Volume four
The community and lake stewardship society, Friends of Lac des Roches and Birch Lake, is pleased to provide its fourth annual newsletter for the residents and visitors to the area. This year the newsletter is in an on-line condensed format to save costs and time of printing and distribution. Looking back at our publications over the last three years, many of the articles are still very appropriate today and readers are encouraged to have a look a previous volumes posted on our website for; fly fishing suggestions, boating etiquette information and area recycling options, to name a few of the timeless pieces.
Society updates:
Chairman’s message by Barry Reid
After a wonderful winter everyone is now busy with gardening, fishing, hosting visitors, birding, soaking up the ambience, and enjoying our beautiful lakes. We should feel privileged to have such a beautiful “front yard!” Lois and I spent a month in southern California (again) looking after Lois’ Mom, and on our journeys back and forth we were constantly reminded of how fortunate we are to live in an area where people care about their community and work to make it better. How much more we could do if all of us decided to set one “lakeside protection” goal for ourselves and then follow up with some effort to make sure our property is not contributing to environmental degradation. Our personal goal is to replant native vegetation along our riparian zone in an attempt to rehabilitate the area and restore the natural habitat. Could be a challenge because now you can come and check on our progress!
Optimum Land Use Plan Update
Many winter hours were spent researching and developing maps of the area showing key uses and values of the land in the watershed. Our presentation is in its final stages. We are extremely encouraged by a couple of recent events that are indicating that our Land Use Plan has been an extremely useful exercise. Firstly, the TNRD and CRD have worked together successfully to develop a joint Official Community Plan (OCP) proposal for the Green Lake/Watch Lake area, proving that the two Regional Districts can produce a common set of objectives even though their criteria is typically interpreted differently. Secondly, both TNRD and CRD staff have recently indicated they would welcome our input into the Interlakes OCP, particularly since there have been some staffing changes in both districts. Lastly, the provincial government group, Integrated Land Management Bureau, has put out a call to the public to submit feedback on its land use objectives for our area which include many of the key values that we have already identified. It is so good to know that when we talk about the best use of the land in this watershed, there will willing listeners.
We are a something
On May 4, 2009, our society was officially granted its Certificate of Incorporation. As an entity, the group will potentially exist long after the founding and replacement executive members have retired from their roles. No change in activities is expected as the group has been run under the Society Act since its inception although a more descriptive and stewardship focus has been submitted to the Registrar and is published in our constitution along with our Mission Statement on the website, click here.
Welcome packages
Lorraine Jollymore has been updating our “welcome packages” for new property owners on the lakes. The package is filled with information about the area and what it means to live next to a pristine lake. If you would like a welcome package for yourself, or a new neighbour, contact Lorraine through our email, contactus@lacdesroches.org.
Website improved and faster
Our website has again undergone some major renovations thanks to our neighbour at Bridge Lake, Karl Schmitz, who showed us how to improve the response times on our website and make updates to the dynamic pages. We are very grateful to Karl for his hours of work on our website and his ongoing technical consultation and guidance to our team.
Our team of volunteers
Current Executive members and their availability at the lake:
Barry Reid, Chairman (year-round)
Marie Wallewein, Co-chair, Lake Monitor – Little LdR (year-round)
Bill Jollymore, Media Relations (year-round)
Lorraine Jollymore, Co-media (year-round)
David Woods, Treasurer (part-time)
Al Wallewein, Website, Lake Monitor – Little LdR (year-round)
Gordon Marshall, Membersip, Lake Monitor – LdR (year-round)
Wendy Marshall, Wildlife/Steardship, Lake Monitor – LdR (year-round)
Sharron Woloshyn, Secretary/Publicity, Lake Monitor – Phinetta (year-round)
Lois Motz, Director at large (year-round)
Bev Sinclair, Director at large (part-time)
Heidi Ruegg, Director at large, Lake Monitor – Birch (summer)
Ralph Watson, Director at large, Lake Monitor – Birch (summer)
A direct link
Marie Wallewein, our Co-Chairman is our liaison with Bruce Rattray, Area L Director of the Cariboo Regional District (CRD). This role has the benefit of instant communication between residents and local governing bodies. In the last year, information and knowledge of area events has increased exponentially with the formation of several organized groups and our new CRD director’s website. See more information below under “area updates”.
Membership renewal
Once again, we would like to remind members and other lake users that our annual membership runs from September 1 to August 31. Benefits of membership include voting rights at all meetings and direct receipt of quarterly updates. Your annual dues for a family of $10 are used to fund the administration of the society, mainly our website and involvement with the BC Lake Stewardship Society. Click here to access our membership renewal form on our website.
Backburner projects and their status
- Rest stop signage is on hold since the old map was reinstalled. This project may be resurrected next year if funding is still available from the CRD.
- A map of Lac des Roches, showing sensitive areas and highlighting hazards will be available on our website this year as part of the Optimal Land Use Plan presentation.
- Lake speed reduction request for Little Lac des Roches is waiting on Transport Canada’s action.
- Birch Lake Public Access is off the books at this time as there appears to be no funding for the Provincial Government to develop this. Access to the lake is still through private land at the Birch Lake Fishing Resort on the lake.
