Algae Monitoring Program
Muskoka Watershed Council developed the Algae Monitoring Program to collect information on the distribution, abundance and seasonal cycles of a) all phytoplankton combined, and b) blue-green algae in particular, across…
What Are Algae Doing in Muskoka’s Lakes?
By Peter Sale Responding to considerable community interest, the Muskoka Watershed Council wants to find out what algae are doing in Muskoka lakes. These tiny single-celled plants…
When Algae Go Bad
By Dr. Norman Yan In a previous article I argued that “we’d be stupid, hungry, and dead without algae” in the waters of the world, because every other breath…
We Owe Our Lives to Algae
By Dr. Norman Yan The 2014 Muskoka Watershed Report Card was released in May and presents the results of monitoring the health of our watersheds. For the first time…
MWC Chair’s Annual Report for 2023
Delivered by outgoing MWC Chair Peter Sale at MWC’s Annual General Meeting held on February 23, 2024. The monthly meetings of Muskoka Watershed Council (MWC), usually with informative presentations on…
Phosphorus can be cleaned up from Muskoka’s lakes
New sources and 'internal loading' need to be addressed, though. By Dr. Neil Hutchinson The District of Muskoka has monitored phosphorus concentrations in Muskoka area lakes for over 40 years.…
Less ice cover in Muskoka impacts winter sports and could mean ‘more dried up wetlands and streams’
There are ecological consequences fewer days of ice cover. By Dr. Peter Sale. Opportunities to skate on the lake, such as on Brandy Lake in 2021, are becoming less frequent…
Harmful algal blooms: What is the cause and what can Muskoka residents do?
Make sure municipal, provincial and federal representatives know research funding is needed. By Geoff Ross. Citizen science plays a major role in most programs that monitor lake waters in Muskoka,…
What is watershed health?
The Muskoka Watershed Report Card describes some disturbing trends in a number of environmental variables. By Kevin Trimble. Muskoka’s healthy natural environment provides numerous opportunities for enjoyment, including Duck Chutes…
2023 Report Card
Muskoka’s watersheds stand at a crucial turning point. While currently healthy, they are gradually degrading in several ways, and our existing management systems seem incapable of halting or reversing this…
MWC Releases the Muskoka Watershed Health Report Card
Muskoka Watershed Council (MWC) is pleased to release the latest edition of the Muskoka Watershed Report Card, a comprehensive scientific assessment of the health of Muskoka's watersheds. Produced every five…
Our Changing Watershed: Apology for Muskoka environment as written 76 years from now
"I want to apologize to you and your generation for leaving the planet in such a poor state." By Richard Lammers. To my dearest great-granddaughter, As we approach the turn…