Mississippi Lake AssociationAnnual General Meeting

June 1, 2013

Lynn Preston, Centre for Sustainable Watersheds

What is a Lake Plan?

• It is a Strategic Action Plan developed by the lake community to understand and preserve the special character of their lake

What is/is not a Lake Plan?

A Lake Plan is:• Voluntary• Non regulatory• Community building

based on consensus• Based on protecting or

enhancing the health of the lake

• Up to you

A Lake Plan is NOT:• Government driven• Regulatory or Legally

Binding• Mandatory• Telling you what you

can/can’t do on your lake or property

• Up to anyone else

What Does a Lake Plan Usually Address?

• Water quality /aquatic vegetation/ algae blooms

• Shoreline protection, health

• Development pressure, redevelopment, commercial development

• Water levels/flooding

• Impacts of boating

• Invasive species

• Loss of wildlife/habitat

• Engaging and listening to the lake community

• Identifying what you love about your lake specific lake values, issues and impacts

• Inventory of resources and background information

• Develop goals and actions aimed at protecting the health of the lake and its watershed

• Recommend stewardship actions

• Recommend land use policy to guide growth and development

What’s involved in a Lake Plan

What do lake plans often suggest as recommendations?

• Work together more as a community – more and better communication and education

(brochures, workshops, signage)• Undertake Stewardship Initiatives shoreline planting,

habitat rehabilitation, enhancement projects

• Septic maintenance and Re-inspection • Learn more through Monitoring (water quality, invasive

species, etc.)

• Recommendations for Land Use Policy– Official Plan and Zoning By Law policies, Site Plan Control

THE PROCESS IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE

PRODUCT

Steps in the Process

• Determine the need for a Mississippi Lake Plan (as done at our annual meeting in June 2011)• Establish terms of reference, work Plan and organizational structure• Determine values surrounding the lake and issues that threaten them using community survey• Complete research for the “State of the Lake/Watershed” report• Complete a nutrient budget and lake capacity models using Total Phosphorous (TP) as an indicator• Complete the “State of the Lake Watershed” report for reference purposes

Back

grou

nd W

ork

• Establish a “Mississippi Lake Vision”• This will be completed by asking the community what YOU want

• Establish goals and objectives for the Mississippi Lake Plan as well as develop implementation and action strategies.

• Produce the Mississippi Lake Plan • Community will be given an opportunity to review and suggest changes

Plan

Pre

para

tion

• Obtain formal endorsement of the Mississippi Lake Plan from community• Adopt the implementation strategy / action• Implement any needed monitoring strategies• Adopt a formal review schedule of the Lake PlanIm

plem

ent

What Can You Do?

1. TELL US WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU THINK

*Send us your contact information as well as information about anyone you know who uses, lives around or cares about the Mississippi Lake (or ideas on how get the

information).

**Fill out the values surveyIt will tell us what you value about your lake which is a VERY IMPORTANT part of

making this plan.

IT’S TIME TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR LAKE

ARE YOU READY??