Friday, August 27, 2010

Horseshoe Lake Blue-Green Algae Alert

The municipal beach on Horseshoe Lake, Seguin.

It's a dark day for Horseshoe Lake as a blue-green algae bloom alert is released by the Ministry of Environment (MOE). A 'no drink, no swim' warning is in effect for an undetermined period of time.

While no toxic levels have been recorded, the algae bloom may become toxic. It is therefore advised to use caution. If algae bloom becomes toxic a rash may develop on exposed skin (see links below for more detailed information).


This afternoon the Horseshoe Lake Association Executive is meeting in the Seguin Council chamber for action planning. The association's news link is...

http://www.horseshoelakeassociation.ca/news.htm

Seguin township's Kelly Krist stated today that she will post updates on the algae bloom situation on their website as information comes on the following web page...

http://www.twp.seguin.on.ca/1071/blue-green_algae_bloom.htm

Also find related government links below...

http://www.twp.seguin.on.ca/docs/Public%20Notices/HU_News_Release.pdf

http://www.twp.seguin.on.ca/docs/Public%20Notices/HU_BGA_Information.pdf

http://www.twp.seguin.on.ca/docs/Public%20Notices/MOE_BGA_Information.pdf


Matheson Park Swing Set

If elected I will post on-line my e-mail correspondence with Seguin township staff regarding issues concerning Ward 1. The following is an example.

I very rarely allow myself to get angry, or express anger either verbally or in print. However, the incident at Foley's Matheson Park, involving child safety, made me...livid. I felt like I had become a journalist in some Third World war zone. I felt like I'd descended into that circle of hell reserved for all forsaken children.

Mr. Brown,

My name is Bill Pocock. I'm a candidate for council in Seguin's Ward 1.

While talking with a resident this afternoon, it was mentioned to me that the Matheson Park swing set was in disrepair and has been so for months. Swings were missing, chains hanged loose. It seemed odd me that this could be the case as it is a popular Seguin park where children are taught swimming lessons in summer.

I went down to the park and took some photos (see attached). The photos document the scene at the swing set when I arrived.

Has Seguin's Ward 1 become such a hopeless ghetto that young children must risk their life in pathetic attempts to make decrepit swings sets marginally safer?

I'm going to hold off until Saturday to post my report of this incident on my website (www.oneseguin.blogspot.com). I understand that you, as Facilities Supervisor, are responsible for maintaining such municipal property as park swing sets.

To be fair, I would like to give you the opportunity to explain why the Matheson Park swing set has remained in this state of disrepair for so long. I will be happy to include your e-mail reply (if received before Saturday, Aug. 28th) in my on-line report. If you reply after Aug. 28th I will include your e-mail explanation in a follow-up report.

I just want to give you an opportunity to respond out of fairness.
I'm resisting a sort of primal, gut level anger whenever I look at the photos of the kid in danger, trying to somehow fix the swing set.

If you're not the responsible person to contact, I would appreciate if you informed me who that person is.

Bill Pocock



(click for larger image)


Hi Mr. Pocock,

Thank you for your email.
I am responding to you as a resident of Seguin Township, and certainly appreciate your concern.

Unfortunately the swing set at Foley Matheson (and the beach itself) has suffered from a great deal of vandalism this summer. It is surely disappointing when acts like this occur, and we as township staff do our best to replace what is vandalized in a timely fashion.


You will be pleased to know that two weeks ago, we ordered new swings, and rings, for each of our parks and hope to have them in over the next few weeks.


Should you have concerns as a resident of our township, please feel free to contact the department of Community Services to voice your concerns.

We encourage all of our residents to have a voice in our facilities and do our best to provide a high level of service.


Sincerely,


Kelly Krist


Director of Community Services

705-732-4313

Hmm....

Seguin Quotes

And now for the next installment of my Seguin Quotes series. This is a collection of quotes gathered in conversation from the people of Ward 1. These quotes will help direct my efforts as Ward 1 councillor if elected.

So far I haven't had much luck getting the quantity of quotes from cottagers as I do from residents. It seems, for many cottagers, they are unconcerned with the details of Seguin politics. They get enough of local politics in the municipalities where they reside. Lakefront cottagers, however, are almost uniformly concerned with the water quality of their lakes and the height of the water as it impacts on shoreline erosion, dock and boathouse access. Environmental protection is the top issue for the majority of cottagers.

