Goings on at the Lake

On Saturday, Dec 12, we had two loons and 18 common goldeneyes drop by.  They stayed pretty well all day.  No ice on the lake.  Had some thin patches develop on Sunday morning around the Island, but very scant and thin. Still no snow for the upcoming holiday residents at the lake. Record high temps last week in Montreal and in the Laurentians. Also watched a pine marten (between Sally's and our place) go fishing and wander along the shoreline.

-- Bob Gaudreault


Willie and I arrived yesterday (Dec 21) for the holidays. It started snowing as we drove in at about noon, and the light snow continued all day. Not much accumulation and today it is melting away quickly. There was a bit of ice on the lake, but it disappeared overnight. Montreal is bracing for 18C on Thursday, Christmas Eve, with temperatures dropping a bit for Christmas day. Better start dreaming of a green Christmas, so your dreams can come true.

-- Kathleen Hugessen

Company Bylaws

Lake Anne Club Inc. was incorporated in October 1932 as a Part 1 company under the Quebec Companies Act. At the time of formation, the Heward, Drury, Johnson, MacCallum (now Hunt) and Seale families owned property around the lake although the Seales decided to join the Company later in 1946.

Various lands purchased earlier by the four original principals were transferred to the new Company upon incorporation, and, in compensation, individual lots and shares were acquired from the Company. As required, bylaws were drawn up and approved at the first General Meeting of shareholders. Since then, of course, the Lake population has grown to 22 properties, represented by 35 shareholders, and the Company now owns 1,500 acres of common land all around the Lake.  

However, the basic structure of the Bylaws has remained essentially the same, although some modifications have been introduced from time to time, such as increasing the number of Directors from the original 4 to the current 7-10.

Other changes of note, made in the 2004 - 2010 period, include a remake of the Model Deed (used for any purchaser of a new lot from the Company), the conversion to Part 1A, the modern form of company, financial year-end moved to April 30th to allow a summer AGM (AGM needs to be within 4 months of year-end), notification by email, various modifications to the Board of Directors – number now a range of 7-10, Directors do not need to be shareholders (to allow family members to be included), duties of Secretary-Treasurer split into two functions, make-up and duties of a nominating committee detailed.

The Board is currently reviewing a few other areas in the bylaws, in particular the Development Rules as well as the Model Deed and Model Personal Agreement, primarily to reflect changes to municipal bylaws and regulations.

Attached are our current bylaws reflecting the last changes approved by Shareholders at the August 2010 AGM, excluding the annexed Model Deed and Model Personal Agreement (available upon request).  Some redrafting has been done for this version to make the document more readable and to clarify certain areas.

I invite you to familiarize yourselves with them. Please do not hesitate to contact us for more information, to seek clarification, or to give feedback.

                                                                                                         Derek Johnson

                                                                                                       Company Secretary

West Side Road Crew Makes the Grade

A team of road-surface experts gathered at the gate leading to Mr Joe Road on Friday, September 18.

Bryan Hollingworth, Margaret and David Hyde, and Willie Wanklyn were assisted by Tim Kirkpatrick, who dumped new surface material along Mr Joe and parts of Hugessen Roads. The following is a small photographic tribute to the efforts of our dedicated road crew.

The Crew: from left to right, WW, Margaret, Bryan and David.

Bryan operates a sophisticated fuel-level assessment device,

found by WW in the underbrush, 

to establish the presence of a sufficiency of gas.

David bids Tim a fond farewell after the final load has been delivered.

Tim wishes the team luck.

The cavalcade sets off.

Now, doesn't that look better.

Earlier in the week, Margaret and Your Humble Correspondent did a job on the gate, which now looks all shiny and no longer covers you with rust whenever you go near it.

Report on Water Testing 2015

Summary of Findings and Recommendations

This year, four measures are higher than usual: fecal coliforms, phosphorus, colour and turbidity. These changes suggest an increase in dissolved organic substances and material in suspension in the water. These are all associated with a risk for algae blooms. As Notreau found similar increases in the other lakes they tested this year, the change may be weather-related.

Note: Public health norms state that drinking water should have zero coliforms, whether fecal or otherwise. The lake tests measure only fecal coliforms. Household tests provide information about other coliforms. Therefore, it is recommended that lake water be treated by boiling or with a UV filter system before drinking. [This is even truer for people at risk, such as children, the elderly, and the sick. For more information on coliforms in drinking water, see http://www2.gnb.ca/content/dam/gnb/Departments/h-s/pdf/en/HealthyEnvironments/water/Coliforme.pdf ]

We can congratulate ourselves on having a healthy lake in which we can swim safely. We will continue to monitor the health of the lake.

