Amid concerns about continued funding from the Province,  and thanks to lobbying by the Federation of Cottage Associations  (FOCA) and its members, FOCA has a signed a new agreement with the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks that enables Steenburg Lake Community Association to continue with the Lake Partners Program (LPP)  over the coming five years. We will be out in the next couple of weeks for the latest round of testing.

And… the 2023 & 2024 LPP data has been released and is available digitally! Access our lake's data from links on our webpage:

https://steenburglake.ca/water-sample-archives

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.

Scientific analysis of the samples is conducted at the Inland Waters Section of the Environmental Monitoring and Reporting Branch of the Ministry of Environment Conservation and Parks (MECP lab).

Samples are tested for total phosphorus, calcium, chloride, sulfate, and water clarity. After careful scientific quality-checking, the dataset is released to the volunteers, the public, researchers and other scientists.

The LPP dataset spans nearly three decades, and can assist in the early detection of changes in the nutrient status and/or the water clarity of the lakes, due to the impacts of shoreline development, climate change and other stresses.

Here’s a great opportunity to help with lake stewardship.

Crowe Valley Conservation  Authority (CVCA) is implementing an invasive species monitoring  program and looking for volunteers who live on/or have access to the lakes in our watershed.

The first species monitoring program (and hopefully many more to come) will focus on tackling the spread of invasive zebra mussels.

The program will run from June to September  during which time volunteers will be asked to place a zebra mussel settler plate (provided by CVCA) on a dock, buoy, or permanent structure that they have access to. This plate should be checked every 2-3 weeks for the presence of zebra mussels and findings will be reported to a national database.

Currently, the settler plates CVCA supplies will have a cost of around $20. The CVCA is also seeking sponsors to help cover the cost. If you’d like to volunteer, or be a sponsor, email specialprojects@crowevalley.com.

• The long weekend is fast approaching and that often mean fireworks are part of the festivities. Let’s be safe out there!

  Fireworks Safety Tips
  Source: Canada Safety Council

• Setting up:
• • Read the instructions. This is worth repeating: read the instructions, cautions and warnings on each firework item.
  • Store unused units in a closed box away from the unit being lit and do not smoke around them.
  • Set up outdoors in a clear, open space. Light fireworks on a hard, flat and level surface to insure stability.
  • Check the wind and have the wind blowing away from the spectators.
  • Spectators should be at least the safety distance written on the fireworks label away from the display, keeping special supervision on children.
  •  Have a bucket of sand, supply of water and a working fire extinguisher on hand.
• Fireworks show:
• • Only adults (18 years or over) should handle the fireworks. If you are impaired (alcohol or drugs) do not handle them.
  • Light only one item at a time.
  • Wear protective eye glasses and gloves. Light at arm’s length and then stand back.
  •  Never lean over the fireworks and keep hair and clothes away from fire sources.
  • Never attempt to re-light a “dud” or defective unit.
  • Never hold a lighted firework item in your hand.
  Proper Disposal of Fireworks:
  • Sparklers should be immersed in a bucket of sand to cool down after burning out, as they remain very hot for some time.
  •  Fireworks should be disposed of safely and properly
  • Clean up after use!

  Fireworks and pets
  Source: Ontario SPCA and Humane Society

• Keep animals indoors during firework displays, making sure to close windows and doors. Startled animals may seek a place to hide and if they manage to get outside, it can be easy to lose them. If you need to take your dog outside, keep them leashed at all times to prevent them from bolting and becoming lost.

  Be mindful of wildlife
  Source: Canadian National Fireworks Association
  

  Good practice for keeping wildlife in mind before using consumer fireworks means:

• Remove birdfeeders and bird baths prior to any fireworks use to discourage wildlife from coming to the area.
• Waiting until it is dark to use fireworks.
• Do not use fireworks near nesting areas or known areas where animal hide.
• Clean up after use!

Further reading:

Crowd-pleasing fireworks are not so pleasing to the planet

What are the impacts of fireworks?

Protecting Ontario's Lakes from fireworks

The Steenburg Lake Community Association (SLCA) will hold an invasive species identification weekend June 28 – July 1 -- please do your part to support this project.

