Muskoka Watershed Council

Muskoka Watershed Council 🍃 Science. Stewardship. Sustainability.
⏳ Volunteers protecting Muskoka’s watersheds since 2001.
👇 Visit our website to get involved!

Muskoka Watershed Council was founded in 2001 and was incorporated as a non-profit in 2019. MWC was formed with the belief that the most effective way to sustain our watersheds for future generations is through a cooperative approach. MWC’s approach to watershed management in Muskoka is to involve as many of the stakeholders in Muskoka’s watersheds as possible. MWC is not a regulatory or enforceme

nt agency. Instead, it provides information to decision-makers, managers and the general public on ways to protect and restore the resources of our watersheds. MWC's mission is to empower the community to protect and enhance watershed health.

Last month we looked at what's actually shaping Muskoka: who controls the waterfront, what the community is learning abo...
09/02/2026

Last month we looked at what's actually shaping Muskoka: who controls the waterfront, what the community is learning about watershed management, and the geological forces that built this landscape long before any of us got here.

Four articles. One question underneath all of them—what kind of Muskoka are we building toward?

Read last month's roundup:
🔗 linktr.ee/muskokawatershed

People are often surprised to learn how small our organization is.MWC runs on a single part-time staff member and numero...
08/26/2026

People are often surprised to learn how small our organization is.

MWC runs on a single part-time staff member and numerous volunteers who attend events, evaluate data, write articles, and keep tabs on the nature that defines this region.

Imagine what we can accomplish with your support. Visit our website if you're interested in volunteering:
🔗 www.MuskokaWatershed.org/join-mwc

08/19/2026

A bird that eats its weight in bugs every night is running out of places to land. 🐦

The Common Nighthawk is listed as Special Concern in Ontario.

Pesticide use has wiped out much of the flying insect population they rely on for food. On top of that, their preferred habitats are disappearing too: gravel rooftops they used to nest on have mostly been replaced with modern roofing, and open grasslands have grown in with shrubs and trees due to decades of fire suppression. Add in predators, vehicle strikes, and rough spring weather, and it's a tough road for this species.

Your support of Muskoka Watershed Council ensures that science-based evidence reaches decision-makers, helping protect the health of Muskoka's watersheds now and in the future.

Help support our work by donating today:
🔗 www.MuskokaWatershed.org/watershed-champion

Source: Birds Canada, Nature Canada

Thank you to those who joined us last night for "Muskoka River Watershed At Risk: What's Being Done and What Comes Next"...
08/12/2026

Thank you to those who joined us last night for "Muskoka River Watershed At Risk: What's Being Done and What Comes Next" in Huntsville.

We're grateful for your participation and your interest in protecting the future of this beautiful region we're so lucky to call home.

What you saw was just a snapshot of over 25 years of ongoing work by the MWC. Conducting scientific research, collecting data, reporting on findings, running programs, and sitting down with government and community partners is all part of working towards a sustainable solution. The input we gathered from you last night, and at any future events, will also continue to shape our ongoing efforts to protect the watershed.

Thank you to our local politicians for your continued support; it's critical to keeping these discussions moving forward and driving real change. We also want to acknowledge the property owners dealing with weather-related impacts to their homes and land. We hear you, and we understand you're looking for answers and stronger governance. We know the only viable path forward is a coordinated plan — with a dedicated team to build, manage, and oversee the watershed for the long term.

Now that you've learned what it will take to build this plan and to bring together a team representing various sectors of our communities, we hope you feel inspired to help us move forward. You can get involved by volunteering your time, becoming a Watershed Champion, a Corporate Sponsor, or making a one-time donation. There are many ways and opportunities to be part of tomorrow’s Muskoka!

And, if you couldn't make it, or want to stay in the loop for future events like this one, follow us on Instagram or Facebook so you never miss what's next.


Some species that disappear from Muskoka never make the list. 🐢48 species at risk are known to have existed recently in ...
08/11/2026

Some species that disappear from Muskoka never make the list. 🐢

48 species at risk are known to have existed recently in Muskoka and likely still do. None of them are being actively tracked.

