Hello everyone,
Docks have been adrift all over Lac Pemichangan for quite a while. It’s always a blessing in disguise to see them float by – travelling docks mean the ice is gone! This year the ice melted completely on the morning of April 23, just in time for the start of fishing season the next day… Thank you to everyone who helped us follow the ice melt and, as always, identify missing docks by posting on the Friends of Lake Pemichangan (FLP) Facebook page.
As usual, the FLP Board continued to meet once a month throughout the winter. In particular, it reviewed the results of the fall study on the effects of milfoil on lake trout spawning beds (see below). This newsletter also features information on the new rules regarding recreational boat licenses (the number affixed to your boat). And we introduce (a bit late) the two people who joined the Board last summer. The rest of the current Board was introduced in the Spring 2024 Newsletter. FLP is always looking for new Board members so please contact Jeff Stanier if you feel like joining a group of VERY friendly volunteers. The election of directors takes place at the annual general meeting in July. Enjoy!
Lac Pemichangan Trout Study
FLP is obligated to restrict sharing the precise locations of the five lake trout spawning grounds to safeguard them.
The inventory of aquatic plants was carried out at the spawning grounds (and in adjacent areas) and the milfoil amount was recorded. The lake bottom at the spawning grounds was assessed. The presence of trout was studied when the water was between 6°C and 14°C (43°F and 56°F). Freshwater green plants (23 species) were seen in the 57 sites surveyed around the five spawning grounds. Milfoil was found in 90% of sites and was the dominant species in 50% of sites. Trout were directly observed at three of five spawning grounds.
The lake trout spawning grounds in Lac Pemichangan generally offer good conditions and no major management actions are required in the short term. FLP and its partners will continue to monitor spawning beds (and consider manual removal along the edges) and disseminate best practices on the reduction of nutrient (phosphates, fertilizers, etc.) input by humans to avoid problems for spawning grounds.
FLP gratefully thanks FLP members and other volunteers for their financial support of this research project through cash contributions and by providing services and their time.
New Pemichangan Fishing Limit
As fishing enthusiasts likely know, the lake trout season opened at Lac Pemichangan (Zone 10) on April 24. Did you know that this year the “keep” limit is down to one trout per day? This measure to protect lake trout, already in effect in other zones, is now being expanded to all areas. You can purchase or renew your fishing license online or at retail locations such as the convenience store in Point-Comfort or the Marché Bon Ami in Lac-Sainte-Marie. Don’t forget to post photos of your catch on Facebook!
New Transport Canada Recreational Boating License Rules
Recent significant Transport Canada changes to the Small Vessel Regulations have been in effect since December 31, 2025. The changes relate mostly to the Pleasure Craft License (PCL) – the unique identification number affixed to the bow of your boat – rather than the Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC), that you must carry with you as the operator.
At the beginning of 2026, the PCL licensing system shifted from a “lifetime” or 10-year model to a 5-year cycle to help authorities manage abandoned boats. All PCLs, whether new or renewed, are now valid for only 5 years. If you hold an old permit with no expiration date, an expiration date has now been assigned based on its original issuance date. For example:
Issued before 1975: expires March 31, 2026
Issued between 1975 and 1985: expires December 31, 2026
Issued between 1986 and 1995: expires December 31, 2027
For the first time, a $24-fee applies to new, renewed, transferred or replaced licenses. Updating your personal information (such as a change of address) is free. You now have only 30 days (down from 90) to update your name or address on the license. As of December 31, 2027, recreational sailboats over 6 m (19.5 ft) in length will also be required to have a PCL (but this measure does not apply to human-powered vessels such as kayaks). Although licensing rules have been tightened, the main operational requirements for recreational boaters remain largely the same.
The PCOC (Boat Operator’s Card) never expires and does not need to be renewed. You must always have it to operate a motorboat, regardless of the engine’s horsepower. For motorized vessels, the PCL (license) remains mandatory only for recreational boats with a total engine power of 10 HP (7.5 kW) or more. Operating a vessel with an invalid or expired license can result in a $250 fine. Click here to check your license’s expiration date or renew it online.
Do you know how old you have to be to have a PCOC? Children younger than 12 can drive a motorised boat with a maximum of 10 HP (7.5 kW) without direct supervision and even they need to carry a card. For more information on this and other boating rules and regulations, check Transport Canada’s Safe Boating Guide.
New Board Members
Susan Annis – Lake Health
I married into Lake Pemichangan. My husband Peter’s family was among an early wave of Ottawa folk who built cottages in the early 1960’s. Pemichangan is in the heart and soul of our family and our kids and now our grandkids! I founded and worked over the years for a national not-for-profit human resources organization for the cultural sector. I joined the Board to support its efforts to protect and ensure the health of the lake and our relations with the local community.
Joe Irvine – Lake Health
I have been fortunate to have been coming to the lake since 1968, eventually taking over the family cottage on Shouldice Bay in 2010. I started my career in biology and genetics followed by medical research and research management. My wife Christine and I are based in Ottawa, but after retirement we winterized the cottage and now spend as much time as possible at the lake. I joined the FLP Board to focus on lake health.
