Otty Lake Association

Welcome to the Otty Lake Association Website

Partial Open Burn Ban

July 30, 2019. There is a now a partial open air burn ban in effect for Drummond/North Elmsley and Tay Valley Townships. Residents are permitted to have small campfires and burn barrels but fires must be supervised at all times. You are also being asked not to burn on windy days. All other open air burning in DNE and Tay Valley is prohibited until further notice.   

New Board Members Elected
at AGM July 14

There are lots of new faces and responsibilities at the board table! Krista Hearty McLean will take over as President and Kyla Haley will be Vice President. Christine Kilburn continues as Treasurer, Jacquie Mallory as Recording and Board Secretary, and Monika Savage as Communications Sectretary. New directors include Linda Cuthbertson, Kristen Brouse and Kevin Terrion. What a great team!  Thanks to Reid Kiburn, now Past President (pictured here) , for leading the group so admirably the past four years.

July Captain Otty's Log

The July log has been posted. Thanks to everyone for the story and photographic contributions. It is truly a community effort! Your suggestions are always welcome.    

Paddle Power 2019 - Sat. Aug. 17

Meet on the lake between Baxter Lane and Code Island at 10:45 a.m. Rain or shine. Paddlecraft only!

Otty Lake Community Picnic
Sat. Aug. 17, 12 - 3

Yes, the same day as Paddle Power! Come on over to the Maple Glen picnic area/boat launch mmediately following PaddlePower Bring your own food and drink, chairs, blankets, and consider reusable plates and water bottles.  There will be some organized games for everyone to enjoy – feel free to contribute one.    

 

What to Do After a Tick Bite

This quick summary from John Hopkins Lyme Disease Research Centre tells you what you need to know about tick removal, how to recognize the Lyme Disease rash, and how Lyme disease is diagnosed.    

 

Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Depots Open for the Season

Tay Valley residents can access the HHWD in Middleville, 4686 Wolf Grove Road, from the Sat. May 18, 2019 until the Thanksgiving Day Weekend.  The site is available to all residents of Lanark Highlands and Tay Valley Township.  The depot is open during all regular Middleville waste site hours: Monday 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Wednesday 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Saturday  9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. 

 

Drummond North Elmsley residents are entitled to use the HHWD on Patterson Cres. in Carleton Place. It is open Saturday mornings 8 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. from May 18, 2019 until August 31, 2019, and is available to residents of certain Lanark County municipalities. These are Carleton Place, Mississippi Mills, Beckwith, Smiths Falls, Perth, Montague and Drummond North Elmsley ONLY.

 

A Shoreline Owner's Guide to

Healthy Waterfronts

This 28 page guide "offers you background information and advice on ways to make the most of your shoreline property while living in balance with your lake’s fragile ecosystem." There are sections on shorelines, docks, low impact recreation, animal proofing, aquatic plants and lots of other issues every lake front deweller shoudl be aware of.

Ontario Budget and FOCA

Wondering what the new Ontario budget means for lake property owners? See this open letter from Terry Rees, Executive Director of the Federation of Ontario Cottagers' Associations (FOCA). Flood prevention, forest fire fighting, invasive species programs, public health and the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks are a few of the areas facing budget cuts.

Otty Lake Catchment Report

The RVCA produces individual reports for the 14 catchments in the Tay River subwatershed.  These reports are produced every six years using data collected by the RVCA through its programs as well as local information provided by stakeholders.  Otty Lake Association representatives were given the opportunity to review the report before its release.

 

 

RVCA Watershed Conditions

The RVCA issues periodic Watershed Conditions Statements.   You can access these  statements on the RVCA website or sign up to be mailed updates. The April 15 message said in part: "The heavy rainfall on Sunday and Monday, with amounts up to 40 mm, is causing the water levels to increase in all waterways across the Rideau Valley Watershed....This watershed conditions statement is in effect until Thursday April 18, 2019 and will be updated at that time unless the forecast or conditions change."

CWF Blanding's Turtle Survey

The Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) will be surveying for Blanding’s Turtles this May and June. If you have wetlands on your land please consider letting CWF survey it for this threatened species. See David Seburn's letter for details and his contact information.

Order Your Shoreline Plants Now

Wildflowers, trees and shrubs are being offered to Otty Lake residents at prices subsidized by the RVCA and OLA. Trees in one gallon pots are free, shrubs in one gallon pots are $2, and wildflower plugs are $2. Fencing is also being offered to protect them from hungry critters.