Eurasian Water-Milfoil (EWM) , an invasive species, is spreading in Steenburg Lake.  If left unchecked, EWM has the potential to choke out native water plants and pose a risk to boaters and swimmers.

We are not alone. Most lakes in the area have EWM in varying degrees. Limerick Township has taken the step of creating a Milfoil Task Force whose members are the presidents of the local lake associations. This is to combat the spread of the weed.

This summer the SLCA is focused on spreading the word about what EWM looks like, the damage it can do, and how to control the spread.  AND we need to identify how widespread the problem is.

On the weekend of June 28-July 1 we invite all property owners on Steenburg Lake to help us identify where EWM exists, and any other invasive species such as zebra mussels and banded mystery snails – both of which have been identified in the lake previously.

Here’s how you can help:

1. Survey your shoreline out to about 3m deep

2. Collect and photograph a sample of any plant that might be EWM

3. Collect and photograph samples of any mussels and snails

4. Upload those photos, along with the GPS coordinates of where they were taken, to EDDMapS.org (https://www.eddmaps.org/report/plants.cfm?state=35&country=260&imgproj=1268)

EDDMapS, or the Early Detection and Distribution Mapping System, is a web-based mapping system for documenting invasive species distribution in Canada. Reports go directly to experts in the field, who will review all reports and verify that the reported species is correctly identified before it gets added to a distribution map: you might even get an email asking for additional photos to help confirm.

Submit your photos using one of the following methods:

• EDDMapS app on iPhone (download from the APP store https://apps.apple.com/us/app/eddmaps/id1497390237)

• EDDMapS app Android download at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bugwood.eddmapsone&hl=en_US&gl=US&pli=

• EDDMapS Online: https://www.eddmaps.org/report/plants.cfm?state=35&country=260&imgproj=1268

• Step by step instructions for EDDMapS: https://www.eddmaps.org/about/step_by_step.html

• NOTE: There are many sections to fill out, however, this is not always possible. The most important thing is to get good photos and note your location. Once those have been uploaded to EDDMapS they will be triaged and checked by an expert who will determine if the ID is correct, therefore all reporting is good whether you are confident in your identification or not. Here is a link to what happens once you’ve submitted a report: https://www.invasivespeciescentre.ca/isc-blog-post-what-happens-when-you-report/

OR Report by Phone: Invasive Species Hotline – 1-800-563-7711

More about EDDMapS:

In Ontario, the Invading Species Awareness Program (ISAP) is the province’s verifier. The distribution maps generated by EDDMapS are generally used by professionals such as foresters, public works, researchers, and land managers, but are accessible to the public. If you want to learn more about the invasive species you’re reporting, there are profiles built into the app.

Summer is on our doorstep and that means our volunteer canvassers will be visiting you throughout the months of June and July.  18 canvassers covering 18 areas around our lake will be collecting membership dues (if needed) and distributing a useful information package to each property.  Thank you for taking the time to meet with them and for your support to the SLCA! 

• By Joanne Burghardt, SLCA president May 2025

  The Steenburg Lake Community Association (SLCA) continues to research how to control and remove Eurasian Water-Milfoil (EWM). In this article we look at recent control and removal projects around Steenburg Lake and elsewhere in Ontario.
  -------

  Three years ago, a staff report for a Crowe Valley Conservation Area (CRVA) board meeting described the spreading problem of Eurasian Water-Milfoil (EWM) in area lakes.

  “An invasive species, the aquatic plant Eurasian Water-Milfoil, is beginning to establish itself in lakes and create problems for residents and cottagers in the Crowe Valley watershed.” – Crowe Valley Conservation Authority (CRVA), April 21, 2022,  Agenda item

  EWM is an invasive perennial which, once established, can form dense underwater mats of vegetation that can negatively impact the ecosystem of a waterbody, including displacing native plant species, altering food-web structures, reducing macroinvertebrate abundance and diversity, and degrading the quality of fish habitat.

  These thick mats also reduce the aesthetic appeal of a water body, decrease property values and impact recreational activities such as swimming and boating, and can clog industrial and power generation water intakes.

