Welcome back to the
new season of cottaging. I hope it is a great one. I can assure that, as
members of the South Channel Association, your chances of having a great season
are far better than those who are not members.
Your executive has
been busy on your behalf, representing your interests through various meetings
and communications.
I attended the
semi-annual Deerhorn conference in April, joining our fellow cottage
associations in meeting with Township of the Archipelago reps and Georgian Bay
Association reps. It was a very productive meeting with information provided
regarding:
The TOA official
plan: a 45% response rate to
the survey/questionnaire that was sent out. It is great to see such
participation, as it ensures that your interests are represented at the
Township develops the new plan.
Harmonized
Planning: for the East Coast
of Georgian Bay. The preferred option at this point is to establish policies
that are applicable to the entire coast. These would then be incorporated into
an area specific Provincial Policy Statement. The benefits to this approach
would be
Ø
Increased
multi-jurisdictional awareness, addressing issues that cross boundaries
Ø
Improved
communication between levels of government, which improves the flow of
information
Ø
Identification of
uniqueness, since the process will draw out and clarify common principles but
will also define and support unique areas and roles of different coastal areas.
Water Levels: continue to drop. Typically, water levels in
Georgian Ban vary in a range of over 6 feet. However, the further impact from
Global Warming is not known at this point. The current prediction is that they
will drop up to one metre more within the next 40 years. The TOA has been
successful in lobbying the federal government for a study on the economic
impact of low water levels.
Water Quality: Testing continues. There is continued concern
over the water quality in Sturgeon Bay, within the TOA and south of us, Twelve
Mile Bay, is identified as having a growing problem.
Parry Sound Health
Centre: fundraising continues.
It is hoped that, in addition to the $300,000 that cottagers have already
donated, an additional $2,600,000 can be raised from the seasonal community.
Forest Health: The Forest Ecosystem Plot Monitoring Project,
concerned with the impact of air pollution on forest health, continues. The
Bioforest Project, concerned with pest infestation will be a complimentary
project to the plot monitoring project.
Blastomycosis: is a disease affecting an increasing number
of pets in Georgian Bay, particularly in the San Souci and Key River areas and
particularly young animals and hunting breeds. It derives from a fungus in the
soil and is associated with rotting wood. There have been a number of human cases
as well. Early recognition is the key. Symptoms include: flu like symptoms-
three months after exposure; lethargy; loss of appetite; cough; pneumonia. Dogs
typically die within 48 to 72 hours after the cough starts. Treatment is now
given based on the symptoms alone, as the progress of the disease is so rapid.
Steps are underway now to make blasto a reportable disease. People should tell
their doctors or vets that they live in a blasto symptoms area.