Friends of the Muskoka Watershed

06/17/2026

We shared our SALTYMuskoka story on CTV Barrie today. We want to offer a big thanks to the Township of Lake a Bays and a generous FOTMW donor for support to allow us to grow this program!
CTV journalist Luke Simard met with volunteer Lake Steward Robert Haag, SALTYMUskoka Project Lead Alesha Breckenridge and volunteer FOTMW director and scientist Dr. Neil Hutchinson. Thanks Luke!

06/11/2026

Did you miss last year's Peer Under the Surface cruise with Dr. Norman Yan and Sunset Cruises Muskoka - Peerless II ?

Tickets are now available for this year's trip on Monday, July 13. We leave from Port Carling docks at 10 a.m. but guests are asked to arrive by 9:40 a.m.

Captain Randy Potts will tell stories of the lake on the way out to our test spot.

Then Dr. Norman Yan and Ron Ingram will collect some of the zooplankton that live under the surface. They use a giant net to pull out thousands of tiny creatures that passengers have the chance to examine up close. Don't worry, they love to answer your questions.

This time Peerless II will head down the northwest shoreline of Lake Muskoka and over towards the west arm of the lake, stopping near the Kettles for a Peer Beneath the Surface. After our first stop and testing, we move south into East Bay and examine the water quality and life there. Return to Port Carling via Horseshoe Island.

We'd like to give a big thanks to Great Canadian Wilderness for their support.

Tickets are $75, including tax. For tickets contact Sandy by email [email protected] or call Alesha at FOTMW - 705-640-0948. Payment may be made via credit card, cash in person or via e-transfer.

Don’t hesitate. Only 30 tickets remain for this educational and entertaining two hour cruise.

06/09/2026

Send us your poster!
Spread the Word and — Not too Much Road Salt
At the Muskoka Discovery Centre (MDC) Gallery
Savannah is setting up the gallery this week with the posters we’ve already received.
Do you know the Muskoka road salt pollution story?
Help Friends of the Muskoka Watershed and SALTYMuskoka spread the word about road salt by creating a campaign advocacy art piece for
display at MDC.
When and Where? MDC invites students who have heard the Road Salt Story
from SALTYMuskoka (fotmw.org) to add their voice and amplify the story. MDC
will showcase your work to help spread awareness of this issue to museum
visitors. Entries need to be completed by June 30 2026.
How? Get creative and design a poster (any medium) that promotes and
educates others about road salt pollution in Muskoka and how to reduce the
use of road salt to protect the health of Muskoka’s watershed.
Why get involved? Y our poster will help raise awareness of the issue of the
overuse of road salt (a toxic substance) and help someone in the community
learn how to use road salt to help protect the Muskoka Watershed.
Can’t get started? Tip - Remember to ask yourself WHY we need to
reduce our road salt use and HOW we can use less. Use the knowledge
you have gained in the presentation or the video to promote your
advocacy masterpiece.
Poster(s) ready for pick up? Please email [email protected] or drop them at the MDC for
display.
Visit fotmw.org for details on road salt pollution.

06/05/2026

06/04/2026

A big thank you to Lake of Bays!