But there's something else: many cottagers feel it wouldn't be appropriate for them to provide a quote for Seguin's improvement as they aren't sufficiently informed. This somewhat contradicts the belief, held by many residents whom I've spoken with, that cottagers determine the direction of council decisions. Just thought that was interesting.

The most common statement I hear from cottagers: 'Where are the services I pay for in high taxes?'. As a great many cottagers live on private roads which they pay into road associations to maintain, the only apparent municipal service provided are the garbage and recycling stations.

The following quotes answer the question:

"What's the one thing you would change about Seguin Township?"

"By-laws are passed for a reason and should be enforced. If my neighbour has a problem he should be made aware of the problem and given a chance to rectify the problem. There's no need to be heavy handed, but let's get the situation rectified" - Bill Evans, Johnston Road.

"You have the speed limits on the roads, but nobody enforces them. A possible situation is to have less by-law officers and more OPP officers enforcing the speed limits" - Rick Kendrick, Otter Lake Road.

"We need better communication between councillors and residents so that we are aware of the issues before they are voted on and decided" - Linda Nicholson, Horseshoe Lake.

"On Horseshoe Lake Road speeding is the main issue. English roads have zig-zag speed reduction lines. Maybe we could try that as an inexpensive solution" - Connie Craddock, Horseshoe Lake Road.

"Due to the high volume of traffic on Elliot House Road, I would appreciate if it was maintained more consistently. It needs to be graded more often; calcium, oiled, or watered due to the high volume of traffic (Hydro, Bell, and CN). It should be tar and chip" - Cindy Vince, Elliot House Road.

"In Matheson Park the parking lot is messy with pot holes. The playground equipment is damaged. The swing set is broken. Everything else is fine"- Pam Smith, Rankin Lake Road.

"Maybe this township should have a hazardous materials drop off station for things like paints, batteries, motor oil, florescent light bulbs (which have a lot of mercury in them). I'd also like to know why Styrofoam is no longer recyclable" - Brian Chamberlain, Little Finland Road.

"If Seguin has taken over Hwy 69 at Hwy 141, why not put three-way stop signs there to prevent the big trucks from by-passing Hwy 400" - Mike Major, Horseshoe Lake Road.

"Some people, I understand, have problems with music being played that can be heard across the lake. I'll turn it down after 11 pm, but the threat of by-law officers coming to my door makes me nervous. I'm not enjoying the evening. I think the by-law should be re-written. It should be based on decibel readings" - Casey Mazur, Marshall Road.


MowerBike? Genius.

"Regarding fireworks: it's louder here on Horseshoe Lake on a weekend than in the city of Peterbough. Fireworks have their time and place" - Cathy Cederquist, Marshall Road.

"Large motor boats should b e considerate of swimmers, wildlife, and canoers"
- Cathy Cederquist, Marshall Road.

"Perhaps we should have a municipal regulation in terms of boat size"
- Cathy Cederquist, Marshall Road.

"The public launch ramp at the Huron restaurant [on Horseshoe Lake] needs attention because the base is not flat. What can the municipality do to make the boat launch less difficult to use" - Tim and Kim McNamara, Marshall Road.

"I would like to see Horseshoe Lake stocked with pickerel and bass" - Arthur Martin, Peak's Path.

"We would like to see the [Peak's Path] hill plowed in the winter time to make it more safe"
- Arthur Martin, Peak's Path.

"We love Seguin township. And we'd like to do what we can to keep it that way" - Sue Phillips and Gord Ades, Downes Road.

"We need to keep the development on our lake down"
- Sue Phillips and Gord Ades, Downes Road.

"Blackstone Crane Lake Road should be paved for the two kilometre section near the deaf camp because of the dust in the summer" - Steve Ferris,
Blackstone Crane Lake Road.

"I'd like to see enforcement of by-laws that impact on significant amounts of people to utilize the system we've created" - Mathew Brandt, Bays End Trail.

"I moved here because it's beautiful. You move up here to protect the reason why you moved up here. I don't want those reasons to change. I didn't move up here to live beside a race track" - Doug Bryant, Black Road.

"I'd like to see the floating raft returned to Rankin Lake beach. They took it away fifteen years ago and promised to replace it. I'd also like to see the dock fixed and put back on its metal supports" - Mary Fisher, Rankin Lake Road.

