Comment
The draft reg doesn't go far enough. It needs to be expanded to go beyond overnight on-water camping to include day use issues along all shorelines especially private ones. In Lake Scugog for example there is a situation along the Star Bay shoreline of privately owned Ball Pt. ( a rare hard sand bottom shoreline in this lake representing a pristine bass spawning habitat) that attracts literally dozens of day use boaters from Spring to Fall along with some on-water camper types that anchor in close proximity to one another, have no on-board toilet facilities, and proceed to set up chairs, tables and lawn chair furniture of all types, BBQ's and conduct family swimming pursuits, beach ball games etc all the while blasting music over loud speakers not only disturbing the landowner's family and others across the Bay, but totally freaking out all the rare and delicate wildlife that inhabit this shoreline (nesting ospreys, kingfishers, reptiles and amphibians and shorebirds) including completely ruining the bass spawning habitat area. The Point is managed under the MFTIP program with OMNRF basically as a nature reserve and quiet family cottage retreat and the overly permissive boater activity per the above totally abrogates the management objectives overseeing this property, it's disgusting to say the least. Options to correct this abuse include:
- strict density restrictions for day use (eg 1 boat anchorage/100metres)
- a minimum setback anchorage and off-boat recreation of at least 100 metres from high water mark well away from the delicate shoreline
- creating a potential bass spawning area fish sanctuary in such a case (could be other species elsewhere)
- a regulation linked to MFTIP to control misuse of shoreline habitat for lands under the program where appropriately signed and enforceable by Conservation Officers with serious fines for encroachment
Thanks for the opportunity to comment.
Signed by: A naturalist and very concerned citizen who is totally disgusted by the lack of respect boaters show to private shorelines and Ontario's wildlife.
Submitted March 17, 2023 6:12 PM
Comment on
Proposal to amend Ontario Regulation 161/17 to the Public Lands Act to change the requirements related to floating accommodations
ERO number
019-6590
Comment ID
83182
Commenting on behalf of
Comment status