Newsletter June 2012

KAPOA Annual General Meeting: July 21st

Saturday July 21 2012 doors open at 9:30am

Location: Madawaska Mountain Ski Resort

KAPOA AGM provides the “one stop shop” to hear about news and initiatives important to the Kamaniskeg Lake Community.

Is Kamaniskeg Colder Due to OPG Modernization?

When Ontario Power Generation (OPG) modernized the Bark Lake dam, they installed new valves 30 feet down affecting the water temperature. When OPG uses these new valves, the water temperature flowing into Kamaniskeg is 9 or 10 degrees. This immediately impacts the river down stream as it flows into Kamaniskeg. Importantly, it impacts the water temperature at Madawaska Kanu Center (MKC) who offer raft float trips, kayaking and canoe lessons to our community and beyond.

Previously, the dam released water from surface which generally flowed far warmer water down river. When MKC contacted OPG to discuss situation, they were told that valve releases only require one staff member, whereas surface releases require two.

To measure the impact, OPG is looking for volunteers to have temperature gauges installed on their docks this summer. Ideally, both sides of the river should be monitored, from dam to lake, with perhaps a couple additional guages into the lake itself, for baseline comparison. Interested volunteers please contact Dave Wilson (david.wilson.256@gmail.com) for more information.

Quick Overview: 2012 Forestry Update

KAPOA website contains great information about MNR logging plans for areas around Kamaniskeg. An overview of forestry management and details of 2012 plans (including maps) are available at: https://www.kapoa.ca/forestry

Here a quick overview of KAPOAs understanding of 2012 plans.

Ottawa-Valley Forest

The Ottawa-Valley Annual Work Schedule does not show any logging activities adjacent to Kamaniskeg or section of Madawaska south to Palmer Rapids. The plan shows construction of a 4.1km access road from Highway 62 just north of Parcher Ponds away from Kamaniskeg towards Gun Lake. This overlaps with the E109 snowmobile trail and Thomas P Murray Recreational Trails Red Pine Trail and Tom’s Lookout. We have sent an inquiry to the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources to get more information regarding these activities and the impact on the trails.

Bancroft-Minden

The Bancroft-Minden Annual Work Schedule shows harvesting will take place around Bark Lake on Harris Bay (or Potash Lake). Some renewal/tending operations will occur up river from Bark Lake to Madawaska.

Keeping the ‘Family’ in the Family Cottage

FOCA’s popular Cottage Succession Seminar Series is back for 2012! Plan to attend for information about passing the cottage to the next generation. Our feature speaker is Peter Lillico, Estate Planning Lawyer, with over 30 years experience and a special interest in estate and cottage planning. Come and get some expert advice.*

Plan to attend one of the 2 free events within our region:

Deacon: SATURDAY, JULY 21, 2:00-4:00 p.m.,
The Sands, 13163 Hwy. 60 at Deacon
This event is hosted by The Round Lake and Kaszuby Property Owners’ Associations in partnership with FOCA.
More Info: http://www.rlpoa.info/site/images/WebDocs/succession.pdf

Bancroft: SATURDAY, JULY 28th, 10am-12pm
North Hastings Community Centre, Bancroft

To ensure your seat for this very popular session, FOCA encourages you to pre-register by contacting programs@foca.on.ca or 705.749.3622

Do You Hear the Whip-Poor-Will?

Eastern Whip-poor-will calling activity is expected to be increase over the long weekend and next week as there is a full moon on Tuesday July 3rd.

Bird Studies Canada is asking birders, cottagers, and rural landowners across central Ontario to spend a few minutes at twilight (ideally about 30 minutes after sunset or 30 minutes before sunrise on a calm, clear, moonlit night) to listen for whip-poor-wills calling near your home, cottage or lake. If you are fortunate enough to hear the unmistakable call of a whip-poor-will, please report your observation to us using our online reporting form. We want to know the location, date, and number of whip-poor-wills you hear. Information provided will be used by researchers studying the distribution of this threatened species. More information about the Ontario Whip-poor-will Project is available at www.birdscanada.org/research/speciesatrisk/wpwi

To hear the call of an Eastern Whip-poor-will visit http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/whip-poor-will/sounds