"On Rankin Lake Road, because of people walking and bicycles, I would like to see a path. It's dangerous with the narrow road"
- Mary Fisher, Rankin Lake Road.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

The Blackstone Creek Misadventure

When I'm campaigning door-to-door I always get asked the same old question, "What are you going to do if you get elected?". It's a fair question.

One of the things I would do is use this website blog to communicate with people about the various Ward 1 and Seguin issues. I would use photos and words to document my understanding of the facts and arguments surrounding issues. Here's an example of the sort of issue research I would report on if elected.

ISSUE: Water Levels (Blackstone Creek between Horseshoe Lake and First Lake)

In speaking with waterfront property owners on Horseshoe Lake the common concern is the lake water level. This is determined by the amount of rainfall, and the water run off from Blackstone Creek which feeds into First Lake at a lower elevation.

At issue is the question of the appropriate height of a blast rock weir at the mouth of Blackstone Creek located at the western edge of Horseshoe Lake. This contentious, artificial weir regulates the level of water in Horseshoe and Virtue Lake (as they are connected by a channel) and the entire watershed system along Blackstone Creek. I understand that there is some ongoing discussion regarding the installation an adjustable wooden weir to better regulate the flow out of Horseshoe Lake.

In order to better understand the water system that connects these lakes, I decided to navigate down the 1 km section of Blackstone Creek which connects Horseshoe Lake and First Lake.

At the entrance to Blackstone Creek a Ministry of Natural Resources sign is posted warning people not to remove any rocks from the weir. The sign did not prohibit the addition of rock to the weir. An oversight? Too much rock would eliminate Blackstone Creek.

DOCUMENTATION:

A small map showing Blackstone Creek (center), Horseshoe
Lake (right), and First Lake (left). The creek passes under three
road or highway culverts and ends with a large, boggy fen
as it spills into First Lake.



A view of the blast rock weir at the Horseshoe Lake
entrance to Blackstone Creek. The McKaig Drive culvert
forms a concrete bank. As with every other creek obstacle,
I lifted the canoe up and over the weir.


Here's a reverse view of the weir and Horseshoe Lake to the east.


At the far end of the McKaig Drive culvert you can see more artificial
blast rock set at the culvert entrance along with a water pump
hose which snakes through the culvert to no purpose.


View from underneath the 69 Hwy culvert which is longer, deeper and
wider than the McKaig Drive culvert.


A reverse (westside) view of the 69 Hwy culvert.
Notice the lack of artificial blast rock rubble on the
creek bed.


Onwards along Blackstone Creek. I could paddle the canoe through
the creek's narrow passage without scraping the canoe on
creek bottom. Though I began to see trees fallen across my route.


And another tree across Blackstone Creek. Those Boy's Own
Adventure novels don't mention all of the trees fallen across
unexplored creeks. I stopped counting the number of times
I stepped into the creek and lifted the canoe over a tree.


Then I reached the eastern entrance to the 400 Hwy culvert. It
was long, wide, but very shallow with blast rock. The creek bed
slopes way up with blast rock at the entrance to the culvert.


I had to pull the empty canoe through the twisting rock passage.
The canoe still scraped bottom blast rock. I was reminded of
Dante's Inferno as I sloshed through the culvert. I felt like I was
passing into another world - the stuff nightmares are made of.


A reverse (westside) view of the 400 Hwy culvert. Notice the lack
of shallow blast rock on the creek bottom.


More fallen trees.


The blur in the middle of this photo is a low tree branch I leaned
forward to avoid and managed to tip the canoe. The important
thing in any water misadventure is to get completely soaked
so you don't have to worry about getting wet anymore.


I waded in waist-deep water to a large tree across
the creek and managed to roll the half-filled canoe
over to dump out the water. Sometimes obstacle
trees can be your friend, kids.


Beautiful creek scenes like this almost made the near constant lifting
of canoe over fallen trees worth the struggle to continue.


This was the second beaver dam obstacle I had to lift the canoe over.


Here's the most beautiful scene on the 1 km route down
Blackstone Creek as it enters First Lake. Water lilies among
boulders fallen into the creek from the slope above made
me think of a tranquil Japanese garden.


And here I came to the end of the navigable portion of Blackstone
Creek connecting Horseshoe and First Lake. The weedy fen
prevented further paddling. I was tempted to pull the canoe
though to open water, but wasn't sure how big the fen really was.


I landed the canoe near the fallen boulders and
prepared myself for the next part of my ordeal -
a portage to the open water of First Lake.


