleeping areas.
• Leave no valuables at the cottage (electronics, personal items, tools) unless you’re prepared to lose them.
• Lock up sporting goods that you decide must stay year-round (fishing rods & equipment, water skis, toys).
• Record the serial numbers of anything of value left behind. Marking your valuables with a drivers’ license # can help deter a thief or aid in property recovery.
• Remove all food, and anything that may attract animals.
• Pack up and take home all alcohol.
• Don’t leave firearms or weapons at the cottage.
• If you are leaving vehicles, boats, ATVs or snow machines, make sure they’re winterized and secure.
• Leave nothing on trailers unless it is locked or disabled.
• Defrost and unplug the refrigerator. Place an open box of baking soda inside the refrigerator to keep odours away.
• If you have propane appliances make sure they are properly shut down.
• Drain all water pipes, water heaters and fixtures, to avoid freezing.
• Scatter moth balls in the attic and anywhere small animals or bugs might gather.
• Organize snow removal if it will be required over the winter.
• Make a list of where everything is and make copies. Store one copy on your home computer and put a copy with items that will go back up to the cottage on your next trip.
• Designate a year-round contact or key-holder for: alarms, thefts, weather damage or animal problems.
• Know which police force patrols your cottage area (OPP Bancroft).
• Set up a network of neighbors to prevent and detect crime in your area, know your neighbours, their movements and vehicles, and connect with the local OPP detachment. Watching out for suspicious activity in and around your neighbours’ property can go a long way to lowering the incidence of property crime.

Source: FOCA.on.ca. The SLCA is a member of FOCA

A shout out to Keith Fletcher who keeps us safe on the lake over the summer by marking those rocks that might otherwise damage our motors.

As of October 9,  Keith has removed our yellow ‘Minions’ and replaced them with the winter water jug markers.

Keith ensures the markers are out around the May long weekend, removes them around Thanksgiving weekend, and during the summer boating season he maintains the markers.

Thanks Keith!

Hey bird lovers, here’s something you can do with the whole family this Thanksgiving weekend – it’s October Big Day on Oct 12, 2024.

October Big Day is your chance to join with other bird lovers around the world in recording the birds you see right here at Steenburg Lake.

Last October nearly 36,332 people from 191 countries submitted 83,735 checklists with eBird. In Canada, a total of 337 species were reported through 6,728 checklists from all 13 provinces and territories. You can explore all of the Canadian 2023 October Big Day stats here.

Whether you are here at the lake, or home, or travelling on 12 October, you can join in this global celebration. Participate from anywhere—even from home!

• TIP: Download the free Merlin Bird ID app to help you to identify the birds you see and hear on October Big Day. Upload your recordings to your eBird checklists to help Merlin identify more birds by sound.

For more information about October Big Day and how to participate, visit ebird.

If you see something wonky going on with the website it's because we are currently transitioning to a new design and new hosting service. 

The site has been completely re-designed, things have moved around, we might even have dropped or added some features, some features might not be entirely functional yet.  Don't worry, we're on it! Lots more information to come on how it works so stay tuned.

Your feedback will be most welcome and appreciated.

If you are a Paid Member who manages your property's member account you will soon receive an email urging you to sign into the new website with a new password, change your password, read and accept the new Privacy Policy and check your profile information and your privacy settings.

Any questions can be directed to President@Steenburglake.com (that's me!)

Thanks, Joanne

The results of water testing done by the SLCA after the August 12 beaver dam breach are in.

Our lake steward, Alastair Gorman, took the water samples on Sept. 2 and had them sent to a lab for analysis.

Samples were taken in the East Bay near where the water came into the lake, and halfway between the beach and the outlet to Bass River.

We sent the results to the Ministry of Environment (MOE) and Hastings Prince Edward Public Health for their information.  In both cases no red flags were raised, they were happy with the results and praised our clean lake. That said,  the SLCA has no expertise to interpret the results so if you have any concerns you can contact public health at (613) 332-4555. 

Both the MOE and Public Health asked we remind our members who use the lake for their drinking water to make it a practice of testing your drinking water on a regular basis.

This testing was in addition to the Lake Partner Program and done at the expense of the SLCA.  Another great reason, if you haven't already done so, to support your SLCA with your annual Member Fee of $30. More info on how to pay here.

The Steenburg Lake Community Association participates in the Lake Partner Program, a province-wide, volunteer-based, water-quality monitoring program – the largest of its kind in Canada.

Each year, hundreds of volunteers collect total water samples and make monthly water clarity observations on their lakes. 

The goal of the Lake Partner Program is to better understand and protect the quality of Ontario’s inland lakes by involving citizens in a volunteer-based water quality monitoring program.

 

The Steenburg Lake Community Association (SLCA) continues to make inquiries about any impact on the lake’s ecosystem that might result from the August 10 beaver dam breach.

The Ministry of the Environment (MOE) does not do water testing when the incident is a natural occurrence such as the breach of a beaver dam. It has however suggested some tests we can do — our lake steward Alastair Gorman is looking into that.

Given it’s been nearly two weeks since the breach, the MOE says the water released into the lake will have been diluted by the vast volume of water in the lake. Testing done now could provide a baseline against which to compare future tests.

If you use the lake for drinking water and are concerned about its quality, the MOE suggests you continue your regular water testing and include bacteria, Giardia, nitrate and methylmercury.

As recommended by the MOE, the SLCA will reach out to the Ministry of Natural Resources to discuss impacts on the fish population.

I’m also waiting for input from the Federation of Ontario Cottage Associations (FOCA).

……..

Did you know? The water renewal rate for lake flushing in Steenburg Lake is estimated to be about 2.2 years. This means that taking into account all the inputs from streams, precipitation and snow melt the entire volume of water in the lake would exit via Bass Creek over two years.