A canoe ride marathon: 9 km!

Fragile shorelines

Since I cannot see the lake conditions, I try to go out early, before winds pick up or the summer residents get going on their boats, donuts, and jetskis. The fishermen are nice and quiet, and respect the tricky status of a canoe. As I finished my trek, yahoos in a speed boat were zooming around behind me. I HOPE they were teaching someone to drive the boat, but it was a bit unsettling.

I was a bit late, at 9:00 a.m., as it was a chilly morning (10 C./50 F.) and I wanted it to warm up. No sense having a sore butt AND being too cold!

As soon as I launched a woman approached me in a kayak. She was trying to find Jebbs Creek, which lead into the Tay River and into Perth. Fortuitously, I'd printed a map of this very spot, as that was my goal, to see what the area looked like. I led the group for a time, then I slowed to grab some photos.

Selfie!

Great way to travel!

Fishin'!

The water was calm, and it was a perfect morning. A middle-aged couple was sitting on their dock, with their Husky eagerly bopping around. The properties are interesting, with a variety of 2- and 4-season homes.

I was really surprised to see some very large homes, with manicured grass right at the edge of the fragile ecosystem. Nearby Westport's issues have hit the news: Blue-green algae in Upper Rideau Lake contain toxins, tests confirm.  Otty Lake has had some green algae. 

We've learned much about shallow lakes, algea and blue-green algae, thanks to the work of Environment Ontario, Watersheds Canada, and the Muskoka Watershed Council.

Watersheds Canada has a program to help lakefront homeowners convert their city-style lawns back to ecosystem-friendly waterfronts: The Natural Edge.
Such a shock coming around a bend and spotting manicured lawns.

Since the water is so shallow,
I guess this dock has to be jutting into the creek.

Someone has put new branches across the creek mouth

Before they knew better...
they built stone walls.

Manicured lawns

Otty Lake property owners have worked hard to create fish spawning habitats. The lake is very shallow, maximum 60', and zebra mussels abound. In the creek I spotted a lot of fish; sunfish, trout, and three long, skinny ones I think are carp or pike. There aren't many pike in this lake, they tell us.
hard to photograph the fish!!! I did see some on nests.

There was a beaver dam across the creek, at one point. I read somewhere about some issues with its removal in the not-so-distant past! (You aren't supposed to remove them in this time and age.)

Old beaver dam

You can see shiny Mica in the base of the old beaver dam

 Otty Lake fish habitat celebrates successful Phase II

October 7, 2014 by Lake 88 News Staff 

In all, 175 spawning beds, 335 sunken wood clusters and 58 cornerstones have been installed in both Phases one and two. The team will also submerge and anchor recycled Christmas trees on the bed of the lake to provide areas where fish can rest, find shelter and feed.

Screen captures from my GPS! Evidence of a good trip.

Despite the kayakers going ahead of me, happily chatting, I did spot a lot of critters.


Here are some more of my photos:

 

Look who was hiding in my dirt pile!

Nearly done!

Funny, but the experts tell me that this is a baby watersnake!
I might not have picked it up if I knew that! They are a little more wicked than the docile ratsnakes!

I've been plugging away at this pile for months. Finally, got down to the last few shovel fulls.
Now, my boys (The Twins) had been out helping me. I asked them to find me a snake, as I wanted to get a photo to prove we have Gray Ratsnakes (Pantherophis spiloides)on the property. Buster found the last one, while I was busy digging. He sat there, ears perked up. He'd heard her in the forest.

Love the patterns

Today, he also heard something, as did Felix. But they seemed to know it wasn't a delectable mouse.
My supervisors took off down into the meadow. No helpers today.

This one was so sweet!
They don't have big teeth, and sometimes they pretend to be rattlers, shaking their wee tails. This one was anxious to get away. I just wanted a photo-op and I promised it I wouldn't hurt it.

It sort of swam,
like a water snake,
along the grass

Soft and silky-smooth.

Tried to hide under the tire, which is about 10 cm/ 4" wide

My hands were clean, at least no bug spray or lotion! I'd been hauling dirt for hours, trying to protect my dry plants with more top soil.
For more Reptiles and Amphibians of Ontario...

Watersnakes
Northern Watersnake 
(Nerodia sipedon sipedon)

Current Status & Protection

The northern watersnake is currently listed as Not at Risk under the Ontario Endangered Species Act, 2007 and Not at Risk under the federal Species at Risk Act. The species has also been designated as a Specially Protected Reptile under the Ontario Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act.

so wee!

So. male or female?
Must do some research!

Beautiful flat underbelly, to better climb trees!

Lady, watcha doin'?

 If you spot a reptile, amphibian, go to Ontario Nature and register it!

Report them to the Ontario Reptile and Amphibian Atlas - just set up an account and use this reporting form online.

http://oraa.ca/observationform.asp

oraa.ca

The four categories, or classes, of "at risk" are:
EXTIRPATED - a native species that no longer exists in the wild in Ontario, but still exists elsewhere 
ENDANGERED - a native species facing extinction or extirpation
THREATENED - a native species at risk of becoming endangered in Ontario
SPECIAL CONCERN - a native species that is sensitive to human activities or natural events which may cause it to become endangered or threatened