  At their April 2022 Board meeting, the CRVA reviewed a request from Twin Sisters Lakes Ratepayers Association (TWLRA) asking for the CRVA’s support of the use of herbicides to control EWM in the lake. The request was denied citing the negative side effects herbicides can have on the lake ecosystem.

  At the time, the CRVA suggested Twin Sisters-Lakes “implement nonchemical solutions similar to those implemented in the Chandos Lake Eurasian Watermilfoil Management Plan prior to moving forward with the application of potentially dangerous pesticides, since the control measures of removal, placing of benthic mats seeded with native plants, and the use of biocontrol all have a much lower impact on the health and wellbeing of other animal and plant species in the ecosystem and do not impact water quality”.

  Attempts to reach TWLRA for an update on their situation were unsuccessful.

  The Chandos Lake Property Owners Association (CLPOA) initiated their Eurasian Water-Milfoil Management Project in 2018, in association with Trent University. The research project focused on managing EWM with two pillars: use of benthic mats seeded with vegetation, and the release of milfoil weevils (a biological intervention).

  The mats were made of biodegradable materials, such as coconut husk. They were laid on the lake bottom after EWM was removed. To further accelerate restoration of the site, native aquatic plants were seeded in the mat.

  The SLCA reached out to the CLPOA and was advised the seeded mats had been expensive and labour intensive.

  They report some success using floating tarps in the spring to cover large areas of the lake infested with EWM. Large tarps supported by pool noodles are floated over large patches of EWM early in the spring and anchored in place. They stop the sun penetrating the water and the EWM doesn’t grow,

  The success of using milfoil weevils to naturally attack the EWM was unclear.

  Chandos now focuses their invasive species control on educating their property owners on identification and stopping the spread. A source of concern, says their spokesperson, are their public boat launches where Clean, Drain, Dry protocols are not followed, and invasive species can enter the lake.

  Read more about the Chandos project: https://clpoa.ca/our-lake/love-chandos-lake/eurasian-watermilfoil-management-project/

  Wollaston Lake Home and Cottage Association (Coe Hill) Began looking at EWM following a lake survey done in 2017 by FOCA (same time Steenburg had ours done). They began with education. Every year they hold an education event, usually at their association BBQ.

  By 2021 the executive couldn’t keep up with it so they formed an EWM Action Committee to take over and that year started installing yellow floating markers to mark their EWM beds and get boats to avoid driving through them. Similar to the rock markers on Steenburg, Wollaston installs the yellow buoys each spring.  In 2025 they are up to 60 markers (about 4-8/bed).

  One of their members is a local councillor who pushed for harvesting to open up channels through the milfoil for boat traffic. They harvest an area 3mx40m every year, by fall it grows back.

  They continue to use biodegradable coconut shell benthic mats, installing up to 10 per year in a partnership with a Belleville dive club. The mats degrade over 5 years, no plastics. They have a standing permit to treat 25,000 metres of lake area and use that same permit year after year as long as they don’t change the treatment area.

  In 2024 and in 2025 they received grants from the Invasive Species Action Fund (Invasive Species Centre/OMNR): $1,000 for the installation of benthic mats to reduce the prevalence and spread of Eurasian Water-Milfoil; $1,000 for the installation of Transport Canada approved floating signs on marked beds and for boating channel creation via mechanical harvesting of Eurasian Water-Milfoil In 2021 they received a  $1,000 grant to manage the infestation of Eurasian Milfoil in Wollaston Lake through broad community engagement and education. This is in addition to grants from the municipality and in-kind donations of benthic mats.

  In 2025 they are polling property owners (about 250 in total) to gauge interest in using the chemical ProcellaCOR FX to kill EWM. Est. cost $34,000 each of yr 1, 2 and 4 to kill it.

  They used a reverse contour map of the lake to calculate where milfoil might spread to based on water depth to help educate their members.

  Picard Lake Cottage Association (Peterborough) (2025) received a $1,000 grant to test two different methods of EWM mitigation for their effectiveness – floating tarps and underwater manual removal.

