Article Listing

In mid-2004, the Environmental Committee (newly formed) initiated a planning process similar to that used by other lake associations in Muskoka, Parry Sound, Haliburton and Peterborough. The Committee engaged French Planning Services Inc., and carried out surveys and workshops to obtain the views of local residents, commercial operators, and other stakeholders, and collected and analyzed background information.

The Lake Plan Chronology covers some of the majore milestones in this process.

The intent of the process was to engage local and McKLPOA members in discussions about the values that support their quality of life and time at the lake, the issues and concerns that impact these values, and to prepare a strategy of actions to protect the elements that support this quality of life.

It has only been recently that local indiginous communities have been contacted and consulted as part of this development. This is expected to be a ongoing and continuous process. McKenzie Lake is unique in that there are several different bands all having a historical components to the area and lands around McKenzie Lake. All have been contacted and invited to participate. 

The McKenzie Lake Plan is designed to be a living document. Changing and adapting as more information becomes available, its membership redefines and organizes this plan, etc. 

The approach has been to establish a general historical archive of the Lake and watershed data, which will continually grow and expand over time. The planning committee and McKPOA are completely volunteer based, and members donate their time and effort to see additions and new developments made to the plan. It may change in structure and form over time.

The general key areas are as follows:

i) Preface - a general overview of how we got to this point and why.

ii) Acknowledgements - Crediting those that have given time and efforts to create this plan, the true stewards of the land, and significant contributors either financially or otherwise.

1) Introduction - An introduction to the plan, its purpose and scope, along with the planning process.

2) Vision, Principles and Targets - Member surveyed and evaluated vision for the lake and area, the principles guiding their goals, and specific targets the membership wishes to have maintained.

3) Lake Description and Background - All things Lake, about the water, shoreline, and governance of.

4) Social Elements - a listing of current significant events in the area involving the McKLPOA community.

5) Natural Heritage Features & Areas - Heritage and Historical points of interest.

6) Physical Elements - Various physical traits and characteristics - not yet completed.

7) Land Use - Not completed yet, will contain land use surveys and data.

8) Lake Concerns & Impacting Factors - Summary of member concerns and identified factors which are believed to have impact on the values and vision of the lake and watershed.

9) Action Plan - The membership and Plan's action list to achieve targets and goals

10) Glossary & Abbreviations

11) References

12) Maps and Diagrams

13) Appendices

Each section may contain observations and recommendations along with links outside of the plan to our 'active or live' sections of our website where realtime data is collected about various topics.