We need to continue to do our share by following these guidelines:

• Septic systems need to be cleaned regularly (every two years for frequent residents, every three years for weekenders). They also need to be verified to make sure there are no leaks and leaching fields are functional. [“An important inspection can be made of your septic system when it is emptied. Here are some things to look for or at least ask the operator to examine: Check the baffles for corrosion or breakage; If water flows from the outlet back into the tank it is an indication that your field may be saturated; If water runs continuously into the tank, there is a leak in your plumbing (probably the toilet) and it could saturate your field; Ask the operator to estimate the level of solids. If the level is 60 cm (2 ft) or less, then your system is working very well; if you have a pre-filter installed at the outlet, this is the time to clean it.” Extracted from the Fall 2010 issue of Information Morin Heights (p. 5).]

• By regulation, the first 15 m of shore line should be covered in bushes and trees to absorb nutrients.  [ The Pépinière Rustique sells indigenous & wild plants (1614 Ch. du Village, St. Adolphe d’Howard, Tel: 819 327 2225, http://www.pepiniererustique.com/francais ).]

• Avoid churning up the nutrient-rich sediments lying on the bottom of the lake.
• Avoid fertilizers, especially on lawns and steep hills, and anywhere near the lake.
• Use only phosphate-free detergents (both for dishwashers and washing machines).

Note on cyanobacteria

Currently, the lake does not seem to have abnormal or dangerous levels of cyanobacteria.  We will continue to monitor colonies next season. Mme Tardif said the following changes are worth reporting immediately to Madeleine or Jérôme:

• Dead frogs in the lake, because frogs are particularly sensitive to cyanobacteria.
• An unusual or rapid increase in algae growth, or cloudy water resembling broccoli or pea soup.
• Samples need to be tested by Notreau within 48 hours of collection.

On Sept 8, we were told that, about 10 days before, a green mass was seen floating on part of Drury Bay. We checked for signs of algae colonies in Long Bay and along the north shore of Lake Anne, including Three-Pine Bay, Seale Bay, around Pine-Tree Point, and along the Hugessen and Blachford shorelines.  We found concentrations in shallow, calm waters (especially in bays), associated with organic material (see picture below). The highest concentration was in Long Bay, where the water was quite turbid.  

On Sept 10, we took a sample from the bay between the Presqu’ile and Pine Tree Point to Notreau. Notreau’s microbiologist Guylaine Tardif found that our sample was mostly cyanobacteria, in a concentration of 3,300 cells/ml. She also gave us the following information:

• The mere presence of cyanobacteria in a lake is normal. Problems arise when their density is too high, at which point they produce algae blooms. 

[See, e.g., http://www.mddelcc.gouv.qc.ca/eau/eco_aqua/cyanobacteries/ ]

• It is also normal to encounter concentrations of cyanobacteria in quiet bays with a high content of organic material (as we did). In this case, the cyanobacteria form roughly cylindrical colonies under water and anchor themselves to vegetation or dead trees (See picture above).
• Mme Tardif added that there would be cause for concern if the concentration reaches 20,000 cells/ml; at this point, we would want to determine the reasons for the increase.  (Cyanobacteria can start producing detectable toxins at 100,000 cells/ml, which is a much more serious situation.)

Currently, the lake does not seem to have abnormal or dangerous levels of cyanobacteria.  We will continue to monitor colonies next season. Mme Tardif said the following changes are worth reporting immediately to Madeleine or Jérôme:

• Dead frogs in the lake, because frogs are particularly sensitive to cyanobacteria.
• An unusual or rapid increase in algae growth, or cloudy water resembling broccoli or pea soup.

UV filters and water systems

UV systems make lake water that contains coliforms potable.  However, UV filters do not treat cyanobacteria toxins (if the concentration reaches 100,000 cell/ml, which is currently not the case).  Sand filters and UV lights need to be changed regularly for the UV system to be effective.  E,g,, UV lights should be changed after 12 months of use. After that, the intensity of UV may be insufficient for disinfection.  This year, we were told that if the power is off for more than 3 hours, the pipes may become contaminated; the solution is to purge and treat the pipes and hot water tank with chlorine (household bleach).

Even with a UV system, if you drain your pipes in the winter,  pipes and hot water tank need to be disinfected with chlorine when you put the water on in the spring. This year, we learned the following details:

• Chlorine should stand in the pipes for a minimum of 5 hours.
• After purging and treating the pipes after a non-conforming test, Notreau recommends waiting at least two weeks before retesting tap water, because residual chlorine can stay in the pipes and skew the results.

