Presentation Overview Lakeland Alliance Background Programs and Initiatives Successes Challenges Future Thanks/Questions
What is the Lakeland Alliance? A collaborative of government agencies and environmental organizations working partners and landowners to improve the quality of the lakes and rivers throughout the greater Kawartha Lakes watershed. Steering Committee Members: Bancroft Area Stewardship Council Federation of Ontario Cottagers Associations Fisheries and Oceans Canada Haliburton Highlands Stewardship Council Kawartha Conservation MOE-Lake Partner Program Otonabee Region Conservation Authority Peterborough County Stewardship Council Peterborough Green-Up Victoria Land and Water Stewardship Council
Background and History Why an Alliance? Highly developed shorelines in the region with significant future demand for shoreline properties Alliance members with limited capacity and resources to deliver programs directly to shoreline owners Funders want to support projects with collaboration and coordination amongst multiple stakeholders that meets a need or demand Opportunity to improve communications between organizations offering stewardship programs
Programs and Initiatives Shoreline Advisor Program Your Lake, Your Business Workshops Real Estate Agent Courses (RECO) Annual Lakeland Conference A Shoreline Owner s Guide To Lakeland Living Alliance Website
The Shoreline Advisor Program How it Works: The Advisor is lead on a tour of the property by the landowner providing practical advice and hands-on guidance pertaining to: shoreline naturalization erosion mitigation septic system awareness pollution prevention invasive species fish and wildlife habitat enhancement It is up to the discretion of the property owner as to what aspects of their site is addressed by the Advisor.
The Advisor Program is: Free! There is no charge to the landowner Non-Regulatory. We do not report to any level of government Voluntary. It s up to the landowner to participate. Confidential. We respect the privacy of the landowner by strictly following federal privacy laws
Your Lake, Your Business Seminars Making the link between a healthy lake and a successful lake-based businesses (resorts, campgrounds and marinas) Topics addressed included; state of the fisheries (MNR), water quality (MOE), Clean Marine program (OMOA), trends towards green tourism (TOES) and sustainable business practices (PGU) Hosted by The Irwin Inn on Stoney Lake and The Birch Cliff Lodge on Baptiste Lake
Real Estate Agent Courses Marketing and Understanding Waterfront Properties and Understanding Septic Systems, Wells and Marketing Healthy Homes Partnered with Kawartha Conservation (RECO certified delivery agent) to support the delivery of 8 professional development courses
Annual Lakeland Conference One day Conference covering lake stewardship issues important to shoreline property owners 2010 will be 10 th Anniversary of the Conference
A Shoreline Owner s Guide To Lakeland Living Initially produced in partnership with Fleming credit for product students and Peterborough County Stewardship Council Due to demand by lake associations 50,000 copies of a second provincial edition were printed and distributed in collaboration with FOCA, RVCA and MVCA
www.lakelandalliance.net
Successes Worked with 8 lake associations to deliver site visits to over 270 individual shoreline property owners Provided 6 professional development credits to over 100 Real Estate agents Engaged over 40 lake-based businesses and partners in the Your Lake, Your Business Workshops 110 shoreline property owners attended the 9 th Annual Lakeland Conference in Haliburton Fundraising efforts (Trillium, EcoAction, RBC Blue Water Foundation, Helen McCrae Peacock Foundation)
Challenges Reaching the unconverted waterfront owners Logistics of providing Advisor services in an efficient manner throughout the region given a limited budget (Advisor time and travel) Promotion: what works best? Buy-in from large Kawartha Lakes vs. Haliburton & Bancroft areas
Future Cost-sharing initiative for projects arising from Environmental Farm Plans that improve the quality of surface water outputs to lakes in Kawarthas (PCSC, OSCIA and PCEFP Coordinator) Current funding to provide two more years of current programming (ongoing fundraising efforts)
Thank you! Questions? Michael Gibbs Lakeland Alliance Coordinator 705.745.3238 x.207 lakelandalliance@cogeco.net www.lakelandalliance.net