2019 Lake System Health Program Report

Lake System Health
Water Quality
Monitoring Program
2019 Annual Report
March 2020
Prepared by
The District Municipality of Muskoka
Community and Planning Services
Department
With Technical Support from the
Dorset Environmental Science Centre,
Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
Lake System Health Water Quality Monitoring Program
2019 Annual Report
Table of Contents
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................... 4
Muskoka Water Strategy .............................................................................................................................. 4
Lake System Health ....................................................................................................................................... 4
Summary of Lake System Health Monitoring Activities ............................................................................ 5
Partners............................................................................................................................................................ 6
1) Program Partners .............................................................................................................................. 6
2) Volunteer Participants ..................................................................................................................... 6
Monitoring Staff .............................................................................................................................................. 7
Lake System Health Monitoring Program Components .......................................................................... 7
1) Spring phosphorus sampling and other chemical parameters .............................................. 10

a) Sampling method .................................................................................................................. 11
b) Spring phosphorus results ...................................................................................................... 11
c) Other chemical parameters ................................................................................................ 12
2) Secchi depth measurements ....................................................................................................... 15

b) Secchi depth measurement results .................................................................................... 15
3) Temperature and dissolved oxygen measurements ................................................................ 18

b) Temperature and dissolved oxygen measurement results ............................................. 18
4) Shoreline land use surveys ............................................................................................................ 20

a) Survey method ....................................................................................................................... 20
b) Shoreline land use survey results .......................................................................................... 20
5) Love Your Lake Program ............................................................................................................... 20

a) Love Your Lake survey method ........................................................................................... 20
b) Love Your Lake results ........................................................................................................... 22
6) Biological Monitoring Program ..................................................................................................... 22

a) Benthic macroinvertebrate sampling method ................................................................. 22
b) Benthic macroinvertebrate sampling results ..................................................................... 22
c) Education programs .............................................................................................................. 23
7) The Natural Edge Shoreline Re-naturalization Program ........................................................... 23

a) The Natural Edge program results ....................................................................................... 24
Planning Policy ............................................................................................................................................. 25
1) Muskoka Official Plan Policies ...................................................................................................... 25

a) Vulnerable Lakes.................................................................................................................... 25
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2019 Annual Report
APPENDIX 1: 2019 Spring Phosphorus Data ............................................................................................. 26
APPENDIX 2: 2019 Chemical Data for Select Parameters ..................................................................... 28
APPENDIX 3: 2019 Secchi Depth Measurements .................................................................................... 31
APPENDIX 4: Interpretation of Water Quality Data ................................................................................ 33
APPENDIX 5: Lake Data Sheets .................................................................................................................. 36
APPENDIX 6: Lakes with Completed Shoreline Land Use Surveys ...................................................... 130
APPENDIX 7: Lakes Participating in the Love Your Lake Shoreline Assessment Program ............... 132
APPENDIX 8: Benthic Aquatic Invertebrate Information Sheet .......................................................... 133
APPENDIX 9: 2019 Aquatic Invertebrate Data Sheets ......................................................................... 136
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2019 Annual Report
Introduction
With its extensive forests, 8,000 waterbodies, and more than 13,500 kilometres of rugged
shoreline, Muskoka attracts almost two million visitors each year. Muskoka is a world-class tourist
destination with a large component of the population being seasonal residents with cottages on
its many lakes and rivers.
Continued prosperity in Muskoka depends upon maintaining the natural environment and
clean, healthy water that draws people here. For this reason, The District Municipality of Muskoka
(DMM) has an interest in the water quality of all the lakes and rivers within its jurisdiction.
In conjunction with the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP), Muskoka
has undertaken a water quality monitoring program since 1980. In total, 193 sites on 164 lakes
are monitored on a rotational basis. These data are collected to support development policy
and represent one of the best and longest-standing municipal water quality data sets in
Canada.
Muskoka Water Strategy
In January 2003, DMM expanded its recreational water quality program and developed the
Muskoka Water Strategy. The Strategy is a framework of integrated and strategic initiatives to
protect Muskoka’s water resources. Muskoka spearheads the Strategy with the support of the
Muskoka Watershed Council and with involvement from a wide variety of organizations,
agencies and stakeholders.
The Strategy consists of four components:
1. Lake System Health, including lake and watershed monitoring, volunteer–based benthic
monitoring, and stewardship and outreach programs;
2. Communication and community involvement, including the Muskoka Water Web site
(www.muskokawaterweb.ca);
3. The Muskoka Watershed Council, which includes initiatives such as producing the
Muskoka Watershed Report Card, delivering local Stewardship conferences, and
developing an algae monitoring pilot program (www.muskokawatershed.org); and
4. Broader Water Initiatives, including affiliations with the Dorset Environmental Science
Centre and several universities.
The Strategy emphasizes the strengthening of communicative partnerships and the sharing of
resources with other organizations as well as fostering community involvement. As the Strategy
evolves, it can address new issues or emerging concerns respecting Muskoka’s water resources
and may provide a structure for future water-related initiatives.
Lake System Health
Lake System Health is a broad, watershed-wide approach to protecting Muskoka’s waterbodies

