Total Phosphorus? Totally Cool!
The 2018 Muskoka Watershed Report Card produced by the Muskoka Watershed Council features 8 different indicators of watershed health. Total Phosphorus is one of these indicators, categorized as a…
Calcium concentrations in our lakes: What do they mean?
The 2018 Muskoka Watershed Report Card features eight different indicators of watershed health. Calcium concentration is one of these indicators, categorized as a health indicator rather than a threat indicator.…
Without bugs, much of the life in Muskoka’s lakes would diminish
Muskoka Watershed Council’s 2018 Muskoka Watershed Report Card was launched in July. It features 8 indicators of environmental health: total phosphorus, calcium concentrations in lakes, benthic macroinvertebrates, species at…
Measuring a Healthy Muskoka Watershed
How is our changing climate impacting Muskoka? What does calcium have to do with Muskoka’s environmental health? And what the heck are benthic macroinvertebrates?On July 19, Muskoka Watershed Council…
It’s time for a low salt diet
When it rains, pollution on streets, parking lots and lawns is washed into storm drains, then directly to our drinking water supplies and the lakes our children play in…
Bathing in the lake: It’s okay if I use biodegradable soap, right?
Actually, no. Many cottagers and lake associations struggle with the issue of people lathering up and jumping in the lake. While many of these offenders try to minimize the environmental…
Reducing Your Personal Impact
By Dan Vanclieaf Have you ever asked what you can do to ensure a healthy and sustainable Muskoka? One of the most important actions you can take is to…
Simple Ways to Reduce the Spread of Invasive Species
By Dylan Moesker Invasive species are a growing topic of concern as the importance of native species is becoming better understood. Experts in the field have been actively trying…
The Importance of Wetlands for You and for Muskoka
By Dan Vanclieaf In a region renowned for its lakes and rivers, the importance of wetlands in maintaining a healthy and functioning ecosystem is often forgotten. In the recent…
Healthy Watersheds are Biodiverse and Resilient
‘Biodiverse’, ‘Resilient’, words like these don’t mean a lot to the average Muskokan, but we all understand the idea of a healthy environment occupied by the kinds of plants…
Muskoka’s Lakes Should Offer Good Homes for Fish
We all know fish live in water. Anglers know that fish, just like us, have their real estate preferences, and don’t hang out just anywhere in a lake. The…
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…