Water-Testing Details for 2015

Method

Samples were taken on Saturday, Aug 8, between 10 a.m. and noon. Nine sites were tested for fecal coliforms, colour, turbidity, pH, and phosphorus. The samples were taken 10 m from shore. (See map at the end of this report.) The approximate locations are:

1. Near Hunt’s point
2. In front of the Drury Estate
3. In Seale Bay
4. Near the mouth of Long (a.k.a. Boathouse/Wood’s) Bay
5. In front of Nancy Savage
6. In front of Guy Biron
7. Between Kenneth and Kathleen Hugessen
8. Between Reed Drury and Sally McDougall
9. At the end of the bay behind Green Mountain

We also tested three sites far from the shore for chlorophyll-A and dissolved organic compounds, both of which give information about the effect of rotting organic material on water quality. Taken together, levels of chlorophyll-A, dissolved organic compounds, and phosphorus tell us about the amount of nutrients in the lake.

Results

Fecal coliforms

Fecal counts are as high as last year, which was unusually high (This year, the average per sample is 9.3, as opposed to the cumulative average of 3.3 for all years).

At these levels, according to Public Health norms, untreated lake water is not safe to drink. However, it is in the “Excellent” range for swimming.

The following table shows the variation in fecal coliforms from year to year. High coliform counts seem to be associated with rains (sometimes heavy rains) just prior to testing day: e.g., 2003, 2006, 2010, 2013 and 2014. This year had a rainy summer, although there was no rain on Aug 6 or 7. (There was rain on Aug 1 and 2 and showers Aug 3 and 5.)

Phosphorus

Phosphorus concentration measures the amount of nutrients reaching the lake through runoff (This is linked to the risk for algae blooms). Official sources place the threshold for concern at 0.09 mg/l, but Richard Carignan, a U de M limnologist, draws the line at 0.06 mg/l. After four years of low levels, phosphorus concentrations are moderately high this year, though not yet a cause for concern. The diagram shows that we have had two previous spikes, in 2007 and 2009. [Phosphorus was not tested in 2008.]

Chlorophyll A and dissolved organic carbon

The levels of chlorophyll-A and dissolved organic compounds are based on three samples taken far from shore. [A = The opening of the bay past Green Mountain;   B = The opening of Long Bay;  C = The middle of the lake (approximately the latitude of the northern tip of the Island and the longitude of the eastern tip of the Presqu’île).]

The concentration of chlorophyll-A gives information about the abundance of phytoplankton (microscopic algae) and helps evaluate the level of eutrophication. Phytoplankton is more common if phosphorus levels are high, if the weather is hot, and if water moves slowly. The norms of the Ministry of the Environment indicate that a concentration below 10 µg/l is acceptable. This year, the tests average 1.95 µg/l, which is excellent.

The quantity of dissolved organic carbon is another factor in eutrophication (the process by which lakes gradually age, eventually leading to stagnation and increased algae blooms). This measure it tracks the effects of rotting vegetation and animals. Dissolved organic compounds give a brown colour to water. The average for Lake Anne this year is relatively low at 3.96 mg/l. It has remained unchanged in the last three years.

Colour and Turbidity

Colour can be caused by natural minerals, vegetable matter, or other organic compounds [ For information on measuring colour, see http://www.ceaeq.gouv.qc.ca/methodes/pdf/MA103Col20.pdf ] There was a slow increase in colour until 2008, which then appeared to level off, but, in 2015, it is more than twice as high as last year.

Turbidity continues to be moderately high. Turbidity levels above 5 are not a problem for swimming, but untreated water at sites above the norm may not be potable (even without coliforms). The average turbidity level was 5.66, with 4 sites above the norm. We need to monitor this to see whether the trend is real.

pH

Water is acid below a pH of 7 and alkaline above that number. This year, the pH is 7.4. Overall, there is a trend towards slowly increasing alkalinity, although this year seems to be an exception.

Report by Jérôme Rousseau and Madeleine Palmer

2015/16 Hunting Seasons

The following are the seasons for hunting in the Lake Anne area.

Deer with crossbow:     Sept 26--Oct 4

Deer with firearms:       Oct 31--Nov 13

Moose with crossbow:  Oct 3--Oct 11

Small game:                  Sept 30--Mar 31

The members of the Famous Grouse Lodge will once again be using Lake Anne land for their hunting and will prevent other hunters from encroaching.

