Our Changing Watershed: Understanding the threats facing our watershed
What kind of place do we want Muskoka to become? By Dr. Neil Hutchinson. Our Muskoka, and our watershed, are changing. From the forests and wetlands in the upper reaches…
What is the Muskoka Watershed Council?
By Peter Sale, MWC Chair. The otter on the Muskoka Watershed Council logo has been cavorting across Muskoka for over 20 years, yet people remain confused. MWC is not part of…
Reflections on Earth Day and Muskoka
By Peter Sale. April 22nd will be the 52nd Earth Day. Starting in 1970 with teach-ins across US campuses, Earth Day became global in 1990. It is a day to pause…
A Community Round Table is needed for Integrated Watershed Management
Muskoka Watershed Council is seeking individuals interested in joining the Community Round Table on Integrated Watershed Management for the Muskoka River Watershed. You can become a part of the process…
Restoring Muskoka shorelines and integrated watershed management
By Cassie Emms Did you know that the Muskoka River Watershed has approximately 6,800 kilometres of shoreline? To put that in perspective, it equates to driving from Ottawa to Calgary…
Texas Freeze and Muskoka Flooding: What We Can Learn From Recent Events Down South
By Peter F Sale. Photo Credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images Muskoka has a worsening flood problem: conditions often conspire to produce damaging spring floods, such as those in 2019 and 2013. Our…
Current planning is not doing enough to protect the Muskoka River Watershed
Nor is this planning helping the economy in our changing environment. By Kevin Trimble. Aerial view of Huntsville. This article is part of a series to show how Integrated Watershed…
Drawdown Ecology – why can’t we just lower the lakes?
By Kevin Trimble. Walleye. Source: Eastern Georgian Bay Stewardship Council Pressure is mounting in Muskoka to push water levels lower. The Muskoka River Water Management Plan (MRWMP) calls for a…
The harsh effects of winter de-icing salt on trees
By Javier Cappella. Cooler nights and shorter days trigger a response in trees to let them know it is time to shed their leaves and become dormant for the winter.…
An integrated solution for flooding, climate action and economic prosperity
By Kevin Trimble. It’s time to get serious about getting residents, business people and decision makers to start building a watershed plan for the Muskoka River Watershed. And I’ll tell…
COVID-19 must not halt Muskoka’s environmental monitoring programs
By Rebecca Willison. Environmental monitoring was one of the first things cancelled or suspended as the COVID-19 pandemic descended on Canada. This was understandable, given that resources needed to be…
Does your shoreline have a Natural Edge?
By Rebecca Willison and Rebecca Krawczyk. We are naturally attracted to aesthetic places and clean water—and so are the creatures we share this land and water with. The riparian zone…