Description
    A Lake Plan is an action-oriented plan developed by the lake community, in consultation with local governments and agencies, to reflect, preserve, and restore the special character and ecological health of the lake. Perhaps the most significant feature in the development of this plan is the process of consultation which includes both lake and local (off-lake) community residents, the business community- including Realtors, resort owners, contractors, municipalities and all related government departments, organizations, and agencies.

Goal
    The goal of a Lake Plan is to produce a unified set of recommendations for the protection of the lake's special areas and features through community stewardship, land use planning and policy approaches. The current institutional arrangements for a lake are notably complicated by the sheer number of agencies and government bodies having jurisdiction over this area. As such, practices and policies are currently recognized as requiring more consistency and clarity. This comprehensive approach to sustainable lake planning addresses the current need to integrate all community, professional and government approaches to this complex task.

Objectives
    The intent is to clarify and harmonize all of the existing policies and practices and to promote a plan which ultimately produces a less complicated, streamlined set of guidelines (best practices) for all lake residents and lake users. The proactive plan includes a vision of long-term protection and sustainability of the lake's ecosystem and associated benefits for future generations of residents. Measurable objectives and targets are established in order to monitor success of the plan over time. Some key objectives include.

• Identification of lake values and concerns held by the community at large;
• Identification of local land use patterns, broader watershed influences, and overall ecological context for environmental planning;
• Evaluation of current land use policy on a watershed scale, including municipal official plans, zoning by-laws, site plan control, etc;
• Recommendations for land and water use practices and policy (best-management practices, appendices or recommendations to official plans, zoning by-laws);
• Recommendations for community stewardship approaches (e.g. long-term monitoring of water quality, restoration projects, education initiatives, communications, etc.);
• Recommendations for targets and objectives to measure goal attainment, i.e. success of lake plan over time.

Progress
    So far we have begun the process with an attempt to determine what are the concerns and priorities of lake residents. This was achieved by asking all stakeholders to complete the questionnaire the OLLA Board of Directors sent out in December 2006. The answers received were tabulated and presented at the AGM in July 2007. If you would like to see what the results were click here. Following the AGM various interest groups were formed, composed of board members and interested property owners to begin the next phase of the process which will be to gather data in various areas that include.

• Land use
• Identification of aquatic and wildlife populations
• Water levels and water quality
• Septic systems and ground water
• History of the lake
• Impact of development on carrying capacity
• Mining issues
• Shoreline rehabilitation and maintenance
• Wetland use and protection

    More interested volunteers are needed! If you would like to be involved in any of the above interest groups please contact any member of the OLLA Board of Directors or send an email to OLLA. Once we have obtained the necessary information in these areas of interest we will be able to proceed to the creation of a comprehensive "State of the lake report". There have also been meetings with community partners, including representatives from RVCA, the Township of Rideau Lakes, Ministry of Natural Resources (Ontario) and Ministry of the Environment. A draft "Terms Of Reference" for the Sustainable Lake Plan was drawn up in July 2008. This document can be viewed here in PDF format.

• OLLA Home Page

• The OLLA Board of Directors

• OLLA Membership, Policies and Constitution

• Some information about Otter Lake

• Water quality monitoring

• Water level information

• Sustainable Lake Plan

• Maps, Aerial photos and Satellite Images of Otter Lake

• Useful Information

• Important notices for lake residents

• Other links that may be helpful