  Actions being taken by lake associations in Limerick Township in 2025:

•  Tri-Lakes Association
• • Spring Lake – Report the lake is ‘pretty much ruined’ by EWM. Applying for government grant to fund the use of a mechanical weed harvester.
  • Brinklow Lake -- unknown
  • Robinson Lake  -- Individuals are experimenting with benthic mats.
• Limerick Lake (LWRA) – Report they do not have EWM currently
• Sweets Lake -- unknown
• Steenburg Lake (SLCA) -- Has embarked on an aggressive education program on identification, control & elimination; seeking quotes for a lake survey to identify where the problem areas are.

• Limerick Township struck a Milfoil task force in April 2025, chaired by Councillor Glenn Locke, including the presidents of the local lake associations. The group met once in April, shared some ideas and concerns about EWM. Rob McGowan of the Ontario Invasive Species Program gave a brief overview of EWM at the May 21, 2025, council meeting.  At that meeting, Coun. Locke said the task force will not be meeting again, noting it is up to the lake associations to move forward locally.
  
  SEE PART 2 on control measures and what some lake associations have adopted

  
  

PART 2 By Joanne Burghardt, SLCA president May 2025

Control Measures

Source: CRVA, Invasive Species Centre)

1.     Manual:
Does not require a permit if certain benchmarks are met, see details here: https://www.ontario.ca/page/remove-invasive-aquatic-plants`
a.    Hand Removal:
i.     Advantages: Simple, effective and selective with minimal impact on native aquatic plants. Can reduce biomass and percent cover. Potential for increased community awareness and involvement. 
ii.     Disadvantages: Not always effective as it is very difficult to remove all plant material; does not eradicate. Time consuming and labour-intensive, only practical for isolated patches.
b.     Raking: 
In certain situations (i.e. deeper water) raking may be combined with hand pulling to try and remove all floating plant fragments. In deeper water, guide the rake along the plant and spin the rake so the stems get wrapped around the rake before pulling it up from the water.

“Worldwide perhaps the most used form of aquatic plant management is hand pulling. The goal of hand removal is to remove the whole plant including the root; this can sometimes be difficult, though, as many aquatic plants are brittle. Operation costs for hand removal are minimal; that fact coupled with the highly selective nature of hand removal makes it popular.” – Lakes Environmental Association, Maine USA https://mainelakes.org/invasives/milfoil-control/physical-removal/
Once the plants have been removed, they are placed into a mesh dive bag and taken off site to be composted.  The greatest challenge during hand removal is to remove as much root as possible and to keep the plant from breaking apart, or fragmenting.
– Lakes Environmental Association, Maine USA

https://mainelakes.org/invasives/milfoil-control/physical-removal/

2.     Benthic Barriers:
Requires a permit, see details here: https://www.ontario.ca/page/remove-invasive-aquatic-plants

Benthic barriers, bottom screens, or benthic mats are covers laid on the bottom sediment of a water body to block sunlight, preventing plants from photosynthesizing and suppressing their growth. These barriers target the rhizome, the main method of spread, and can restrict growth in small, localized areas.

Difficult to install, require ongoing maintenance.

3.     Mechanical:
Requires a permit, see details here: https://www.ontario.ca/page/remove-invasive-aquatic-plants
a.     Mechanical Harvesting:
i.     Advantages: Direct relief and immediate results. Effective when repeated, moderately inexpensive; removes plant biomass in the short term (weeks to months) and can reduce plant growth the following year.
ii.     Disadvantages: Labour intensive. Non-selective control measure will indirectly harvest other plant, fish, and macroinvertebrate species. Harvesters can also fragment rhizome pieces, contributing to further spread. Any fragments left behind are at risk of re-rooting and growing. This problem can be mitigated by containing and removing fragments during mechanical harvesting. Milfoil can also return at a faster rate than untouched areas due to nutrient release during dredging and aeration of the bottom.
b.     Dredging or Suction Harvesting:
i.     Advantages: Longer-term solution.
ii.     Disadvantages: Disruptive; Very limited areas, usually small areas within larger waterbodies. Slow, expensive. Increases water depth. Milfoil can return at a faster rate than untouched areas due to nutrient release during dredging and aeration of the bottom. Algal blooms can also result from nutrient release. Non-selective; water quality impacts.