that includes recreational water quality monitoring, enhanced development policy, and a
strong stewardship program. The goal of the Lake System Health Program is to protect lake
ecosystems and the natural, social and economic values they provide. Managing shoreline
development without substantially impacting the natural environment, habitat and trophic
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2019 Annual Report
status of the waterbody or other waterbodies within the same watershed is the initial and
primary factor in achieving lake health and sustainable development.
Summary of Lake System Health Monitoring Activities
A key component of the Lake System Health Program is ensuring the continued maintenance of
good water quality. Water quality has been monitored by DMM in conjunction with MECP for 40
years and has produced widely respected long-term data records for many lakes across
Muskoka.
DMM’s monitoring program is a field-based program that monitors approximately 193 sites on
164 lakes on a rotational basis. The purpose of the monitoring program is to establish a long-term
record of key water quality parameters so that trends in water quality and overall lake system
health can be identified and appropriate management decisions can be made to protect
Muskoka’s recreational lake water quality.
In collaboration with the Dorset Environmental Science Centre (DESC), Secchi depth (a measure
of clarity), calcium and phosphorus concentrations are taken as part of the Provincial Lake
Partner Program. In addition, DESC tests for other parameters, such as pH, conductivity, alkalinity,
chloride, and nitrogen, so that a more complete understanding of lake chemistry can be
achieved. While in the field, the District’s Water Quality Technicians also collect dissolved oxygen
and temperature data.
Since 2002, the District has implemented a shoreline land use survey with sixty-nine lakes, bays
and river segments surveyed to date. These surveys document all built structures, the overall
condition of the shoreline and general land-use adjacent to the lake. This information is
available to lake associations, Area Municipalities and other interested parties for planning
purposes.
In 2003 a Biological Monitoring Program was developed for lake associations interested in
becoming more involved in lake monitoring and broader lake planning. Each year, District
summer staff are available to train lake residents to undertake volunteer monitoring programs
that are based on standard protocols such as PlantWatch, FrogWatch, forest health and benthic
analysis. Ongoing support is provided to meet the needs of individual associations.
The objective of the biological monitoring program is to develop a network of monitoring

partners to collect a broad range of chemical and biological data, physical lake attributes and
shoreline development data that are in a useful form and can be made accessible to
individuals, associations, businesses and government agencies.
In 2013, Muskoka Watershed Council, with the assistance of DMM, started the Muskoka Love
Your Lake shoreline assessment program, which is an action-oriented program that provides
resources and training to local organizations. The goal of Love Your Lake is to deliver engaging
and effective programs to help landowners protect and restore their shorelines. To date, almost
6,000 properties on 17 lakes and bays in Muskoka have been assessed under the program,
identified in Appendix 7.
The Natural Edge program was brought to Muskoka by MWC, with the assistance of DMM, in
2019. The Natural Edge is a shoreline re-naturalization program that encourages waterfront
property owners to create or improve their waterfront buffer using native plants in order to
improve water quality and create wildlife habitat.
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2019 Annual Report
A new Muskoka Official Plan was approved in 2019 and includes modified recreational water
quality policies that relate to the recreational water quality monitoring undertaken through the
Lake System Health Water Quality Monitoring Program.
This report is a snapshot in time and contains a summary of the data collected during the 2019
monitoring season. Water quality parameters, such as phosphorus and dissolved oxygen, vary
throughout the year, as well as from year to year. In order to fully understand changes in
environmental quality on a particular lake, it is important to track the long-term trends for that
lake.
Data sheets for individual lakes that track change over time are available on the Muskoka Water
Web (www.muskokawaterweb.ca), by emailing rebecca.willison@muskoka.on.ca, or by calling
(705) 645-2100 x4387. Appendix 5 contains data sheets for all the lakes monitored in 2019.
Partners
1) Program Partners
The District Municipality of Muskoka leads and is responsible for the Lake System Health Water
Quality Monitoring Program. Additional funding and extensive technical support is received
from the Biomonitoring Section of the Environmental Monitoring and Reporting Branch of the
Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks at the Dorset Environmental Science
Centre.
The District Municipality of Muskoka has entered into an agreement with the Township of
Seguin to monitor two additional sites on Lake Joseph and one on Lake Rosseau in order to
gain a complete picture of the water quality on these two lakes, which cross municipal
boundaries. Muskoka has also coordinated sampling in the Georgian Bay area with the
Severn Sound Environmental Association to avoid duplication of effort and to effectively
share resources.
Stewardship programs undertaken as part of the Lake System Health program, such as Love
Your Lake and The Natural Edge, are done so in conjunction with the Muskoka Watershed
Council.
2) Volunteer Participants
The following associations and organizations participated in the 2019 Lake System Health
Program:
 Ontario Stewardship Rangers  Peninsula Lake Assoc.
 Trillium Lakelands District School Board  Walker & Pell Lakes Assoc.
 Patterson’s Bay Assoc.  Fox Lake Assoc.
 South Muldrew Lake Community Assoc.  Otter Lake Assoc.
 Bella Rebecca Community Assoc.  Lake Vernon Assoc.
 South Muskoka Lake Community Assoc.  Three Mile Lake Assoc.
 McKay Lake Assoc.  Muskoka Discovery Centre
 Tawingo College  Bay Lake Property Owners’ Assoc.
 Loon & Turtle Lake Cottage Assoc.  Haliburton-Muskoka-Kawartha
 Ril Lake Assoc. Children’s Water Festival
 Mary Lake Assoc.  Stewart Lake Association
 Buck Lake Assoc.  Wood Lake Cottagers’ Assoc.
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2019 Annual Report
 Bruce Lake Family Assoc.  Chub Lake Property Owners’ Assoc.

