ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING July 11th 11:00am Bethune United Church * * * ECHO LAKE SHOP NOW OPEN! * * * Pay Your Dues, Win A Cruise! See IN OTHER NEWS for details * * * Rhymes not intended :-)
Welcome to Echo Lake
Echo Lake is a beautiful, spring-fed lake located 4 km outside of Baysville, Ontario in the Township of Lake of Bays, Muskoka. An early surveyor located seven places where a clear echo could be heard, and generations of children have enjoyed listening for those magical sounds ever since.
Echo Lake is 223 hectares in size with 12.6 km of shoreline (12% of which is wetland). In general, it is a fairly shallow lake (averaging 4.6m) and at its deepest location measures 12m.
For gardeners, Echo Lake is in Plant Hardiness Zone 4b.
The towns of Bracebridge and Huntsville and the village of Dorset are all within a 25 km radius from our own beautiful village of Baysville, making Echo Lake a great central location with access to services and events of all kinds in every season.
WHAT'S ON OUR MINDS THESE DAYS (we're a small association but we have a LOT to say!)
Website navigation tip:
When you see these buttons: dark green light green mustard or normal links (can be other colours), click on them - they'll take you to great places!!
The speed limit within 30 metres (33 yards) of any shoreline or dock is 10 km/hr
If you see dangerous boating, call the OPP at
1-888-310-1122. For life-threatening emergencies call 9-1-1.
When some boats, typically wake boats, stir up the silt at the bottom, the sediment can clog fish gills and suffocate fish eggs, AND it can hinder diving birds from finding food.
Watch closely for loons, mergansers and other floating birds (youngsters can’t dive and parents will stay with them, putting both in peril). We recently lost a loon and babies to a speeding boat 😭
Look behind you to see and understand the impact of your wake on shorelines, docks, swimmers and others. Adjust your speed & direction to minimize the impact (pro tip: Throttle back to idle for about 10 seconds, wait for the bow to drop and your boat to level out before proceeding at the regulated speed).
When some boats, typically wake boats, stir up the silt at the bottom, the sediment can clog fish gills and suffocate fish eggs, AND it can hinder diving birds from finding food.
Watch closely for loons, mergansers and other floating birds (youngsters can’t dive and parents will stay with them, putting both in peril). We recently lost a loon and babies to a speeding boat 😭
Look behind you to see and understand the impact of your wake on shorelines, docks, swimmers and others. Adjust your speed & direction to minimize the impact (pro tip: Throttle back to idle for about 10 seconds, wait for the bow to drop and your boat to level out before proceeding at the regulated speed).
Current fire danger rating:
HIGH
- Fire must be under constant supervision and control from time of lighting until it is totally extinguished
- Only environmentally friendly products may be burned
- Fires may start easily and spread quickly but there will be minimal involvement of deeper forest fuel layers or larger forest fuels
* * * * NO DAYTIME BURNING * * * *
Between 8:00am and 6:00pm
April 1st to October 31st
April 1st to October 31st
Anyone who starts a fire outdoors must take all necessary steps to tend the fire, keep it under control, and make sure the fire is out before leaving the site.
A person failing to burn safely could be fined and held responsible for the cost of putting out the fire.
The Muskoka Fire Danger Rating is determined using the Fire Weather Index (FWI), an internationally used method for determining the risk of fires in open air. It uses factors such as the relative humidity, temperature, previous 24-hour rain amount, wind directions and wind speed in combination with the forest fuel type and loads to determine the risk of the forest to certain fire types.
From this calculation the Forest Fire Danger Rating is made in consultation with the Fire Chiefs of the six area municipalities and the Ministry of Natural Resources.
better yet ... skip the fireworks
Many of our members have become less enthusiastic over the years for discharging fireworks on Echo Lake. With good reason. Not only do these short-lived explosions of light and noise traumatize animals (wild and domestic), but many lose their lives.
Who doesn't know of someone whose dog went missing or got injured trying to escape? Birds and small mammals will instinctively flee their nests when the fireworks begin, and many become so disoriented that they are unable to locate their nests after the sky has settled.
Sadly, their orphaned babies have little hope for survival. Other birds fly into windows, and many animals large and small get hit by vehicles while on the run. It is also common knowledge that fireworks contain toxic ingredients that poison the air, soil, and water long after the light and sounds are gone.
Pest Control At Your Door? Just say BUZZ off!
Despite marketing claims, these sprays don’t just harm mosquitoes. They are also highly toxic to native pollinators such as bees and butterflies, as well as fish and other aquatic organisms like dragonfly and damselfly nymphs. When insecticides enter a waterbody (through runoff and spray drift), they persist in sediment. Benthic invertebrates are HIGHLY sensitive to pyrethroids.
FYI: Pyrethroids are the synthetic versions of the chemicals derived from chrysanthemum flowers (called pyrethrins). Whether natural or synthetic, these are broad-spectrum insecticides that are highly toxic to many beneficial insects.
Much of the literature on pesticide sprays is quite technical, but here are a couple of straightforward articles:
A well-intentioned cottager or resident simply trying not to get bitten might think these applications only kill mosquitoes, when in fact, they are toxic to the broader insect community.
