Lake supporter Lamont Brown passes away
We were saddened to learn this week that Lamont Brown has passed away. Lamont was a very well-known gentleman in the community, and a respected contractor for many years around Big Rideau Lake. He was a long-time friend of the lake; for 37 years his familiar red barge was seen every spring and fall on Big Rideau as he set and removed the BRLA shoal markers.
There will be a Celebration of Lamont's life this Friday, June 10th, 1:00 -4:00 PM, at the Portland Legion.
The family has very kindly suggested anyone wishing to make a donation in Lamont's memory be directed to the Big Rideau Lake Association. You are invited to visit the Donations page on our website to do so online, or you can mail your donation to PO Box 93, Portland, ON, K0G 1V0. If you would like a tax receipt for your donation, please direct it to the Rideau Lakes Environmental Foundation (RLEF); otherwise, it can be directed to the BRLA.
Poonamalie Dam Upgrade Complete
Parks Canada announced this week that major repairs at Poonamalie Dam at Lock 32 have been complete.
The Poonamalie earth dam and weir restrain the waters of the Rideau Lakes and are essential to both public safety and water management downstream.
Work got underway in December of 2014. The height of the dam was increased and its structure stabilized along its 660m length. The work will significantly reduce water seepage through the dam so as to not risk to dam performance. Guard rails were also added to make the site safer.
More work is planned in coming years as part of a $103.3 million Parks Canada infrastructure initiative, to preserve and restore this historic earth dam.
Safe Boating Checklist
With the beginning of the summer boating season, its a good time to review some of the basics of safe boating. All boats are required to carry safety equipment but what exactly must be carried depends on the size and type of boat; items required on a typical vessel 6 meters or less in length include:
- A Canadian approved flotation device, lifejacket or PFD, in good repair and of appropriate size for every person on board.
- The vessels license or registration certificate if powered by a motor of 7.5 kw (10 hp) or more.
- Fire extinguisher (depending on type of engine, gas tank or cooking appliances on board).
- Watertight flashlight or pyrotechnic distress signal requirements (flares).
- Sound signaling device.
- Buoyant heaving line (minimum 15 meters in length).
- Paddle or anchor with at least 15 meters of rode and /or chain.
- Re-boarding device.
- Bailer or manual water pump.
- Navigation lights.
For Transport Canada's full Safe Boating Guide, click here.
Canadian Power Squadrons has partnered with Transport Canada and CIL Dealers on a project on education and awareness of safety equipment, the care and maintenance of that equipment and how to safely and effectively use and dispose of flares.
If your flares have a manufacture date of 2012 or earlier they have or will expire this year. Flares are approved for four years from the date of manufacture. If they have expired or will expire during this boating season, you must replace them... it's the law!
However, disposing of expired flares has been an ongoing dilemma for boaters across the country. You can't light them, throw them in the water or in your household garbage to dispose of them. To help boaters dispose of expired flares in a safe and environmentally responsible manner, CPS-ECP and selected CIL Dealers are hosting Safety Equipment Education and Flare Disposal Days where boaters will have an opportunity to learn about required safety equipment and can bring outdated flares to be properly disposed of, free of charge.
Various locations across Canada will host these events this summer. Local dates include June 4 at Fogh Marine in Toronto and June 10/11 at The Chandlery in Ottawa. Click here for full list of dates and locations, and more detailed information.
Navigational Warning
The boating season on the Rideau Canal opened this past Victoria Day, and it was a very busy weekend on the lake.
The BRLA has installed 108 buoys to mark hazards and shoals this year. Boaters noticed, however, that several Parks Canada navigation buoys are out of position, having migrated over the winter to different positions on the lake. In bringing this potential safety hazard to the attention of Parks Canada, BRLA President Brian Hawkins received the following response:
"I want to assure you that we are working hard towards getting all the floating aids to navigation in their advertised positioned over the next week. There is an active Notice to Shipping for the Rideau Canal that some markers are off position due to the winter months and spring freshet.
I will forward the concerns on to maintenance regarding the two bifurcation buoys. In the future, I encourage you and your members to submit these types of requests to our general information inbox (rideaucanal.info@pc.gc.ca) to be actioned. They will aways be forwarded to the appropriate person who is on duty during the navigation season.
As a reminder, safe navigation on the Rideau Canal is a shared responsibility between vessel operators and Parks Canada. Parks Canada cautions all vessel operators not to rely solely on buoys for navigation purposes. Aids to navigation are always to be used in conjunction with other marine publications and information. In particular, nautical charts, Notices to Shipping (NOTSHIP), Notices to Mariners (NOTMAR), sailing directions, the Canadian Aids to Navigation System and other Government of Canada publications or services."
Free Lockage along Rideau Canal in 2017
As part of the celebrations for next year's 150th anniversary of Confederation, lockage will be free to all boaters along the Rideau Canal system next year.
Click here to read the Government of Canada's news release.
FOCA Elert - May 2016
Click here to read the most recent FOCA newsletter. Just in time for the unofficial kick-off to the summer season with the Victoria Day long weekend, articles in this newsletter include:
- Handy cottage opening tips
- Dock permits
- Invasive species
- Lake Partner Program
- Environmental Grants
- Cottage Succession Seminars - including Sunday August 14th at the Perth Legion
- And more