 Kahshe Lake Ratepayers’ Assoc.  Montessori School of Huntsville
 Menominee Lake Cottagers’ Assoc.  WISE Mobile Active Living Centre
Monitoring Staff
Under the direction of the Director of Environmental and Watershed Programs, two post-
secondary students were hired as Water Quality Technicians for a four-month contract,
beginning in May and ending in August.
The Water Quality Technicians collected water samples for phosphorus testing and analysis of
base chemical parameters, measured Secchi depths, and recorded temperature and dissolved
oxygen concentrations. The technicians also conducted shoreline land use surveys, monitored
site plan compliance, and assisted with collecting benthic data.
A Biological Monitoring Technician was hired for a four-month contract beginning in May and
ending in August. The Biotech provides volunteer training on various citizen science monitoring
protocols, provides ongoing support and technical information to volunteers and associations
during the monitoring season, and manages the data collected and reports back to
participating individuals and associations.
With funding from the Government of Canada (Canada Summer Jobs) and the Canadian
Wildlife Federation, two Shoreline Assessment Technicians were hired for nine weeks to conduct
shoreline assessments as part of the Muskoka Love Your Lake Program.
The Watershed Planning Technician is responsible for supervising summer staff, managing the
monitoring data, conducting site visits and developing planting plans for The Natural Edge
program, and developing watershed and lake specific data reports for public distribution.
Lake System Health Monitoring Program Components
The fieldwork for the 2019 Lake System Health Water Quality Monitoring Program began in May
and concluded in October. Components of the program included:
 Spring phosphorus sampling conducted in May;

