Bray Lake Stewardship

Bray Lake is the jewel of the Almaguin Highlands

The Bray Lake Flora, Fauna and Aqua Biota link connects to Bray Lake Flora, Fauna and Aqua Biota. This is a companion web site to Bray Lake Stewardship. It is designed to compliment and extend the Bray Lake Stewardship .

Bray Lake is unique in many respects. Most importantly is the fact that it is fundamentally a closed ecosystem. The lake is regenerated by springs, one small creek and rainfall; there is one small creek outflow to King Lake. Any deterioration of Bray Lake’s water quality would be the result of activities or the negligence of property owners with cottages. As property owners we would only have ourselves to blame. That is why continued vigilance and stewardship is particularly important for Bray Lake. As property owners we have the ability to ensure that the lake quality remains at least as good as it is now. (with references from Eagle Lake Conservation Association at http://www.eaglelakeconservationassociation.com/index.html )

taking self-initiated action at the micro level on their own property to protect the lake water quality. However, Stewardship is not just an individual effort, it is a collaborative effort of stakeholders at the macro level that requires a willingness to work as partners to ensure the environmental health of Bray Lake by steering grassroots lake planning and implementation at the Machar Township level in the Official Plan.

As Bray Lake Stewards:

· We value the health of the Bray Lake’s ecosystem as essential to the health of our small community

· We value this ecosystem as a rare and irreplaceable gift.

· We value the privilege and responsibility of stewardship for this ecosystem.

· As temporary guardians, we value this ecosystem as a common good to be sustained for future generations.

Our MISSION is to

"help protect, enhance and enjoy Bray Lake's natural resources (the lake, the wetlands, forests, fish, wildlife etc.) for the benefit of current and future generations!"

Who and What is Bray Lake Stewardship (BLS):

Bray Lake Stewardship is not a formal group or association since Bray Lake property owners have all learned their lesson from the problematic Bray Lake Cottage Association (BLCA) that would best be described as a deeply vacuous once a year social group that collects annual dues to be invested in an annuity.

Bray Lake Stewardship has:

- No President, 'Grand Pupa', Secretary, Treasurer or Directors -

- No family “fun” days

- No shallow annual meetings "Would someone second that motion?"

Bray Lake Stewardship was created to be a dynamic on-line educational and information exchange medium where Bray Lake property owners or for that matter anyone can access and share ideas by bring their own issues and research to the table. This blog will be useful to all Bray Lake stakeholders who are interested in learning about, protecting and preserving Bray Lake’s health and sustainability as a unique and valuable ecosystem.

Please note that we are publishing excepts from the Township of Machar's new “Official Plan”, recently passed on December 3, 2012 as By-law No. 43-12. This new "Official Plan" classifies specific shoreline areas of Bray Lake as Type 1 Fish Habitat as being Critical Habitats that are highly sensitive to development. (Shown in map following) These classifications will have development implications for shoreline property owners adjacent to these classifications.

For those interested in the more traditional Cottage Association, we recommend an 'Associate Membership' in the Eagle Lake Conservation Association (ELCA). As an 'Associate Member' of the ELCA, you would have all the rights of membership except the right to vote and to serve on the Board of Directors. The Eagle Lake Cottage Association understands that a pro-active lake stewardship program is necessary "to ensure that the lake quality remains at least as good as it is now". It is a professionally run and organized cottage association that makes their interests and views known to all municipal and other governmental authorities and each other, for the mutual benefits of the community. Because both Bray Lake and Eagle Lake located in the Township of Machar are very similar in that both have closed ecosystems, generally Eagle Lake property owners would have the same interests and desires that Bray Lake property owners would have related to flora fauna, aqua biota, taxation at all levels, Township by-laws, Official Plan etc. In other words 'what is good for Eagle Lake is good for Bray Lake'

Other Associations of merit:

• FOCA Federation of Ontario Cottagers' Associations - FOCA is a non-profit, voluntary organization serving as an information centre and providing assistance and leadership to fellow cottagers. Bray Lake Stewardship highly recommends the purchase of Take the Plunge - A Guide to Stewardship of Ontario's Waters. This book is available from FOCA and has been updated from the original (1998) Take the Plunge resource book and now includes new topics such as green cottage design, air, light and noise pollution, and new information about today's waterfront issues and solutions.