Households are limited to a maximum of five wildflowers, and a combination of five trees and shrubs. First come first served, please order soon so we can sure they will be ready.

March 3, 2019: A very limited number of White Spruce, White Birch and Red Oak trees and Nannyberry, Nine Bark, Pussy Willow and Sweet Gale shrubs are still available.

Orders should be placed with Karen Hunt [email protected] (see link to form) or phone her at 613-264-9273.

Residents can pick up and pay for their plants on Sat July 6th, from 9 am to 1 pm on Mile Point Road.

Get the Facts on Radon - April 1st

Elevated radon levels have been found in homes in every region of the country. Long term exposure to radon gas is the second leading cause of lung cancer. The only way to know for sure is to test for radon.

We had a terrific response, with about 90 interested residents attending the evening presentation a the Perth Pool. Thanks to our guest speakers: Manual Husain, Health Canada Regional Radiation Specialist and Bob Wood, Radiation Mitigation Specialist with Mr. Radon, who also provided five free Radonova long term home radon test kits.

Christmas Bird Count

The annual Rideau Ferry Count took place Sat. Dec. 15. Citizen scientists counted as many different species as they could over the day. Volunteers reached a total of 57 species for the whole area, and 27 species for Section 1 which encompasses Otty Lake. Take a look at the list to see which species you have encountered.

 

State of the Lake Report 2018

This is our fifth annual report summarizing the condition of our lake and the environmental activities that have been completed on Otty this summer. Otty Lake is quite healthy, we hope in part due to our combined efforts to protect and enhance the lake environment. Thanks to all who contributed.

 

Loon Observers Needed

June 2018. The 2018 Loon Survey has begun again, and we are eagerly awaiting what we hope to be a loon-baby-filled summer on the lake.  We’re always looking for folks to help provide us with information about loon sightings! If you have information you’d like to contribute, or have questions, please contact Kyla at [email protected].  Information will be compiled onto this google map and will be updated as the year goes on.  Happy loon watching!

 

 

 

Ticks and Lyme Disease:

Know the Bug, Know the Bite, Know What to Do

This presentation by the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit was given to the Lake Networking Group in mid April 2018.

 

 

 

Some Tips and Myths about Lyme Disease

Here are some important tips about Lyme Disease from the Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation, as welll as some common myths. Here's one: Myth: All Lyme victims develop a “bull’s eye” rash. Truth: Although rashes are fairly common, only 30% of Lyme patients report experiencing a rash, and only 9% develop the classic “bull’s eye” rash.

 

Bear Contact Numbers

Emergency: Call 911.

If people, pets or livestock are in immediate danger.

Non Emergency: Call 1-866-514-2327

The Bear Wise reporting line (between April 1 and November 30). A bear passing by, in a tree, breaking into garbage, emptying bird feeders etc.

From Dec 1 to March 31, contact your local MNRF District office. The Kemptville office is (613) 258-8204.

 

 

Black Bears around Otty Lake

Bears Bears are frequently seen in the Otty Lake watershed, and can peacefully coexist with residents.   Educate yourself on their behaviour in case you encounter one.  Bears are attracted to food of any kind, so be careful how you deal with garbage, fruit trees, barbeques and bird feeders. Generally, bears want to avoid humans. Most encounters are not aggressive and attacks are rare.  If you have questions or feel a bear has become a nuisance on your property, contact the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry Bear Wise hotline at 1-866-514-2327. 

 

 

 

 

The Lure of the Lake

Some of the original Otty Lake cottages are mentioned in this newspaper piece by Kay Rogers. It comes from her book 'At Home in Tay Valley,' that celebrates the people, places and events in the history of Tay Valley Township and Lanark County.

 

 

Home and Cottage Security

Protect your property by reviewing these security tips for seasonal and permanent residents:

The Pike Lake Community Association (PLCA) compiled this list of security tips following a meeting of the Lake Networking Group and the OPP earlier this fall.  Thanks to the PLCA for sharing!  

FOCA suggests marking your personal items, recording serial numbers, and making a list of what you have left at the cottage in their Cottage Closing Tips.

 This OPP Security Guard Tip sheet is relevant to seasonal and permanent residents alike.

 

Bass Spawning Video

A pair of small mouth bass spawning on one of the installed spawning beds from the Otty Lake ‎fish and wildlife enhancement project. For additional photos, see our photo gallery.

Find out more about the Fish and Wildlife Enhancement project on the RVCA's Otty Lake web page. 

 

 

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