I am moving this to the top of the news as many boaters are not aware:
Transport Canada is digging into our pocketbooks this year. Most of us now have to renew the registration of our boats every 5 years. Pretty much applies to every boat that has an engine of 10hp or more regardless of age. More information here:
https://tc.canada.ca/en/marine-transportation/vessel-licensing-registration/licensing-pleasure-craft/apply-manage-pleasure-craft-licence-pcl/apply-manage-pleasure-craft-licence-pcl
There is a $250 fine if you get pulled over for a safety inspection this season and your registration is not up to date.
I was pulled over by the OPP on Friday, May 22 and the 2nd question they asked (1st was life jackets) was, "Do you have your up to date registration?" So they are definitely checking. Once I showed them my registration, they were no longer interested in me and pulled away.
Looks like it is going to turn wet any minute now and stay that way for the balance of the weekend. When totaled up, the forecast from Saturday afternoon to Monday morning is for almost 2 inches of rain. At least it is quite a bit warmer than it has been. Saturday morning was 50F. Far cry from the 28F on Friday.
There was another hopefully positive development on the Dixon Creek access issue on May 1st, and a further update on May 12th. First, we learned that it is not a creek or river. The waterway does not fall enough meters per kilometer to be considered a creek or river. It is officially a "waterway." 2nd is that taking identifiable photos of anyone on a waterway without their permission is illegal. The Municipality is quietly working behind the scenes on a solution to ensure continued motorboat access to Dixon Lake for years to come. The Clerk recently published a synopsis of correspondence with Transport Canada (which was very encouraging) on the issue on their website.
Whether renewing or becoming a new member of the Limerick Waterways Ratepayers Association (LWRA), you can do it easily on their website at: lwra.ca. Dues are $50 per year per cottage. Please support the organization that works on many issues of importance to the lake community. The canoe races, AGM and picnic will be Saturday, August 1st. The traditional sailboat race will be Sunday, August 2, at 2:00PM.
The LWRA has been involved with the Lake Partner Program for some 40 years. Here is a link to a graph of water clarity testing results that covers the past 30 years. You can see from the dotted red trend line that there has been almost no change in water clarity in that time.
https://lwra.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Secchi-graph-2025.pdf
The Association is also a member of "Safe-Quiet Lakes." That organization did an in-depth survey of cottagers across eastern Ontario. The results of that survey are available here:
https://lwra.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Safe-Quiet-Lakes-2025-Survey-Report.pdf
There have been several sightings of cormorants on the lake. Here is a link to the 2026 Ontario hunting regulations. We are in WMU 61. Check page 87 for hunting regulations for cormorants. (and if so inclined, please shoot them)
https://lwra.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Hunting-regulations-summary-2026.pdf
Summer burning rules came into effect on April 1. Fires are permitted 7PM to 7AM only through October 31st. Check the municipal website for information regarding total fire bans during the summer should that become necessary. There is also information there on how to apply for a permit for a legal daytime fire through the summer months. (conditions allowing)
The dump is on summer hours through August 31. It is open Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday and holiday Mondays from 11AM to 6:00PM. (Note those are changed hours as of late 2025. It used to be 1PM to 8PM on Wednesday and Sunday) The Roads Department that oversees the landfill is doing a great job of keeping it neat and organized.
The 2026 fishing regulations are on-line.
https://lwra.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2026-fishing-regulations-summary-en-2025-12-08.pdf
The fishing seasons and regulations for this area (zone 15) remain the same as 2025. They are on pages 104-114 of the regulations book. Bass starts June 27 and ends November 30. Trout started January 1 and ends September 30 with the slot size of 16 to 21 inches to be returned to the lake. It is a one-line lake for ice fishing.