• WRAFT Waterfront Ratepayers After Fair Taxation - A coalition of concerned waterfront associations in Ontario. Their mission is to achieve equity in waterfront property taxation. They work on our behalf to halt any unfair shift of tax onto the waterfront, find ways to mitigate rising property taxes, and fight for reform in the way property taxes are allocated. The Federation of Ontario Cottagers' Associations, (FOCA) and the Waterfront Ratepayers After Fair Taxation (WRAFT) recently announced the merger of their efforts to fight for fair property taxation for Ontario's residential property owners. At FOCA's 47th Annual General Meeting held March 5, 2011 in Toronto, the two organizations formally announced their amalgamation, and their on-going commitment to hold the Province of Ontario accountable for the fair treatment of Ontario's homeowners.

• SNO Stewardship Network of Ontario - The Stewardship Network of Ontario (SNO) is a collaborative of non-government and government stewardship organizations. We work together to increase the capacity of stewardship agencies to contribute to biodiversity conservation and environmental health. .

TOWNSHIP OF MACHAR NEW OFFICIAL PLAN Enacted December 3, 2012 By-law No. 43-12

Sections specific to Bray Lake:

1.) B4.11 BRAY LAKE

(a) B4.11.1

Monitoring by the Ministry of the Environment indicates that the phosphorus level on Bray Lake is 13.2 mg./m3.. In order to limit the lake’s further water quality deterioration, new development shall not raise the phosphorus level on Bray Lake over the life of this Plan by more than 50% above its natural level. The creation of new lots shall be supported by lake capacity modeling in accordance with the guidelines of the Ministry of the Environment.

(b) B4.11.2

Before building permits are issued, Hydro One should be consulted with respect to high water levels. This figure may be increased or decreased in consultation with the Ministry of Natural Resources without an Official Plan Amendment, but a minor variance to the Zoning By-law will be required.

Note for EAGLE LAKE

B.4.9.1

No new lots for residential use shall be created in the Shoreline designation surrounding both basins of Eagle Lake, unless the creation of the lot was allowed by the passage of a By-law prior to the date of the adoption of the Official Plan by Council or in accordance with Section B5.10.

(c) Type 1 Fish Habitat designations around Bray Lake Reference Schedule “B” Natural Heritage System

Machar Township’s NEW Official Plan as it relates to newly designated Type 1 Fish Habitat

The Township of Machar enacted By-law No. 43-12 on December 3, 2012 to adopt a new Official Plan for the Township of Machar under Section 17(22) of the Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990, c.P.13, as amended, The Plan establishes policies that highlight the sensitive nature of the Shoreline Areas for Bray Lake to ensure that development in those areas will not be detrimental.

The sensitive shoreline areas shown on the attached map of Bray Lake are classified as Type 1 Fish Habitat aka Critical Habitats are highly sensitive to development. Typically these areas have high productive capacity, are rare, highly sensitive to development, or have a critical role in sustaining fisheries i.e. spawning and nursery areas. Bray Lake property owners know these areas as being very shallow, swampy and not suitable for development. The balance of Bray Lake’s shoreline would be classified as being Type 2 Habitat aka Important Habitats moderately sensitive to development and, although important to the fish population, are not considered critical for the foresaid reasons.

The new Type 1 Fish Habitat aka Critical Habitats classifications will have development implications for shoreline property owners adjacent to these classifications because fish habitat can directly and indirectly affect aquatic biodiversity through processes such as sediment and nutrient runoff and the removal of aquatic and/or terrestrial biota. Shoreline development, particularly on residential lots may lead to shoreline alterations, installation of docks and intensive uses that could cause incremental loss of fish habitat. The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) and the Federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) have strict protocols dealing with docking and shoreline development adjacent to Fish Habitat.

South River Water Management Plan (WMP) has finally received approval in August 2012. ( http://publicdocs.mnr.gov.on.ca/View.asp?Document_ID=24110&Attachment_ID-48787 )

The approval period is for 10 years from August 2012 to August 2022.