4. Biological: ( Indications are that biological remedies such as milfoil weevils have largely been discontinued)

Requires a permit, see details here: https://www.ontario.ca/page/remove-invasive-aquatic-plants
Biological control is the use of an herbivore, predator, disease or other natural enemy to reduce established populations of invasive species. Most invasive species have no natural enemies in their new habitats. Biological control aims to re-establish an ecological balance between the invasive species and its natural enemies by selecting highly host-specific natural enemies from the country of origin and moving them to the country where the invasive species is a problem.
 
5.     Chemical: Aquatic Herbicide:

Requires approval from the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, see details here: https://www.ontario.ca/page/remove-invasive-aquatic-plants

Advantages: Currently two herbicides in use – Reward (Diquat) and the newer ProcellaCOR FX. Effective and fast acting, requires only a short exposure time. Robert McGowan, Aquatic Project Specialist with the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, says he has used all methods of removal, including herbicides.
ii.     Reward:  Reward works by killing off the parts of plants it touches. As a broad-spectrum herbicide, diquat can harm many non-target species. In a study that tested the sensitivity of native and non-native aquatic plants such as Eurasian water-milfoil to a range of diquat concentrations (4.7 – 1,153 ug/L), diquat was found to be highly lethal to all plant species. A low concentration of 74 ug/L (below the label recommendation) resulted in 100% mortality of all aquatic plant species. Indirect effects also include lethal effects on invertebrate species using aquatic plants for cover. In addition, plant dieback can lead to problems with dissolved oxygen and eutrophication. It is not effective in turbid waters. Areas that have been treated cannot be used for recreation or human consumption for at least five days, which could create a negative public perception. It may also be less effective on hybrid water-milfoil. “ 

https://www.greencastonline.com/products/reward-landscape-and-aquatic-herbicide/turf

iii.     ProcellaCOR FX: A newer herbicide, is touted as a selective, systemic aquatic herbicide used for controlling invasive aquatic plants like Eurasian Water-Milfoil. It's approved by Health Canada and Canada.ca and is works by mimicking plant hormones, causing abnormal growth and ultimately killing the plant from the inside out. It’s also very expensive. https://sepro.com/aquatics/procellacor-fx

David Lean, a retired freshwater biologist, is not fan of using herbicides to kill EWM.  Born in Apsley, Lean is a long-time cottager on Jack Lake.

In an interview with outdoorcanada.ca, he raised his objections to using the herbicide Reward (Diquat Dibromide) to get rid of weeds.

Among his concerns: it doesn’t kill the roots, the plants could come back; herbicides could get into drinking water, other native plants will be killed as well as organisms that fish eat.

In the outdoorcanada.ca article, Lean recommends using a rake to remove weeds, then letting nature take its course for the rest. It could take up to 10 years, he says, but nature will balance itself out. “Every invasive species has an advantage for a short time because their natural enemies aren’t present yet,” Lean says. “If you go out and spray, you affect this balance, and you’ll prolong the problem.” https://www.outdoorcanada.ca/whats-the-best-way-to-combat-eurasian-watermilfoil-opinions-are-divided/

Farlain Lake Community Association (FLCA) in Tiny Township was the first freshwater lake in Canada to use ProcellaCOR FX to treat Eurasian Water-Milfoil since it's registration by Health Canada in 2023. In 2018 they were awarded a $199,800 Grow grant from the provincial government’s Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) for the treatment of 17 sites. The lake was treated in September 2024. The treatment exceeded their expectations. Four weeks later EWM was dead and other native plants remained healthy and untouched.

https://www.midlandtoday.ca/local-news/aquatic-invasive-plant-appears-to-be-eradicated-in-farlain-lake-9556676

https://farlainlake.ca/our-lake/eurasian-watermilfoil

The Mazinaw Property Owners Association in Bon Echo also researched ProcellaCOR FX: estimated cost to treat their lake was $125k for the application and 3-year management of 23 known patches over 15 hectares of the 1630-hectare lake.

