Mississippi Lake Plan

Mississippi Lakes Association Annual General MeetingJune 2, 2012

Alyson SymonWatershed Planner

What is a Lake Plan?

It is a Strategic Action Plan developed by the lake community to understand and preserve the special character of their lake

Community-based approach that puts the process into the hands of the community so that they may have a voice in the establishment of stewardship actions and government (federal, provincial, municipal) planning regulations.

Implementation strategies may not be enforceable but can be used to influence other planning/regulatory processes

Community Based – Not Regulatory

Engage and listen to the lake community

Identify specific lake values, issues and impacts

Inventory of resources and background information

Develop goals and actions aimed at protecting the health of the lake and its watershed

Recommend stewardship actions

Recommend land use policy to guide growth and development

Objectives & Benefits of a Lake Plan

Water quality /aquatic vegetation/ algae blooms

Shoreline protection, health

Development pressure, redevelopment, commercial

development

Water levels/flooding

Impacts of boating

Invasive species

Loss of wildlife/habitat

Common Issues Considered

Communication and Education (brochures, workshops,

signage)

Stewardship initiatives• shoreline planting, habitat rehabilitation, enhancement

projects

Septic Re-inspection

Enhanced Monitoring (water quality, invasive species,

etc.)

Recommendations for Land Use Regulations• Official Plan and Zoning By Law policies, Site Plan Control

Typical Actions and Outcomes

Features•area 24 km2 , 67 km shoreline

•2900 sq km drainage area•encompasses 4 municipalities

•upstream of Carleton Place Surface Water Intake

•>1300 residences

Conditions•extensive floodplain•extensive wetland areas•intensive redevelopment•mesotrophic lake

Mississippi Lake

Oligotrophic unenriched, few nutrients deep, cold, and clean and capable of supporting trout species.

 Mesotrophic moderately enriched, some nutrients characterized by abundant beds of submerged aquatic plants generally support warm water fish species such as bass, perch

and pike.

Eutrophic enriched, high level of nutrients subject to algal blooms, excessive production of aquatic plants

and poor water quality lake bottom commonly deficient in oxygen and are not suitable

for high quality fish species

Lake Classifications

Mississippi Lakes Association (MLA) made the decision in 2011 to investigate undertaking a Lake Plan.

Oct 2011 MLA Executive assigned a subcommittee to work with MVC in undertaking a Lake Plan.

Mississippi Lake Plan Committee (MLPC) first met in November 2011

Terms Of Reference to set out a project plan

Mississippi Lake Plan Project

The Mississippi Lake Plan is expected to take approximately 3 to 4 years to complete - managed in three phases: Phase 1: Preliminary and Background Work

(Winter 2011 to Summer 2013)

Phase 2: Preparation of the Plan (Summer 2013 to Winter 2014)

Phase 3: Implementation of Plan Recommendations and Monitoring

(2015 ongoing)

Overall Approach

 

Mississippi Lake Planning Committee (MLPC) MLA, MVC, Municipalities (Municipal Councillors)Primary role: guide the project, set a work plan, oversee its implementation, collect and compile information, and maintain communication with the lake community and stakeholders.

 Mississippi Lake Plan Advisory Committee (MLPAC)MLA, MVC, Municipalities (staff and/or council members), Provincial reps (MOE, MNR), Health Unit, Stewardship Council, (DFO and First Nations invited) Primary role: to provide advice, background information and technical expertise

Lake Plan Stakeholders

Mississippi Lake Community Group (MLCG)

Residents, property owners, business operators and 0ther individuals and interest groups (sportmen’s clubs, snowmobile clubs, field naturalists, etc.)

Open, evolving contact list established through the survey and lake plan communications.

Primary role: to identify values and issues impacting the lake, to develop a vision for the lake, to identify and prioritize recommendations and actions and to play a role in implementation of various aspects of plan.

Email or mailings with updates and information about the project

Please join the contact list!

(2011 to Summer 2013) Initial consultation with lake residents and community partners to determine need for, and interest in, undertaking a Lake Plan

Establish organizational structure and Terms of Reference

Determine what the community/stakeholders value about the lake and identify key issues that they see as a threat to those values (community survey).

Collect and compile information/data about the natural, social and physical characteristics of the lake and watershed

Produce a Lake Plan Background (or State of the Lake/Watershed) Report 

Phase 1: Preliminary & Background Work

(Summer 2013 to Winter 2014) Establish community/stakeholders’ vision for the

lake/watershed over the next 20 years (workshops)

Establish goals and objectives for the Lake Plan incorporating the vision and values and the issues identified by the Lake Plan process

Identify recommendations and actions in consultation with lake community and stakeholders

Produce the Lake Plan

Phase 2: Preparation of the Plan

2015 and ongoing

Obtain endorsement of the Lake Plan from stakeholders and community partners

Adopt an implementation strategy to ensure follow through on priority actions

Implement an ongoing monitoring strategy (where need identified)

Adopt a formal review schedule (ex. every 5 years) to review the Background Report and Lake Plan to ensure it is effective, relevant and continues to address the key issues in the lake community. 

Phase 3: Implementation of Plan Recommendations and Monitoring

Community Survey – Values and Issues

Where to find it: Online (Survey Monkey)

www.surveymonkey.com/s/mississippilake Mississippi Belle insert MLA website www.lakemississippi.ca Carleton Place (boat launch permits)

May to the end of August

Typical Lake Plan Survey Results

Example Issues Identified by Community

Tree and Vegetation Removal

Water Pollution

Water Levels

Weeds/Algae

Boat Traffic

0 100 200 300 400 500 600

Top 10 Issues Identified by Community

Natural Elements Water Quality Status Inventory of Streams Wildlife Habitat Fish Habitat Wetlands Nesting Sites Shoreline Vegetation Invasive Species Species at Risk Other important habitat features

Social Elements Historic and Cultural Sites First Nations Values Boating Use Important Landscapes Recreational Opportunities Neighbourhood Character

Physical Elements Location and Access Watershed and Terrain Hazard Lands Water Levels Physical Constraints Resources (aggregate, minerals,

forestry)

 Land Use Considerations Development Activity Lot Inventory / Land Use Inventory Official Plan and Zoning By-law Federal and Crown Land Policy Servicing (Septic systems, Water

Supply) Landfill Sites 

Background Information:

Survey participation! Build stakeholder/contact list (road

associations)

Collect Background Information/Data

Next Steps

Questions ?

Lake Planning Alyson SymonWatershed Planner asymon@mvc.on.ca