 Water sample collection for base chemical parameters in May;
 Secchi depth measurements collected in May and August;
 Temperature and dissolved oxygen readings collected in May and August;
 Shoreline land use surveys carried out in June and July;
 Love Your Lake shoreline assessments conducted in July and August;
 Benthic macroinvertebrate sampling from May to August; and
 The Natural Edge site visits conducted from July to October.
Table 1 identifies the lakes sampled in 2019, their location, and the program carried out.
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2019 Annual Report
Table 1: Sites monitored in 2019.
Lake Quaternary
Lake Municipality Parameter Monitored
Number Watershed
Ada 15-1 ML Lake Rosseau Chem/Benthic
Barron's 225-1 GB Severn River Chem/Benthic
Bass 239-1 GR Kahshe River Chem/Benthic/LYL
Ben 6903-1 GR Kahshe River Chem
Bigwind 413-1 BR S. Muskoka River Chem
Bonnie 532-1 BR N. Muskoka River Chem
Brandy 562-1 ML Lake Muskoka Chem/Benthic
Brooks 590-1 LOB Oxtongue River Chem
Bruce 604-2 ML Lake Rosseau Chem/Benthic/LYL
Buck 617-1 HT Mary Lake Benthic
Camp 713-3 LOB Big East River Chem
Chub 7061-1 HT Mary Lake Benthic
Clark 6910-2 HT Little East River Chem
Cooper 976-2 LOB Lake of Bays Chem
Cornall 988-1 GR Severn River Chem
Dark 6913-1 ML Lake Muskoka Chem
Devine 1173-1 HT N. Muskoka River Chem
Dickie 1193-1 LOB S. Muskoka River Chem
Doeskin (Doe) 1216-1 GR Kahshe River Chem
Dotty 1237-1 LOB Oxtongue River Chem
Echo 1326-2 LOB S. Muskoka River Chem
Fawn (Deer) 1440-1 BR N. Muskoka River Chem
Flatrock 7243-1 GB Moon River Chem
Fox 1550-1 HT Mary Lake Chem/Benthic
Gartersnake (Long) 1626-1 BR Kahshe River Chem
Gibson - North 1644-2 GB Gibson River Chem
Gibson - South 1644-1 GB Gibson River Chem
Golden City 5750-1 HT Mary Lake Chem
Grindstone 1777-1 LOB Upper Black River Chem
Gull 1791-2 GR Lake Muskoka Chem
Haggart 1818-1 GB/ML Moon River Chem
Healey 1923-1 BR S. Muskoka River Chem
Henshaw 1946-3 ML Lake Rosseau Chem
Hoc Roc River – GR Lake Muskoka Benthic
Jessop (Jingo) 2154-2 HT Little East River Chem
Jevins 2155-1 GR Severn River Chem
Kahshe - Grant’s Bay 2217-2 GR Kahshe River Chem/LYL
Kahshe - Main 2217-5 GR Kahshe River Chem/LYL
LaFarce 7073-1 GB Gibson River Chem
Lake of Bays - Dwight Bay 2469-2 LOB Lake of Bays Chem
Lake of Bays - Haystack Bay 2469-5 LOB Lake of Bays Chem
Lake of Bays - Rat Bay 2469-9 LOB Lake of Bays Chem
Lake of Bays - S. Muskoka River Bay 2469-11 LOB Lake of Bays Chem
Lake of Bays - South Portage Bay 2469-8 LOB Lake of Bays Chem
Lake of Bays - Ten Mile Bay 2469-10 LOB Lake of Bays Chem
Lake of Bays - Trading Bay 2469-6 LOB Lake of Bays Chem
Leonard 2540-3 ML Lake Muskoka Chem
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2019 Annual Report
Lake Quaternary
Number Watershed
Little Go-Home Bay 7064-30 GB Severn River Chem
Longline 6509-1 LOB Lake of Bays Chem
Mary 3032-3 HT Mary Lake Chem/Benthic
Mary Jane 605-1 ML Lake Rosseau Chem
McCrae 7259-1 GB Severn River Chem
McDonald 7245-1 GB Severn River Chem
McKay 3123-2 BR S. Muskoka River LYL
McRey 7044-1 BR S. Muskoka River Chem
Menominee 3181-3 LOB Lake of Bays Chem/Benthic
Morrison 3331-1 GR Severn River Chem
Myers (Butterfly) 3408-1 GB Moon River Chem
Nine Mile 3469-1 ML Gibson River Chem
North Muldrew 4074-1 GR Severn River Chem
Otter 6916-1 HT Mary Lake Chem/Benthic
Oudaze 4202-1 HT Big East River Chem
Oxbow 4213-2 LOB Oxtongue River Chem
Paint (St. Mary) 5145-4 LOB Lake of Bays Chem
Pell 6683-1 LOB Lake of Bays Chem
Peninsula - East 4309-4 LOB Mary Lake Chem/Benthic/Shore
Peninsula - West 4309-5 HT Mary Lake Chem/Shore
Pine 4379-1 BR S. Muskoka River Chem
Pine 4378-1 GR Lake Muskoka Chem
Prospect 4468-1 BR Kahshe River Chem
Rebecca Feb-67 LOB Big East River Benthic
Rickett's 6921-1 ML Lake Rosseau Chem
Ril 4627 LOB S. Muskoka River Benthic
Rosseau - Brackenrig Bay 2476-12 ML Lake Rosseau Chem
Rosseau - East Portage Bay 2476-11 ML Lake Rosseau Chem
Rosseau - Main 2476-13 ML Lake Rosseau Chem
Rosseau - North 2476-14 SE Lake Rosseau Chem
Rosseau - Skeleton Bay 2476-10 ML Lake Rosseau Chem
Ryde (Buck) 4750-1 GR Kahshe River Chem
Silver 4951-2 GR Lake Muskoka Chem
Silver 4952-1 ML Lake Muskoka Chem
Silver Sand 4959-1 GB Moon River Chem
Six Mile - Cedar Nook Bay 4978-1 GB Severn River Chem
Six Mile - Main 4978-4 GB Severn River Chem
Six Mile - Provincial Park Bay 4978-5 GB Severn River Chem
Solitaire 5037-1 LOB Big East River Chem
South Muldrew 5075-1 GR Severn River Chem/Benthic
Spence - North 5102-1 BR S. Muskoka River Chem
Spence - South 5102-2 BR S. Muskoka River Chem
Stewart 5166-1 GB/ML Lake Rosseau Chem/Benthic
Tasso 5303-5 LOB Big East River Chem
Three Mile - Hammel's Bay 5362-5 ML Dee River Chem
Three Mile - Main 5362-6 ML Dee River Chem/Benthic
Toronto 5416-1 GB Moon River Chem
Turtle (Long Turtle) 5485-1 GR Severn River Chem/Benthic
Vernon - Hunter's Bay 6455-6 HT Mary Lake LYL
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2019 Annual Report
Lake Quaternary
Number Watershed
Vernon - Main 6455-7 HT Mary Lake Benthic/LYL
Vernon - North Bay 6455-8 HT Mary Lake LYL
Walker 5710-2 LOB Mary Lake Benthic
Waseosa 5741-1 HT Little East River Chem
Webster 7074-1 GB Gibson River Chem
Weismuller 6927-1 BR Kahshe River Chem
Wood 5961-1 BR S. Muskoka River Chem
BR (Bracebridge) GB (Georgian Bay) GR (Gravenhurst) HT (Huntsville)
LOB (Lake of Bays) ML (Muskoka Lakes) SE (Seguin)
Chem - Spring Phosphorus & Other Chemical Parameters Shore - Shoreline Land Use Survey
LYL - Love Your Lake Shoreline Assessment Benthic - Benthic Macroinvertebrate Monitoring
1) Spring phosphorus sampling and other chemical parameters
Phosphorus is the nutrient that controls the growth of algae in most Ontario lakes. For this
reason, an increase in phosphorus in a lake increases the potential for algal blooms. Algal
blooms detract from recreational water quality and, in some cases, affect the habitat of
coldwater fish species such as Lake trout.
Phosphorus samples are collected in the spring during “spring turnover”. Studies have shown
that for lakes on the Precambrian Shield, total phosphorus long-term means derived using
spring turnover data and whole lake means are not significantly different.1 In some cases, a
sample may be taken after a lake has thermally stratified (see section 3b) but before
biological activity has altered the phosphorus concentration in each layer. Studies
conducted at DESC demonstrate that phosphorus samples taken in April (during turnover),
May (late turnover-early stratification) and early June (weakly stratified) are not significantly
different.2
By sampling spring phosphorus over the long term it is possible to detect a change in the
nutrient status of a lake. Several years of data must be collected before it is possible to
determine normal phosphorus levels and between-year differences. It is only at that point
that trends in phosphorus can be identified.
Phosphorus is a natural substance required by all living organisms. It enters a lake naturally
through sediment and precipitation, which cannot be controlled by human activities.
Human inputs of phosphorus to Muskoka’s lakes are primarily through septic system seepage
and surface runoff from sources such as lawn fertilizer runoff and agricultural runoff. Planning
policy targets these activities to reduce human phosphorus inputs. Municipal wastewater will
also add phosphorus to a waterbody. However, Muskoka sewage treatment plants all have
tertiary treatment with phosphorus reduction technology.
Sampling for spring phosphorus and other chemical parameters in 2019 was conducted from
May to early June. A total of 93 sites were sampled on 76 lakes.
1 Clark, Bev J. , Paterson, Andrew M. , Jeziorski, Adam and Kelsey, Susan (2010). 'Assessing variability in total phosphorus
measurements in Ontario lakes', Lake and Reservoir Management, 26: 1, 63 - 72, First published on: 24 March 2010 (iFirst)
2 ibid.
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2019 Annual Report
Figure 1 identifies the 76 lakes that were sampled for spring phosphorus, Secchi depth,
temperature, dissolved oxygen and other chemical parameters in 2019.
a) Sampling method
A composite water sample for spring phosphorus was taken to the Secchi depth
measurement. Two samples were taken for each lake and these readings were
averaged.
b) Spring phosphorus results