Both adult dragonflies and their nymphs are considered a highly effective, natural form of mosquito control. And they don't cost a cent.
Why pay all that money when the spray kills mosquitoes AND dragonflies? Mosquitoes reproduce in 7-10 days, while dragonflies take
1-3 years! 🤔
For even more information and some helpful alternatives and tips, visit our pages under:
🗞️ watch this space for timely news, events, concerns:
THIS JUST IN ...
BE ON ALERT! Our resident Snapping Turtle, who hangs around in Whitfield Bay and over to the bridge at Hammond Bay, was seen recently with a fishing line attached to it - If you spot it PLEASE CALL ROB PREISNER AT (416) 823-1739 OR EMAIL elamuskoka@gmail.com
Did you know? Swallowing a single lead sinker or jig can kill a loon and other wildlife?
In an effort to stop things like that from happening ever again, a new fishing line / lead tackle / lead sinkers / artificial bait receptacle, affectionately known as 'Lead Zeppelin' 🤣 was installed at the public access area (at Echo Lake Road and Hammond Road). A heartfelt thanks to the able and enthusiastic help of our volunteer, Rob Preisner, for his part in building the tube.
It will be available for use on or shortly after May 1st but must be removed by November 1st. Watch for emails from elamuskoka@gmail.com confirming exact dates.
Please drop any unwanted fishing line, lead tackle, lead sinkers and artificial bait in the tube and we’ll
take care of the rest! Now's also the time to make the switch to BARB-FREE HOOKS!!!
Please drop any unwanted fishing line, lead tackle, lead sinkers and artificial bait in the tube and we’ll
take care of the rest! Now's also the time to make the switch to BARB-FREE HOOKS!!!
AND ... the Echo Lake Association has also joined Wolfe Lake Association's GET THE LEAD OUT program designed to reduce toxic lead fishing tackle from accumulating in the environment where it is responsible for the deaths of millions of birds and other wildlife annually. Loons, eagles, swans and waterfowl are especially vulnerable.
If you're looking for retailers who supply better alternatives to lead tackle, here is a handy list:
Dark Skies: A Lake of Bays Treasure
Light pollution not only hides the beauty of the universe around us, it disrupts nocturnal wildlife behaviours, harming our local ecosystems.
The Township of Lake Of Bays has an
The Township of Lake Of Bays has an
Outdoor Illumination Bylaw which regulates outdoor illumination to ensure responsible lighting, reduce light pollution and promote conservation of a dark sky environment.
Using downward-oriented, low wattage, motion-censored, and energy efficient lighting in waterfront and rural areas helps to:
- Reduce impact on wildlife
- Minimize glare
- Prevent hazards to navigation
- Preserve the night sky
Water Quality & Septic Systems Are Top Of Mind For The Echo Lake Community
In Echo Lake's Love Your Lake Report, water quality remains at the top of the list for cottagers and residents of Echo Lake. Septic system failure is a close second.
Visit our page: LOVE YOUR LAKE - ECHO LAKE SHORELINE EVALUATION & REPORT
We strongly urge everyone to keep a properly maintained septic system, especially ensuring no overloading.
We strongly urge everyone to keep a properly maintained septic system, especially ensuring no overloading.
The number of people allowed to live or occupy a property is dependent on the septic system's capacity, which is regulated by a septic use permit.
A septic use permit specifies how much wastewater a septic system can handle based on the size and design of the system. If the septic system is designed to handle waste from a certain number of people, exceeding that number could lead to issues with the system, such as overload or malfunction.
A septic use permit specifies how much wastewater a septic system can handle based on the size and design of the system. If the septic system is designed to handle waste from a certain number of people, exceeding that number could lead to issues with the system, such as overload or malfunction.
The rule of thumb is two individuals per bedroom. This is assuming your septic system doesn’t restrict you due to its size.
Impact from Short Term Rentals
For homeowners with septic and well systems, increased usage and accelerated wear and tear are factors you need to consider. Using your home as a short term rental can shorten their lifespan. This could lead to expensive repairs or even replacements.
Impact from Short Term Rentals
For homeowners with septic and well systems, increased usage and accelerated wear and tear are factors you need to consider. Using your home as a short term rental can shorten their lifespan. This could lead to expensive repairs or even replacements.
Lake of Bays By-Laws Quick Reference
This is just a shortlist of the many regulations established by the Township of Lake of Bays to promote a safe, healthy, and respectful community.
They apply to all residents, renters, and visitors.
If you have concerns about a short-term rental, such as unauthorized use, noise, violations of occupancy limits or other related issues, you can file a complaint through the Host Compliance Tips portal or by calling the Host Compliance Complaint Hotline: (705) 996-5123
For lots more information these and other by-laws:
Your Membership Matters
For only $30.00 a year, your dues = A vote of confidence to the volunteer-run Association for all their hard work to inform, educate and guide responsible lakeside living.
e-Transfer to: elamuskokatreasurer@gmail.com
Cash or cheque: Contact your Liaison Officer or email elamuskoka@gmail.com
Cash or cheque: Contact your Liaison Officer or email elamuskoka@gmail.com