Otty Lake is located in Lanark County, Eastern Ontario. The OLA is committed to the long term health and enjoyment of our lakes and the watershed.
OLA AGM Sun. June 7
Save the date for our association’s annual general meeting at the Perth Legion. Dr. David Philipp be speaking on the Bass Spawning Sanctuary project that Otty Lake and 15 other area lakes are involved in.
Come a little early to mingle with your neighbours and enjoy some refreshments.
Meeting materials will be posted here closer to the meeting date. You will also have a chance to review the new bylaws before the meeting.
Draft OLA Bylaws
An important agenda item for our Annual General Meeting is the approval of our new bylaws. A draft version is available here for you review. Please provide any comments by May 17. If necessary, it will be amended and reposted in advance of the June 7 meeting. More explanation of the reasons for the revision and the changes to look for is being provided via email.
Shoreline Plant Sale
Orders accepted starting May 1
As of May 6, we are sold out. Thanks, everyone, for your enthusiasm!
It looks like spring has finally arrived, so it’s time for our annual shoreline plant sale! This year there are five perennials and five shrubs being offered. Orders will be taken by email beginning May 1. Pick up day will be Saturday, May 30 from Settlers Lane. (Please note this is a date change from what was published in the February newsletter.) Payment can be made in cash that day, $5 for perennials, $6 for shrubs. Note that there is a limit of five plants per household. Purchasers must be Otty Lake Association members, as the plants are being subsidized by both the OLA and the RVCA. Thanks to the RVCA for making this sale possible. An email listing the available plants and the email address to use will be sent to our mailing list the morning of April 30.
Volunteers Needed for Various Roles
The OLA is run entirely through its volunteers. Find specific volunteering opportunities under the “Living Here tab.”
Shorter Term. We need some help preparing and helping with the Wildlife Homes workshop Sat. July 19 and with Paddle Power on Sunday, August 9.
Membership at AGM. A person to look after membership at the registration table at AGM going forward would allow the people who look after it throughout the year to participate in the AGM.
Ongoing Roles. Looking for a bigger commitment? The OLA has an ongoing need over the spring and summer for Lake Ambassadors and Water Quality volunteers, and year round for Board Members.
Captain Otty’s Log – February 2026
Take a look at our February newsletter. See some timely stories on ice out record keeping, tracking animals in the snow, Ontario recycling changes and the recently passed Bill 68, which affects conservation authorities. Read about local artist David Bromley and the history of the McKay Farm property. Plus OLA news on the water quality data study, our volunteers needs and events to watch for this spring. If you have story ideas for the Log, or even better, would like to write one, get it touch! The next issue will be in July.
Read the February Captain Otty’s Log.
Water Quality Monitoring and Reporting Volunteers Needed
If you’d like a hands- on role in maintaining the health of Otty Lake, this is for you. We’re seeking individuals who:
- Have knowledge of, or interest in, environmental stewardship and water quality
- Can commit approximately 2 – 3 hours/month for May – October to take water samples
- Are comfortable with basic data collection and record-keeping (training provided during the 2026 season)
Contact David Murray to express your interest. A more detailed list of tasks and duties is available. These duties can be shared among interested volunteers who would work together as a water quality team.
If you are interested in volunteering in some other capacity, check the “Volunteering” page under the “Living Here” tab of this website. We will be posting some of the OLA’s more urgent requirements.
Recycling Changes in Ontario
You can now recycle more materials than ever before across Ontario, including in Tay Valley and Drummond North Elmsley.
Here are some of the new materials included:
- Black plastic containers
- Hot and cold beverage cups
- Frozen juice containers
- Ice cream tubs
- Flexible plastics like plastic bags, chip bags, and bubble wrap
- Foam packaging such as meat trays, takeout containers, and cups
- Tubes like toothpaste, deodorant, and hand cream tubes
Learn more about Ontario’s enhanced recycling system.
Otty Lake Values Survey
and Lake Summary Report
By now you should have received a letter via Canada Post with a web link to your personalized Love Your Lake shoreline property report. (Please get in touch if you did not receive yours!) Watersheds Canada and the Canadian Wildlife Federation have also provided a two part summary report. The first part is a summary of the Values Survey from the resident survey responses, which were were highlighted in the AGM presentation. The Lake Summary report summarizes the results of the 438 properties surveyed.
Protecting Bass Populations
The Big Rideau Lakes Association is working with the Fisheries Conservation Foundation to lobby the province for a bass sanctuary program. Pilot projects have taken place on Opinicon and Charleston Lakes. Listen to this radio interview with Hansen Downer on 88.1 myFM news.
Listen to the Interview
Read Why Bass Spawning Sanctuaries (BSS)?
Read BSS Frequently Asked Questions
Come to our AGM on Sunday, June 7 for a presentation by Dr. David Philipp on this important project.
Water Levels
The RVCA has a real time water level gauge to monitor Otty’s lake level. The link is on the “Other Water Issues” page under the Environment tab.
Etransfer Your OLA Membership Fees
In order to continue the OLA’s work and education around the lake, we do rely on your membership dues. Please consider paying your $25 dues by e-transfer to [email protected] The security question to input is “province we live in”, and the answer is “Ontario”. Please include some identifying details in the message, such as your address, or if you are a couple, both of your names. We have had a few submissions we have struggled to identify!
if you prefer, you can mail a cheque made out to the Otty Lake Association for $25 to Otty Lake Association, Box 20122, Perth, ON K7H 3M6.
Online Registration Available
for Open Air Burn Permits
A permit is required for all open air burning. Burn permits expire every year on November 30. Please remember to renew or apply for your FREE fire permit. Complete your permit application online or call 613-267-2596.
Contribute Your Observations to iNaturalist
Discover and track the species that make their home in and around Otty Lake. We invite you to help us create an ongoing catalog of the wildlife for the area. This library will help us gain insight into the distribution and seasonality of the organisms in our region. It will help the scientific community through records of wildlife movements, invasive species, species at risk as well as sharing observations among friends. Visit the website or download the app.
2026 Promotion
See the PDF version of the promotional card.
Messages From The OLA
Missed an email from the OLA? Here are the last 20 e-blasts sent to members.
Lanark County Fire Bans
No open air burning is permitted in Lanark County from April 1st – May 15th each year (subject to change). This includes campfires and burn barrels.
Otty Lake Shoreline Handbook
The Otty Lake Shoreline Handbook provides practical, environmentally friendly information on erosion, shoreline buffers, water sources, septic systems, docks, lawns, and more. Last updated April 2017.
Info on Septic Systems
Some things you should know about septic tanks installed near Otty Lake.