Chimney & Felker Lakes Landholders Association

Everyone,
There has been a concern raised about the safety of players using the disc golf course, particularly the basket located close to the road at the SE corner of the course. Members have noted players darting out onto the road when their disc misses the basket and ends up on the road. When retrieving their disc from the the player may be standing at the bottom of a hill and curve in the road with quite a short view of the road ahead. This is not likely an issue if the posted 80 MPH speed is observed but as we all know, very many drivers (local and non-local) do not drive the posted speed limits.
This is a recreational area with many people of all ages enjoying many activities and in their enjoyment do not always "STOP, LOOK, LISTEN" before crossing the road.
We cannot control the behaviour of others, only our own....
PLEASE OBSERVE THE SPEED LIMITS🙏

Algae in Chimney Lake this summer (2024)
This year (2024) there is about the usual amount of algae in Chimney Lake for mid August.
The clarity of the lake water is an approximate estimate of the amount of algae in the lake.
As the amount of algae in the lake increases the clarity of the water decreases.
Lake water clarity is estimated by the water depth that a 30 centimeter diameter black and white Secchi disk disappears from view.
My Secchi disk is shown below.
📷
On August 14, 2024, I could see the Secchi disk to a depth of 1.9 meters at the BC Environment Lake Monitoring sampling location in the middle of Chimney Lake.
This is identical to the depth that I could see the Secchi disk on August 15, 2023 at the same location.
In July this year the water was clearer than I have seen the Chimney Lake water in July for over 60 years.
On July 15, 2024 the Secchi disk was visible to a depth of 5.4 meters. This is a deeper Secchi disk measurement than all of the BC Environment Chimney Lake Secchi disk measurement taken since 1979.
The very clear Chimney Lake water this July was probably due to the very cold spring, which delayed the onset of the algae growth.
Going around the shores of Chimney Lake on my E-Foil, for my morning balancing exercises in mid July this year, I could see features on the lake bottom in deeper water than I have ever seen before.
Last year the Chimney Lake Secchi disk depth was 3.7 meters on July 8 and 2.8 meters on July 21 indicating that the Chimney Lake water was much clearer this July, and had less algae than last year. The algae growth has come on quickly this August to become about the same concentration as it was in mid August 2023.
Algal blooms occur when there is suitable environmental conditions for algae growth (nutrients, warmer temperatures, abundant sunlight, and stable wind conditions).
When these conditions are favourable for one species or another, it allows for one algae to become dominant and form a bloom.
Some human activities, such as agricultural run off, erosion, or poor septic systems can make blooms more likely, and excessive amounts of nutrients within a lake can increase the risk and severity of algae blooms.
We can help control nutrient inputs to both Chimney and Felker lakes, but the other factors are up to mother nature.
Blue-Green Algae
The water clarity measurements determine the approximate concentration of algae in the lake. They do not indicate the type of algae.
Over the past 50 years I have heard of several reports of possible toxic blue-green algae in Chimney Lake.
I do not know of any cases of toxicity to people or animals from algae in Chimney Lake.
If you think that you see blue green algae in the lakes please take a sample for analysis.
Please don’t bring it to me. I am a retired Geophysicist, not an expert on types of algae.
The following BC Govt website has more information on blue-green algae.
What are cyanobacteria (blue-green algae)? - Province of British Columbia (gov.bc.ca)
Gerry Mitchell
CFLLA 2024 Lake Stewardship Committee

Tourney registration includes golf AND lunch for $30!!

TONIGHT!!

