A Water Quality Technician measures water clarity using a Secchi disk

How well do we know our watershed?

What do we know about our watershed and are there gaps in the information being collected? By Dr. Peter Sale. The Muskoka River watershed is quite well known because many…

Norman Yan, enjoying his canoe and thinking about Muskoka’s wonderful water.

What’s in that sip of lake water?

By Dr. Norman Yan. Norman Yan, enjoying his canoe and thinking about Muskoka’s wonderful water. Over the decades on wilderness canoe trips, I commonly scooped a drink of lake water,…

Ken Black at the 2014 Muskoka Summit on the Environment

Do you know the ‘long history’ of integrated watershed management in Muskoka?

“The long-term prosperity of the Canadian economy can only be built on the sustained integrity of our [environment].” — "Achieving a Balance" published by the National Round Table on the Environment and…

Flood waters swirl past the Bracebridge Generating Station during the 2019 flood.

There’s a Big Difference Between “Water Management” and “Watershed Management”.

By Kevin Trimble. Flood waters swirl past the Bracebridge Generating Station during the 2019 flood. There has been recent interest in reopening and modifying the Muskoka River Water Management Plan…

Graphic of the four types of risk

Caring for Muskoka’s environment with the unknown unknowns.

Unknown unknowns cause problems we cannot anticipate, problems that can be small or very large. By Peter Sale. Our environment faces four types of risk. Known and unknown risks that…

Photo of sailboats participating in a regatta

An idyllic summer’s day on the lake?

How can we reduce our use of mechanized watercraft and still have heart-thumping fun? By David Parsons. Sailing is a green, emission-free way to enjoy the lakes of Muskoka, whether…

A group of hikers cross a boardwalk while enjoying the trails set among the trees, rocks and lakes at Limberlost Forest and Wildlife Reserve in Muskoka.

7 Ways to Travel With a Positive Impact in Muskoka or Anywhere Else.

Muskoka and the greater region sees approximately four million visitors per year and generates up to $800 million per year in spending. By Rebecca Francis. A group of hikers cross…

Photo showing damage due to flooding at a cottage.

Protecting Our Water. A 21st Century Challenge.

By Peter Johnston. Damage due to flooding is becoming more frequent in Muskoka as climate changes. In this changing world we cannot manage flood risk or anything else in our…

Photo of an eroded stream being rehabilitated using principles of natural channel design

How much can I take?

MWC looks at our attitudes towards the environment. By Kevin Trimble. An eroded stream is rehabilitated using principles of natural channel design. The physical form of the low flow channel is…

Compilation of images of newspaper headlines and Mark Zuckerberg.

The Assault on Science – Responding to Disinformation.

Disinformation poses a threat to truth and democracy. Recognizing reliable sources and evidence is crucial for protecting against misinformation’s harmful effects. By Geoff Ross. Many of us get our news…

Photo of a couple snowshoeing through a snow-covered forest

The Assault on Science, Truth and Democracy.

How does disinformation and the assault on science, truth and democracy ‘relate to protecting our Muskoka Watershed ecosystem?’ By Geoff Ross. Our continued enjoyment of Muskoka’s natural environment depends on…

A History of Environmental Actions.

‘Polluters deny, obfuscate and predict’ harm to the economy with scientists’ persistence eventually leading to change. by Neil Hutchinson. The successful pattern of environmental management (centre) describes the path from…