FOCA held its 61st annual Spring Seminar and AGM on March 1st. Topics ranged from Land Use Planning to being Fire Smart and Tracking Ticks. At the end of March the slides will be made available on the website. The document FOCA 2023 Year in Review was shared - you might want to take a look at it, as it outlines not only what FOCA has done in the past year, but what other cottage associations have been tackling, such as taking part in IsampleON (invasive species monitoring). Also, Terry Rees, indomitable CEO of FOCA for the past 20 years, was celebrated for all of the work that he has done during his tenure. He will be replaced by Lesley Lavender, who hails from Prince Edward County.

Did you know that you are a member of FOCA simply because you are a member of the LWCA? You are! There used to be a universal login and password for members, but now you need to follow this link to get your own individual password. Once you have a login and password you can access member's only resources by going to their website and then signing in with your login and password.

Don’t forget to sign up for the FOCA Elert (monthly e-news) so you will receive helpful information on a variety of cottaging matters (e.g., policy updates, new resources, environmental information). You can sign up and read past Elerts here.

Despite a promising early freeze up in November the lake didn't freeze over until mid January. Between Mother Nature's fluctuating temperatures and untimely snowfalls, and the premature use of bubblers, the ice was unpredictable and heaving up and down. There were only a few short weeks we could travel the outside of the lake. Multiple pressure cracks had the big lake breaking up in February and travel on the lake was done by the first week of March.

We now look forward to an early boating season but also expect a longer, colder start for a few weeks. Hopefully the ice doesn't hang around, floating loose and causing damage. We'll be reaching for bug spray soon enough!

Photo: view from cottage 250

Ever wonder about our fish and what’s happening with them? Here are a few questions posed by Janice to Claire, our Water Quality director. Claire’s background is in Ecosystem Management and Environmental Science.

What do the fish in our lake do in the winter?

As we know, winter brings cold temperatures and ice across Weslemkoon. Despite the stillness of winter, there is still plenty of life beneath the ice. In the summer, freshwater lakes are thermally stratified, meaning there is warmer water towards the surface and cooler water at the bottom. Water is unique in its ability to change densities as its temperature changes. These upper layers and their warm temperatures are less dense than the cooler water below. As temperatures drop, the warmer water at the surface begins to cool which breaks up the density difference between layers. The cool temperatures force the upper warmer layers to push down through the water column. This process is known as lake turnover or seasonal mixing. The seasonal mixing of Weslemkoon is critical to the survival of our fish species over the winter as it distributes oxygen throughout the entire water column.

Fish have several adaptations to survive the winter below the ice. Firstly, the fish found in Weslemkoon are cold-blooded, so their body temperatures are able to match the temperatures in their environment. Cold temperatures lead to a reduction in their metabolism, which in turn slows down activity, digestion and respiration. Fish like Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass tend to congregate in deeper water where the temperatures are warmer, are more lethargic and eat far less than they would in the spring and summer time. On the other hand, Lake Trout are more active than other species throughout the winter. They spend time in all parts of the water column, from just below the surface to the bottom of the lake. Learning how fish behave and adapt throughout the winter months can help you become a better ice fisherman!

What happens as the ice breaks up and the season changes?

As winter turns to spring, the process of lake turnover happens again. Warmer spring temperatures and increased sunlight intensity help to melt the surface ice and warm the upper layers of the lake. The water temperatures below begin to equalize, causing the thermal stratification to break again. Oxygen from the surface mixes with the layers below and nutrients trapped near the bottom are able to distribute throughout the water column. This is often why spring melting of the lake can have a distinct smell as decomposing materials from the bottom of the lake are brought closer to the surface. As temperatures continue to warm, the lake will return to its normal stratification and continue to repeat this process every spring and fall.

How can cottagers and anglers be helpers for fish rather than hinderers?

Responsible boating

· Ensure that you are mindful of the ecosystems you enter with your boat. In shallow waters, propellers can destroy vegetation that fish rely on for food and habitat.

Catch and Release

· This practice aids in the reproduction and growth of fish species. This is particularly important for trophy sized fish.

Safe and Clean Gear

· If you are a travelling angler, ensure your boat and equipment are properly cleaned between lakes to prevent the spread of disease and the introduction of invasive species.

Follow Local Guidelines

· Be sure to follow all recommended guidelines for Zone 18 set out by the Ontario Government. This includes open seasons for fish species and limits for capture. Additionally, anglers should adhere to the Bait Management Zones outlined by the Ontario Government. Weslemkoon is part of the Southern Bait Management Zone which limits the movement, introduction and use of baitfish within our lake. It is illegal to (or attempt to) dispose or release live or dead bait, including fish eggs, or fish parts. Only permitted species outlined by the Ontario Government can be used as bait. These regulations are in place to protect native species and prevent the spread of invasive species.

Photo: Rosette Pineda and her bass, August 2023

In December you were asked to vote on the 4 collages that had been submitted to the Family Photo Challenge last fall. You came through and voted overwhelmingly for Collage #3. Congratulations goes to team "Mackie the Dog"!

This team was made up of Kennedy, Piper, Tristan, Mike, Kelly and cottage visitors Selah and JT. They will be receiving a prize in the spring.

Stay tuned for some fun family activities for the 2024 cottage season!

Last fall I heard from Julie Antler, a Planning Forester with a local Forestry Management Group (FRMG). She suggested that I communicate with you about the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid.

What is it? Hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) is an aphid-like insect. As you may know, aphids suck fluid from plants. The HWA specifically feeds on the sap at the base of the Eastern Hemlock tree's needles.

Why is the HWA a problem?

Eastern Hemlock is a foundational species in Canada, and dieback of trees due to HWA infestations can disrupt the native biodiversity of Canadian forests.

Where is it? HWA was first brought to the United States via infested nursery stock from Japan. It was first discovered near Richmond, Virginia in the 1950s and has since established along the eastern coast of the United States. In Canada the HWA was initially detected and subsequently eradicated in Etobicoke in 2012 and Niagara Falls, Ontario in 2013. In 2019 HWA was confirmed in two small populations near Wainfleet and Niagara Falls, Ontario. In October 2021, HWA was also confirmed in Fort Erie, Ontario.

What does it look like? (refer to photo)

The HWA is very tiny - it grows to be the size of the tip of a sharpened pencil (less than 1.5mm). Luckily, even though the HWA is small, the wool that they produce is not. HWA surrounds themselves in white wool as they grow, which protects their eggs from the cold winter temperatures later in the year.

If you can't see the HWA easily, how will you know if there's an infestation?

You can look for:

- White “woolly” sacs at the base of hemlock needles on current-year twigs

- Premature bud and shoot dieback

- Premature needle loss

- Thinner, greyish-green crown

- Dieback of twigs and branches

- Discolouration of foliage

- Death in as little as 4-15 years

What do we do about it?

- Don’t hang bird feeders in or near Hemlock trees, since birds spread the HWA.

- Watch for HWA in your Hemlock trees. Beware of "look alikes" such as spider eggs and fungus. Using a hand lens & head lamp can help, but it's still very challenging to spot an early infestation with this method.

- If you think you have seen an infestation, report to the CFIA.

Photo credit and more information on the HWA: Invasive Species Centre

August 10th, 2024 - 9:30 to 12 - AGM - location TBA

August 11th, 2024 - AGM rain date

Email: Info@weslemkoon.com
Website: http://www.weslemkoon.com
Location: Weslemkoon Lake, Ontario, Canada
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1847905442182189/