What is Lake Planning?
Lake Planning is a community-based planning process that considers the interests of all stakeholders on a lake including shoreline residents, commercial operators, forestry managers and lake users (e.g. anglers, boaters). The purpose of a Lake Plan is to recognize and protect the unique characteristics of a lake and to recommend land-use policy and stewardship approaches to ensure long-term protection, maintenance, and restoration of natural, social and physical features.

Why do you need a Lake Plan?
There are several stages to the development of a lake from its wilderness state. If development and land use change is left unchecked, the lake environment can end up looking much like the urban environment that many lake users are seeking to escape. Most lakes have already gone through the early stages of development and pressure is building to accelerate the pace and extent of development. The process of creating a Lake Plan for your watershed provides a way to identify local approaches that serve the best interests of the whole community.

What’s in a Lake Plan?
A Plan will typically identify issues relating to land-use, water, recreation and resource management. A well-developed Plan will also provide detailed action-oriented recommendations related to land-use policy (official plans, zoning by-laws, etc.) and stewardship approaches, such as an education & communication plan, and any necessary restoration projects.

Who is Involved in creating a Lake Plan?
The lake planning process provides local property owners and a full range of other stakeholders in the community with an opportunity to confirm and protect important ecological and social values and to set common sustainable objectives for a lake and its immediate environment. Many associations have established a Steering Committee to oversee the development of their Plan and engage expert professional assist to coach them through the process. Input will be sought through a number of surveys, workshops and meetings.  Face to face contact is the best approach to exchange ideas and information.

How much will the Lake Plan cost?
The greatest cost involves the time and commitment of people on the lake or in the watershed. In addition, the financial cost of the formal process leading to the creation of a Lake Plan document is typically $5,000 - 25,000. The cost is dependent on the size of the watershed and scope of the issues to be dealt with and the cost is usually spread out over three or four years. The costs of implementing the Plan and keeping it up to date will vary depending on the types of actions the community wants to initiate and most of these costs are directly related to time and commitment from community members.
 
Who decides what recommendations are included in a Lake Plan?
The lake planning process is designed to collect the views of all stakeholders and to reflect a consensus view that will carry weight with those who are in a position to make decisions affecting the lake – such as the municipal council. The Lake Planning Steering Committee will develop draft recommendations based on the input received and will seek consensus from a series of community workshops and final approval from members of the Lake Association.

Have Other Cottage Owners Associations produced Lake Plans?
Yes, many lake associations have initiated this process. Examples in Muskoka and Haliburton include – Peninsula, Fairy, Vernon, Mary, Paint, Muldrew, Halls and Hawk, Kushog, Mountain, Paudash and Dark and Grace Lakes.  All these associations are in various stages of progress and approval.  It is expected that most lakes with active cottage owners’ associations will have a Lake Plan within a few years.

Do Lake Plans make a difference?
Yes – in several ways. First, they help build a sense of community and allow people to identify and work to solve common problems. Secondly, they have been cited at municipal hearings for building permits and related development activities. There are instances (e.g. Lake of Bays) where the values identified in a Lake Plan caused applications for development that were in conflict with the Lake Plan to be denied.

What if you don’t have a Lake Plan?
All associations believe that the process of creating a Plan is as important as the Plan itself because it will help you to build your community. However there is real value in completing a formal Plan because these have proven to be of value in getting people to identify priorities and to take action! In addition, it is anticipated that there could be a ‘down-side’ to NOT having a Plan – because this might attract developers with the least interest in the environmental well-being of the area if they believe that your area is unorganized and controls are lax.  The current reality for the majority of lakes in cottage country is that few, if any, of the other stakeholders feel that they are financially able to contribute. By financing a Plan for your lake watershed, you will be establishing yourself as a leading voice for the responsible stewardship of the area.

What should be the scope of your Lake Plan?
At a minimum it should include all water and land with in the immediate watershed of you lake.  All lands that flow into your lake.

What is the legal effect of the Lake Plan?
The Lake Plan is not a statutory document and has no legal status, however, many local Official Plans include land use policy that supports the development of these documents with the intention to incorporate relevant components.  It is extremely important to ensure the municipality and all other agencies are included in the process to promote their buy-in and ownership of the recommended actions.  The Lake Association is the custodian of the Lake Plan and will set a schedule for the accomplishment of the recommendations. 

Will the Lake Plan over-rule the laws of the local municipality?
No.  A portion of the Lake Plan that relates to land use planning should be adopted as policy in the Official Plan and it is extremely important that your local municipality is involved in the process.  They will be looking to make sure that you have supporting rational for the new policy positions as well that you have conducted a proper planning process and that there is general consensus.

What benefits are there to seasonal residents and to full time residents?

1. Identifies protects the elements that support your quality of life.
2. Provides a foothold on your lake.  Most associations wish they had this information put together 2 decades ago so that they can measure the current state of the lake.
3. Brings the community together. It makes the association a player.
4. Identifies land use and stewardship actions.
5. Promotes, educates and makes people aware of the things that matter on the lake.
6. Deal with issues.
7. Appropriate development standards.
8. Protects sensitive features and heritage sites.
9. Provides future direction based on community consensus