Muskoka Heritage Foundation
Natural Heritage Stewardship 2007 Award Recipients

ROCKY ISLAND, MARY LAKE
JANE EARTHY, SUE TATRALLYAY, MARION SINCLAIR

If you look down Mary Lake from the docks at Port Sydney, you will see an island with high cliffs and a jagged skyline of white pine. Jane Earthy and her two sisters, Sue Tatrallyay and Marion Sinclair, are the proud custodians of Rocky Island that was purchased in 1947 by their grandfather. The family has kept the island in a very natural state except for a small area around the old cabin. The septic system meets current standards. Swimming is done from the rocks that gently slope into the water, and there is a small pole dock. In the centre of the island you will find one of the District of Muskoka's terrestrial sampling plots. Jane is particularly noteworthy as past president of the Mary Lake Association. For ten years she was a leader and an exemplar of environmental stewardship. Her work on water quality and shoreline preservation has been outstanding. Under her leadership, a lake plan for Mary Lake has been developed.

The board of the Mary Lake Association provided this nomination.


LASH POINT, LAKE ROSSEAU
THE LASH FAMILY

Lash Point is a 25-acre property on Lake Rosseau and has been in the Lash family since 1898. By 1911 two cottages were built using local hemlock. The loggers had been by and as a result only small young trees were growing. Later a third cottage was built in keeping with the others. Now the cottages are almost invisible, nestled in among the pines, hemlock and cedars. Most of the point is boat or foot access only.
Lash Point is now owned by the Lash Point Association, with the objective of conserving the land and its natural features for the enjoyment of members and their guests. Over generations, narrow paths have been created, but otherwise it is mostly undisturbed. Much of the property is under a Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program plan aimed at restoring old growth wildlife habitat conditions. In recent years, a Red-shouldered Hawk has established a nest in one of the large beeches. Tim Lash and members of his family are working with Hydro One to find ways to avoid disturbance of its habitat from proposed maintenance operations.

PAINT LAKE RATEPAYERS' ASSOCIATION, LAKE OF BAYS

The award goes to the Paint Lake Ratepayers' Association for the development of a lake plan for Paint Lake. It is interesting to note that only some of the Association members are waterfront owners. They developed a plan that has a strong stewardship focus, and is built on communication, involvement, and activities that reflect their goals. The members wrote major parts of the plan. Lake of Bays' councilors were involved from the start and continue to be involved as components are incorporated into the official plan.

The PLRA developed a 10-point plan to be implemented over a number of years. The first point is communications: keeping everyone informed about the lake and the plan. They have a dark sky night when everyone gathers out on the lake to watch the stars, and also promote the use of minimal or dark sky lighting. Committees have been formed to implement each the 10 action points, using a timetable guideline. Some of their activities include: water testing and monitoring, creating Paint Lake lists of plants, birds and fish, signage for speed and wake, and writing a lake history. People have already started restoring their shorelines.

TOWNSHIP OF LAKE OF BAYS

In 1994, the Lake of Bays mayor and council initiated an "official plan review committee." They went to the public "looking for interested volunteers who can dedicate their time, ideas, and local knowledge in the review and updating of the townships official plan". In May 1995, the council established a Visioning Steering Committee, held 55 meetings, and used over 2,000 hours of volunteer time. By January 1996 the Township of Lake of Bays had "OUR VISION. The residents of the Township of Lake of Bays will nurture and sustain clean water, fresh air, natural shorelines, healthy forests and wetlands that will be the pride of the Province. We will offer an outstanding combination of economic opportunity, peaceful living and recreation. This is our dream and legacy for our grandchildren's children. We value a healthy environment, the allure of our surroundings, a sound economy, responsible leadership, quality of life, and our heritage."

