20 | 2017 LAKE STEWARDS NEWSLETTER Beyond the Building: Plan for Your Property by FOCA In addition to the risk management tips presented on the previous page, FOCA encourages you to include these considerations, if you are building or renovating in cottage country: Septic Systems Most of Ontario’s waterfront property owners rely on on- sitewastewatertreatmentsystemstomanagehousehold water. Installing the right septic system and maintaining it properly are critical steps in preventing wastewater from adding excess nutrients to your waterbody, or contaminating groundwater. Avoid constructing patios, decks or parking areas over a septic tile bed, as extra weight can crust pipes and compact the soil, limiting permeability. Ensure ease of access to the septic tank for regular maintenance and servicing, which will vary based upon the size of your tank, and peak usage requirements (more appliances & more visitors means more volume for your septic system). Get important tips from FOCA, and links to related resources, here: https://foca.on.ca/septic-systems/ Shoreline Construction Before you begin any shoreline work—including dock and boathouse construction, aquatic weed removal or beach creation—check for local setback regulations and required permits from your municipality, local Conservation Authority and/or the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF). Additionally, if you are on the Trent Severn Waterway or along the Rideau Canal, Parks Canada must be consulted. Building along your waterfront can have a significant impact on shoreline habitat by coveringfish spawning areas, removing rocksandlogsthatprovideshelter,causingerosionduetobank disturbance, or even introducing toxic substances if improper building materials are chosen. FOCA encourages you to: • Leave native vegetation along shoreline areas, and replant areas that lack trees and shrubs with native varieties of aquatic and upland plants. • Where erosion is a problem, install erosion-control fabric that allows plants to grow through, or a loose rock buffer zone to stabilize an eroding shoreline. More dramatic situations may callforbioengineeringtechniques,suchasbundlesofbranches stakedintothebank,orbrushlayersonsteeperbanks. • Don’t mow right to the waterfront; maintain a minimal pathway for water access, and keep development back from the shoreline. Top erosion tip: A naturalized shoreline is generally considered the best multi-purpose approach to protecting your waterfront. Best of all, naturalized shorelines mean less work for you! Get more tips in FOCA’s Shoreline Owners’ Guide to Healthy Waterfronts. In early 2017, changes were proposed to the Ontario Building Code (OBC) which would have required mandatory 5-year pump-outs for onsite wastewater (septic) systems. Based largely on backlash from rural municipalities and an ongoing lack of adequate treatment for septage—especially in cottage country—FOCA has learned that mandatory pump-outs will not be included in the new OBC. FOCA is currently a member of the Province’s Hauled Sewage Working Group. Update on Septic Issues In May 2017, FOCA provided input into a proposed revision to the MNRF’s Public Lands Act, which would enable certain occupations of public land without the need for a permit, lease, or license of occupation. Effective June 1, 2017 Ontario Regulation O.Reg.161/17 came into effect. The important changes now mean that a person can occupy public lands without a permit (subject to some conditions, and only if allowed by municipal bylaw, or Federal statute) for boat lifts, boat ramps, marine railways and docks, single-storey boathouses, swim rafts, ramps, jumps and slalom courses. Link to the full decision and get further information, here: https://foca.on.ca/municipal-authority-over- boathouses-decision/ Update on Dock Permits