Jun 16, 2014

The following proposal will be put for member vote at the SDRA Annual General Meeting

Introduction

Over the past several months, the SDRA Board has been investigating the feasibility of installing a boat washing station near the Trail's End boat launch.  A boat washing station would help to address part of the Lake Management Plan in reducing the potential impact of invasive species.  During the research period of this project, it was determined that the project would be very complicated and may require the efforts of several members of the Board.  Before committing the Board to the research of this proposal, it was determined that it would be appropriate to first bring the proposal to a vote of SDRA members.

What's In It For Us?

A boat washing station can be one of three options, all of which serve the same purpose; to wash boats and trailers. With boat traffic increasing on the lake, some of which put their watercraft in many other lakes throughout the summer, there is a need to be extra vigilant when it comes to invasive species.  Although the calcium levels in SDRA lakes have not reached 'optimal' levels for some of the more invasive species (i.e. zebra mussels), there are many other plant and animal organisms that can threaten the health of the lakes.  Washing of boats and trailers before launching and after pulling out can greatly reduce the risk of invasive species transfer to and from the lake.  Some of these potential invasives are zebra mussels, spiny water flea and blue green algae which is already present in nearby lakes and can make water toxic to animals and humans.

What is it?

The three options for a boat washing station include; mobile, semi-permanent, and permanent.  All of these options have one major requirement, a wash bed.  A wash bed is usually comprised of a rectangular gravel bed that is several inches thick and with adequate drainage where the boat and trailer are parked prior to washing.  This allows for any organisms to drain away from waterways and wetlands.  With the hard packed soil and rocky terrain, this will be one of the more challenging aspects of the project.

Non-contaminated water is also a necessity to make this boat washing station a success.  Depending on which option is pursued, the water could either be housed in a mobile tank or it can be pumped from the lake.

Regardless of which option is pursued, maintenance and storage of equipment would need to be part of the SDRA operating budget.

Where Would It Go?

There are several factors when choosing an appropriate location.  The site needs to be well away from the target waterbody, there needs to be adequate access for vehicles and boats to drive through, and there needs to be several layers of approvals and permits to use the site for the intended purpose.  Currently, there is piece of roadway near Trail's End that is used for winter and overflow parking for cars and boat trailers.  To the south side of the parking there is a green space that currently holds a Bell payphone and it used to be the site of a public privy. The privy was removed following extensive vandalism. 

This has been determined to be a good site for a new station as it is far enough from the lake to avoid risk of invasive contamination from the wash water.  It also allows for a simpler drainage solution into the ground.  

The proposal went to council on May 5, 2014 and the following is from the minutes of this meeting.

"Moved by Cox, seconded by Snider to support in principle upon receiving the proper documentation from the MNR, Quinte Conservation, the MOE and the KFL&AHU; municipal fees to be waived."

What's Next?

The SDRA Board would like to put forth the motion that the members direct the Board to pursue further research to determine the best option for a boat washing station and to determine initial capital costs and continuous funding mechanisms (ex. Pay-per-use).  

Following approval of the motion, the Board will continue its research and determine if a boat washing station is appropriate and work out the logistics of the station.  Funding may come in the form of government grants, partnerships, surplus reserve or any combination of these sources.  This will be determined once the financial details have been investigated and confirmed.

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