There are many why your lake association should consider working with a consultant.  Here are three:

1. To ensure that the lake plan is not a single interest document and that it represents the interests of all community members;
   
2. To verify scientific information, which is critical to ensure that missed or wrong information will not jeopardize the integrity of the lake plan and the planning process; and
   
3. To ensure that you do not have to reinvent the wheel. A consultant with expertise in lake planning will provide a wide experience and knowledge that can simplify your community based process.
   

Recommended Approach:

The approach, generally recommended, is community-based and is dependent on your lake volunteers. The level of involvement of the participants, in general, will depend upon their ability and willingness to participate. The benefit of this approach, however, is that local people will become the keepers and the communicators of the information and the knowledge will be kept on your lake.

Your lake association will be primarily responsible for confirming a work plan, collecting the background information, and conducting the surveys. The final recommendations, which will be based on observations made throughout the process, should be designed and considered by all participants. The association must also be responsible for contacting other interested stakeholders (municipalities, MNR, MOE, commercial operators, recreational users) to identify opportunities for partnership, undertake tasks and share information, and set a common goal and vision for the lake.

To facilitate this approach, French Planning Services Inc. can provide services for co-ordinating the process and developing the final product. If you decide to engage the services of a consultant, it is very important that communication between the lake association, the municipality and the consultant is open and ongoing. This will help to ensure that the process is positive and satisfies the objectives of the association and the municipality. 

Remember, that the lake planning process should be flexible to maximize the talents of the members of your association. 

One of the first tasks to be accomplished is to identify who is willing to help and what people can do, such as:

• Skill-sets that will benefit the association including biologists, naturalists—birders and botanists, writers and editors, geographical information systems (GIS) and field technicians, anglers, etc.; and
  
• Resources and tools that will help including GIS mapping, desktop publishing, printing, photography, facilitation, coordination, recruiting volunteers, fund raising, etc. 

Every association has taken a slightly different approach to complete their lake plan, and this is primarily related to the availability of local resource people and financial support.

Regardless of the approach you select, the following principles should be applied:

• Optimize the use of lake association and local government resources and information where appropriate (e.g. volunteers, students, MNR inventories, water quality data, Official Plans) to minimize costs;
  
• Ensure open communication with residents, commercial operators and stakeholders through use of a survey, newsletters and workshops; and
  
• Ensure open communication and involvement with interested parties such as local residents, the local municipality, MNR, MOE and commercial operators.
  

Other responsibilities and tasks that must be clearly defined include:

• Organizing volunteers for the collection of information;
• Facilitating workshops and information sessions with stakeholders;
• Collecting available resource information (review of MNR, MOE and municipal files);
• Conducting a review of municipal planning documents and working with municipal staff;
• Coordinating the resident and resort surveys, and preparing the results;
• Preparation of background information and lake plan documents;
• Reviewing and summarizing existing water quality information from existing reports;
• Providing a discussion of water quality stressors; and
• Preparation of maps (if necessary).