by Lori Thompson
SANDFIELD—The Lake Manitou Area Association held its annual general meeting on Saturday, July 12 at the Sandfield Community Hall. Mike Costigan Sr., president, welcomed everyone and introduced the head table. Upcoming events were announced and minutes from the 2013 AGM were approved.
Paul Moffatt gave an update on Manitoulin Streams. “There are three employees at the back (of the room) that are engaged in invasive species, both vegetative and animal type,” he began. “I’m sure they have a lot of great information for you. They’re travelling all over the Manitoulin, all summer long, visiting campgrounds and summer events. Sue Meert is here from Manitoulin Streams. She does a lot of our outreach. Last summer was a busy and successful year.”
“This year we have one large project just north of the bridge on the Mindemoya River,” Mr. Moffat continued. “It will be starting next month and will have quite a large reach. There’s a lot of erosion. Last year we did a major one at the mouth of the Mindemoya River. There’s a fishing platform going in that will be available to everyone. You can fish right off the platform, even if you’re in a wheelchair. It’s easy to cast out from there. There will also be a viewing platform provided by Manitoulin Streams in conjunction with Central Manitoulin. There’s a lot of smaller projects going on also that will be advertised and we’ll be grateful for any volunteers.” He encouraged members to view a chart at the back of the room that showed the results of electrofishing on Norton’s Creek.
Treasurer Don Payne presented the financial statement. “As far as the books are concerned the LMAA recently audited my numbers,” he said. Marlene Dewar and Betty Heis reviewed the statement. “You come every year and nurse me through an audit,” he said, thanking them. There was a net operating surplus for the year. “Last year there was a deficit, this year a surplus,” Mr. Payne said. “Some years you spend more, some less.”
Michael R. Costigan was unable to attend but in a letter urged members to “keep the cards and letters and pictures coming because there wouldn’t be a newsletter without the members’ input.”
Dave Anderson presented a report from the education committee. “Last year in August, Calvin Crispo spoke about invasive species in Lake Manitou and how they change the ecosystem,” he said. “This year he will be providing an update with more on what’s happening on Lake Manitou but also the whole Island. Last year we heard from Paul Methner about MNR’s stocking program and the health of the lake and he’ll be providing an update again this year. Thirdly, we’ll have a speaker who is an author. She’ll speak to us on this thing called lyme disease. It’s actually a very, very timely subject. We don’t deal with lyme disease much on Manitoulin Island, but its starting to spread in southern Ontario. It’s prevalent in the US and there are hotspots across Canada.” This year’s information meeting will be August 12 at the Sandfield Schoolhouse.
Mr. Costigan made a special announcement. “The membership fee will remain at $20 again this year,” he said. “That’s 21 years at $20. Compared to similar associations you guys are getting a great deal. That’s because our executive manages our dollars well and spends little money. In all these years, we’ve had members out in the boat doing water quality readings, setting or maintaining buoys and markets, and I’ve never received a gas bill. Paul Moffatt has been out there for 20 years and never sent in a bill. Timberlane Lodge looks after markers in the channel and has for many years. Our secretary keeps us on the straight and narrow. The education committee sells maps, hats, flags, and our Lake Manitou Tidbits book. That’s just a brief synopsis of some members and what we do. Let’s keep our lakes great. Please encourage your neighbours to become members so we can do another 20 years. I don’t want to forget to thank our set up crew, Janet Bessley and her family, the ladies in the kitchen. Manitoulin Streams, thank you. That’s all I have to say.
Sandfield resident Peter Hutchinson brought up his concerns about water levels. “This summer I have a few concerns I would like to address,” he said. “It has to do with high water levels on Lake Manitou. The Manitou River is high in the spring and low this time of year. The MNR has an overall plan—they’re supposed to control the overall levels. Over the last two years every sluiceway is open March, April, May and then in June they drop every log. Last year the water dropped 26 inches in one week. This year it was 20 inches. Now we’ve had a little rain so there’s a little flow over the logs. The only way water comes into the river is through the logs. The river used to be a stream, home to rainbow and speckled trout, kids played in it. Now with the erosion due to high water, all the limestone rocks have just about fallen into the lake”
Mr. Hutchinson’s aunt passed away last December and looking at her photo albums got him thinking about this subject. He continued, “In 1960 the dam was built. There are many old pictures. You will see at the cement pier, the water is down one to two feet. So the water in Lake Manitou is high. Look at the river, the erosion in the river. Go down to Case’s bridge. There’s a half-inch of water going over the rocks. In White Lake there’s two inches of silt. In five years time it will be grown over.”
