Photo by: Loba

New Depth Map of Lake of Bays

Many people who attended the LOBA AGM were able to see (and purchase) a copy of the new Lake of Bays Depth Map, created by Greg Betteridge, a recently retired trout biologist with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources in Algonquin Provincial Park, in cooperation with Jeff McMurtrie of Jeff’s Map (jeffsmap.com). Many at the meeting inquired about a digital version, which is available on the link below.

http://www.jeffsdepthmaps.com/

To purchase a map…

The price of the map is $50 plus 13% HST (total $56.50 Cdn) cash, cheque or credit card. You may order the map online from jeffsmap.com, by emailing Greg Betteridge at [email protected] , or by phoning Greg at 705-635-2399.

Why Now?

For 50 years, the Canadian Hydrographic Services Chart 6023, created from the data collected in 1963 to 1965 by Mr. H. W. Shaw of Dayton, Ohio, has served as the only Lake of Bays depth map. All other depth maps of the lake, configured in various styles and colour combinations, have used the same old data set. A lot of hard work went into creating the 1965 chart, but there are limitations to it, as it only used a few thousand data points. This resulted in widely spaced transects and long shoreline gaps. With support from the Andrew Daniels Fish Stewardship Foundation (ADFSF), from May 26 to July 2, 2015 one hundred hours was spent on the water friving all 206 kilomtres (128 miles) of shoreline and plotting more than 330,000 GPS data point yielded a much different looking map.

How is this new map different and what makes it better?
  • For the first time ever, precise and detailed 10 foot interval depth contours, plus ‘spot’ peak and troughs, are revealed for Lake of Bays, Paint Lake and the Oxtongue River.
  • Land features are shown as shaded 10 foot elevation contours.
  • All roads, laneways, radio and cell towers, marinas, public boat launches, navigation aids and hazards, local names and historical features, such as the sites of former lodges and camps, are identified.
  • The map is printed on the best quality lightweight, waterproof and tear resistant synthetic paper.
  • It is 36 inches square (915 mm) and packed to unroll flat, suitable for framing or use on the lake.