good neighbours

In addition to abiding by safety guidelines when operating power boats, be mindful of the impact of your noise and exhaust, and be aware of your wake. 

• Tune your engine, fix your exhaust and operate at a reasonable speed to reduce noise
• FOLLOW ONTARIO'S 10/30 RULE: Keep your speed under 10 km/h (6 mph) when within 30 metres (100 feet) of shore to prevent damage to habitat, shoreline, and neighbours' watercraft or property
• Watch for and keep your distance from swimmers and human-powered craft
• Avoid driving back and forth in a single area, subjecting residents to relentless noise

The opportunity to view a starry night sky is a unique pleasure of lake life. Artificial lights on decks and docks, as well as through large windows, create glare that washes out the dark sky. You reduce your impact when you:

• turn off unnecessary indoor lights, and close curtains or blinds
• reduce the wattage of bulbs in outdoor fixtures
• trade dawn-to-dusk security lights for motion-sensors
• aim lighting away from the water and adjacent properties, and choose “cut-off” fixtures which limit lighting cast above the horizontal

• Remind family and guests to use “indoor voices” at your waterfront
• Leave your stereo indoors – no matter what your taste in music, your neighbours probably don't share it
• Bring pets indoors if they are barking continuously
• Wait until a reasonable time (9am?) to fire up your chainsaw, lawnmower or construction tools

The lake is NOT the place to wash your body, your clothes, your dishes or any other household items. NO SOAP or cleaner – even “phosphate free” or “all natural” – is safe to put directly into the lake – it needs to be filtered through your septic and soil.

This should be obvious, right? Sadly, all kinds of garbage gets left around cottage properties and campgrounds, creating hazards for people and animals, attracting wildlife, leaching chemicals, and ending up in the lake. Do your part to keep litter at bay:

Pack out what you pack in -- to the cottage and to campsites: Collect ALL your waste and bring it to the proper disposal facility

Keep household waste in secure containers so wildlife and pets cannot get in

Remove all construction waste from your building or renovation site and dispose of it properly at municipal waste facilities

Your shoreline is a cornerstone of the lake ecosystem, but it is also your neighbour’s view of the lake. From their docks or boats, people expect to gaze at Ontario’s natural beauty, not a suburban lawn. Lower your impact on the ecosystem, give yourself some privacy, and allow your neighbours a peaceful view – all by doing LESS yard work and letting native grasses, shrubs and trees grow along your shore.

Poorly functioning septic systems are the primary source of contamination to lake water. But they also emit noxious odours that can ruin an otherwise beautiful day for you and nearby cottagers. Learn how to care for your septic system, get it checked regularly, and repair or replace it if it is malfunctioning.

For many of us, a cottage isn't complete without a dog (or several). Help them be good neighbours too:

• Keep your pet on your property, don’t let them wander into others’ yards or onto cottage roads where they may not be seen by cars
• Scoop the Poop: your dog’s poop is raw sewage, just like yours, and if left close to the lake it can introduce harmful bacteria and nutrients into the water
• Prevent your dog from chasing, barking at or harming wildlife