An excellent news article on the decision-making process Mazinaw used when deciding their plan of attack: “Mazinaw Lake Property Owners Plan To Use Chemical Treatment On Eurasian-Milfoil” Frontenac News, Sept. 4, 2024.

https://www.frontenacnews.ca/addington-news/item/17506-mazinaw-lake-property-owners-plan-to-use-chemical-treatment-on-eurasian-milfoil

For comparison, Fairlain Lake’s surface area is 109.6 hectares, Steenburg Lake 281 hectares, Mazinaw 1630 hectares.

IMAGE: Buck Bay in Mazinaw Lake, thick EWM masses

Disposal of EWM:

• Dispose on dry land, above the high-water mark, at least 30m from water to prevent material from re-entering the water.
• Small amounts can be put on land to dry and then be mulched, buried, composted or left to decompose.
• Gardens or farm fields are excellent disposal sites.
• Plant material can be sealed in a black plastic bag and left in direct sunlight for about one week then discarded in household garbage.
• Limerick Township does not allow large amounts of Milfoil to be disposed in the waste site. Small amounts mixed in with regular household garbage is permitted if the weeds have first been left to sit for 1-2 weeks in the sun in a construction grade garbage bag.
• Tudor & Cashel Township will accept milfoil at their waste stations if it is dried. They urge you to exercise caution to ensure it doesn’t accidentally get dispersed on the way to the dump.

Restoration:

In some invaded systems, planting a reclaimed area with native vegetation can help prevent the reestablishment of the invasive species. Once an invasive aquatic plant is removed, EWM can return or something else can become established. This can be curtailed by planting the treated area with native plants. In one study on Cedar Lake, transplanted species were chosen that would match present species in the lake and cover a large surface area. 

More information:

• Benthic mats: Canadianpond.ca https://shop.canadianpond.ca/products/lake-bottom-blanket
• Lake weed rakes: Search Google ‘lake rake to remove milfoil’
•  ‘An Introduction to Milfoil Control Methods’ at Lakes Environmental Association, Maine https://mainelakes.org/invasives/milfoil-control/physical-removal/
• 'What’s the best way to combat Eurasian watermilfoil? Opinions are divided' (Jack Lake, Apsley) https://www.outdoorcanada.ca/whats-the-best-way-to-combat-eurasian-watermilfoil-opinions-are-divided/
• Also, https://www.outdoorcanada.ca/INVASIVE/
• And https://canadainvasives.ca/

Sources: Ontario Invasive Plant Council, Crowe Valley Conservation Authority, Limerick Township, Tudor & Cashel Township, Lake Associations

Photo by Selena Bruni

Steenburg welcomed a special returning resident to the lake on Mother's Day, May 11, 2025. Welcome back to this 15-year-old female snapping turtle. She was released after spending the winter at the Kawartha Turtle Trauma Centre in Peterborough where she was recovering from being hit by a car and loosing her beak. The trauma centre is run by the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre. This turtle was originally from our lake and the volunteer was so happy she could be released back to Steenburg. If you happen to spot her you will notice that she has a bit of a smooshed in face, that is her new smile (-:

by Joanne Burghardt, SLCA president

May 21, 2025 - Drop this topic and move on.

That's the word from Limerick Township on their proposal for a public boat launch on Steenburg Lake South Road.

At their May 21 Council meeting, council dropped the issue of a public boat launch on Steenburg Lake South Road citing the results of a survey done to gauge public opinion on the proposal. The survey asked, 'Would you want a public boat launch on South Steenburg Lake Rd.?'

May 15, 2025 - Survey says....taxpayers overwhelmingly say no to a new municipal boat launch on Steenburg Lake South Road.

Limerick Township has proposed a public boat launch on Steenburg Lake, to be located on Steenburg Lake South Road between 432 and 448. The property is at the boundary between Limerick and Tudor and Cashel Townships.

The results of a survey posted on May 6 by Limerick Township are included in the agenda for the May 21, 2025 Council meeting. Billed as a way to gauge public opinion on the proposal, the survey asked simply 'Would you want a public boat launch on South Steenburg Lake Rd.?'

The results contained in the May 21 agenda are as follows, with 86 votes:

YES - 18.6% (16 votes)

NO - 79.07% (68 votes)

Undecided - 2.33% (2 votes)

There is still time to register your vote before the May 21 Council meeting. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JCB65Q5 "

In their comments, some proponents of the boat launch lobbied for a year-round boat launch and possibly an expansion of the current public launch which is closed 3 months in the summer to allow for public swimming), two lobbied for a public launch that is free. 