The South River Water Management Plan was undertaken in 2003 by the MOE and OPG "to provide certainty and clarity as to how waterpower facilities (on the South River water system) are operated with respect to flows and levels during normal conditions while balancing environmental, social and economic objectives".

The approved WMP is a comprehensive report outlining a preferred management option for each structure that supports sustainable development of water resources for waterpower and other uses, while protecting and enhancing natural ecosystem". This WMP is important to Bray Lake property owners because Bray Lake is part of the South River watershed; this watershed is used to generate hydro electric power by OPG and thus water levels on Bray Lake are controlled by OPG through the dam's water control structure. The approved WMP was "produced in accordance with MNR's Water Management Planning Guidelines for Waterpower (May 2002)".

Bray Lake water level ranges: Measured in Meters Above Sea Level (masl)

Minimum Summer Level (m) 347.75 masl
Maximum Upper Limit (m) 349.22 masl (which is the spill over the weir at crest elevation)
Minimum Lower Limit (m) October 15 to May 14 347.20 masl
Minimum Lower Limit (m) May 15 to October 14 347.75 masl

The important water level range for cottagers is the narrow operating band during cottage season.

from May 15 to October 14 348.75 to 349.15 masl --- a 40 cm band (15.75 inches)
this operating band is only a "voluntary agreement and not a legal agreement" and referred to as "reasonable best practice"

It is a little known fact that the Bray Lake Dam when reconstructed in the fall of 1986 the spillway was built one foot (0.3048 m)higher than than the approved drawings due to a construction error. As a result, the crest elevation is 349.22 masl. This fact will be included in the blog section for discussion.

Note: the terminology "reasonable best practice" band has been adapted in the WMP because "there will be occasions when due to natural or unforeseen events the elevation may spike above or below the Operating Range, but still fall within the high and low water indicators".

Bray lake is not used to generate hydro electric power during the May 15th to October 15th cottage season.
Bray Lake has a reservoir area of 3.66 sq. km i.e.1.41 sq miles or 902.4 acres. The drainage area is relatively small at 13.99 sq. km.
The Bray lake spillway at 7-m across has a crest elevation of 349.22 masl.
Option C (following) was selected as the best because it "reflects the social value of the lake to adjacent landowners and those who utilize the lake for recreational purposes.

With reference from South River System --- Approved Water Management Plan , August 2012,

Sunday, December 9, 2012

What does it mean "Monitoring by the Ministry of the Environment indicates that the phosphorus level on Bray Lake is 13.2 mg./m3" ????

From Machar's New Official Plan

"B4.11 BRAY LAKE

(a) B4.11.1

"13.2 mg./m3" converts to 0.01 milligrams per liter (mg/L)

While there are here different kinds of phosphates in the water, a total phosphate-phosphorous reading is all that is needed to calculate the water quality. Typically " 0.01 to 0.03 mg/L - is the level in uncontaminated lakes" (Ref Water Research Center Phosphates in the Environment)

I have had water samples from around Bray Lake checked for total phosphorous over the years and have never had results reported > 0.01 mg/L.

Phosphates enter waterways from human and animal waste, phosphorus rich bedrock, laundry, cleaning, industrial effluents, and fertilizer runoff. On Bray Lake the biggest source would be from septic systems; the next being from fertilizer run-off. Peer review should be sufficient to change the habits of the lugans fertilizing their lawns and property owner vigilance and if necessary independent testing will keep septic tanks in check.

These phosphates become detrimental when they over fertilize aquatic plants and cause stepped up eutrophication, Eutrophication is the natural aging process that we see in the back water bays in and around Bray Lake. This process results from the increase of nutrients within the body of water which, in turn, create plant growth. The plants die more quickly than they can be decomposed. This dead plant matter builds up and together with sediment entering the water, fills in the bed of the bay or lake with floating islands of bio-mass making it more shallow.

Bray Lake does not have a phosphate issue or any indication of accelerated eutrophication issue(s) in fact the back water area now classified as Type 1 Fish Habitat aka Critical Habitats that are highly sensitive to development because they have a critical role in sustaining fisheries i.e. spawning and nursery areas.

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