forestry and trails reports from director Bruce magee

Hiking Trails

There are 11 wonderful trails off of Otter and Weslemkoon. Most lead to other lakes. Pikes Peak Trail leads to a lovely vista and a tiny cabin that children love to play in. You can see the trail heads on the  Lake Map. They are: 

• Pikes Peak Trail
• Mink Lake Trail
• Little Long Lake Trail
• Mackenzie Lake Trail
• Canoe Lake Trail
• Sleeper/Green Lake Trail
• Shiner Lake Trail
• Little Weslemkoon Lake Trail
• Ashby Lake Trail
• High Dam Lake Trail
• Buck Lake Trail

The LWCA is committed to maintaining our trails.  The goal is to keep our trails in clear and identifiable condition that allows hikers to be closer to nature.  Work on a trail will consist of clearing limbs and foliage around the trail head sign, and on the trail pruning back branches and sectioning dead falls that block the path.  Keeping it simple/natural, marking the start of the path, and clearing the way to make it an easy hike is the motto of our work.

If you’re interested in helping keep our trails clear and would like to participate; get together a minimum of two people to form a trail maintenance team.  Contact Bruce Magee by e-mail bruce.magee@gbb-inc.comor phone (905) 854-2014, or cell (416) 432-3098.  Please have the names of your team members ready/committed to the task, and an anticipated date to do the maintenance, as well as a couple of trail choices (in case your first choice is already signed-up by another party). 

Forestry Harvest

There is no change from last year for the 2018-19 Mazinaw-Lanark Forest Inc. Annual Work Schedule (AWS) of our existing provincial 10-year forest maintenance plan with a harvest of Block 191, (North and South of Trout Lake Rd. north of Otter Lake) and 161 (South of Weslemkoon Lake Rd 2ndblock west of the Lake).  For the completion of the AWS between now and March 31 there may be some continued harvest on block 181 (South of Ashby Lake between Weslemkoon and Hwy 41).  All these cuttings will not encroach minimum set-backs from the Lake. 

If anyone would like to view a pdf of the maps of these areas please feel free to contact me, and I would be happy to e-mail them to you.  My e-mail address is bruce.magee@gbb-inc.com

Where can you order some trees and shrubs for spring planting?

There is a fantastic Tree & Shrub Program provided by the Bancroft Area Stewardship Council (BASC). The program offers low-cost tree and shrub species suitable for naturalizing shorelines and / or bolstering the riparian zone at your cottage. All orders are placed using the BASC online store at www.bascstore.ecwid.com.