- 2004 Crown Land Development Proposal at the east end of Lac des Roches by Integrated Land Management Bureau is still on the books but “set aside”. With several methods of increased information flow, we continue to monitor the potential resurrection of this project.
- Regional District Boundary change to put all of Lac des Roches in the Cariboo Regional District is not an active project at this time but we plan to take this up with the new CRD Board next year.
Community updates:
Lake activity
Lakes
Gordon Marshall reports that lake level is the same as last year at this time. Ice off Little Lac des Roches was May 5 and Lac des Roches was May 10th. Once again all four major lakes in our watershed will be monitored by local volunteers this summer. Lac des Roches, Little Lac des Roches, Birch Lake and Phinetta Lake will have Level 1 testing, which is their temperature, turbidity and pH, recorded and submitted to the BCLake Stewardship Society for ongoing study by the Ministry of Environment. The extra testing, or Level 2 testing, on Lac des Roches which occurred the last 3 years will be repeated on a 5-year cycle if the Ministry has the necessary funding at that time. Results and reports of lake monitoring throughout the province, particularly several lakes in the area, can be an interesting read and can be found on the BCLSS website, www.bclss.org.
Stocking
Gordon obtained the 2009 planned yearling fish stocking information for the 4 lakes.
- Little Lac des Roches – 4,000 one-time (done on May 14)
- Lac des Roches – 100,000 in 3 different stocking events (2 known to have been done)
- Birch Lake – 10,000 in 2 different stocking events
- Phinetta Lake – 8,000 in 2 different stocking events
Creel Reporting
Once again, the Ministry of Environment is asking for catch information for these stocked lakes in order to analyze the appropriateness of the stocking program. Anyone interested in recording their catch data can obtain a creel report form from Gordon through our website. The information is valuable whether the fish is kept or released. For the first time, the biologist has requested fish heads of kept fish from our lakes, in order to analyze brain material which apparently provides a more in-depth history of the fish stocking program. The creel information related to the fish head is essential and to ease the chore of recording this, a large twist tie with noted pertinent catch data can be attached to the head, tossed in the freezer and delivered to Gordon when it is convenient to do so. Your contribution to this initiative is very appreciated!
The Great Outdoors by Wendy Marshall
Loons
The loons have returned and are pairing up on all our local lakes, checking out where to nest for this year. This is a good time to remind boaters: kayaks, canoes, and powered boats to leave a distance between themselves and the loons – particularly in May and June, when one of the pair is incubating eggs. Approaching too closely will force the adult off the nest, instinctively looking after themselves first. Exposed eggs are very vulnerable to prey, including deer, gulls, herons, coyotes, fox and yes, your pets, especially dogs. Both the wake from power boats and natural wave action from a storm, will literally wash the eggs off the lake platform nest, which is located at lake level. Last year, on Lac Des Roches, 2 of 9 pairs of loons, produced 4 chicks, who all survived till fall. On Little Lac Des Roches, 1 pair raised two chicks successfully till migration. These results are reported to the Canadian Lakes Loon Surveys, a department of Bird Studies Canada, every year online at www.bsc-eoc.org.
Birds
Also in the birding world, many of our songbirds are returning – some just passing through, others finding suitable nesting habitat. The BC Breeding Bird Atlassing project is entering year 2 of 5. The object of this survey is to record the highest possible evidence of breeding, e.g.: adults observed entering nest site indicating occupied nest, adults carrying food for young, nest containing eggs, and finally the highest level is a nest with young seen or heard. If you observe any of the above, please call Wendy at 250-593-2327. If you are interested, the website to go to is www.birdatlas.bc.ca. The 2, 10km squares that cover all of Lac Des Roches are 10FC60 and 10FC70. Last years’ results can be found there now.
Gardens
Following our late spring, gardens are most demanding! Most years, we can get at perennial beds in April, not this year. Everything needs doing NOW!!! Especially this spring, the old rule of not transplanting annuals until the long May weekend, is so very true. Personally, I’ll wait till the 24th as “May Day” is earlier than usual this year.
Birch Lake bites by Heidi Ruegg
Ice off was May 10th this year. We were here at the lake May 1, 2, and 3 and it was still pretty solidly frozen then. This year’s best guess for ice off was Ralph Watson, guessing the 10th with Karen Roy a close second, guessing the 11th.
Some nice fish have come out of the lake these first weeks; several 5+ pounders from fishers staying at the fish camp. Kurt Roy caught an 8 pound Rainbow but that became overshadowed by local resident, Raymond Rousselle, when he caught a 9 1/2 pounder. We are expected to receive 10,000 fingerlings in two stockings by Fish and Wildlife this summer, but no word on exactly when that will happen.
Birch Lake Fishing Resort is up and running and in full swing already, with several weekends totally booked already.
We have had two cabins on the lake sell in the last year and we would like to welcome our new neighbors, Phil and Jane and Greg and Marion.
Already spotted on the lake; at least 2 pair of Loons and a Golden Eagle.
We are all hoping for a great summer season with great weather for great fishing and birding.
