SWIMMING and GENERAL WATER ACTIVITIES

Please tell your children to refrain from screaming. It is annoying and disconcerting to your neighbours. Worse - if they are continually screaming, no one can tell when they really are in trouble.

Please refrain from loud talking and using foul language. Voices can be heard for great distances over water. They can easily be heard over the sound of a boat motor.

BOATING

Clean and flush all motor boats, canoes and personal water craft coming from other lakes with a bleach solution to prevent the introduction of invasive species such as Zebra Mussels and Spiny Water Flea. 

 

PLEASE DON'T MAX WAKE!  The "nose high" cruising (see picture below) of any boat, and particularly larger and deep hulled boats, causes huge waves that can wreak havoc on docks, float loon's eggs out of their nest, and erode the shoreline. Please be observant and adjust your speed to minimize the size of wake your boat generates. Go slow enough to be flat in the water or fast enough to be flat on the plane, and make the transition quickly. THANKS.

All boats and personal water craft are requested to follow the 10 km/h rule within 30 meters (100 feet) of the shore

ALL boats, peddle boats, canoes and kayaks must have a flashlight after dusk. A fast boat won't see you until it's too late.

Right of way goes to unpowered craft, sailboats and wind surfers.

Common courtesy is to be extended to canoeists, fishermen & peddle boaters - if you slow down, make sure you are not Max Waking, which is worse than going by at full speed!

There is a movement to make the wearing of life jackets mandatory at all times. While this may be unreasonable in many situations on Stormy Lake, it is recommended that non swimmers and children always put them on. Even good swimmers should put them on in the following situations:

• if the lake is too cold for swimming
• in high traffic situations
• if you are boating at night

It is difficult if not impossible to put them on after you are in trouble!

No one under the age of 16 is allowed to operate a PWC

Due to annoying noise levels, operate your PWC in the middle of the lake and avoid prolonged operation in any area

Stay well away from the shoreline unless you are docking

Respect water fowl and keep your distance

OUTSIDE LIGHTS

Many Stormy Lake residents enjoy watching the night sky and observing stars, meteors and northern lights. High intensity and misdirected outdoor lights (and some indoor lights too!) obliterate the night sky. Please help reduce light pollution and keep Stormy Lake natural at night! 

Please direct flood lights away from the lake and neighbouring cottages

Motion sensors are preferable to timers for security as well as safety

The OPP advises cottagers to leave lights off when away

Inconsiderate lights can get you charged with disturbing the peace

SECURITY & CRIME

Note license plate number and description of suspicious vehicles

Watch for strangers in your neighbourhood

Watch for persons taking "shortcuts" through your property

Watch for unknown vehicles making repeat visits

For more tips go to the OPP's Crime Prevention site

ROADS

Keep your speed down! Be aware that the car, truck or ATV coming towards you is probably going too fast so you must over compensate in order to avoid a collision. NOTE: There have been several head on collisions on private Stormy Lake roads!

Stay well over to the right, especially when cresting hills and rounding sharp curves

Please yield right of way to large vehicles and vehicles with trailers. 

When the road is too narrow for vehicles to pass, the driver with the best opportunity to pull over should do so even if it means reversing

SHORELINE CONSIDERATIONS & WEED HARVESTING

There is a $1,000 fine for placing any foreign material in the lake, and your neighbours will probably report you

If you must clear a swim area please remove harvested weeds from lake. Loose weeds floating on surface will foul boat propellers, fishing lines, and your neighbor's swim area. Use a floating rope to corral the floating weeds so you can remove them from the lake 

Don't groom your property right to the shore line. Leave the last few meters natural. It is good for the lake, the snakes, the frogs, the fish, and for the critters

FIRES, BON FIRES, CAMP FIRES

Don't burn when it is windy! 

Burning is usually permitted between dusk and dawn only. Why...? 

- there is less chance that an unexpected wind will come up
- its easier to see where problem sparks are going when it is dark
- people report fires when they see smoke during the day
- our volunteer fire brigade is at work during the day

NOTE: Total fire bans are common during dry spells

Always soak the area around your fire pit

Have lots of water available to douse sparks

Drown the fire thoroughly (3 or 4 buckets) before leaving it

Always have a full bucket of water or hose nearby when you burn

NEVER burn anything outdoors during dry times! 

WATER QUALITY & SEPTIC CONSIDERATIONS

Fertilizers and sprays are the worst things for the lake

Make sure your septic system meets current regulations

Use of soaps & shampoos in the lakes and rivers is prohibited

Use of phosphate based fertilizers near the water is prohibited

Wastewater disposal should be at least 50' from high water. 

FISHING

The small mouth bass population on Stormy Lake has been damaged by rock bass and over fishing. Areas where rock bass have been aggressively harvested during the rock bass derby are already showing a return of sport fish.

Please kill the red eyed rock bass at every opportunity. 

Practice catch and release of sport fish such as perch, trout and small mouth bass.

Tell people who are fishing out of season to stop then call the authorities.

Keep your dogs leashed at all times when off your property.

Keep your cats indoors. They are hard on our song bird population and foxes love them.

Do not intentionally feed wild animals

Do not leave garbage where it can be found by wild animals

Use an old fridge to cool/store garbage until you can take it to the dump 

Composting is not recommended in cottage country

Many common plants and trees are harmful in the north 

Don't plant it if you are not absolutely sure it is non invasive

For example: up here honey suckles are invasive!

To find out more go to  https://www.ontario.ca/page/invasive-species-ontario 

Don't litter anywhere

Don't trespass on private property

If you don't know, don't go

They are great during power failures but:

Please use only when absolutely necessary during the day

Please turn them off overnight (11pm to 7am)