Figure 2 summarizes the 2019 spring phosphorus results and Appendix 1 contains the 2019
spring phosphorus data. Approximately 75% of lakes sampled in 2019 had a TP reading
higher than the previous reading for the lake. When comparing the 2019 spring
phosphorus reading to the 10-year average for each lake, 47% had a decrease or no
change. This spike in phosphorus seen on many of the lakes in 2019 may be attributed to
both early spring flooding across the watershed combined with late ice-off conditions.
Lakes with phosphorus concentrations below 10 micrograms per litre (g/L) are
considered oligotrophic or unenriched. Those with a phosphorus concentration falling
between 11 and 20 g/L are termed mesotrophic or moderately enriched, while lakes
with a phosphorus
concentration LEARN MORE: Trophic state of lakes
exceeding 20 g/L are
called eutrophic and are
considered enriched. See
the sidebar for general
characteristics of
oligotrophic, mesotrophic,
and eutrophic lakes.
As recommended in the
2008 report Review of
Long-Term Water Quality
Data for the Lake System
Health Program prepared
by Gartner Lee Limited,
spring phosphorus results
were analyzed for bad
splits and outliers. A bad
split occurs when a
greater than 25% variance
is found between
duplicate samples taken
at each site. Where a bad
split is found, the higher
value is generally
discarded. The average
spring phosphorus data
was then analyzed to
determine the validity of
the 2019 measurement in
the long term data series
for each lake using the
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2019 Annual Report
methods outlined in the above report. Data points determined to be outliers were
excluded from the calculation of a lake’s 10-year average.
c) Other chemical parameters

Water samples collected in the spring are analyzed for a variety of parameters, including
pH, alkalinity, conductivity, dissolved organic carbon, calcium, chloride, colour, sodium,
nitrogen, and sulphate. Collection of these data provides information on the chemical
characteristics of the lake and can highlight changes in water chemistry. Table 2
contains a full list of the chemical parameters analyzed. Table 3 contains more
information on a select number of parameters and the data collected in 2019 for these
select parameters are included in Appendix 2.
Table 2: Full suite of chemical parameters analyzed in the laboratory.
Name Units Name Units