IT'S HAPPENING again!! 🎼😎

Dear CFLLA and community members,
At our AGM last night our new CFLLA Board 2024/2025 was elected by acclamation.
I am honored to be your incoming President, and would like to acknowledge and extend a THANK YOU to our outgoing President Allen Schaad, and Board members for all their effort and time.
I’m excited to welcome new Board members: Vice-President, Sue Moxey, Past-President: Allen Schaad, Secretary: Sandi Field, Treasurer: Cindy Bornyk, and Directors: Ron Blake, Jody Dyer, Susan Erlandson, Carrie Kerley, Leanne McKerlich, Maythe (pronounced “my-TAY”) Moreno, Al Richmond and Betsy West.
I look forward to serving again this year, but am humbled as well, to be following the many outstanding, inspiring Presidents who have worked tirelessly over the many years to build and maintain the CFLLA.
This year, we have set some large goals. The need for a bylaw rewrite was identified in previous years and is now a priority along with the development of policies and procedures which will help to guide, support, and standardize the operations of all aspects of the CFLLA.
To the membership and the community at large, we are committed to clarifying misconceptions, improving communication, and fostering transparency of the operation for all aspects of the Association.
To that end, if you have an idea, suggestion, comment, or criticism, please contact me directly or email us at [email protected] and tell us your thoughts. If you want to make a difference, reach out to the Board or Committee member at the email above to find out how to become more involved.
I’m looking forward to a great year, and I am so very grateful to be part of this wonderful community!

Respectfully,

Nadine Bunting
President, CFLLA 2024/2025
[email protected]
604-910-1202

Hope to see all CFLLA members at the AGM tomorrow - free burgers, discussion and an opportunity to help steer your Association, fire dept and golf course for the next year!
Please note: the AGM is open to all community members but *only current members can vote*!

TOMORROW! Let's show this program some support! (Canucks aren't playing on Wednesday😉)

Join us this Wednesday at 7 PM for a presentation on identifying and managing invasive species in our area. Also some helpful information on fertilizer use.

Travis Flanagan from the CRD will giving a FireSmart presentation...lots of info, brochures, swag and a Q&A.

Spring is here and our wonderful, hard-working groundskeeper Darrell Bornyk has been busy sprucing up the golf course including building new T-boxes and safety fence at the 10th box! Sprinklers are going and the course opens on May 1st...Thanks Darrell!! 👏🫶

Shoutout to Bob Alstrom (our new golf committee lead) and several other community volunteers who helped out today with the spring course cleanup - THANK YOU! 🫶

PLEASE NOTE the new 2024 Golf Fees

What a fantastic day of buying or selling treasures and meeting old and new friends and neighbours!
Should we repeat in the fall - "Sell It Don't Store It" (thanks for the catchy name Rusty!)??

Suggestions to make this event even better? Shoot me (Nadine) or Betsy West a message :-)

media2.giphy.com

TOMORROW!! Saturday, April 13th!

From 10 am – 4 pm, the Chimney and Felker Lakes community will be holding a vehicle “boot sale” at the Community & Fire Hall, combined with garage sales along Chimney Lake Road.

Put out a sign on your driveway and sell your treasures from your home, or enjoy the comradery of selling alongside others and load it into your car to come down to the Chimney & Felker Lakes Community/Fire Hall parking lot and sell your stuff out of your trunk and the area immediately in front of your car. The hall washroom will be available, but no other amenities will be provided. Be sure to bring your water, coffee/tea and lunch! We’ll see if we can get a food/beverage vendor to set up without charging us.

To reserve your spot (approximately 10’ x 10’ plus space for your vehicle) in the hall parking lot call or text Betsy at 604-812-6444. This is a free event, we just want a head count to ensure we can accommodate everyone who wishes to set up.

If you choose to sell from home, text your address to the above number if you’d like it advertised on the posts/posters in future advertising.

We look forward to a fun community event!

Hello everyone,

I would like to invite you all to the Cariboo Fire Centre on Saturday, May 4 for Community Wildfire Preparedness Day. Last year was a great success and we will, once again, host an Open House and allow members of the community to tour the Fire Centre and interact with some of our section leads (Operations, Logistics, Prevention, Firesmart etc…).

Wildwood VFD has once again volunteered to host a BBQ Fundraiser and we plan to have tours of the air tankers and the dispatch room here at the fire centre. We will also be organizing some kids activities and barring another early start to the year, will have some crews available to showcase their skills. If your department wants to come up and join in the fun, show off some of your equipment and talk about what your communities do for firesmart, that would round out the event nicely.