Opponents of a new boat launch cited concerns about the introduction of invasive species, careless boaters, noise, pollution, congestion on the south road, road safety, excessive boat traffic, unsuitable location and the expense of installation and maintaining the new site. Many noted there are already two boat launches on the lake: one public, one private. 

Read all the comments in this PDF excerpt from the May 21 agenda..

Limerick Council will be asked to decide next steps on this proposal at their May 21 meeting. Limerick Community Centre, 7645 Highway 620, 12:30 p.m. See their full agenda here.

To keep our members informed, the SLCA will continue to update this document as next steps in the proposal occur.

May 7, 2025 – SLCA post to Steenburg Lake FB page

UPDATE -- I reached out to Limerick Township last night for further info on the boat launch survey they posted yesterday on their website https://limerick.ca/. They intend to share the results of the survey at the May 21 Council meeting and possibly have a public meeting in June. Whether you do, or do not, favour a new boat launch, you can make your feelings known by filling in the survey ASAP.

May 6, 2025 Survey posted at limerick.ca

 Screen capture of notice of survey on limerick.ca, May 7, 2025

Text of notice

"Steenburg Lake Boat Launch Proposal Survey

Every year Staff and Council are approached about a boat launch on Steenburg Lake South Road. We have created a very short survey to gauge where residents stand on this.  This survey will take less than 1 minute to complete, but will be very helpful to staff and Council moving forward.  Thank you in advance for your participation. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JCB65Q5 "

 Screen capture of survey intro limerick.ca, May 7, 2025

Text of survey

"South Steenburg Lake Boat Launch Survey

The Limerick Township proposes a public boat launch on Steenburg Lake, located on South Steenburg Lake Road.

The community is divided on this decision. Please take a few minutes to complete this survey to better assist Limerick in the future.

1.Would you want a public boat launch on South Steenburg Lake Rd.

2.If a public meeting is hosted would you attend in person or via Zoom?

3.Please provide a short response regarding your position on the public boat launch."

May 6, 2025 – SLCA post to Steenburg Lake FB page

Hi folks, just a quick update. At today's Tudor & Cashel Council meeting (ongoing as I type this) the Council voted to notify Limerick Township that T&C has no interest in furthering discussions on a public boat launch on the south road. During the brief discussion it was noted by Councillor Brent Taylor, a resident of the lake, that Steenburg currently has 2 viable boat launches, the proposed site would require a lot of development work, parking and traffic concerns, and the threat of the introduction of invasive species to the lake would require ongoing monitoring at the launch site. Not that I don't love a good council meeting LOL but this one is now moving into its third hour .... I'm moving on.

April 23, 2025 – SLCA post to Steenburg Lake FB page

At today’s (April 23) Limerick Council meeting the subject of a public boat launch on Steenburg Lake came up. I was there for another reason. After some discussion between councillors and staff about whether or not property owners on the lake want a public boat launch, Council directed staff to approach Tudor & Cashel to gauge their interest in exploring the installation of a launch on the South Road where the two townships meet - near the snowplow turnaround.

Staff and councillors raised some red flags during the discussion including the very steep grade at the proposed site, the need for public parking on site, the risk of invasive species entering and exiting the lake via boats, people congregating at the boat launch, and the fact the launch location would be abutting existing cottages/homes.

This is all very preliminary and I'm told any movement forward would take quite some time. Should Tudor & Cashel agree to explore the idea, there will likely be public sessions held by both Councils to gauge public interest.

The Steenburg Lake Community Association (SLCA) will be following developments and we will pass that information along to you as it comes in.

-- Your SLCA Team

• by Robert Dick, for the 2021 FOCA Lake Stewards Newsletter 

  The attractions of cottage country include green and blue vistas during the day, and the soundscapes and starry skies of late evening. But the latter attraction is quickly changing, and the culprit is a “green” lighting technology. 