Alkalinity; Gran mg/L Magnesium mg/L
Alkalinity; Total Fixed Endpoint mg/L Manganese µg/L
Aluminum µg/L Molybdenum µg/L
Anions meq/L Nickel µg/L
Antimony µg/L Nitrogen; Ammonia+Ammonium µg/L
Arsenic µg/L Nitrogen; Nitrate+Nitrite µg/L
Barium µg/L Nitrogen; Total mg/L
Beryllium µg/L Nitrogen; Total Kjeldahl µg/L
Boron µg/L pH none
Cadmium µg/L Phosphorus; Total µg/L
Calcium mg/L Potassium mg/L
Carbon; Dissolved Inorganic mg/L Saturation pH Estimated none
Carbon; Dissolved Organic mg/L Selenium µg/L
Cations meq/L Silicon; Reactive Silicate mg/L
Chloride mg/L Silver µg/L
Chromium µg/L Sodium mg/L
Cobalt µg/L Solids; Dissolved Estimated mg/L
Colour; True TCU Strontium µg/L
Conductivity µS/cm Sulphate mg/L
Conductivity Estimated µS/cm Thallium µg/L
Copper µg/L Titanium µg/L
Ion Balance Calculation % Uranium µg/L
Iron µg/L Vanadium µg/L
Langeliers Index Calculation none Zinc µg/L
Lead µg/L
12
FIGURE
FIGURE 11
LAKE
LAKE SYSTEM
SYSTEM HEALTH
HEALTH PROGRAM
PROGRAM 592
Oudaze Lk
Oudaze Lk
MONITORED
MONITORED LAKES
LAKES -- CHEMICAL
CHEMICAL Fox
Fox Lk
Lk
2
Clark
Clark Lk
Lk
Waseosa
Waseosa Lk
Lk
2019
2019 11
Dotty
Dotty Lk
Lk
Brooks
Brooks Lk
Lk
Jessop
Jessop Lk
Lk Tasso
Tasso Lk
Lk
Golden 31
Golden City
City Lk
Lk
3 Oxbow
Oxbow Lk
Lk
Pell Lk
Pell Lk8 Camp Lk
Camp Lk
3
45 Solitaire Lk
Solitaire Lk
3 Peninsula Lk
Peninsula Lk
60
Mary
Mary Jane
Jane Lk
Lk 7 60
11 Bruce
Bruce Lk
Lk Cooper
Cooper Lk
Lk
Ricketts
Ricketts Lk
Lk 28
Otter
Otter Lk
Lk 23
9
Stewart Lk
Stewart Lk 141
12
Lake
Lake Rosseau
Rosseau 24
Mary
Mary Lk
Lk
2
Toronto
Toronto Lk
Lk 4 Three Mile
Three Mile Lk
Lk 10
169Lk
Haggart
Haggart Lk 10 21
Myers Lk
Myers Lk 35
7 27
Silver
Silver Sand
Sand Lk
Lk 25
4 44 22
Ada Lk
Ada Lk Silver
Silver Lk
Lk Lake
Lake of
of Bays
Bays 35
Flatrock
Flatrock Lk
Lk Devine
Devine Lk
Lk
9
Henshaw
Henshaw Lk
Lk Brandy Lk
Brandy Lk 11
Fawn Lk
Fawn Lk
118
Menominee Lk
Menominee Lk
26 4 Longline
Longline Lk
Lk
400 29
Bonnie
Bonnie
46 Lk
Lk
Webster Lk
Webster Lk
32 47 2 Paint Lk
Paint Lk
Lafarce Lk
Lafarce Lk Leonard Lk
Leonard Lk Echo Lk
Echo Lk 39
38 51
Gibson
Gibson Lk
Lk Dickie
Dickie Lk
Lk Grindstone
Grindstone Lk
Lk
50 117
Dark
Dark Lk
Lk
McCrae
McCrae Lk
Lk 33 30
McDonald
McDonald Lk
Lk Healey Lk
Healey Lk
42
15
McRey
McRey Lk
Lk 35
14
Six Mile
Six Mile Lk
Lk Nine
Nine Mile
Mile
13 Lk
Lk 16 37
Pine Lk
Pine Lk
Spence Lk
Spence Lk
48
34 169 Bigwind
Bigwind Lk
Lk
5
Pine Lk
Pine Lk 17
Little
Little Go
Go Home
Home Bay
Bay
18
Barron's
Barron's Lk
Lk Wood Lk
Wood Lk
Turtle Lk
Turtle Lk 1 36 Prospect Lk
Prospect Lk
118
North
North Muldrew
Muldrew Lk
Lk 41
400 13
Gull Lk
Gull Lk
20
South Muldrew
South Muldrew Lk
Lk Doe
Doe Lk
Lk Weismuller
Jevins
Jevins Lk
Lk Weismuller Lk
Lk
Silver Lk 6
Silver Lk
Morrison
Morrison Lk
Lk Gartersnake
Gartersnake Lk
Lk
Cornall
Cornall Lk
Lk Fawn
Fawn Lk
Lk
Ryde
Ryde Lk
Lk 0 5 10
19
Ben Lk
Ben Lk kilometres
6
Kahshe Lk
Kahshe Lk Bass
Bass Lk
Lk
Produced by the District of Muskoka under licence from
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Copyright (c) Queens Printer 2019.
Includes material © 2019 of the Queen's Printer for Ontario.
11
13
All rights reserved.
The information contained herein may be erroneous, inaccurate or misleading.
The parties compiling and/or disclosing the information make no warranties 49
whatsoever as to the accuracy of any or all of the information contained herein.
Any party relying on this information does so at their own risk and shall not,
under any circumstances, make any claim against anyone on the grounds
that the information was erroneous, inaccurate or misleading.
Chemical Monitoring
This road network information has been generated or adapted from Ontario Road
Network Database, a database built from source data provided by the Municipalities
of Ontario to the Government of Ontario under licence. 6
The Ontario Road Network Database is the property of the Government of Ontario
and is used under licence from the Government of Ontario.
S:\WATER\Watqual\Monitoring Program\2019\ReportMaps
2019 Annual Report
Table 3: Additional information on select chemical water quality parameters monitored in 2019.
Water Quality
What Is It Why Measure It Recommended Limit
Parameter
A measure of a lake’s “buffering capacity” or its Values of 20-200 mg/L are