Spring has arrived… and the birds are back!
The return of spring means the return of migratory birds such as loons, mallards, mergansers, and Canada geese. Most of us are not that happy to have to welcome back Canada geese, who have become increasingly common at the lake. Migratory birds are protected by law: it is illegal to destroy their nests or disturb them. The presence of waterfowl enriches our landscapes and is a reflection of the vitality of our water bodies. How to avoid the nuisances associated specifically with Canada geese? Here are some simple tips: avoid feeding them, limit large areas of grass along the shore (which attract them), and maintain a natural, densely vegetated riparian zone.
And May just happens to be an ideal time to plant: the ground is thawed, the heat is not upon us yet, and the growing season is just around the corner. Whatever the reason, an ideal shoreline should be lush and include a variety of plants, shrubs, and trees that form a beautiful natural border… Does your shoreline fit this description? Because, yes, your waterfront should be entirely covered with plants. The strip of vegetation, measuring about 15 m (50 ft), known as a riparian zone, is essential for the health of a lake. Plants have superpowers. They trap sediments, filter pollutants, cool the water’s edge, and support local flora and fauna… In May, conditions are ideal for plants to take root. So now is the perfect time to work on your shoreline. A plant covered shoreline helps keep Canada geese away from your property and protects the lake’s water quality. A great way to – figuratively, of course – kill two birds with one stone…
Being a Good Lake Citizen
As temperatures rise, we inevitably start thinking about what needs to be done to prepare summer at the lake. Why not take this opportunity to review the FLP Code of Ethics, which is full of advice to help you protect the lake’s water quality and be a good neighbour.
For example, the Code of Ethics encourages the use of eco-friendly cleaners, which go a long way to reducing phosphate levels in the lake. Phosphates cause algae to grow faster than ecosystems can handle. Algae blooms affect water quality, food resources and habitats, and decrease the oxygen that fish and other aquatic life need to survive.
Outreach
Outreach has become an important part of the Board’s work. At the provincial level, the Board maintains ties with various Quebec water protection organizations such as RAPPEL to know what other Quebec lake associations are doing. For example, FLP has learned that several associations receive some type of municipal funding. At the regional level, FLP is a member of RPEVG (Regroupement pour la protection de l’eau de la Vallée de la Gatineau), comprised of lake associations from the MRC de la Vallée-de-la-Gatineau. FLP is engaged with these regional and provincial organizations. In February, Board members helped staff the RPEVG booth at the Ottawa Boat Show to spread the word about invasive species and the importance of boat washing in our region. Board members attended a recent RAPPEL Water Symposium and will be participating in an upcoming RPEVG Forum. The Forum will include representatives of local city councils, including Gracefield and Lac-Sainte-Marie. At the local level, Board members also meet with Mayors Mathieu Caron (Gracefield) and Marc Beaudoin (Lac-Sainte-Marie) to explain FLP’s mission and priorities and to learn about municipal policies on issues such as boat washing and managed boat ramps. Progress is being made on all fronts, even if it sometimes feels like things are moving at a snail’s pace.
Picnic and Campsite Corner
Adopt a Site. Once again, the FLP will be asking for volunteers for our Adopt-a-Site Program.
The Adopt-a-Site program is critical to the ongoing health of Lac Pemichangan’s picnic sites and campsites because neither the Province nor the Municipality has a mandate to look after the sites. Adopting a site is a great way to help preserve the ecology of the lake. It is also a wonderful way for children and grandchildren to volunteer and learn to take ownership for the health of the lake. Once a site is adopted, we encourage individuals and families to visit the adopted site 3-4 times over the summer to see if it is in good condition (damage to trees, abandoned garbage, fires not properly extinguished, or other items needing attention). We encourage volunteers to take gloves and garbage bags to carry out any litter that may be found. If visitors are using the site, you can engage with them to ask how their visit is going and whether the site was clean when they arrived. It is a great way to let people know that most of the upkeep is done by volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Todd Norton.
Going Camping? Heading out to camp on Lac Pemichangan this spring? Please consider picking up kindling and firewood at the local convenience stores in Point-Comfort and Lac-Sainte-Marie and carrying it in with you. Wood purchased locally has likely been cut from local indigenous sources. Cutting trees and shrubs or picking up small branches and other woody debris from the ground near campsites contribute to soil erosion and the exposure of the roots of existing trees.
Cutting up old trees on your property and not sure what to do with the wood? Consider donating wood cut on your property to one of the highly utilized campsites on the lake. Fire-sized cut wood only and no brush, please. If you have wood to donate, please contact Todd Norton.
Membership
The FLP currently has approximately 175 members. There are about 300 property owners at the lake. Interested in joining the FLP? It’s easier than ever and renewals are automatic. For more information, please contact Wanda Taylor.
Have a general concern? Want to help out? Please contact Jeff Stanier (613-324-7277). The FLP wants to hear from you!
Sincerely,
Jeff Stanier
FLP President
