Six Mile Lake Fatality

Sadly, Michael Burgess of Scarborough died on Six Mile lake this month when his and a friend’s snowmobile went through the ice in an area of the lake just east of Mathias Point and O’Leary’s Island.  Our hearts go out to the Burgess family and friends, but also to the fellow snowmobiler who was no doubt traumatized by this event. The saying goes, “no ice is safe ice.” During a typical season, trails get marked across the lake, but this year it is doubtful the ice will be considered thick enough to do so. The area where the snowmobiles went through is known to be particularly dangerous due to currents. In fact, a drone shot taken just ten days earlier revealed that spot to be open water. We cannot emphasize enough the importance of exercising extreme caution when venturing out onto the ice, especially this winter because the weather has been very mild.

White’s Falls Portage Dam Rehabilitation                               

Parks Canada has received funding for work on the White’s Falls Portage Dam located on Whites Fall Road (Muskoka Rd. #34).

The proposed project’s scope is to completely replace the current dam with a new one in the same location and orientation, increasing the flow capacity in order to mitigate flooding and increase the safety of water management. This work is expected to begin in spring 2023 and end in 2025.

Signage will be posted informing the public to be aware of changes to the site. The swimming and parking area below the falls will be closed. Parks Canada informs us there shouldn’t be any change in water levels and road service.  However, cottagers who use Moccasin Trail, King George Drive, Echo Bay Rd., Hemlock Hill Lane, Steep Rock Rd., Trillium Trail and Art’s Lane can expect road closures and detours during the summers of 2023 and 2024. This would require them to exit at Coldwater and take the Upper Big Chute Rd. to Severn Falls and the Big Chute in order to get to the cottage.  You can subscribe to email updates by contacting the Trent-Severn Waterway at trentsevern@pc.gc.ca with “White’s Portage Dam” in the subject line.

Further information and diagram renderings of the project can be found at:

https://parks.canada.ca/lhn-nhs/on/trentsevern/visit/infrastructure/severn-gravenhurst

Summer Student Employment Opportunities at GB Township

Georgian Bay Township office in Port Severn Ontario is accepting applications for summer student employment. There are openings for: Building/Septic Inspector Assistant, Business Administrative Assistant, By-Law Enforcement Officer, Customer Service Representative, Parks and Roads Labourer, and Planning Administrative Assistant. Deadline for applications is January 31, 2023 at 4:00 p.m.

For more information go to: https://www.gbtownship.ca/en/township-hall/employment.aspx?_mid_=4335

2022 SMLCA Membership Revenue and Other Fund-raising Initiatives

After our appeal in the winter Echoes, membership revenues for the current membership year (June 1, 2022 to May 31, 2023) have been improving. We count on this revenue to enable us to plan spending for vital community events such as the regatta and the ice cream giveaway. If you haven’t yet sent in your membership dues please regard this as a gentle reminder to do that soon. You will have received an invoice enclosed in winter Echoes or you can click on the Membership tab on the Six Mile Lake web site. The membership fee for the upcoming year (June 1, 2023 – May 31, 2024) is being modestly raised to $50 and those fees are due by June 1, 2023.

There is also a need to fund a few initiatives this summer. The swim dock campaign was a big success and we thank the generous cottagers who contributed. That money enabled a successful regatta this summer.  We currently have about $400 left to put to future initiatives for the regatta. We also need to replace the ramp that secures the dock to the shore. If we go with a heavy-duty aluminum ramp, that could cost us upwards of $3,000, and we also must repair or replace one of the outhouses at the regatta site. We applied for funding from the Township but were informed that there is no money available in the budget. Once we determine the amount of money required, we will solicit donations.

Parks Canada Northern Project Bundle Open House

Public Notice – Open House – Trent-Severn Waterway National Historic Site of Canada

Parks Canada Northern Project Bundle – 2022-2025

Parks Canada, in collaboration with Public Service and Procurement Canada, will be moving ahead with several projects in the northern sector of the Trent-Severn Waterway.

These projects include:

• The rehabilitation of the walls, tunnels and valves at Lock 42 – Couchiching.
• The replacement of the Whites Portage Dam on Six Mile Lake.
• The rehabilitation of the Little Chute Dam “G” near Port Severn.
• The creation of an access road from Whites Falls Road to the Pretty Channel Dam.

These projects are part of over $1B of investment into Parks Canada assets along the Ontario Waterways through an unprecedented program of infrastructure work.

You are invited to attend an Open House to learn more about these projects, ask the engineers and Parks Canada staff questions and view some of the project plans.

In addition to these projects, Parks Canada staff will also be on hand to discuss the unavailability of the Pretty Channel Dam for snowmobile access.

When:   Thursday, February 9, 2023 – 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Projects Presentation – 7:00 to 7:15 pm

Open House Questions and Answers – 7:15 to 9:00 pm

Where:  Beacon Emporium in Port Severn

35 Lone Pine Road, Port Severn, Ontario

Information:    For more information, please contact us by email at trentsevern@pc.gc.ca