Acting on concerns about low water levels voiced by some SLCA members, SLCA president Joanne Burghardt met with Neil McConkey from Crowe Valley Conservation Authority Aug. 6 at the lake’s log dam.

Some like the water high, some like it low.  A lack of rain this year has certainly contributed to the low lake level.

While it may not make a difference in the short term, Neil has placed two boards in the dam that controls water exiting the lake. Should we get A LOT of rain, it may help raise the level of the lake. As Neil explained:

• CVCA generally attempts to lower the lake level in the fall in anticipation of spring runoff in an effort to avoid flooding.
• Around May 24 they check the levels and if the water has dropped to a reasonable level the boards go in.  “We check the lake level multiple times a week in the spring. The first week in May the beavers built a dam and stopped any water from flowing out. There was no point in putting logs in as there was no flowing water. The lake was perfect level.”
• There is a large beaver dam about 100 yds down the creek which, if it rains, would also help retain the water in the lake.

The SLCA appreciates Neil coming out to see us, and all the feedback the SLCA has had from our members. Now it's up to Mother Nature.

SLCA member Nerys Phan (pictured here with Membership Chair Lorie Butkus-Hill on the left) was the winner of the door prize basket at the Annual General Meeting held August 3, 2025. Unfortunately, we did not achieve quorum. The Board opted to go ahead with an information session that included the President's Report, a financial update, a tribute to our volunteers and a presentation on the Eurasian Water-Milfoil Study recently done for Steenburg Lake. Business requiring a vote by the members will be held over to the 2026 AGM. See the Presentation Deck from the meeting (PDF).

Look to the night skies  - the Perseid meteor shower is active.

The shower is active from July 17 to August 24 and is expected to be most visible in the pre-dawn hours of August 11-13. The peak offers the best chance to see the most meteors, potentially up to 100 per hour. However, the nearly full moon during the peak may make it more difficult to see fainter meteors.

At Steenburg Lake we are in prime viewing territory because we are rural and away from the glow of the city lights. To maximize the viewing experience, it’s advised you turn off lights that might dull the view. The best time to view is after midnight.

Tips for Viewing:

• Give your eyes about 20 minutes to adjust to the darkness. 
• Get comfy in a nice chair, patience is a virtue.
• Dress for the weather.
• Avoid using bright lights (like your phone) as they can hinder your night vision. 
• Consider using a red filter on your flashlight (you can use a red balloon) to preserve your night vision.

According to NASA, the Perseids is considered the best meteor shower of the year. The swift, bright meteors, frequently leave long "wakes" of light and colour behind them as they streak through Earth's atmosphere. Look for 50 to 100 meteors per hour. Perseids are also known for their fireballs.

“Meteors come from leftover comet particles and bits from broken asteroids. When comets come around the Sun, they leave a dusty trail behind them. Every year Earth passes through these debris trails, which allows the bits to collide with our atmosphere and disintegrate to create fiery and colourful streaks in the sky.” – Source: NASA

Photo by Arnas Goldberg, CC BY 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0>, via Wikimedia

Three things you might not know about boating laws in Ontario:

1. Bet you didn’t know when using a stand-up paddle board (SUP) you are required to either:

• Wear a Personal Flotation Device (PFD) with a whistle
• OR Carry on board a PFD, a whistle, AND a floating throw rope

2. Did you know you must have a spotter for towed sports – that includes when driving a personal watercraft (jet ski)?

3. Did you know the fine for operating a motorized boat at speeds exceeding 10 km/h within 30 meters (100ft) of the shoreline is $200. This speed limit is in effect unless specified otherwise, such as in canals or rivers under a certain width where the municipality determines the limit, or for boats operating at a perpendicular angle to the shore for watersports. 

Carrying the proper safety equipment and operating safely are the law. If you get caught breaking the rules, fines vary, but generally:

• General lack of safety equipment: $200 fine. 
• Missing or inadequate life jackets/PFDs: $200+ fine plus $100 for each missing or inappropriate size life jacket. 
• Operating a boat without a spotter or seating for the passenger in tow: $250+.
• Careless Boating: $350+.
• Failing to have a Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC): $305 fine. 
• Underage boating: $250 fine. 
• Speeds exceeding 10 km/h within 30 meters (100ft) of the shoreline: $200
• Impaired Boating:
• First offence: Minimum $1,000 fine and potential suspension of driver's license
• Second offence: Minimum 30 days imprisonment and other penalties.

Photo: personalwatercraft.com

5 things the OPP will look for on the lake

1. There needs to be a personal flotation device (PFD) for every person on board, they have to fit properly, show no wear or be missing fasteners. They have to be readily accessible (if you’re not actually wearing yours) and if it’s an inflatable life vest, users must be age 16 or older and you must be wearing it. The fine applies to every person on board who is not in compliance. Typically, the fine for not having the right life jacket is $200+ in Ontario.

