Mississippi Lake Association Annual General Meeting June 1, 2013 Lynn Preston, Centre for Sustainable Watersheds

What is a Lake Plan?

What is/is not a Lake Plan? A Lake Plan is: Voluntary Non regulatory Community building based on consensus Based on protecting or enhancing the health of the lake Up to you A Lake Plan is NOT: Government driven Regulatory or Legally Binding Mandatory Telling you what you can/can’t do on your lake or property Up to anyone else

What Does a Lake Plan Usually Address? 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

Engaging and listening to the lake community Identifying what you love about your lake 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 What’s involved in a Lake Plan

What do lake plans often suggest as recommendations? Work together more as a community – more and better communication and education (brochures, workshops, signage) Undertake Stewardship Initiatives shoreline planting, habitat rehabilitation, enhancement projects Septic maintenance and Re-inspection Learn more through Monitoring (water quality, invasive species, etc.) Recommendations for Land Use Policy – Official Plan and Zoning By Law policies, Site Plan Control

THE PROCESS IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE PRODUCT

Steps in the Process Determine the need for a Mississippi Lake Plan (as done at our annual meeting in June 2011) Establish terms of reference, work Plan and organizational structure Determine values surrounding the lake and issues that threaten them using community survey Complete research for the “State of the Lake/Watershed” report Complete a nutrient budget and lake capacity models using Total Phosphorous (TP) as an indicator Complete the “State of the Lake Watershed” report for reference purposes Background Work Establish a “Mississippi Lake Vision” This will be completed by asking the community what YOU want Establish goals and objectives for the Mississippi Lake Plan as well as develop implementation and action strategies. Produce the Mississippi Lake Plan Community will be given an opportunity to review and suggest changes Plan Preparation Obtain formal endorsement of the Mississippi Lake Plan from community Adopt the implementation strategy / action Implement any needed monitoring strategies Adopt a formal review schedule of the Lake Plan Implement

What Can You Do? 1. TELL US WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU THINK *Send us your contact information as well as information about anyone you know who uses, lives around or cares about the Mississippi Lake (or ideas on how get the information). **Fill out the values survey It will tell us what you value about your lake which is a VERY IMPORTANT part of making this plan. 2. *DONATE THE TIME YOU CAN AFFORD - This is very important Become a member of Mississippi Lakes Association via website Become a member of the planning committee to guide the plan, provide your input etc. Volunteer for events and tasks needed within the process. Attend stakeholder meetings or workshops that are announced over the next two years. So YOU can have a say in YOUR plan. 3. START TALKING TO EACH OTHER AND TO US This process requires that we build an atmosphere of community for our lake. We need to work together and communicate with one another.

IT’S TIME TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR LAKE ARE YOU READY??