Huntsville - Lake of Bays Lakes Council

Muskoka Watershed Council Report for HLC Board Meeting June 7, 2008 MWC's Policy Committee meeting was held in the morning on May 16, 2008. Mary McCulley attended and will report on this area. The regular Council meeting was held in District Council Chambers in Bracebridge in the afternoon. Elaine Jackson attended on behalf of HLC. There were three presentations at this meeting: 1. Crown Land Planning: Presenters were: Kim Benner, MNR; Steve Munro, Westwind Forest Products; and Jan McDonnell, Biologist, MNR. The speakers dealt with the harvesting of crown lands in our area. The main message was the emphasis on buying local, FSC certified forest products to support sustainable, planned harvests and to use certified firewood operators for any cutting to ensure that harvesting is done in a sustainable manner. We were urged not to bring in firewood from elsewhere, especially from southern Ontario due to the possibility of introducing infestations to our healthy Muskoka forests of Asian Long-horned Beatles or Emerald Ash Borers. These two insects are currently devastating forests in SW and Central Ontario, especially ash trees, although species such as maple, etc. found extensively in Muskoka are also vulnerable to destruction by these insects. For more information on subjects addressed by the speakers, go to: http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/ - click on Forests http://www.westwindforest.ca/ http://crownlanduseatlas.mnr.gov.on.ca/ 2. Ecological Impact of Roads - Algonquin Parks a Case Study Presenter: Brad Steinburg, Ontario Parks The effect of roads on the local ecology through fragmentation, pollution, wildlife mortality and habitat loss were emphasized. Turtles, especially females, are threatened as they often must cross roads to reach suitable nesting habitat. The fragmentation of terrestrial habitat contributes to mortality of many animals, including frogs and toads, while crossing roads. Salamanders, fish and other species rely on small, accessible streams as "rescue routes" to bypass fast-moving currents in larger water bodies to reach their destination, so it is important to protect these smaller water routes from destruction. Fencing has been used effectively to keep animals, especially large species, off the roads. It is designed to divert them to a safer area to cross: e.g. shelves, culverts, dry bridges and overpasses, which enable both small and larger animals to safely reach the other side of roads. These systems are costly to construct but they do prevent mortality in species at risk as well as averting vehicle accidents and loss of human lives. Two bridges are being rebuilt in Algonquin Park this year to accommodate the needs of wildlife. For more information go to: http://www.wildlifecrossings/ 3. Climate Action Muskoka Presenters: Dave Rasmussen and Stan Hunter This presentation was similar to the information given to HLC members previously. Other Business: MWC's Goals and Objectives, revised as of May 16/08, was presented for discussion and this document was moved for adoption by the Council with a few changes. The next and final meeting (until fall of 2008) will be held on Fri., June 20 at 1 pm in Georgian Bay. Car pooling will be available for attendees. There will be an MWC Appreciation Lunch from 12-1 pm followed by a tour of Port Severn to see proposed developments and environmental implications. Bulk water sales will also be discussed. On July 31, Norm Yan of the Dorset Centre will speak at the Bracebridge Theatre (in high school) on the Health of our Lakes. Details will be forwarded later by MWC to us.