r/OttawaValleyNature

What is the solution...

Keywords: crown land, junk, canoeing, best backcountry practices, Madawaska Valley

It's not unusual while camping on Crown Land to encounter abandoned junk. These articles are usually left by previous campers who arrive with outboards and who use the same site habitually.

Occasionally junk like a blue thread- bear tarp, is left to mark their territory to give them first dibs if, and when they return the subsequent weekend. Sites often include; foldable yard chairs, tarps, tent poles, bungees, rope, large water bottles, metal grills, and the ubiquitous shelving from abandoned refrigerators. More serious junk involves full size propane BBQs, and an assortment of poorly designed homemade experimental toilets. Derelict picnic tables are the only contributions I find of use which are usually securely chained to a tree by the owner.

The public have a tendency to treat public land differently than their own and have no hesitation with leaving garbage behind.

It could be they rationalize that the chanterelles could be of use to subsequent campers but the yard furnishings are usually broken and have little intrinsic or utilitarian value.

Needless to say, novices and rookie campers who are not familiar with Backcountry etiquette transport inappropriate domestic items abandoning them at campsites after the realization they did not contribute to their backcountry experience.

How can we educate campers that Crown Land belongs to everyone and at the same time nobody? The old adage of pack it in - packet it out seems lost to the current generation.

Photos by the author: Bark Lake September 2025

Keywords: real estate, trees, value, rural prerogative to cut them down,

This photograph was taken at the corner of Division and Round Lake Roads in Round Lake Center. An elderly man wielding a chainsaw arrived in a dilapidated pickup truck and commenced cutting down the mature white pine surrounding this home.

It is a fact that trees increase a property's real- estate value. In suburban Canada homeowners expend considerable effort, time and money attempting to grow ornamental, shade and privacy trees around their properties. Not only does it substantially improve the appearance of their home, but it can regulate ambient temperature, assist in masking noise and the sight of surrounding buildings and roads.

Conversely, in parts of rural Canada, especially the more impoverished regions, property owners spend a comparable amount of effort removing the trees surrounding their homes.

The mature white pine surrounding this bungalow enhanced not only its appearance but resale value several fold. Realtors are equally frustrated by property owners who fail to realize that trees are a ticket to a prompt sale and frequently increase the possibility of achieving the property's full asking price. The majority of discerning purchasers place a premium on the presence of trees surrounding a home.

This scenario plays itself frequently with homeowners cutting trees adjacent to or in proximity to their homes. The reasons can be multifactorial. Most reasons are unjustified and unfounded.

In my previous jurisdiction I was hired as a arborist by homeowners to provide justification for trees they wanted removed. This was a requirement to apply and receive a tree cutting permit.

Here are a few unjustifiable reasons I encountered:

I am tired of raking pine needles or acorns. The walnuts are killing my petunias. The leaves are falling into my swimming pool. I am concerned a branch will fall on my shed. The tree may come down in a storm. The poplar branches may drop on my children.The tree is blocking sunlight from my garden. The tree's roots are damaging my foundation. I cannot get the grass to grow because of the shade. I want an increased breeze to reduce the mosquitoes. The pine gum is dropping on my car.

Needless to say, these people did not receive my blessing to obtain a tree cutting permit.

Many rural residents, especially the elderly take their surroundings for granted. But in a rapidly changing world those who have lived in, or on the outskirts of encroaching cities realize the value of trees and appreciate far more the aesthetics and functions they provide to their properties and by extension the undeniable enrichment to their lives.

How can we convince rural citizens that something they perceive as omnipresent and expendable is really a valuable contribution, not only to their property but the whole community?

Did anyone approach and encourage this elderly gentleman to leave his beautiful white pine trees alone? The identical scenario transpired three months earlier along Turner's Road where some elderly men cut the pine trees in front of their properties.

Is it time to enact a tree cutting by- law? This has become a necessity in many other jurisdictions to protect the value of communities from indiscriminate landowners who get a buzz from fueling up and yanking the rip-cord of a chainsaw.

ND. (There is no evidence that the trees in this example represented a threat to hydro lines).

Photo by the author: May 12th 2026 Round Lake Center.