Getting onto the official list isn't just about rarity. It's about visibility. Turtles, birds, and mammals get noticed. Insects, fungi, and aquatic plants don't get the same attention.

Our report says it outright: the list is indicative, not definitive.

You can help close that gap. Apps like iNaturalist turn a photo you were taking anyway into a real data point.

👉 Share this with someone who'd want to know this.

Source: Chapter 12, Muskoka Watershed Report Card
🔗 www.MuskokaWatershed.org/s/2023RC-BackgroundReport-12-SAR.pdf

Two Floating Treatment Wetlands just went into Six-Mile Creek. 🌿Three Mile Lake Association volunteers recently installe...
08/06/2026

Two Floating Treatment Wetlands just went into Six-Mile Creek. 🌿

Three Mile Lake Association volunteers recently installed two different FTW prototypes to test which design holds up best under local conditions.

Both units will be monitored over the coming months, tracking performance and durability data to see if this technology has a place in a broader nutrient management strategy.

TMLA has been one of our algae project partners since 2019, collecting the field data that makes this kind of comparison possible.

What happens to Muskoka if development outpaces the watershed's ability to handle it?That's the question on the table Au...
08/04/2026

What happens to Muskoka if development outpaces the watershed's ability to handle it?

That's the question on the table August 11. MWC Board members Peter Sale and Kevin Trimble break down the climate, land-use, and development pressures actually hitting our water right now, and what's being done in response.

We're also adding a discussion on how forest management and water management connect to wildfire risk. Everything in a watershed is linked, and this is one more piece of that picture.

📍 Partners Hall at Algonquin Theatre
🕡 6:30-9:00 PM
📅 Tuesday, August 11

Get your FREE tickets:
🔗 https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/muskoka-river-watershed-at-risk-whats-being-done-and-what-comes-next-tickets-1993921350434


The seventh generation is 140 to 210 years out.Muskoka's population is projected to grow 35-40% by 2050. Climate change ...
08/03/2026

The seventh generation is 140 to 210 years out.

Muskoka's population is projected to grow 35-40% by 2050. Climate change is already rewriting the rules on how this ecosystem functions. The decisions made now about how we develop, build, and live in this watershed will shape what's left for people who aren't born yet.

MWC's Peter Sale asks whether seventh-generation thinking, a principle rooted in Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe culture, is something Muskoka can actually put into practice.

Read the full article:
🔗 linktr.ee/muskokawatershed

We believe in absolute transparency, which means every dollar is intentionally directed where it matters most—right here...
07/30/2026

We believe in absolute transparency, which means every dollar is intentionally directed where it matters most—right here in our local environment. 🌲💧

Swipe through to see where your donation doesn’t go. ➡️

Your generosity directly funds vital research, community education, and local stewardship programs that keep our lakes, forests, and wildlife thriving.

Help us protect Muskoka for generations to come.

Donate today:
🔗 www.MuskokaWatershed.org/watershed-champion

Muskoka's river watershed is under pressure.On Tuesday, August 11, join Muskoka Watershed Council for a deep dive into t...
07/29/2026

Muskoka's river watershed is under pressure.

On Tuesday, August 11, join Muskoka Watershed Council for a deep dive into the development, climate, and land-use pressures hitting our water right now, and what's actually being done about it.

Hear from Peter Sale and Kevin Trimble, both members of MWC's Board of Directors, as they unpack what's at stake and what comes next.

📍 Partners Hall at Algonquin Theatre
🕡 6:30-9:00 PM
📅 Tuesday, August 11

Get your tickets:
🔗 https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/muskoka-river-watershed-at-risk-whats-being-done-and-what-comes-next-tickets-1993921350434

Address

70 Pine Street
Bracebridge, ON
P1L1N3

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4pm
Tuesday 9am - 4pm
Wednesday 9am - 4pm
Thursday 9am - 4pm
Friday 9am - 4pm

Telephone

+17052047277

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