Patterson Lake Workshop on Lake Management

Interested lake residents met at Watson’s Corners June 13 to discuss the
key issues and possible focus for the Lake Management Plan. After a
brief introduction, which showed examples of what is in a typical
plan, the group divided into tables for discussion. Sixteen residents
were present for the discussions. The list below is a compilation of
all of the contributions. Each participant was given six stickers to
place on results charts produced by each table. ( participants were
allowed to use them all on one issue, or spread them around several
issues depending on their level of interest) This discussion has gone
a long way to confirm the consensus issues and will likely be
reflected in the chapter structure of the Lake Management Plan. A
discussion about what specific actions will be contained in the
management plan will take place in September at the Annual General
meeting – another chance for all to provide input and direction
to those who are working on the plan.

Summary of Issues (with each vote of interest shown by a *)

We have tried to cluster similar issues together. Note that there is some
overlap among some of these issues – for example many of the
other issues impact the natural environment and enforcement and
compliance can apply to most of the issue areas: in the next stage we
will try to make logical sense of these.

1. Lake
   level (management of a stable level which controls extremes and
   respects the interests of all). *******************

2. Sustaining
   the natural environment of the lake (including flora and fauna
   protection and management of invasive species like Eurasian milfoil
   , also control facilities for weeds and invasive
   species at entry points) **************

3. Maintenance
   of natural areas (existing protected areas, naturalization of
   shorelines, buffers watershed protection (including
   logging)) ****

4. Water
   quality ******

5. Maintenance
   of fish stocks

6. Shore
   zone protection (naturalization, zoning, erosion, enforcement of
   bylaws regarding alteration and setbacks) ******

7. Enforcement
   and compliance (building, shore zone, environmental regulations,
   adequacy of laws and regulations) ******** (plus ***** also listed
   under shore zone protection above)

8. Boating
   behaviour (wake impact, noise, safety, speeding, unsuitable size or
   use, influencing boaters) ************

9. Building
   density and level of development *******

10. Natural
    hazards – marking and removal of logs, obstructions to
    navigation

For those who wish to see a good example of a completed
Lake Management Plan which deals with issues very similar to those
for Patterson Lake please see the Otty Lake website at
http://www.ottylakeassociation.ca/
and look at the LMP section. Or you can browse those
other examples listed in the LMP section of the Patterson Lake
website.