Otty Lake is located in Lanark County, Eastern Ontario. The OLA is committed to the long term health and enjoyment of our lakes and the watershed.
Shoal Markers Coming Out
Volunteers have already begun removing the yellow shoal makers, and they should all be out by October 5. This and the low water levels mean boaters should be extremely careful out on the lake.
Effective August 29
Drummond North Elmsley Tay Valley Fire Rescue reports that the fire ban has been lifted. Residential and agricultural fires are permitted at this time. Please continue to use extreme caution when burning as there are some areas that are still dry.
July 2025 Captain Otty’s Log
The July 2025 issue of Captain Otty’s Log has been posted and distributed to our mailing list. There are stories about bass habitat, local history, our AGM, our water quality data project, wakes and other lake activities. We welcome contributions to our newsletters. The next issue will be in October. You can see past issues of the Log here.
Otty Lake Values Survey
and Lake Summary Report
By now you should have received a letter via Canada Post with a web link to your personalized Love Your Lake shoreline property report. (Please get in touch if you did not receive yours!) Watersheds Canada and the Canadian Wildlife Federation have also provided a two part summary report. The first part is a summary of the Values Survey from the resident survey responses, which were were highlighted in the AGM presentation. The Lake Summary report summarizes the results of the 438 properties surveyed.
Annual General Meeting
Sun. June 1, Perth Legion
We had a great turnout out to our AGM. Here are the meeting materials and a two of the presentations. We also had updates from both Tay Valley and Drummond/North Elmsley Townships
Agenda
Poster
Minutes from 2024 AGM
2025 OLA Finances
Love Your Lake Presentation
OLA Meeting and Presentation
Drummond/North Elmsley Township. Household Hazardous Waste 2025
The Household Hazardous Waste depot at 128 Patterson Cres. in Carleton Place is now open for the season. Many municipalities, including DNE (but not Tay) are eligible to use it. Be prepared to show ID and proof of residency. It is open Saturdays only, 8 a.m. until noon, and is open now until August 30. Check this link https://www.smithsfalls.ca/…/HHW-Accepted-Materials.pdf for acceptable materials.
Tay Valley Township
Household Hazardous Waste 2025
The Middleville Household Hazardous Waste Depot will open for the season on Saturday, May 17th, 2025, (Victoria Day weekend until October 11th, 2025) and is located at 4686 Wolf Grove Road. It is available for Lanark Highlands and Tay Valley Township residents only. Proof of identification may be requested by Technicians.
HHW Depot Hours 2025:
Now closed Mondays due to staffing shortages (May 28, 2025)
Wednesdays 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Saturdays 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Please total all of the items you are bringing and a rough estimate of the volume of material. You can download a tracking sheet here: Tracking Form.pdf or e-mail [email protected] to request a tracking form.
Protecting Bass Populations
The Big Rideau Lakes Association is working with the Fisheries Conservation Foundation to lobby the province for a bass sanctuary program. Pilot projects have taken place on Opinicon and Charleston Lakes. Listen to this radio interview with Hansen Downer on 88.1 myFM news.
Listen to the Interview
Read Why Bass Spawning Sanctuaries (BSS)?
Read BSS Frequently Asked Questions
Water Levels
The RVCA has a real time water level gauge to monitor Otty’s lake level. The link is on the “Other Water Issues” page under the Environment tab.
Volunteers Needed
The Otty Lake Association is in need of Lake Ambassadors. We are looking for volunteers who are outgoing and enjoy talking to their neighbours. As a Lake Ambassador you will reach out to your neighbours with the idea of promoting our wonderful lake and the activities and events that the Otty Lake Association organizes and supports. Normally, this is done once a year, in the spring, as part of our membership drive. Most Lake Ambassadors spend 5 to 10 hours a year on this important activity.
We are particularly in need of volunteers in the areas of: Otty Lake South West Shore Road, Sunset Ridge, McKay Farm Road, Bishops Way, Sunset Drive, Maple Glen, and McLaren Point.
If you are interested in supporting our lake association this might be the volunteer opportunity for you. If you would like to volunteer or learn more, please get in touch through: [email protected].
Etransfer Your OLA Membership Fees
In order to continue the OLA’s work and education around the lake, we do rely on your membership dues. Please consider paying your $25 dues by e-transfer to [email protected] The security question to input is “province we live in”, and the answer is “Ontario”. Please include some identifying details in the message, such as your address, or if you are a couple, both of your names. We have had a few submissions we have struggled to identify!
if you prefer, you can mail a cheque made out to the Otty Lake Association for $25 to Otty Lake Association, Box 20122, Perth, ON K7H 3M6.
Online Registration Available
for Open Air Burn Permits
A permit is required for all open air burning. Burn permits expire every year on November 30. Please remember to renew or apply for your FREE fire permit. Complete your permit application online or call 613-267-2596.
Contribute Your Observations to iNaturalist
Discover and track the species that make their home in and around Otty Lake. We invite you to help us create an ongoing catalog of the wildlife for the area. This library will help us gain insight into the distribution and seasonality of the organisms in our region. It will help the scientific community through records of wildlife movements, invasive species, species at risk as well as sharing observations among friends. Visit the website or download the app.
Messages From The OLA
Missed an email from the OLA? Here are the last 20 e-blasts sent to members.
Lanark County Fire Bans
No open air burning is permitted in Lanark County from April 1st – May 15th each year (subject to change). This includes campfires and burn barrels.
Otty Lake Shoreline Handbook
The Otty Lake Shoreline Handbook provides practical, environmentally friendly information on erosion, shoreline buffers, water sources, septic systems, docks, lawns, and more. Last updated April 2017.
Info on Septic Systems
Some things you should know about septic tanks installed near Otty Lake.