Information overload
In addition to the community correspondence column for the Lac des Roches area which is published every two weeks in the 100 Mile Free Press, and reproduced on their website, community information about the area is also published regularly in the monthly newsletter produced in our neighbouring community to the south, the Little Fort Squawk, with the by line “What’s Up Over the Hill?”. The Squawk can be picked up in hard copy at several business locations in Little Fort and can be subscribed to vial email, squawk@xplornet.com.
Area Updates:
Property Tax increase is significant
With the passing of the fire department referendum in 2008, an increase in property taxes on some properties is significant. On the radar screen is a possible future referendum which would see property taxes increased to fund a proposed Aquatic Center servicing the 100 Mile House area.
Area development radar screen
Other than the new 43-lot subdivision approved at Muddy lake, at the headwaters of Little Lac des Roches but barely visible from Highway 24, there is little new development in the area. New construction and major renovations are evident on existing privately-owned lots, but no rezoning or land use changes are on the radar screen in the immediate area. At the beginning of his 3 year term in office, Bruce Rattray put together a team of volunteers to sit on the Area L Advisory Planning Commission (APC). The APC reviews all applications involving land use that are submitted to the CRD and provides a recommendation to the CRD to consider the application or not, and why. Most of the members have been on the committee for many years, but a few new members bringing geographical diversification and new perspective to the process have been accepted by the CRD Board. Representing the Lac des Roches watershed is Sharron Woloshyn, full-time resident at LdR.
New public information sessions
About the time our new Area Director, Bruce Rattray was elected, the Cariboo Regional District had just changed its process to include public information sessions for any “major” rezoning projects in the area. Although still a challenge for absent land owners, this is one more opportunity for residents to be informed of pending changes to land use. One citizen pointed out that while property owners have a right to be informed; they also have a responsibility to keep informed. With that objective in mind, Bruce Rattray has created a very informative website full of information and links to information in the entire Cariboo Regional District. Bruce also emails a frequent newsletter with up-to-the-minute board meeting information. Residents are strongly urged to add Bruce’s website you your favourites, and include your email address on his newsletter distribution.
General Interest Shorts:
Don’t fence me in
A reminder that since we live in old ranching territory, there are many abandoned fences and the hazards that accompany them local residents should be aware of. Abandoned page wire, barbed wire and rail wire seems to be everywhere and poses a serious hazard to wildlife, pets and humans. If you encounter these hazards while landscaping or walking the land, please do your best to remove the hazard or at least mitigate the harm it may do to others.
Garbage in … garbage out
What do the following have in common; tires, plastic drink bottles, cigarette butts, plastic bags and kid’s toys have in common? They have all been found floating on the lake since the ice went off in early May. The increased volume of garbage in the lake is partly due to high spring water dislodging junk from the shoreline, but it shouldn’t be there either. We know that the wind is often the culprit, picking up loose articles from backyards and boats and depositing them into the lake. We hope that everyone will do their best to keep garbage out of the lake, and if you do come across an out of place item, do your best to retrieve it and dispose of it properly. Thanks for your part in keeping hazards out of the water and our lakes pristine!
Buy vinegar in bulk
Executive members were discussing environmentally safe ways to remove weeds recently and it seems that everyone agrees that vinegar works just as well as any weed killer they have tried in the past, whether it was organic or the deadly “Round Up”. Whether you wish to remove weeds from a gravel driveway or from a green lawn, a spritz of full-strength vinegar will kill the plant life it comes in contact with. Apply it on a dry day and reapply as needed. Vinegar is a key ingredient in alternative and environmentally safe household products, particularly for cleaning purposes, so purchasing a large quantity is recommended.
Risky business
Residents are reminded to take no chances when it comes to protecting our valuable lakes. Several resources are available to guide us on the “do’s and don’ts” of living nearby water. In particular, we would like to remind residents and their guest to be cautious of potential fuel and oil spills and seepage into the lake or ground. Everything that spills will end up in someone’s drinking water somewhere. A little research on the Internet provided the following disturbing data. Just 2 cups of gasoline, spilled into a lake, will contaminate over 1 million gallons of water, making it unsafe to drink. It is almost certain that between filling lawn mowers, weed whackers, chainsaws and all terrain vehicles, 2 cups of gasoline has been spilled on the ground in a year in any neighborhood in our area. Granted some will have evaporated, but there is a good chance some has made its way into our lake. Perhaps this statistic will help remind readers that we just can’t be too careful when it comes to protecting our lakes!
Calendar of events 2009
- June 12-14 Watch Lake – BCLSS Annual Convention (FoLdR attending)
- June 13 Friends of Bridge Lake Fishing Derby
- June 19-21 Fathers Day free fishing weekend (free prize)
- July 4 Friends of Bridge Lake Annual General Meeting (AGM), Bridge Lk School 4 – 6 pm
- August 20 Friends of Lac des Roches and Birch Lake AGM, Bridge Lake School 7 pm
Comments?
Newsletter input or comments may be directed to Editor/Writer: Sharron Woloshyn at 250-593-0041.
Published by Friends of Lac des Roches and Birch Lake