2025 Civic Holiday Weekend edition - AGM prep!

Aug 1

Written By Blackstone Lake Cottagers Association

This issue:

Annual General meeting - August 16. Pre-reading and information
Hydro Corridor news
2025 Bugs - yes it is a big deer fly year, but ticks too!
invasive species - Phragmites and Pondweed
Reminder of key dates
- August 10 - GBBR Paddle & Social -still some spots left!
- August 16 - Annual General Meeting
- August 19 - Phragmites volunteer team
- August 26 - TOA Zoning By-Law Review Open House

This issue includes links to Annual General Meeting materials plus various updates we can discuss further at the AGM. A key benefit of our GBA membership is learning of issues earlier and having access to their political clout and resources. If we have a concern on Blackstone, there has already probably been some work done on it by the GBA. That said it also represents 2/3 of our fee and is subject to review.

Another issue some members have asked us to review is the tax assessed to ratepayers for fire response. That contract comes up in 2027. The first issue is a member decision, the second likely needing a ratepayer referendum or survey.

But for now, HAVE A GREAT, SAFE long weekend!

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

An online 2025 dues payment and membership application can be found on our website. Electronic contactless payment of annual dues very much appreciated. E-transfer $100.00 to blackstone.lake115@gmail.com. Your dues must be paid to have a legal vote at the AGM or other member meetings.

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE MEMBERS AND SUBSCRIBERS OF

BLACKSTONE LAKE COTTAGERS ASSOCIATION

Saturday, August 16 at 10:00 am (Blackstone time) at Myrtle Island

9:30 – 9:55 a.m. – Registration

10:00 – 11:45 a.m. – 2025 AGM

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the annual general meeting (the “2025 AGM”) of members and subscribers of the Blackstone Lake Cottagers Assoication (the “BLCA”) will be held at 10:00 a.m. August 16, 2025.

We welcome all expressions of volunteer interest and need to build out our board roster. If you would like to get more involved, please reach out by email to blackstonelakeca@gmail.com by August 8th.

Thank you to Kevin McCarthy for again agreeing to host.

Barrie to Sudbury Transmission line corridor expansion plans

The Ontario Government is proposing actions to facilitate the development of a critical transmission project to alleviate bottlenecks in the electricity system and support economic growth and electrification in Northern Ontario and the GTA. The corridor as stated in the proposal, is 290km linking additional transmission lines also planned with future developments.

https://ero.ontario.ca/index.php/notice/025-0656?utm_source=chatgpt.com#proposal-details

It will use the existing corridor and existing transmission lines. They will add two more 500KV lines almost doubling the width of the corridor. This would imply a loss of over 10,000 trees and affect the nature of Crane and especially Blackstone Lake.

With either, or both Bill B5 and C5 soon in place, environmental approval may not be required as it’s “Fast Tracked” for economic development. It’s estimated to take 7 years to complete and begin ASAP.

There are many concerns as well as the environment. The BLCA will submit a detailed response and positive alternative plan before the deadline for comments that appear in the proposal. Also, anyone can add their comments as outlined in the proposal, however the deadline is Aug 16, 2025.

Andy Metelka

Other Legal Stuff to know about:

Township Zoning Bylaw consultation - August 26. You can learn more here.

New Boat Licensing requirement if your motor is greater than 10 horsepower. You can learn more here.

Tick Talk

Blackstone Lake cottagers indicate an abnormal rise in the tick population. The good news, so far, is that this species is not the dreaded Deer Tick that transmits Lyme disease. Pictures identifying each species may help us with future reports on the arrival of the notorious Deer Tick which may follow. Avoid standing still with open sandals and socks. They embed themselves and climb later at night when you are still.

For more information https://etick.ca/f

If you spot a Deer Tick, Please report it to the etick website and also contact the BLCA ASAP so we can begin an awareness program. Also get professional medical attention.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_DNyW-tSZM&ab_channel=AndyMetelka

Invasive Curly-Leaved Pondweed now spotted on Blackstone

On July 15 an alert cottager reported a mysterious water plant appearing close to their dock. Upon further investigation and consultation with Dr. Pat Chow Fraser at McMaster University, it was determined to be Potamogeton Crispus (Curly-Leaved Pondweed.)

Potamogeton crispus, commonly known as curly-leaf pondweed, is a submerged aquatic plant native to Eurasia, Africa, and Australia. It has become an invasive species in various parts of North America, including Ontario, Canada.

Curly-leaf pondweed can grow in depths up to 5–7 meters, especially in waters with higher light penetration. Curly-leaf pondweed has a unique life cycle compared to native pondweeds. It reproduces primarily through turions—hard, burr-like vegetative buds—that form in late spring and early summer. After turion formation, the plant dies back in mid-summer, and the turions remain dormant in the sediment until the following spring. The plant can survive under ice during winter and exhibits rapid growth in spring when water temperatures rise above 10°C

It was sighted as a small patch the previous year, but it now covers approximately 10 x 20 meters with single isolated strands emerging 5 meters from the patch at 3 meter depths.

Its impacts include crowding out other species, potentially decrease oxygen levels and interfering with swimming. This plant is spreading at an exponential rate as we await advice for extraction. It spreads both through its root system and mainly seeds so extraction by removal it normally performed at the beginning of the year after the seeding process. This would imply annual reoccurrence and maintenance. Another method, least evasive, would be to tarp the area and deprive it from sunlight. Extraction manually is not necessarily productive and creates spread since it breaks apart easily including the roots. We hope to decide this prior to the BLCA AGM. The Turions are dormant in the sediment.

This year has produced warmer water earlier than normal therefore we have an abundance of algae growth and other plants as well.

If you spot this invasive plant please contact Andy Metelka BLCA at andymetelka@gmail.com

Here are some links of the movies showing this invasive plant as well as others that are now abundant at the Black Rock and Center Shoals. Please note that the species at center shoal and other locations look similar but the leaves are smaller in length.

July 15, 2025 Curly discovered https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrvK84LrzGA&ab_channel=AndyMetelkaJuly
July 16, 2025 Center Shoal https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfFQUIExWQk&ab_channel=AndyMetelka

Yoga on Blackstone?

We couldn’t get sufficient numbers with such short notice but will try again next year. If interested, classes are available in Parry Sound. I’ve been enjoying weekly sessions - they run an accessible class that is good for stretch and flexibility.

Laurie Young

Phragmites continues to be concern on the bay and our volunteers are tackling an infestation on the road.. More information at AGM.

https://georgianbay.ca/lands-forests/invasive-species/lands-and-forest/

EXPLORE OUR SHORES

Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve offering

EXPLORE OUR SHORES August 10, tentatively 9:00 a.m. to noon with refreshments. Join us for a paddle on Blackstone Lake as we discuss water quality, fish habitat, stewardship opportunities, and more! Meet on the water in front of the Angler’s Inn.

Catch up on the latest from the Georgian Bay Association and the Federation of Ontario Cottagers. Good info on all kinds of topics.

FOCA July e-news

GBA June eUpdate