Keywords: waterfront development, floodplain development, Bark Lake, Madawaska, landscaping and construction companies

Construction companies in the Madawaska Valley including Round Lake Center are advertising their services to waterfront private property owners intent on developing the waterfront. This advertising has the detrimental effect of legitimizing and promoting this damaging activity.

This activity is frowned upon by greater society for its negative environmental effects. These include, the elimination of natural shoreline, a reduction in water quality, the destruction of fish habitat and spawning areas, and a loss of critical wildlife habitat.

Whereas, a new cottage owner who has recently purchased an existing older dwelling requiring erosion control may be a legitimate client for these companies; more recent and new developments should be strictly prohibited.

On the east shore of Bark Lake, one of the Ottawa Valley's largest least developed Lakes, large waterfront homes are being built.

The last three photographs illustrate a new waterfront house under construction in 2025 where several acres of shoreline were cleared of all vegetation down to the water. This has a severe environmental effect on the continuity of the shoreline in this mostly undeveloped Lake. Activities like this often are not approved and are frequently built without permits.

It behooves neighbors and members of the public to report any construction activity near or adjacent to a shoreline to ensure that the legitimate permits have been issued.

Secondly, it is common practice for property owners to go above and beyond the limits of their permit. This requires public vigilance. Go receive a copy of the neighbor's permit and monitor the work to ensure it does not exceed its conditions.

If you see waterfront modification in progress contact your municipal building department and ask if permits have been issued for work on that lot. Insist an inspector be dispatched to confirm conformity.

Photos: Facebook construction company ad, waterfront home under construction on Bark Lake, view of the lake from the new home.

Contact: Mandy Fillator Ontario government inspector for inland Waters at:

Mandy.fillator@Ontario.ca 613 401-1493 Integrated Resource Management Specialist Renfrew, MNR.

Keywords: target practice, firing range, all terrain vehicles, crown land, logging, landings and loading areas

These photographs were taken in a cut block situated south of Gunns Road one km west of Acorn Lake.

The area was clear-cut this winter and the logs loaded and removed. Soon afterwards men on all terrain vehicles arrived and established a firing range. This is used for target practice. This is not uncommon especially where abandoned sand pits or burrow sites are used to construct logging roads.

Unfortunately, this past-time involving firearms is essentially unregulated and contributes to the already disfigured and damaged Industrial logging site. It's proximity to a public road is also troubling.

How can we control damaging recreational activities infiltrating cut blocks after logging companies pull out?

Environmental degradation is frequently followed by social disintegration. Like follows like. When an area suffers disturbance and abandonment the public capitalize on this wasteland to engage in other damaging activities.

What mechanisms do you feel are necessary to control public land use following logging activity on Crown Land?

Background: snapping turtles, painted turtles, Bandings turtles, Round Lake

The cool spring of 2026 has delayed the arrival of turtles which are cold-blooded and require warm ambient temperatures to stimulate their metabolism.

As spring temperatures increase we can anticipate turtles crossing Round Lake Road between Highway 60 near Killaloe Marsh and Tramore Road.

A large number of painted turtles congregate in Grassy Bay to bask on floating logs. It is important not to disturb these reptiles with motorized watercraft.

Drivers are asked to be vigilant to avoid turtles attempting to cross the roads in these areas.

Updates to turtle activity will ensue in subsequent posts as they becomes available.

Photos by the author: juvenile snapping turtle, painted turtle Road casualty on Round Lake Road, spring 2025

ND. Residents living near Round Lake are encouraged to submit their observations on this post. Thank you for your cooperation.

When you see your neighbor altering the shoreline with heavy equipment do not assume that the work has been approved. Phone your municipal building inspector and ask if a permit has been issued. Chances are the activity is unauthorized or the contractor is going beyond the limits imposed on the permit.

Those privileged to live along the waterfront cherish the natural shoreline and wildlife. But not all newcomers do.

IF YOU WITNESS SHORELINE DEVELOPMENT OCCURRING DO NOT SIT IDLE , THE DAMAGE IS IRREVERSIBLE PHONE YOUR LOCAL AUTHORITIES.

PostScript : The photos below were taken from a local landscaping and construction company's Facebook Page in Round Lake Center, Killaloe Ontario. Some of these advertising images demonstrate companie(s) modifying the shoreline. I am not responsible for their authenticity or location specificity. The argument remains that companies are advertising their services to clients amenable to altering the shoreline along water bodies.