Our Source of Water & Inspiration
MRPOA members cherish the Moon River and its watershed from its source at the Bala Falls down to Ragged Rapids GS and the Moon River holding dam in the Township of Muskoka Lakes, Ontario, Canada. MRPOA represents and informs its members about issues of local interest, organizes numerous social activities (including a Regatta) and works to improve and promote the environmental health of the Moon River.
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President Sandy Currie reports
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We had a fantastic day for clean-up with 14 or so members participating including our hard working mayor and Paul. When I receive the photos; they will be posted and names named.
This coming Saturday, April 28 is Community Clean-Up Day
Property owners may dispose of waste, including hazardous waste, at the regular dump for free.
MRPOA has taken responsibility for public areas of Burgess Island and its connecting bridges.
We will gather refuse into bags to be taken to the big bin in Glen Orchard. We will also clean the area of dead brush and other unsightly items.
I suggest we gather in the parking lot across from the United Church at 10:00 AM. We should easily be done by noon.
The weather forecast calls for sunny, cool day. Please let us know if you will be participating.
More info here: http://www.muskokalakes.ca/files/%7BEE363B5F-F155-4CFD-B0D1-83705E828C60%7D2012%20Community%20Clean%20Up.pdf
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The 2011 Moon River water quality report is here:
http://mrpoa.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Moon-River-Water-Quality-Report-2011-for-Members.pdf
Thanks very much to our present “Aquaman” Bruno Polewski and to his crew of able volunteers namely:
Simon Dwyer, Tara Murphy, Victoria Murphy, Anne Polewski, Bill Purkis.
Well done!
Should you wish to read the massive 15 MB report in its entirety please visit the Muskoka Lakes Association here: http://www.mla.on.ca/Page.asp?PageID=122&ContentID=5116&SiteNodeID=185&BL_ExpandID=
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BALA FALLS PETITION
TO The Legislative Assembly of Ontario:-
MPP Norm Miller’s petition re the Bala Falls landscape is here:
http://mrpoa.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/BALA-FALLS-PETITION-six-person.pdf
Print some copies and get them filled in at family or social gatherings. Then send the originals to MPP Norm Miller and please send a copy to our Secretary.
or
Room 440, Main Legislative Building, Queen’s Park, Toronto, ON M7A 1A8
Let’s create a snow storm of petitions at Queen’s Park!
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Member Anne Polewski has graciously placed her remarkable old postcard collection of Bala views on the web in order to share it with other lovers of Bala. For a fabulous walk down memory lane:
Click here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2396040033134.120413.1614963943&type=1&l=91451c5cf9
Thanks very much Anne.*********************************************************
Saturday, December 3rd at 6:00 PM
Trek to Bethlehem 2011
Almost 700 souls made the Trek this year.
It was truly magical! Congrats to those hardy souls who braved the cold and helped to put on another great show. A special “tip of the hat” to Nan and Patricia.
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Lake Plan Action
Update List of Endangered and Threatened Species Found in the Bala Area
Members are asked to Please Report Any Sightings in Last 20 Years
Contact Sec@mrpoa@org if you would like some direction and to share your photos.
Photographs are Best Evidence – See below for details on reporting.
Ontario Nature (formerly Federation of Ontario Naturalists) says it is extremely helpful and important to file an endangered species report with the MNR of sightings of turtles, Massasauga Rattlesnakes, and other reptiles, amphibians etc. Specifically:
| Reptiles Blanding’s Turtle Common Snapping Tutle Eastern Hog-nosed Snake Five-lined Skink Northern Ribbonsnake Spotted Turtle |
Common Map Turtle Eastern Foxsnake Eastern Milksnake Massasauga Rattlesnake Stinkpot Turtle |
| Plants Branched Bartonia Butternut Forked Three Awned Grass |
Broad Beech Fern Engelmann’s Quillwort |
| Insects Monarch Butterfly |
West Virginia White Butterfly |
This link: http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/Species/2ColumnSubPage/276503.html
gives you the scientific name you may need to fill out the form on the NHIC link above.
It’s especially helpful if you can report a Blanding’s turtle, Massassauga Rattlesnake, a Stinkpot Turtle or other threatened ones. They are more “valuable” sightings than the Northern Map Turtle or the Snapping Turtle.
You can get GPS coordinates for the report by using this link
http://itouchmap.com/latlong.html
If anyone needs help, the people at the Turtle Tally at the Toronto Zoo will help to confirm identification if a photograph is submitted. http://www.torontozoo.com/adoptapond/TurtleTally.asp?t=form
Here is another link that may be helpful. Many of the endangered and threatened species that are found in Bala are also found around Georgian Bay. This link lists many of the species at risk in our area. http://www.gbbr.ca/species-at-risk/our-natural-neighbourhood.html
Many thanks to the Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve
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The Moon River Property Owners Association is sponsoring
A Birthday Party!