A Message about Fishers in the Area

Fisher

(image: tvblogs.nationalgeographic.com)

Greetings neighbours,

I am sending you this personal message because I think it is of general interest in our community.   Recently, several cats have disappeared in our neighbourhood.   I lost two cats in a ten-day period.  Several of my neighbours near  Ch. Mille-Isles West have also lots cats: they live on Mille-Isle East, Tamaracouta, and also on Lac Hughes.Yesterday evening my next door neighbours saw a fisher (Martes pennanti) close to their house. This confirms my suspicions about the guilty party. Fishers can also attack small dogs.   A resident of Wentworth North lost two cats and a small dog.

What we can do to protect our pets, apart from keeping them close to us, is to ask trappers, with the necessary permits, to install traps on the terriory. Fishers may be trapped from Oct. 25th to March 1st.

I hope you have better luck than I have with your small animals.  

Manon Laroche, citoyenne de Mille-Isles

Note from translator 

My sympathies to all who lost a beloved pet. However, I must comment that traps themselves pose a danger to our animals, if they roam. Animals other than the desired species suffer a slow, painful death. If traps must be used, local residents should be informed of their location. Note that traps may not be put on private property without permission from the owners. Having chosen to live in the woods, the natural environment of many predators, we keep our cats inside. 

A message received from Manon Laroche of Forum Mille-Isles and the translator of her message.

2015/16 Officers of the Board of Directors

Immediately following the AGM, the new Board of Directors met to elect, for the 2015/16 annual term, the following four officers, in accordance with our Bylaws:

    President                  Bryan Hollingworth

    Vice President          Stephanie Hunt-Foster

    Treasurer                  William Wanklyn

    Secretary                  Derek Johnson

AGM 2015: Minutes

The annual general meeting of Lake Anne Club lnc./Club du lac Anne lnc took place at the Lake Anne house of Reid and Shelagh Drury on August 8th, 2015, at 2:00 p.m.

Present: Guy Biron, Pansy Drury Gaudreau, Peter Heward, Bryan Hollingworth, Kathleen Hugessen, Derek Johnson, Elspeth Mitchell, Sally McDougall, Jerome Rousseau, Nancy Savage, Stephanie Hunt-Foster, Allan McDougall, Reid Drury David Hyde

Bv Proxy: Margaret Hyde, Susan Johnson, JillJohnson, Madeleine Palmer

Proxy Holders and Guests: Jocelyne Lamarche Biron, Reid McDougall, Sylvie Moncion, William Wanklyn, Janice Hollingworth, Shelagh Drury, Jim Ronald, Pamela Ross, Bill Hogg, Daniel Wright, Clare Raspopow, Erica Mitchell, Lisa Philips and Jack Gaudreau

1. Call to order: The meeting was called to order by Bryan Hollingurorth.

2. Approval of the Agenda: It was moved by Peter Heward, seconded by Stephanie Hunt-Foster, that the agenda be approved.

3. Minutes of the 2014 Annual General Meeting: It was moved by Nancy Savage, seconded by Reid Drury that the minutes of the 2014 AGM be approved as distributed.

4. Receive and Review the Financial Statements for 2014: Bob Gaudreau reviewed the Financial Statements for 2014. The past fiscal year was a good one for earnings which meant that assessments could remain low. The income and expenses for forestry and taxes were reviewed and it was noted that the taxes are expected to rise in coming years.

The Budget for 2015-2016 was also reviewed. There will be no forestry income next year but it is estimated that investment income will be about 57,500. It was moved by Pam Ross, seconded by Elspeth Mitchell, that the Financial Staternents and Budget be approved.

5. Appointment of Auditor: It was moved by William Wanklyn, seconded by Pam Ross that the financial statements continue to be reviewed, not audited, by Patti McGovern.

6. Report of the Nominating Committee and Election of Directors: Sally McDougall reported that Bob Gaudreau and Nancy Savage are resigning from the Board and that 3 new Board members are standing for election,

Returning Directors are: Bryan Hollingworth, Stephanie Hunt-Foster, Ken Hugessen, Jim Ronald, William Wanklyn, Pamela Ross and Reid McDougall.

New Directors are: Erica Mitchell, Reid Drury and Derek Johnson.

It was moved by Sally McDougall, seconded by Peter Heward, that this slate of Directors be elected for the coming year. Bob and Nancy were thanked for their work on the Board.

7. Confirmation of the Acts of Directors: Bryan Hollingworth reported on various actions taken be the Board including work on the forestry plan and roads. It was moved by Sally McDougall, seconded by Kathleen Hugessen, that the acts of the Directors be confirmed.

