Not a very nice day on Saturday. Early morning thunderstorms were followed by wildfire smoke reappearing, and rain showers on and off through the rest of the day. This area just missed a band of afternoon thunderstorms around 4PM. The afternoon temperature only managed to climb to 77F. The storm and smoke have cleared out overnight and Sunday morning is sunny, no smoke in the air, but quite chilly (for July) at 51F. They say that today and Monday will be similar with lots of sunshine, gusty northerly winds, and afternoon highs more like late September than mid-July. Rain is predicted to move back in for Tuesday and Wednesday. The Saturday storms brought just over 6/10th inch of rain.
Decided to use the rainy day for some grocery shopping in town. Guess all 42,000 other seasonal residents (that is not a guess but is a statistic of the population within 25 miles of Bancroft in the summer that Hastings County uses to plan staffing levels) decided the same, as it was fairly crowded. Gave up on lunch at the new brew pub as the line was out the door waiting for a table.
Always get questions this time of year, especially from campers, about campfire and cooking fires during the day during summer months. Here is a link to my interpretation of O.Reg. 207/96 sections 8.1 through 8.4
https://lwra.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/campfire-regulations-summer.pdf
Activity on the Dixon Lake access issue continues quietly behind the scenes. Nothing official to report this week. Hoping to hear more on the 20th, but the issue has progressed to the point that most news is now confidential. (above my pay grade as they say) The last information that I have is that enough people have travelled the waterway that it is easily navigable now.
The OLT hearing on ending the Limerick Estates project for July 22 has been postponed by mutual agreement between the parties until September 29th. There is still hope for a negotiated settlement. From what I have heard there has been no actual on the ground work happening, although I did see a truck exiting the project site from a civil engineering company recently.
. 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 at 9:30AM, all being held sequentially at what is known as Frasers Beach. (169 Limerick Lake North Shore) The traditional sailboat race will be Sunday, August 2, at 2:00PM starting near the Coxwell cottage, (202 Limerick Lake South Shore)
Summer burning rules came into effect on April 1. Fires under 2 meters in diameter 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.
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 recent years. They are on pages 104-114 of the regulations book. Bass started on 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.