We are looking to have the gates open to the public from 1000-1400 with the gates open for you to come and set up at 0900. If you would like to participate please let me know what you plan on bringing (how many engines/ what apparatus) and if you’d like a table to give out information or what you have planned then I can get an idea of how much room you need and I can figure out where we can get you in.

Also feel free to share the information and the attached poster within your communities and social media outlets.

Thanks for your consideration and hope to see you there!

"Newcomers to rural B.C. are sometimes surprised to learn it is the property owner’s responsibility to fence cattle out, not the other way around."

Fenced in or out? CRD wants to inform newcomers of range responsibilities Cattle on grazing leases are often in ditches and on roadways

"Newcomers to rural B.C. are sometimes surprised to learn it is the property owner’s responsibility to fence cattle out, not the other way around."

Fenced in or out? CRD wants to inform newcomers of range responsibilities Cattle on grazing leases are often in ditches and on roadways

Got Junk? Treasure Hunting? Don't miss out on next week's "Junk in the Trunk Comunity Garage Sale"!

“Mark your calendars for Saturday, April 13th!

From 10 am – 4 pm, the Chimney and Felker Lakes community will be holding a vehicle “boot sale” at the Community & Fire Hall, combined with garage sales along Chimney Lake Road.

Put out a sign on your driveway and sell your treasures from your home, or enjoy the comradery of selling alongside others and load it into your car to come down to the Chimney & Felker Lakes Community/Fire Hall parking lot and sell your stuff out of your trunk and the area immediately in front of your car. The hall washroom will be available, but no other amenities will be provided. Be sure to bring your water, coffee/tea and lunch! We’ll see if we can get a food/beverage vendor to set up without charging us.

To reserve your spot (approximately 10’ x 10’ plus space for your vehicle) in the hall parking lot call or text Betsy at 604-812-6444. This is a free event, we just want a head count to ensure we can accommodate everyone who wishes to set up.

If you choose to sell from home, text your address to the above number if you’d like it advertised on the posts/posters in future advertising.

We look forward to a fun community event!

“Mark your calendars for Saturday, April 13th!

From 10 am – 4 pm, the Chimney and Felker Lakes community will be holding a vehicle “boot sale” at the Community & Fire Hall, combined with garage sales along Chimney Lake Road.

Put out a sign on your driveway and sell your treasures from your home, or enjoy the comradery of selling alongside others and load it into your car to come down to the Chimney & Felker Lakes Community/Fire Hall parking lot and sell your stuff out of your trunk and the area immediately in front of your car. The hall washroom will be available, but no other amenities will be provided. Be sure to bring your water, coffee/tea and lunch! We’ll see if we can get a food/beverage vendor to set up without charging us.

To reserve your spot (approximately 10’ x 10’ plus space for your vehicle) in the hall parking lot call or text Betsy at 604-812-6444. This is a free event, we just want a head count to ensure we can accommodate everyone who wishes to set up.

If you choose to sell from home, text your address to the above number if you’d like it advertised on the posts/posters in future advertising.

We look forward to a fun community event!

Townhall Meeting TOMORROW @ 7pm!

REMINDER: Bring your questions to the Townhall this Thursday @ 7pm!
IMPORTANT: A town Hall is open to all the public,no voting, no motions, etc. you don’t need to be a member to attend. Everyone can ask questions!

Mark your Calendars!!

We will be hosting a townhall meeting on March 14 2024.

Some topics we will have information and discussion on include but are not limited to:
Golf Course Management and Course information
Survey Results
Membership numbers
Use of membership income
Directors and positions to fill at the AGM
Questions and Answers from the floor

If you need to attend the meeting via zoom, please let us know by emailing [email protected]

Thank You
CFLLA Board of Directors

From the CRD: In the event that we get some snow ;-) ...here is information for all homeowners regarding responsibilities for snow removal and maintenance of the culverts on your property.