Sharbot Lake Property Owners' Association

02/18/2026

SLPOA Tree Day 2026 Deadline (20 Feb 2026) Fast Approaching

The 20 Feb 2026 Deadline to sign up for this great program is in 2 days
You may remember the Tree Day we held in 2021. Well, we’re doing it again in 2026.
• SLPOA is partnering with Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA) in a program where participants can receive up to 15 native trees and shrubs for their shoreline in return for a minimum $30 donation to the MVCA's Stewardship Program (which includes a charitable tax receipt).
• Eligible participants are shoreline landowners who agree to plant within 45 meters of the lake.
• Planting native trees and shrubs provides wildlife habitat, controls shoreline erosion, and filters pollutants from entering the water.
• The plants will be bare root stock, 24”-36” tall, and available for pickup in spring 2026 at a location to be determined.
• The program includes a variety of shrubs and trees, such as Meadowsweet, Black Chokeberry, Red Maple, and Eastern White Cedar, each with specific growth characteristics and ecological benefits.
• Participants will receive a planting guide with instructions for proper care and maintenance.
For a full description of the program including detailed descriptions of the available plants and for an application form go to SLPOA’s website at: https://slpoa.ca/sharbot-lake-2026-tree-day/
The deadline for applying is February 20th, 2026.

In conjunction with Mississippi Valley Conservation the 2026 Tree Day is happening again this spring.  Orders must be received by February 20th.

02/04/2026

Here is a list of events for the upcoming Heritage Festival.

Heritage Festival is coming up on Family Day Weekend here are the events !

01/23/2026

Here's some important news for boaters from FOCA:

Update January 6, 2026 – Small Vessel Licensing Regulations: Transport Canada (TC) has implemented a new 5-year license period for pleasure craft licenses (PCL) with a $24 service fee to process new, renewed, or transferred PCL applications. There are new requirements to notify TC of changes in boat information or ownership within 30 (not 90) days.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This is different than the ‘Pleasure Craft Operator Card’ that is issued in your name; this is for your boat(s). A copy of the PCL must be carried on board at all times. If you have a boat that was licensed in 1974 or earlier, you must ‘renew’ by March 31st this year, or face fines. If licensed between 1975 and 1985, you have until the end of 2026, etc. Get all the details – including a renewal deadline chart by boat license date – from our colleagues at CanBoat

A Boat License is a paper license similar to your vehicle registration form and it is represented by the 7.5 cm (3 in)...

01/14/2026

The 2026 SLPOA Winter Newsletter is available for your viewing pleasure and information.

Articles include :

-The Effects of Septic Pollution on Biodiversity
-Updates on the Eurasian Watermilfoil problem affecting Sharbot Lake
- The 2026 Lake Tree Day
much more
To view, go to https://slpoa.ca/winter-2026-newsletter/

Your feedback would be welcomed.

Ken Waller
President SLPOA

Please remember that we are always looking for articles, photos and memories for future newsletters. Please send your ideas to Ken Waller at ken.waller@slpoa.ca

01/07/2026

Announcing Lake Tree Day 2026

You may remember the Tree Day we held in 2021. Well, we’re doing it again in 2026.
• SLPOA is partnering with Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA) in a program where participants can receive up to 15 native trees and shrubs for their shoreline in return for a minimum $30 donation to the MVCA's Stewardship Program (which includes a charitable tax receipt).
• Eligible participants are shoreline landowners who agree to plant within 45 meters of the lake.
• Planting native trees and shrubs provides wildlife habitat, controls shoreline erosion, and filters pollutants from entering the water.
• The plants will be bare root stock, 24”-36” tall, and available for pickup in spring 2026 at a location to be determined.
• The program includes a variety of shrubs and trees, such as Meadowsweet, Black Chokeberry, Red Maple, and Eastern White Cedar, each with specific growth characteristics and ecological benefits.
• Participants will receive a planting guide with instructions for proper care and maintenance.

For a full description of the program including detailed descriptions of the available plants and for an application form go to SLPOA’s website at: https://slpoa.ca/sharbot-lake-2026-tree-day/

The deadline for applying is February 20th, 2026.

In conjunction with Mississippi Valley Conservation the 2026 Tree Day is happening again this spring.  Orders must be received by February 20th.

10/09/2025

Are you aware of Lake Links?

What is Lake Links?
Lake Links is a collaborative one-day workshop held every October. It attracts citizens and scientists to share ways we can help sustain our lakes and rivers. Individuals spread across five watersheds in Eastern Ontario and beyond attend this day-long event to learn, network and see what’s new. Each year, Lake Links addresses the lake and river issues that matter most to our communities with expert speakers, breakout sessions, and dynamic presentations.

Here is info on this year's Lake Links. Everyone is welcome.

‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌Watersheds Canada

We are just a few weeks away from the 24th annual Lake Links workshop Saturday October 18th! This year's theme is "Me, My Lake, My Watershed - Living Lakeside, Thinking Watershed Wide", and the event will feature some amazing speakers:

Dmitry Kurylovich, Senior Planner/Project Manager, County of Frontenac
Shannon Lem, Executive Director, Frontenac Arch Biosphere Network
Lesley Lavender, CEO, Federation of Ontario Cottagers' Associations
Manuel Stevens and Daryl Neve, Dog & Cranberry Lakes Association
Laura Kostyniuk, Invasive Species Coordinator, Ducks Unlimited
There will also be a networking time, sharing from community groups, a delicious lunch, and the presentation of the 8th annual Gord Rodgers Memorial Award.

The 24th Annual Lake Links workshop is only available in person this year and presentations will not be recorded. Join us on Saturday, October 18th, 2025 from 10am-3pm at the Elgin Lions Community Hall (19 Pineview Dr, Elgin, ON). Doors will open at 9:30am. Registration is $30 and includes lunch - click here to register now! A full event agenda can be viewed on our website:
https://watersheds.ca/lake-links-2025

Everyone is welcome and it would be fantastic if a Township rep would attend.

09/30/2025

From Councillor Gowdy

09/16/2025

Think lake levels are really low? You're right.
The current lake level is 191.55 metres above sea level (MASL). The historical average for this date is 191.67 MASL so we are 12 cm below the average. Unfortunately, much of the historical data from Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority is corrupted but it appears that the lowest the lake has ever been is 191.50 MASL, or just 5 cm below what it is now.
In spring, the clearance under the Road 38 bridge was as little as 1.26m (about 49"). Today the clearance is 1.85m or about 73".
Sharbot is an uncontrolled lake with no dams controlling the water level. Water is constantly flowing eastward into Elbow Lake and then into the Fall River. In the past month there has only been 13.4mm of rain.

09/13/2025

Practicing Clean, Drain & Dry won't help with Eurasian Watermilfoil but it can slow down the the next invasive aquatic species from infesting Sharbot Lake. The law requires it, common sense demands it.

Washing and drying your boat is one of the most important steps in preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species.

Using the ‘Clean, Drain, Dry’ method, we can all help limit invasion in our native freshwater ecosystems. It should be done anytime you are moving between different bodies of water. Here’s how it works:

🚿 Clean: Inspect your boat’s hull, motor, anchor, trailer, and all other components for plants, animals, mud or debris. On land, remove it all by hand or with a brush and a hose/pressure washer and dispose of it far from the waterway.

💧Drain: On land, open all compartments and remove drain plugs to let excess water drain out from the live wells, bilge, bait wells, and any other water-holding areas.

♨️ Dry: Air-dry your boat and equipment completely. The sun is a powerful tool for neutralizing invasives.

Learn more about this topic by watching our webinar “Great Lakes Aquatic Invasive Species Landing Blitz”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEM-8shqAxA

You can also find the handout for this webinar here:https://cdn.watersheds.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Great-Lakes-Aquatic-Invasive-Species-Landing-Blitz-handout.pdf

09/13/2025

Here's your chance to have a say about what happens in Central Frontenac.

We Want Your Feedback on Parking!

The Township has prepared a preliminary draft of a new Parking By-law and we want to hear from you.
Your input will help us ensure the by-law works for residents, businesses, and visitors.
Please take a few minutes to complete our survey and share your thoughts.
https://centralfrontenac.formbuilder.ca/Parking-Bylaw-Survey

The survey will remain open until September 30, 2025.
Thank you for taking the time to help shape our community!

08/06/2025

Are you missing out on receiving emergency alerts such as fire bans, road closures or local weather alerts? Then sign up for Voyant Alerts.
Voyent Alert! is a multi-purpose communication service used to send alerts to residents, businesses, and visitors during critical events like fires or floods as well as for relevant day-to-day communications such as snow removal advisories, planned maintenance, water advisories, etc.
For Email, Text Message or Voice Call Alerts: Register online at https://register.voyent-alert.com

For more info, including a video on how to sign up, check out the Townships website at
https://www.centralfrontenac.com/en/living-here/voyent-alert-emergency-notification-system.aspx #

In times of crisis, it is important that residents have access to trusted, timely and accurate information to ensure their own safety and that of their family and loved ones. In response to this need, Central Frontenac Township has chosen Voyent Alert! as the communication service provider for these...

08/06/2025

Until further notice, no trash burning, no camp fires. not even a hot flash. Keep our landscape green, not charred black.
Note: This ban includes fireworks!!

Total Burn Ban in Effect

The Township of Central Frontenac is currently under a Total Burn Ban. Under these conditions, all outdoor burning is strictly prohibited. This includes campfires, cooking fires, grass, brush, and any other open-air burning.

If you are caught burning outdoors during this ban, your fire will be extinguished, and your actions may result in a fine.