I don’t think I have ever been as excited to get back to the lake as I am this year.
For me this Covid winter seems to have dragged on longer and been more disruptive than last and I am so looking forward to gathering with friends and extended family out of doors, meeting new friends, and enjoying the peace and tranquility that our beautiful lakes provide for us.
One thing that has been reinforced for me over the past two years is the power of community. It has been amazing to see people looking out for others best interests, taking care of each other and making personal sacrifices for the benefit of society as a whole. That is one thing that I so love about our Weslemkoon community; from helping each other find lost pets and docks, to working together to assist wildlife in distress, to sharing stories of our time at the lake, our community is truly special. The LWCA recognizes that community is key and we are planning events and activities to engage all members of our lake community.
An issue that is close to our hearts at the LWCA is the role that climate change is playing on our lake environment and the impacts that it will have on our cottage experience. Our lake habitat is experiencing stresses due to climate change, and it is up to us to do our very best to reduce carbon emissions, both at the lake and at home, in order to help avert the worst case scenario. We will continue to pay close attention to this issue and do our best to keep you informed. We encourage you to stay on top of municipal, provincial and federal agenda items that impact climate change and consider climate change platforms when voting in the upcoming elections.
Historically our seasonal cottage visits were restricted to the months of July and August, but over the years we have extended our summer cottage season to April to November, and many of us also visit the
lakes during the winter. This is great for us as the lakes provides much needed downtime from the urban areas along with all the mental health benefits that come from being surrounded by nature. However this extended cottage season increases our impact on the lake environment, from added light and noise pollution to increased chances of invasive species introduction. Luckily there is a lot of information available for us on best cottaging practices. I hope that you received your copy of the Watersheds Canada Lake Workbook; A Self Assessment Tool for Property Owners from us last summer. The workbook will help you assess how well you are protecting your property and your lakefront through everyday actions and provides practical information, recommendations, and space for recording improvements to assist you in your lake protection efforts. If you have not yet received your copy please contact us info@weslemkoon.com and we will drop oneoff at your cottage for you.
One fabulous way to increase your knowledge of the issues impacting our lake habitat is by getting involved with the LWCA, either as a board member, a committee member, or a general volunteer. Another is to follow us on Facebook, and join our social media groups as we regularly post important information about environmental issues that affect our lake habitat.
Whether you are a full time resident, camper, fisher person or cottager we all have the health of the lake in common. We are so privileged to have this piece of paradise at our fingertips, and the wonderful community to be a part of; let’s work together to ensure that both remain healthy. Please stay informed, get involved, talk to your neighbours and remind them to join the LWCA if they are not members already.
I really look forward to seeing you on the lake this summer, and hope that everyone who was unable to visit the lake last summer is able to make a return to our piece of paradise.
Melissa