It is a measure of a lake’s sensitivity
Alkalinity ability to neutralize acids. Alkalinity comes from common in freshwater systems;
to acid inputs, such as rainfall or
(mg/L) rocks and soils, salts, plant activities, and industrial lakes below 10 mg/L are
snowmelt.
wastewater discharges. susceptible to acidification.
The most commonly found substance in water, High amounts can cause algae Water is considered hard at
normally from bedrock leaching and effluent problems and water hardness. Low levels above 120 mg/L and soft
Calcium
discharge. An important element for aquatic life amounts can cause corrosion, below 60 mg/L. Muskoka,
(mg/L)
and for pH buffering in lakes. It is the main water softness, and affect species being on the Canadian Shield,
component causing water hardness. diversity. has extremely soft water.
A salt compound that results from the combination

of chlorine gas and a metal. Small amounts are
Chloride ion (Cl-) in lake water is
Chloride required for normal cell functions in plant and High levels (>250 mg/L) affect
considered an indicator of human
(mg/L) animal life. Sources include rock, agricultural fish and aquatic communities.
activity.
runoff, industrial wastewater and sewage
treatment effluent.
A shade or tint imparted to water that is often

Dissolved mineral matter, such as Aesthetic objective in drinking
Colour caused by organic materials created when
iron and manganese, may also water is 5 TCU. Lakes naturally
(TCU) vegetation decays. Lakes with high DOC tend to
produce colour. range from 0-300 TCU.
have more colour.
The ability of water to pass an electric current. It

The higher the conductivity, the
indicates the physical presence of dissolved salts
Conductivity more dissolved solids are in the Natural waters tend to be
(ions) in the water, such as chloride, sulphate,
(S/cm) water. Conductivity increases with between 50-1500 S/cm.
phosphate, sodium, magnesium, calcium, iron and
increasing temperature.
aluminum. Pure water has low conductivity.
The most abundant element found in all organisms. Water high in DOC tends to be
Dissolved In aquatic environments, organic carbon is more tea-coloured. In addition to Aesthetic objective in drinking
Organic produced by plant photosynthesis and bacterial natural sources, human-related water is 5 mg/L. Values above
Carbon (DOC) growth. Leaching of humic substances and sources of DOC include 7 mg/L are considered high for
(mg/L) decomposition of plants and animals are other agricultural runoff and municipal recreational use.
natural sources. and industrial effluents.
A highly soluble metal found everywhere in the Aesthetic objective in drinking

High levels can cause algae
Sodium water environment. Major sources include road water is 200 mg/L. Levels over
problems and can be toxic to
(mg/L) salt, agricultural runoff, geological formations and 20 mg/L may affect people on
aquatic life.
water softeners. sodium-reduced diets.
Elevated levels may indicate Natural levels in surface water

pollution from sewage or are typically less than 1 mg/L
Nitrate (NO3) Nitrate is the primary form of nitrogen used by
agricultural runoff and can lead to (1000 g/L). Drinking water
(g/L) plants as a nutrient to stimulate growth.
increased algal growth and objective is a maximum of 10
eutrophication. mg/L.
A measure of both ammonia and organic forms of Excessive amounts contribute to

Total Kjeldahl Lakes with high TKN values and
nitrogen. Major sources include sewage treatment eutrophication of lakes creating
Nitrogen (TKN) high TP values may be prone
plant effluent, agricultural runoff and algal blooms that can negatively
(g/L) to excessive algae growth.
development. impact aquatic life.
A measure of the hydrogen ion concentration in Provincial water quality

The distribution of aquatic
water, on a scale of 1 to 14 with 7 being neutral. objective is between 6.5 and
organisms and the toxicity of some
pH The lower the pH of water, the more acidic it is. 8.5. pH values below 5 and
common pollutants are strongly
Extreme changes in pH impair the reproduction of above 9 are harmful to
affected by pH.
aquatic life and species diversity. organisms.
Sulphate is natural in many minerals but is often

High levels can reduce the pH in a
Sulphate derived from acidic deposition (acid rain). High Drinking water standard is 500
lake by increasing the acidity
(mg/L) amounts that exceed the buffering capacity of a mg/L.
levels.
lake can reduce the pH.
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2019 Annual Report
2) Secchi depth measurements
Secchi depth is a measurement of water clarity. In Muskoka, the major determinant of water
clarity may be either natural colour, determined by dissolved organic carbon (DOC)
content, or an increase in nutrient input from the surrounding watershed.
A lake may naturally be a brown colour due to high levels of DOC that come from the
wetlands in a watershed. DOC colours lakes brown and reduces water clarity, but is not an
indication of nutrient enrichment. Examples of lakes with naturally high DOC content include
Brandy Lake and Fawn Lake.
Water clarity can also decrease as nutrients from the surrounding watershed enter and
enrich the lake, resulting in high levels of suspended sediments or algal growth.
Water clarity can change weekly or yearly as a result of weather, length of winter ice cover,
shoreline development, natural seasonal trends or other impacts. However, when the
primary determinant of water clarity is a function of nutrient enrichment, a long-term trend
that indicates a reduction in water clarity is an indication of reduced water quality.
a) Sampling method
Secchi depth readings were taken once in May and once in August for each lake.
Readings were obtained over the deepest part of the lake by lowering the Secchi disc
into the water until it disappeared (value A). The disc was then raised until it reappeared
(value B). The average of the two values is the Secchi depth reading [(A+B)2].
b) Secchi depth measurement results