You’re Invited!
Where: Margaret Burgess Park, Bala
North Bala Falls beside Bala United Church.
Note: If the weather is bad, we’ll be indoors at The Legion.
When: Friday, July 1, 2011 from 8:00pm to 10:00pm.
Note: DJ Shakes will be performing live from 7 to 8 PM.
What to Bring: Chairs, flashlight & drinks. No alcohol please!
Note: Please remember to bring along a donation of non-perishable food for the food bank!
Come for fun, fireworks (at 9:45pm) & a piece of Bala’s largest ever birthday cake!
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For 2011 news and upcoming events click here: Ripples 2011
May 30, 2011
To All MRPOA Members
Well it certainly looks as though spring is becoming summer! Finally!!
The Spring 2011 edition of Moon River Ripples is now available by following this link. Your Board hopes that you will find it informative and helpful.
In addition to the items contained in Ripples, I would like to take an opportunity to make mention of several important items that I feel should be brought to your attention.
MRPOA Spring Members Meeting
Our traditional spring meeting will be taking place this weekend. The details are as noted below:
Date: Saturday, June 4, 2011
Location: The Royal Canadian Legion Hall, Bala
Time: 10:00am to 11:00am. The doors will be open at 8:45am to permit those who have not already renewed memberships to do so in a timely manner.
Please do not forget to bring an item or two for the Bala Food Bank. Donations will be collected at the door.
New Director
Following her election as Mayor of the Township of Muskoka Lakes, Mrs. Alice Murphy resigned her position on the Board of MRPOA.
Replacing Alice is Mrs. Lynda Petrie. Lynda has kindly taken on Deb Ylanko’s role as Treasurer and Deb has taken Alice’s old role as Secretary.
I would like to thank Alice for her efforts last year on behalf of MRPOA and wish her success as our new Mayor.
Also, a thank you to Lynda and Deb for their enthusiastic and creative approaches to their new roles for MRPOA.
High Water
As we have all seen in the past weeks the waters of the Moon River are still fluctuating considerably.
The following message has been received by MRPOA from OPG. It comments on these fluctuations.
May 2011
RAGGED RAPIDS GS OUTAGE NOTICE
Ontario Power Generation (OPG) is conducting repairs at its Ragged Rapids Generating Station (GS) beginning Monday May 16, 2011 through June 3, 2011. Ragged Rapids GS is located on the Musquash River downstream of the Bala Dam, which is the outlet of Lake Muskoka. OPG also owns and operates the Moon River Dam, located on the Moon River downstream of the community of Bala.
The initial stages of this major outage at Ragged Rapids GS will require diving activity at the station. For worker safety, zero flow conditions will be required through and around Ragged Rapids GS. The zero flow conditions will be required during daytime work hours while workers are in the water. The zero flow conditions will be lifted overnight.
The zero flow requirements at Ragged Rapids GS will result in minor changes to flows and water levels in the river below Bala, on the Moon and Musquash Rivers, and at Go Home Lake during the duration of the working being conducted.
Along the Moon River during daytime hours, flows and consequently elevations will be slightly higher than they will be during the course of the evening and through the night. During daytime hours, elevations will increase slightly downstream of Bala and lower slightly in the evening. During daytime hours, flows and consequently elevations in the Musquash River and Go Home Lake will be lower and will increase slightly at night.
It is important to note that these daily fluctuations will occur gradually, meaning changes in levels will occur over several hours. In addition, the changes in elevation will be limited to the normal operating range. Natural fluctuations and flow changes due to natural events, such as storm events, will not be influenced by this outage.
OPG has been in communication with the Ministry of Natural Resources to ensure the Muskoka River Water Management Plan guidelines and requirements are met while this work is performed.
For more information, contact John Letherby, OPG Public Affairs Advisor, at (705) 687-6551 ext. 8.
MRPOA hopes to have an update from OPG on this matter in time for our meeting this weekend.
In the interim, boaters are asked to be mindful when operating in the river. Wash from boats, combined with high river levels, can cause damage to boats and docks. Please slow down as much as possible.
Don’t forget, you can be held responsible for damage to someone else’s property, if it is caused by your boat.
See you on the Moon!
Sandy Currie
1116 Woodington Lane
Oakville, ON L6H 7T9
T: 905.845.1092
F: 905.849.3776
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