8. Varia: 
a) Dues to shareholders issue: Reid McDougall reported that the Committee forrned to look into this (Derek Johnson, Reid Drury Pamela Ross and Reid McDougall) has arrived at some recommendations which have been explained to most residents over the summer.

b) Availability of a lot: Bob Gaudreau explained that the Municipality of Gore has insisted that the portion of Anne est in Gore be surveyed from the Wentworth line to the north end of Mary's Lake. The reason a lot is available on the edge of Green Mountain is that Gore has agreed to 'grandfather' the road as is with respect to development requirements. A lot could therefore be developed without the cost of bringing the road up to the standard otherwise required.

c) Forestry: Stephanie Hunt-Foster met with two forest engineers and asked them about how best to deal with reforestation of the log yards left by the most recent cut. Both experts recommended that the area be allowed to regenerate naturally. The existing forestry plan will be completed in 2021 and no further cuts are planned. Credits are available for three more years.

d) Tennis court: Bill Hogg reported that the tennis court is in good shape and that what it needs most is players. He was thanked for all his work on the court.

e) Road maintenance: Road maintenance will be done on the west side of the lake this year. Property owners were reminded of their responsibility to do brushing on both sides of the road.

f)  Potential land swaps: The land being considered as a potential swap from the Browns may be part of the Gore conservation initiative. Nothing more will be done on this until more is known about the conservation area. The land swap which would give Lake Anne Club lnc. the land south of the Gustave Road in exchange for what it owns north of the road is still a possibility.

g) Expropriation of Anne est and Mister Joe - status in Wentworth: The Council has agreed to approach the Quebec government to get the expropriated land back so it can be returned to Lake Anne Club lnc. The Municipality of Mille lsles needs to do the same thing for the portion of Anne est which was expropriated. The situation remains unchanged.

h) New Business:
(i) Sally McDougall reminded those present of the loss of two long-standing lake residents, Maxine Ronald and Marylou Jasper. Both will be much missed by everyone who knew them.

(ii) Jerome Rousseau will be booking the water testing for the second Saturdav in August. lt was suggested that the date of the AGM should be established and circulated by the end of June each year.

(iii) The Municipality of Gore is willing to reduce taxes on 600 acres of land if it is set aside from development for 25 years. This would be called a 'nature reserue' and would result in no loss of either control or the ability to log. This possibility needs to be investigated.

(iv) The proposal to allow gravel pits to change to quarries has probably been stopped, but the issue is not settled completely yet.

There being no further business the closing of the meeting was moved by Elspeth Mitchell, seconded by David Hyde.

An Invitation

Members of the Lake community (and any guests) are cordially invited to a 5-a-7 on Saturday, September 5, at the new little house with the red roof. In case of rain, make that Sunday, September 6, rain or shine.

As parking at the bottom of our hill is dicey at best, it is recommended that you park up the hill, or come by boat.

While this is a housewarming, gifts are unnecessary and, in fact, discouraged...we have enough stuff!!

We look forward to seeing you and to showing off our bijou residence.

-- Willie Wanklyn & Kathleen Hugessen

Lyme Disease in Mille Isles

 Allan McDougall emailed this morning to report 

"...my daughter Kathryn contracted Lyme disease from a tick bite at the Lake last month. She was treated as soon as she returned home and the case was reported to Quebec. They responded that there have been four confirmed cases of the disease in Mille Isles this summer."

For more information on the disease in Canada, its prevention and treatment please visit:

http://healthycanadians.gc.ca/diseases-conditions-maladies-affections/disease-maladie/lyme/index-eng.php

Bob's For the Birds...and More!

During the late morning of Sunday, August 11, we were visited by three egrets (known as "eommon" egrets and completely white). Smaller than the great blue heron, but not by much!  They perched in the tops of the pines on the north end of the Island for a good half-hour.  They then swooped down towards Presqu'Ile and returned to the Island and landed on the great rock on the shoreline facing Anne Est.  Haven't seen an egret here for many years.

This evening (Thursday, the 13th) I am watching two adult beavers on the rocks at our end of Green Mountain's point.

Willie W. says that he saw a bald eagle recently at the Lake. This is the second sighting of the same, this year!

Seems to be more fish feeding than in past years, but that could be wishful thinking...

Residents on both sides of the Lake are reporting more evidence of spring peepers.  If so, then the bass are hurting.

The moose are in poor condition because of ticks.  I have seen moose droppings along Kirkpatrick, but no evidence of the same in my wanderings at the Lake.

Always on the lookout,

Bob