Ramsey Lake Stewardship CommitteeMinutes from Oct. 17, 2011

Living With Lakes Centre

We had a great tour of the Living with Lakes Centre led by Liz Bamberger. One of the features of this LEED Platinum building is its use of local construction materials, which include a white cedar exterior milled in Thessalon, jack pine pillars, maple cabinets from Sault-Ste-Marie, and limestone from Manitoulin Island. The building is heated and cooled with geothermal technology, and will soon have a green roof allowing for the cultivation of local blueberries. Water from the building and the parking lot is collected in bioswales and drains to the pond next to Ramsey Lake Road, where it is used for toilets and washing boats. This building was also build with climate change in mind, so it was built for more severe climate events.

We discussed some of the changes people, who have lived around the lake for many years have seen: more aquatic plants, invasive milfoil, blue-green algae, more beach closures due to coliform and algae, strange brown algae at stormwater outlets, big homes with large lawns down to the shore, more and faster motor boats and sea-doos and the smell of oil when swimming. All of these changes are cause for concern for the committee since we see Ramsey Lake as a jewel for the whole city to enjoy and use as a drinking water source for many years to come. Andre will get a piece of the aquatic plants at the Canoe club to check if it is Eurasian Water Milfoil or just Northern Milfoil.

It was suggested that we approach our councilors and get a commitment from them that improving the health of Ramsey Lake is a priority.

We discussed installing a washing station with fees at the public dock. A summer student could work there for the summer to help prevent invasive species from being brought to the lake. Anyone want to research this?

The proposed Dalron development on the north shore of Ramsey Lake near Howey Drive was rejected by the Planning Committee and Council due to the large amount of opposition by residents, and inadequate capacity for the expected traffic along Howey Drive.  Part of this development was identified by the Green Space Panel as an area that should remain natural to help protect our drinking water but Dalron has not included all of it.Dalron has been asked to provide a $10,000 cost contribution for the Ramsey Lake subwatershed study. The Committee is very interested in this subwatershed study, which has not yet been completed. Therefore, the impact of this and the many other new developments in the Ramsey Lake subwatershed cannot be properly assessed. However, this did not appear to be a factor in the decision to oppose the development. Dalron has indicated their intention to appeal the decision to the Ontario Municipal Board.   Liz said she would ask John Gunn about what would be required to complete a subwatershed study. Data about the Ramsey Lake watershed is at the Nickel District

Conservation Authority, the MOE, Drinking Water Source Protection and at Laurentian University. It was suggested that a Masters student should compile the data in one place.It was suggested that the committee speak to Dalron or Paul Backcomb (Planning) about the stormwater management options for his development, the subwatershed study and about including the entire green space that was recommended by the Green Space Panel. Lilly will do this.

There was lots of interest in building some green infrastructure at the Bell Park Beach stormwater drain (see below). We are getting a Photoshop picture made to reflect the addition and then we’ll ask our councillors for funding. It was felt that not only could it filter water coming into Ramsey Lake from the streets nearby, but it could also be used as an educational tool to teach Sudburians about the function and importance of green infrastructure and shoreline buffers.

Here is the before. Stay tuned for the after.

A few of us should put together a newsletter to distribute around the lake and include when the next meeting will be at the Living with Lakes Centre. We need a few people to help with this. Please let me know.

Update on blue-green algae events in Greater Sudbury for 2011Long Lake, McFarlane Lake, Middle Lake, Ramsey Lake, Bethel Lake, McCharles Lake, the Vermillion River and part of the French River.

As a committee, we can provide input to the Official Plan review. We should provide this input within the year.