1. Mississippi Lake AssociationAnnual General Meeting June 1, 2013 Lynn Preston, Centre for Sustainable Watersheds

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. What’s involved in a Lake Plan • 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

6. 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

7. THE PROCESS IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE PRODUCT

8. Steps in the Process

9. What Can You Do?

10. IT’S TIME TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR LAKE ARE YOU READY??