Those Boys Own Adventure novels also don't mention
that real life canoe portaging sometimes means carrying a heavy
canoe up steep ridge slopes through dense bush.


Here's a view of the the First Lake Fen from a small clearing
on the ridge. I'm glad I didn't try to carry the canoe and gear
through it.



I followed deer trails over the ridge to an opening onto First Lake.
The sun was about to set and I was glad to get back onto open water.


Here's a reverse view of Blackstone Creek (middle of photo) as
it spills into First Lake. Actually Blackstone Creek barely trickles
into First Lake due to two beaver dams across the creek. Without the
beaver dams Blackstone (Swamp) Creek would be very low indeed.

ANALYSIS: Blackstone Creek is no longer a functional drainage system for Horseshoe Lake into First Lake due to the presence of two beaver dams located between the Hwy 400 culvert and First Lake. The artificial presence of blast rock in and around culverts also raises the historic levels of the Blackstone Creek bed inhibiting water flow. Blackstone Creek, due to inadequate water flow, is more characteristic of a swamp than a creek.

So ends my documentary report of a canoe trip down Blackstone Creek in the summer of 2010. It helps me to better understand the current condition of the creek in relation to Horseshoe and First Lake. I hope it is of some value (and possible amusement) for you to read the account.

I wouldn't recommend it as a first date canoe trip.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Horseshoe Lake Canoe

Here's a view from my canoe on Horseshoe Lake.

Yesterday I did an all 'water access' campaign tour of Horseshoe Lake with the old cedar strip canoe. The water part was fairly easy. The 2 km portage down Rankin Lake Road and Hwy 69 was the not so easy part.


So begins the 2 km canoe portage to Horseshoe Lake which I almost
instantly regretted. Such are the small scale heroics of an
aspiring Seguin township councillor.


Portage 'action' photos aren't as pretty as official portraits.
That life jacket phrase pretty much captures my state of mind.


After carrying the canoe on my shoulders for 500 metres or so,
I would set it down and take a rest. Looking at this photo, I flash
back three years...


Another of my cedar strip contraptions rests at the side of
a New Brunswick highway. In 2007 I built this velomobile and cycled
it from Victoria, B.C. to St. John's Nfld., talking to kids about
Global Warming along the way.


Back in Seguin, I make another canoe portage stop where Hwy 69
turns into Rankin Lake Road with a northbound ramp onto Hwy 400.


I make it to Horseshoe Lake's municipal beach!
Then I 'take five' - maybe ten.


I didn't get to all of Horseshoe Lake's many water access
properties, but I did try. Instead of portaging the canoe
back along the roads, I decided to take the Easy Route home
by navigating Blackstone Creek. But, that's another adventure....

Friday, August 13, 2010

Campaign Platform

Nancy from Horseshoe Lake's Johnston Road gave me some good feedback this morning. This campaign blog needs to supply better details on what I intend to do if elected, what's my vision for Ward 1 and Seguin.

My whole campaign angle is about recording Ward 1 voter quotes with the intent to solve or resolve those issues during my term if elected. While my door-to-door travels are not yet finished, the following topics would be my main focus if elected.


ROAD SAFETY

This is one of those basic municipal service areas that we need to get right. This is snow removal, good gravel surface and grading, paving, appropriate signage, community safety zones, and OPP patrols.

The concern I hear most often is about speeding vehicles on roads where children play. My other big safety concern are roads (such as Ferris Road) which I feel are simply dangerous to drive on, and possibly inaccessible by emergency vehicles in winter. Let's not wait until someone dies to help solve the problems.


BUSINESS POSITIVE

This is a particular concern to almost every voter who makes a living in or around Seguin. It also heavily impacts on seasonal residents. I can't count the number of times I've heard people express the need for good jobs year round. I see the two main Seguin industries as tourism and construction. Seguin retail activity flows from the strength of tourism and construction.

I believe the Seguin sign by-law could be amended in part to better serve the tourist industry. In terms of construction, Seguin is notorious as a difficult place to work. Most constructrion people I've met simply don't like, don't want to work in Seguin. There seems to be no end of complaints about Seguin's planning and building departments in terms of red tape and permit or variance costs.

Seguin planning and building department policy has a direct impact on the prosperity of Seguin working families. I would like to help make Seguin more business positive.

If Seguin is to succeed in attracting new business to the township, I think targeting clean/green light industry with markets beyond servicing residents is a sector to focus on. By focusing on specific types of industry to attract, we can be more concentrated in our efforts, more likely to succeed.