To implement this vision, the first development permit system by-law in Ontario was passed in 2004. Its introductory statement was: "The development permit system is a new planning system in Ontario and is designed to combine and replace the zoning, site plan and minor variance processes into one streamlined process." The following guiding principles taken from Section H.20 of the Official Plan form the basis for the provisions in this by-law:

• the natural waterfront will prevail with built form blending into the landscape and shoreline.
• natural shorelines will be retained or restored.
• disturbance on lots will be limited and minimized.
• vegetation will be substantially maintained on skylines, ridge lines or adjacent to the top of rock cliffs.
• native species will be used for buffers or where vegetation is being restored.
• rock faces, steep slopes, vistas and panoramas will be preserved to the extent feasible.
• building envelopes and the associated activity area will be defined and the remainder of the property shall remain generally in its natural state.

The Muskoka Heritage Foundation could have written this as a wish list!

The Lake of Bays mayor and council members have, over a 13-year period, done excellent planning, and followed an excellent public process to achieve their vision. They have been consistent in listening to both their constituents and nature. They all deserve our thanks for being wonderful stewards.

THE LANDSCAPES, LAKE OF BAYS

The Landscapes project reflects and was created under the Lake of Bays Development Permit by-law. Its project team started with an old traditional shoreline resort property that had been abused, was well worn with old buildings, and had few remaining natural areas. They have rehabilitated the shoreline, used native plants, removed old docks and boathouses, built some new docks on poles, and planted trees around each completed building section. From the lake, only small parts of the buildings are visible, and only small sections of the shore are being used, leaving most of it natural and undisturbed. In addition there is limited docking available. In the future, the team plans to build a dry canoe house on the shore. Furthermore, they have given seven acres of land to the municipality for a water and sewage facility that serves both Landscapes and Baysville. Their master plan calls for one indoor and one outdoor pool, a fitness centre, tennis courts, and a clubhouse that is already built, but the activity area is in the centre of the property, well away from the shore.

There are trails throughout the property, some using wood chips, others gravel, and the steps and planked areas are made of cedar and allow water to dissipate under them. The goal of the project is a high-density, timeshare facility that allows people a chance to take part in nature and social activities. The project team's intent is to have all of the residents become good stewards and learn to view the lake and its shoreline as living entities that need to be nurtured.

The Landscapes is a wonderful property where nature and the natural landscape have been given great consideration and respect.

TOWN OF GRAVENHURST, GRAVENHURST BAY

This redevelopment of a previously industrial area has made both visible and hidden improvements to the natural features in Gravenhurst Bay. Some of these improvements, such as the new stormwater treatment features, are major in terms of improving water quality in the bay. The new development will also provide the opportunity for a large number of people to view areas such as the re-created wetland and new shoreline as part of a waterfront development, and be educated on their importance. Approximately 400 sq. m. of riprap was removed from the lakebed along the shoreline and subsequently restored with native cobble, boulders and tree roots. Riprap was removed from the shoreline in the same area and was re-stabilized with native vegetation and granite. A coldwater creek was daylighted from a 70 m. length of culvert. Large quantities of lumber scrap and garbage were removed from the area during the process and a 700 sq. meter wetland was created, of which approximately ½ is open water habitat. Native vegetation, aquatic and terrestrial, was planted throughout this area and boulders, logs, and tree roots were placed to provide fish and amphibian habitat. It will remain as an undisturbed natural area and has signs posted describing its history and significance.

The area that is presently soccer fields was previously used for snow storage and as a place to dispose of excess fill material. This area was adjacent to the creek and as part of the construction process, the whole area was cleaned up and the garbage removed. The riparian buffers have been expanded along the creek by shifting the public trail and planting more native vegetation, including trees and shrubs. All crossings on the creek are now clear span bridges.

Over 400 sq. m. of concrete, rock and sheet pile dock supports were removed from the bay. These were replaced with a floating system of docks, which has significantly less impact on the fish habitat. All parking lots have been reconstructed so that proper stormwater treatment measures are in place. Prior to this there was no treatment of stormwater from these lands. Grassed swales, planted with native vegetation, were used to further treat stormwater in numerous locations. The one section of land that was previously undisturbed (a large peninsula) was maintained as a public park, with only trails and seating added. Two wetlands were maintained on the property.

Fixing our past mistakes is not an easy task, but the tremendous effort made at Muskoka Bay has certainly been worth it.