There are plenty of different ways you can protect your natural surroundings so that you can enjoy it for years to come. For example, you could:

• Offset your carbon emissions from boating, travelling, and driving
• Collect your ash for upcoming ASHMuskoka ash drives
• Join our community of action-takers as a volunteer
• Become an FMW member to support the ongoing maintenance of our current and future programs

Remember, every action counts. Even the smallest steps can have a huge impact.

Despite the community-wide action already taking place, there’s always more to be done. Here are some other emerging ecological threats currently facing our watershed:  

1. More algal blooms (HABs) despite low and falling phosphorus
2. Calcium decline in about half of Muskoka’s lakes
3. Invasive species, like the spiny water flea
4. Road salt is increasing chloride levels in many local lakes, including Lake Muskoka
5. Climate change is causing more ice-free seasons

  When combined, these various threats increase the level of stress on our freshwater ecosystem and threaten its overall health.

FMW currently has three programs working to protect and preserve the Muskoka environment you know and love. Those programs are:​​​​

  HATSEO: Now complete, HATSEO assessed the viability of using ash to replenish calcium in the watershed.

  ASHMuskoka: The next phase in HATSEO and addressing Muskoka’s calcium deficiency.

  Road Salt Management: Addressing the increasing chloride levels in Muskoka lakes.

  Want to learn more about our active programs? Click Here.

All life needs calcium. For Muskoka this problem affects:

Forests. They’re about 2% calcium by weight, and when calcium isn’t available, the trees and other forest plants can’t grow as quickly or efficiently. When trees aren’t growing as quickly, they can’t capture carbon as efficiently, impacting their ability to help fight climate change.

Aquatic creatures. Calcium is particularly important to hard-shelled creatures like crayfish, turtles, and molluscs. In fact, crayfish diversity in many lakes has already declined by 25%. In lakes, these tiny crustacea and molluscs often act as filter-feeders, performing a vital function in cleaning our waterways.

A century of acid rain and historically poor logging practices have flushed calcium from the soil and from the lakes and rivers. Most of Muskoka’s lakes have lost 25% to 50% of the calcium they need.   Despite the improvement of these issues, it will take centuries for calcium levels to rebound without further intervention.

Good question. Increasing algal blooms are influenced by three main factors:  

1. A better habitat for algal growth, largely impacted by climate change
2. Faster algal growth, caused by a variety of factors including increasing phosphorus levels
3. Lower algal death rates, caused by the decreasing zooplankton population

Yes, history has shown us that with patience and persistence ecological damage can be reversed. It’s complicated, but not impossible.   At a very highlevel, here’s how reversing ecological damage happens:  

1. Identify the threats
2. Understand the steps that need to be taken
3. Marshal the will for action in your community

  We can make a difference if we’re determined, persistent, and work together.