  I refer to the proliferation of white-light LED fixtures. They are marketed as low energy and cheap; however, these attributes promote outdoor lighting where previously there was none. LED fixtures consume so little energy compared to the older incandescent lights that many cottagers leave them on all night and even when their cottage is vacant.  What was once a dark countryside has now become illuminated as an extension of urban lighting patterns shifts across the landscape.
  
  
  

  Something modest becomes a blight when multiplied by thousands of residences. It is ironic that a product developed to save energy and preserve the environment is having the opposite effect: LEDs are causing a 2.2% per year increase in outdoor lighting!

  Within your lifetime, the sky will be twice as bright, and we will be using twice the energy for lighting. Why does this matter? How can something as simple as a door light affect the night? 

  First, outdoor lighting fundamentally changes the aesthetics of the night. The night sky is featureless “black” when we are next to bright lights. It reduces the visibility for both people and animals. Many animals don’t want outdoor lighting. It makes foraging animals vulnerable to predators. Although moonlight illuminates the countryside for about a week each month, the rest of the time there are long periods of darkness when the animals can gather food in relative safety, and star gazers and late-night walkers can enjoy the night darkness, free from glare.

  The proliferation of light is caused by outdoor lights on buildings, along laneways and shoreline lighting. Whether used for landscaping or waterfront “enhancement”, outdoor lighting changes the night environment and disrupts the ecology of wildlife. It also undermines the enjoyment for those who may prefer the natural night they can’t get in the city.

  PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS:

  1/ Changing White to Amber White is the most impactful colour of nighttime lighting. The glare from white light appears about 5 times brighter than amber light for the same wattage of lamp. Since bugs are not attracted as much by amber light, you will also reduce the pesky bugs on your property. Simply swapping out the white lamp for an amber bug light will reduce the impact of the glare.  For LEDs, white light is the combination of blue plus amber. So, you can add a filter to block the blue light components. Inexpensive amber film can be used to line the inside of light fixtures such as coach lights. At the relatively low light levels after dark, our eyes perceive this colour as candlelight. You can buy a very inexpensive sheet of filter material by Roscolux (Deep Straw #15) online (e.g., from www.bhphotovideo.com). Line the inside of the light fixture window or diffuser with one or two layers to achieve amber light. 

  2/ Shielding Exterior Building Lights An unshielded door light can be seen for miles, yet only a fraction of the emitted light will illuminate your entrance or steps. The problem is solved by purchasing downward facing fixtures, or creating a simple DIY reflective shield. If you use the pattern found at www.csbg.ca/BLOG.HTM#22, this project is suitable for your kids or grandkids. Important notes: Use this only for florescent or LED light bulbs (not incandescent or other bulbs that get hot when lit). If the bulb uses more than 60W, the material used should be metal, not cardboard.

  3/ Modifying a Coach Light Coach lights are designed to look good in the daytime, but at night they produce a lot of glare and light trespass. Depending on the specific design, these can be modified to produce very little glare and to more uniformly light the area, which increases the visibility over the area. As an example: this fixture has the lamp in the lower half, and the light shines out through glass in the upper and lower sections. We modified it by using a screw-in plug receptacle from a local hardware store that raised the lamp into the upper section. We then cut reflective material to block the upper windows. More light is now reflected through the lower windows and onto the ground. The owner can use lower wattage lamps. During the day, the fixture did not look like it was modified but at night this modest shielding cut glare and light trespass, while increasing visibility around the entrance.

  How you can help:

  Light pollution can be easily reduced with some simple solutions:

• Shield your light fixtures so light shines where you need it, not over your neighbour’s property. Everyone will see better without the glare.
• Use amber “bug lights” – not white light. Amber will reduce the impact of glare and will also attract fewer mosquitoes.
• Use lower wattage lamps. To judge how much light you need, go for a walk at night and approach your lights after becoming dark-adapted. This will be what the animals see. If your lights are bright, dim them down or use a lower wattage bulb.
• Turn off your outdoor lights when you don’t want to have visitors, when you go to bed, and certainly when you are away. We’ve been told to use light to make our homes safer, but without an active security system, outdoor lighting won’t protect your property, it just puts it on display for thieves and vandals.

To read up on more lighting tricks, the colour of light and illumination levels, visit Robert’s blog:  www.csbg.ca/truths-myths.htm