Mr. Hutchinson has contacted the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) but isn’t happy with the lack of feedback he’s received. “I’m concerned about the water, about erosion,” he said, “and would like a little support. The MNR has a document one-and-a-half inches thick on controlling water in Lake Manitou, but there’s nothing for the river. I would like a letter to the MNR that we have concerns.”
Another Sandfield resident, Brenda Edington, agreed. “I for one have spent a lot of time in the lake and the river,” she said. “I can tell you something is not right—I can’t tell you what it is but it’s not right.”
“A quarter-inch difference in Lake Manitou means a huge difference in the river,” Mr. Hutchinson added. He has received verbal statistics from MNR but they’ve told him “everything is okay, nothing has changed in 60 years.” He asked for support from LMAA. “It’s not a war, let’s get to the bottom of this. The island is completely gone in spring. It’s feast or famine.”
Mr. Costigan said the association would have a discussion on it and continued on the topic of fracking. “Does anyone have any feelings on fracking? You can tell how I feel by the way I worded the question.” He referred to ‘What the frig is fracking?,’ an article in LMAA’s June 2014 newsletter.
Mr. Anderson explained fracking for those who were unfamiliar with the practice. “In simple terms, fracking is deep drilling using high pressure to crack apart rocks and harvest gas or fuel down there,” he said. “The problem is that water is basically polluted then. It’s no longer usable.”
Ms. Edington added, “I have friends down in Arizona and fracking is practiced there. Initially everyone thought it was great. What happens is they use chemicals to open up the earth or rock and that allows a travelway for the chemicals to now leach into a neighbourhood up to three or four miles away. It’s very serious,” she said.
The practice of fracking affects water tables and wells, Mr. Costigan explained. Members agreed the LMAA should have a strong opinion on fracking.
The LMAA website was completed last year. Members were asked to keep the photos and stories coming to help maintain contact throughout the year.
The final item discussed was the McLay Subdivision. “One and a half years ago the MNR and LMAA made a stand on the development of the McLay subdivision,” Mr. Costigan said. “It’s been in limbo the last few months because of planning changes on Manitoulin Island. There may be some quiet negotiating between the Ministry and McLay but that’s all I can tell you.”
Ms. Edington asked about the involvement of the association in a decision like that. “What is the protocol?” she asked. “I own waterfront property. I contacted the Planning Board and Central Manitoulin about land use and they can’t give me an answer. My understanding is there’s a moratorium on building. I’d like to know, as a member, how this came about.”
Mr. Costigan answered that, “the Planning Board has been in discussions for a couple of years. It was brought out as a concern about oxygen levels and lake trout populations. We only had an opinion on that subject based on the science. What I understand is there’s still 150 lots that can be developed. The Official Plan is still not finalized, so you’re probably in a state of limbo.”
Ms. Edington stated that the planning board had indicated that LMAA had put a hold on it (new development).
Mr. Costigan disagreed that LMAA had that influence but said, “we don’t want overdevelopment. You put 500 more cottages on Lake Manitou and you have a cesspool. We have an opinion on it, that’s all.”
Ms. Edington recommended the association “look into septic systems as well. I’ve been to the health department. A subdivision may cause problems but older septic systems cause more.”
“Over the years we have been educating people,” said Mr. Costigan, “for instance, to put in steel tanks. In some areas of the province they have done inspections. We posted the question to the health department. They thought it was a good idea but it costs money. We were involved in a couple cases where people had called me and it was looked after. They don’t seem in favour of inspecting every septic system.”
One member stated, “you’re supposed to pump the tank every two years and a lot of people don’t.” Several members agreed that it would be impossible for the health unit to inspect every septic system on the lake. It would take several years and require more staff. However, they could be called if there was a specific problem and they would investigate. People were urged to talk to their neighbours about maintaining and upgrading their septic systems.
“We built 30 years ago on Lake Manitou, at the north end,” a member said. “At that time you could drink the water. The last survey said it wasn’t fit to drink because of E. coli. You can’t drink the water. I think it’s becoming obvious. We’re all going to have to worry about the quality of the water now, not in the future.”
Paul Moffatt was acclaimed as the new vice-president. The six available director positions were filled by Michael R. Costigan, Jim Booth, Steve Mann, Bruce Fraser, John Coulter and Mike Thompson.
Door prizes donated by Jerry Zelle and the LMAA were drawn and the meeting was adjourned.
