BUY A BUOY. Support Safe Boating on Eagle Lake.

Eagle Lake, located in the Township of Machar, in the Parry Sound district, is a stunning natural wonder featuring spring-fed waters, scenic tree-lined shores, abundant fishing, and diverse wildlife, along with numerous islands and bays to explore. An ideal place for cottagers, residents, and visitors to enjoy their favourite activities on the lake.

A typical Canadian Shield lake, long-term cottagers and residents can attest to the navigation challenges presented by our rocky shores, island shoals and unexpected shallows.

Because navigation markers are essential to safe boating on Eagle Lake, the Eagle Lake Conservation Association (ELCA) assumed responsibility after the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources stopped managing the buoys due to financial cutbacks.

The ELCA and their volunteers put the navigation buoys out in the spring, remove them in the fall and manage the ongoing storage and maintenance. The Lake Marker program also includes installing winter buoys to maintain accurate and consistent buoy marker locations.

We believe that the Lake Marker Program is essential for safe boating on Eagle Lake; involving marking routes, safe channels, and some of the more dangerous hazards.

As we experienced with some drifting buoys last summer, the existing buoys and especially their moorings are old, not robust, and need repair and replacement. Over the last 18 months, the ELCA Board of Directors has assessed the current marker buoy infrastructure, researched optimal solutions, and sourced replacements, and has tabled a 3-part plan to address the immediate priorities for the marker buoy program and future enhancements for safe boating.

ELCA’s Lake Marker Program 3-year plan:

Priority 1 – 2025 – Repair & Replace Existing Buoys & Moorings

32 Buoys x $500 per buoy

the 5 year maintenance cost is approximately $250 ($50 per year) per buoy

Priority 2 – 2026 – Add priority hazard markers (buoys & moorings

Priority 3 – 2027-on - Identify problem channels and revise buoy locations and/or add priority channel markers.

The 2025 Buy a Buoy GOFUNDME campaign objective is to raise funds for ELCA’s #1 priority for the Lake Marker Program: to repair and replace existing buoys & moorings. The approximate cost to replace each Buoy/Mooring and to maintain them over a 5-year period is estimated to be $750. To achieve this goal and complete this 2025 project, we need to raise $24,000 by August 30, 2025.

Proposed Buoy/Mooring System:

The anchor and counter weight anchoring system provides greater buoy location accuracy/precision and better buoy stability, compared to the current non-counterweight moorings, with less drift caused by environmental factors such as wind, waves and changing water levels.

Proposed Future Hazard Buoys:

The ELCA has chosen a vertical cylindrical hazard buoy similar with the image below (approximately 6 inches/15.24cm in diameter.)

Any donation amount given is appreciated, and donors can choose to be showcased on the ELCA website and in member communications.

We will be providing regular updates over the course of the GOFUNDME campaign, on this page, on our website, and on social media as #buyabuoy.

Thank you for your support of safe boating on Eagle Lake. Please share with, and invite your neighbours, family and visitors to join our campaign.

Please help us support safe boating on Eagle Lake for all!!!

Note – the Eagle Lake Conservation Association, its directors, and its members assume no responsibility for accident or injury in, on, or around Eagle Lake. Navigation buoys and other markers are intended to be guides only. Boaters should use appropriate care and caution to avoid rocks and other hazards.