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Kearney Shoreline Clean Up, Sept 10-17, 2011
A big “Thank You” to all of those who helped with KWEF’s first annual Shoreline Cleanup! This was a worthwhile endeavour as the tally of what was removed from our beaches and shorelines shows: DATA CARD Overall Tally Shoreline and recreational activities Water and fishing activities
Dumping and Litter
Washed into river from an old farm dump site: tin cans – 12, metal –3, glass jars – 3, metal car parts – 2, metal siding – 1 section Areas that were cleaned: Lynx (Groome) Lake – Big Island, Squirrel Island, and Sunrise access, M383 Common Area shoreline Fisher ( Perbeth) Lake shoreline Clam Lake – no results as yet. Sand Lake – Emerald Island Magnetewan River – below Sand Lake rapids to Mag River Boat Launch on 518 below Cashman’s Creek- From bridge at 518 E to rapids between Little Beaver and Beaver L. - Beside bridge on 518 E/ Mag River boat launch – west side of Beaver Lake - From rapids between Little Beaver and Beaver and east half of Beaver L. - Parking area beside Beaver lake Lion’s Park Mc Manus Beach
Septic Systems and "Well Aware" Program.
OGWA members in Muskoka
Directory of Licensed Well Contractors
Septic System Contractors (List to follow shortly)
"Information from Public Websites/Provided to KWEF by Muskoka Heritage - May 2011"
Kearney Dog Sled Races, Feb 2011 KWEF was at the dogsled races again in Feb 2011.
Summer 2010 Workshops Wetlands and the Watershed, Creating a Watershed Report Card.
The date of our public workshop will be Saturday August 14 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. The Topic will be Wetlands and the Watershed, Creating a Watershed Report Card. Our speakers will be Jan McDonnell, MNR biologist, and Judi Brouse, Director of Watershed Programs, Muskoka Watershed Council. The workshop will be sponsored by KWEF and the Town of Kearney.
KWEF at the Kearney Dog Sled Races, Feb 2010
22 people,(8 adults and 14 children), attended the workshop, Wildlife CSI. John Van Geene, the MNR Conservation officer explained what he does and the equipment he must wear to do his job. He had examples of many types of fur and antlers from Ontario animals. John gave the audience a lot of information from his wide range of knowledge of animals and their habits, as well as tips for human interaction with nature. he also explained conservation laws and why they are needed . The children played a game called Oh Deer to illustrate why and how the Ministry determines how many deer hunting licenses to issue. Outside 6 different "crime scenes" were set up and based on a clue and the evidence provided, participants had to solve the "crime". Each child received a prize at the end of the workshop. Many thanks to Mike Walsh, Muskoka Stewardship Council, and to John Van Geene for an enjoyable workshop!
The Year in Review - 2009 KWEF is a volunteer stewardship group whose focus is to educate the public to follow environmentally sustainable practices, to monitor water quality, and to promote ecologically sound development in the area of the headwaters of the Magnetewan River Watershed. Here is a brief update of the past year’s activities: Education KWEF had volunteers available to answer questions and distribute educational materials at both the Regatta and the Kearney Dogsled Races. Materials are also made available in an ongoing basis on the shelves outside the Town Office or from the local Cottager’s Associations. Ask Brandi about other books and environmental publications donated to the Library by KWEF. Two free public workshops were offered in the summer of 2009 and were well attended.
Septics 101 provided information on septic technologies, maintenance, and trouble shooting regarding on site waste water management.
The other workshop, Wildlife CSI, was a great family program with lots of activity and information about the wildlife that surrounds us. Both workshops were well attended. Water Quality KWEF continues to monitor Ontario Lake Partner Program volunteers for this area, making sure there are volunteers for each of the inhabited lakes and offering assistance should the volunteers need it. A collation of the LPP results over the past few years will be available on our website, www.kwef.ca shortly. Sustainable Development We have had some success this year in making sure that proposed waterfront development is screened to ensure that it will not negatively impact the lake.
2008 The Year in Review KWEF directors have been actively working on behalf of the Kearney Watershed dwellers throughout the year. Directors met monthly throughout 2008. Two directors attended a two day workshop sponsored by the Muskoka Heritage Foundation. The Community Based Social Marketing Workshop seminar was held to teach participants how to encourage people to change existing behaviours. (A summary is available elsewhere on the website) KWEF Photo Contest was held in recognition of Kearney’s Centennial celebrations to promote awareness of this Website. The WINNERS ARE ON OUR WEBSITE, Click Here, and enjoy some of Kearney’s incomparable natural beauty. Graphite Mine Consultation has been ongoing with Don Baxter, throughout the year. On the recommendation of KWEF and the environmental advisory committee, Gartner Lee was employed to retest several sites at and near the mine, as was recommended in the 2005 report. Results of this summer’s limited testing were shared with Don and with all of the Ministries involved. Since the mine is developing a closure plan with a view to reopening for production, the entire Gartner Lee report and this recent report were sent to the Ministry of Northern Mines and Development. For further information on their review, contact Rick Bradley, Mine Rehabilitation specialist, at 1-888-415-9845 ext.5795. KWEF consolidated questions from interested members of the public and submitted them for the open information session held in the Kearney Community Centre held this fall. This information session was well attended and the experts available answered many of the questions and concerns from residents. Click► HERE for more detail. Educational Awareness subcommittee met several times early in the year to plan for information distribution. Various ministries and organizations were approached and provided educational materials on several different subjects of interest to rural homeowners. KWEF had two new brochures, Lake Health and Algae and Waterfront Living. Brochures continue to be available in acrylic racks outside the Town office. Cottager’s association reps were invited to an open house where they were able to pick up any materials available from KWEF for distribution to residents in their area, including complete packages for new residents. Free environmental educational materials were also available at the Regatta this year. Satellite maps and the handbook On the Living Edge were sold to raise funds for KWEF’s work. These were also available at Penny’s Place, the Tourist Information Centre on Hwy 11, and the Town Office. Two Nature Quest Workshops were offered in Kearney in partnership with Muskoka Stewardship Council and Kearney Parks and Recreation Committee. The workshop on GPS in August was well attended. Unfortunately "Low Impact Camping" had to be cancelled due to a lack of registrants.
Water quality: KWEF and the Environmental Advisory Committee worked together to solve the water quality problems that occurred in the Community Centre. A new well was dug and a new water treatment system was installed. KWEF continues to make sure that volunteers are in place on all the inhabited lakes in Kearney to sample the lakes under the Ontario Lake Partner programme. Results for water clarity and spring phosphorus are available from: The Ontario Lake Partner programme Tel (Toll Free
- Ontario Only):1-800-470-8322 Near Shore phosphorus sampling was done by KWEF volunteers every 2 weeks at 7 sites from the inflow of the Magnetewan River to Beaver Lake to the outflow of the Magnetewan River from Perry Lake. This is the area of most intense waterfront development in the Town of Kearney. We hope that results from this sampling over a period of years will be able to assist in flagging any undesirable change in water quality and will provide guidance in terms of future planning. This was a very challenging year to begin this programme. I would especially like to commend the brave volunteers who went out in some very inclement weather to do the sampling. We are awaiting the results for this.
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staunton@bell.net to E-mail Steve
Taunton with
questions or comments about this web site design.
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day, 
answering questions from the public and were generous with the handout material (including stickers and bear whistles that attracted the younger folk!)
helped out on both days with fundraising and raising awareness of KWEF's practices. 