2. Having open liquor or cannabis on board. You may transport these items, but they have to be sealed, stowed, and out of sight. The only times when you can “consume” on your boat is when you are moored or anchored and you have a permanent washroom, cooking and sleeping accommodations onboard. People in kayaks, canoes, paddle boards, and other watercraft are covered under this regulation. The operator can be fined $215 and everyone else onboard can also be charged $125 per person.

3. The operator must have their valid Pleasure Craft Operator’s Card (PCOC) with them in the boat and the fine is $305 for not having the card onboard (even if you have one at home). It’s also best to have your other ID with you too. The PCOC card does not have a photo and the other ID can help establish that you are the person who holds that PCOC card. Fine: $305.

4. A spotter is required when using your boat for “towed sports” (water skiing, wake boarding, wake surfing, tubing, etc.) and that spotter must be considered reliable or competent. Obviously, you can’t safely drive the boat and watch the skier at the same time. Another part of this regulation is that there must be an available seat in the boat for every person being towed in case you need to bring them into the boat. If you are towing with a personal watercraft, it will need to be a three-seater and you can only tow one person. You have a driver, spotter and one rider—that’s three seats minimum. The fine is $250+.

5. Powered vessels require a Pleasure Craft License and the Transport Canada vessel license numbers are to be properly displayed on the bow of the vessel. You are also required to have the registration—on board—and the vessel’s ownership (or copies) too. Not having the license registration earns you a fine of $305.

Required Safety Gear

For sail or power boat 6 m or under (19’8”)

According to Transport Canada, the following boat safety equipment is required for all motorized and sailing vessels no longer than 6 m.

• One appropriately-sized life jacket or PFD that is approved for use in Canada for each person on board
• A buoyant heaving line (floating rope) that’s at least 15 m long
• A manual propelling device such as a paddle or an anchor with at least 15 m of rope, cable or chain
• A bailer or manual water pump to get water out of the boat
• A sound-signalling device such as a whistle to use in the event of an emergency
• A waterproof flashlight or 3 flares
• Navigation lights if you’re going out during the hours of darkness or in conditions with reduced visibility
• A fire extinguisher if the vessel has an inboard motor, a fixed fuel tank or any fuel-burning appliances
• A reboarding device such as a ladder if the boat rises more than 0.5 m out of the water
• A magnetic compass if the boat is over 8 m long or out of sight of navigation markers

If your boat is between 6 and 9 m (19”8” – 29’6”)

• All of the equipment listed above, with the following change:
• Both a waterproof flashlight and 6 flares

Canoes and kayaks

• One appropriately-sized life jacket or PFD that is approved for use in Canada for each person on board
• A buoyant heaving line (floating rope) that’s at least 15 m long
• A bailer or manual water pump to get water out of the boat
• A sound-signalling device such as a whistle to use in the event of an emergency

Personal Watercraft (PWC)

If every person on board a personal watercraft is wearing a lifejacket or a PFD of an appropriate size, you are only required to carry:

• A sound-signalling device such as a whistle to use in the event of an emergency
• A waterproof flashlight or 3 flares
• A magnetic compass if the personal watercraft is navigated out of sight of navigation marks
• Navigation lights if the personal watercraft is used after sunset or before sunrise or in periods of restricted visibility.

See: Safe Boating Guide

Sources: Transport Canada, FOCA

The Steenburg Lake Community Association (SLCA) welcomed Invasive Species Consultant Bob Canning to the Lake July 7, 2025.

Bob joined SLCA President Joanne Burghardt and member Dave Langman on a 3-hour tour of the lake. Bob was hired by the SLCA to provide an up-to-date report of how widespread the invasive species Eurasian Water-Milfoil is in the lake, and whether it has spread since the last report was done in 2018.

We toured the entire lake, including all the little bays, while Bob mapped the Milfoil and pulled other plant samples.

The SLCA expects to have Bob’s report in time for discussion at the AGM on August 3, 2025.

If own property on Steenburg Lake and have not paid for an SLCA membership, we ask you to consider joining us. Your $40 annual fee helps pay for projects like this one. Email: membership@steenburglake.ca

Bob Canning pulls plant samples from Steenburg Lake July 7, 2025. Photo by Joanne Burghardt

Spirit of Canada

1. The Eh Team #16

2. Fishing Bear #18

3. Dragon Fly #20

Creative Dock

1. Tim Hortons Cups #7

2. Campfire #1

3. Elbows Up #11

Patriotic Dock

1.We The North #15

2. Mark &Charles #2

3. Happy Birthday Canada #19

Website Photo Contest winner

#16 The Eh Team!

Honorable Mention

#17 Rock the Dock

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.