If Seguin is notorious for radical environmental policies, why not sell its positive lifestyle aspect to clean industry, foster a live/work sustainable culture in Seguin? Make Seguin a hub for clean/green industry.

Though for the most part I believe it will continue to be the small, local business operators who provide the majority of township employment. Let's do what we can to help local business succeed.


MODERATE ENVIRONMENTALISM

I agree with much of Seguin council's efforts to preserve the natural environment in the past term. There is strong support for the shoreline tree-cutting by-law throughout the ward and the measures taken to restrict further shoreline development on at-risk lakes. The council deserves high praise for this sustainability work.

With respect to the significant change in environmental regulation in recent years, it is important to realize that culture and the environment go hand in hand. Conservation of natural environment directly impacts on existing rural culture as experienced for generations since pioneer times. The interaction of environmental protection and cultural heritage needs to be carefully considered and understood when proposing new by-laws.


TIME TO REFLECT

I think it would be wise to look back on the significant changes carried out over the last four years in Seguin, review and possibly make some minor adjustments as we assess the impacts of these changes. The Official Plan requires review every five years. This will be an opportunity to make adjustments with a view towards its improvement as it impacts the lives of people in Seguin.

As we move forward, my preference is to keep the community fully informed on proposed changes well in advance so that the best options are explored and some unintended consequences can be avoided. I prefer a slower, more conservative pace to change.


FOLEY'S NEW DEVELOPMENT

The next term will likely see both a new community centre and library structure, and possibly fire hall in Foley. I'm fully behind this initiative - it's about time. And I hope we've saved the best for last.

For what it's worth I'd like to offer my two cents on the structure itself.

To honour the pioneer Foley heritage of logging and agriculture, I think it would be fitting and a great attraction to construct the new development with a timber frame structure using local pine timber and oak pegs. These can be milled locally. And why not have skilled carpenters from the community get involved in a traditional 'barn raising' event for the main structure? I know the ladies at the Pioneer United Church would be willing to bake the pies to feed the troops.

Timber frame buildings last for hundreds of years and are infused with rich cultural meaning.

Timber frame structure (wiki source here).

And why not include sustainable building elements, such as passive solar heating design which encapsulates Seguin's 'environment first' motto? Let this building embody our strong ideals, the show piece for a progressive Seguin building with a view to its past and a sustainable future.

This is my vision for Seguin - to fulfill the promise of Seguin's 'environment first' motto.

As government has the luxury of long-term planning, let our township lead with the example of solar panels on municipal buildings. Let us explore the options for reducing carbon emissions of municipal vehicles, and many other sustainable practices open to local government.

Let's be the best we can be.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

This Week in Deerwood Forest

You can barely see the outline of a this trail with new growth.

This is the most flourishing time of the year in the Seguin forest. Flowers bloom, fruit ripens, and all the animals are storing up food for the wintertime.

I walked around Deerwood for a few hours looking for edible mushrooms and captured some images along the way. Normally I don't pick wild mushrooms because of the danger of poisoning, but Florence, a friend of Ma Pocock's, found some oyster mushrooms and gave me some for dinner. And she promised me I wouldn't die or get sick (see pictures at end of post).

The fact that I'm writing this post the next day means I survived the meal. Don't eat wild mushroom, kids, unless your expert mushroom-picking-parents say it's OK.


What is that ant doing?



'Frog.


Toad.


Bumble bee.


My favourite time of year - blackberry season!


Right beside the blackberry bushes I found some bear scat with
my trusty Zippo beside it for scale. I'd say that's 100%
ex-blackberries.


Another treat for black bears are wild cherries.
Bears will actually push over small black cherry trees
in order to get to these berries.


A huge pine trunk split into four equal branches,
reaching high into the sky.


And then, kids, I found a mushroom at least 10 metres tall!


I amuse myself to think I'm some kind of rough 'n ready forest
ranger. Then some tricky deer (like this one) sneaks up on me and I
only spot it when it's 20 feet away. Time to hand in my Ranger Card.


This is what oyster mushrooms look like, says Florence.
I do not advise anyone to eat wild mushrooms unless you
are an expert at identification.


Livin' off the fat of the land thanks to Florence. I'd starve to death
before I could scratch together a meal on my own.


Mushrooms by solar light. They tasted just like they look -
weird, slimy fish from another planet.