Figure 3 summarizes the Secchi depth measurements for 2019 and Appendix 3 contains
the 2019 Secchi depth data.
In general, where a lake is not coloured by DOC, the higher the Secchi depth reading,
the clearer the lake and the less nutrients it contains. Lakes with Secchi depth
measurements over five metres are considered oligotrophic or unenriched. Those with a
Secchi depth measurement between three and five metres are termed mesotrophic or
moderately enriched, while lakes with a Secchi depth measurement below three metres
are called eutrophic and are considered enriched. Refer to the sidebar on page 11 for
general characteristics of oligotrophic, mesotrophic, and eutrophic lakes.
In some instances in shallow lakes, Secchi depth measurements may be limited by the
depth of the lake, resulting in a low Secchi depth reading even though the lake is low in
DOC and otherwise clear.
In Georgian Bay, where Zebra mussels and Quagga mussels feed on the phytoplankton,
nutrients are transferred from deeper water to the shoreline area resulting in a high
density of shoreline aquatic vegetation and high Secchi depth readings in deeper water.
In this situation, Secchi depth readings do not provide a true indication of the trophic
status of the waterbody.
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3) Temperature and dissolved oxygen measurements
Temperature is a measure of the intensity of heat stored in a volume of water. Temperature

patterns affect the solubility of many chemical compounds and influences the effects of
pollution on aquatic life.
Dissolved oxygen is a measure of the concentration of oxygen dissolved in water. Adequate

concentrations of dissolved oxygen are necessary for the survival of fish and other aquatic
organisms. Dissolved oxygen concentration is an indicator of a lake’s ability to support
aquatic life.
Dissolved oxygen levels above 5 milligrams per litre (mg/L) are considered optimal for most
aquatic organisms. Most fish cannot survive if levels fall below 3 mg/L. For coldwater species,
such as Lake trout, a minimum of 6 mg/L is needed, along with a temperature below 10 C.
Lakes with dissolved oxygen readings below 0.5 mg/L are considered anoxic (totally devoid
of oxygen).
a) Sampling method
Temperature and dissolved oxygen readings were taken once in May and once in
August for each lake. Readings were taken with a dissolved oxygen metre (YSI ProODO
Optical DO Meter) with the first reading at 0.5 metres from the surface, the second at 1
metre, and continuing down in one-metre increments to a depth of 10 metres. Readings
were then taken in two metre increments to within one metre of the bottom.
b) Temperature and dissolved oxygen measurement results

The combination of thermal stratification and biological activity causes characteristic
patterns in water chemistry. In the summer, deep lakes stratify with warm water on top
and cold water below. Because cold water is more dense than warm water, these two
layers do not mix and atmospheric oxygen cannot reach the bottom layer.
In general, the dissolved oxygen concentration

in the epilimnion (top layer of water in a lake)
remains high throughout the summer because
of photosynthesis, which produces oxygen,
and diffusion of oxygen from the atmosphere.
Conditions in the hypolimnion (the bottom
layer of water in a lake) vary with trophic status
(see sidebar on page 11).
In these deep regions of the lake, dissolved

oxygen declines during the summer because
organisms continue to consume oxygen. In
some lakes, the bottom layer may eventually
become anoxic.
Lakes that are less than nine meters deep are generally too shallow to stratify and remain
mixed all year. Smaller lakes that are less than twenty meters deep, like Golden City
Lake, tend to go anoxic at the bottom of the lake naturally at the end of the summer
because the hypolimnion is not large enough to store the oxygen required to support a
full season of natural processes. The plant and animal life in these lakes have adapted to
this annual variation in available oxygen.
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2019 Annual Report
In oligotrophic lakes, low plant growth and increased water clarity allows deeper light
penetration. Algae are able to grow deeper in the water column and less oxygen is
consumed by decomposition.
Figure 4: Typical temperature and dissolved oxygen profiles for eutrophic and oligotrophic lakes
throughout the year (adapted from Figure 8-1 in Wetzel, R.G. 1975. Limnology. W.B. Saunders Company).
The following is an example of temperature and dissolved oxygen profiles for one site
monitored in 2019. Temperature and dissolved oxygen profiles for each lake monitored in
2019 are available on the Muskoka Water Web at www.muskokawaterweb.ca or in
Appendix 5.
Peninsula Lake - West
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2019 Annual Report
It is evident from the profiles on the previous page that there is ample dissolved oxygen in
May with about 12 mg/L. The temperature is around 6 C throughout most of the water
column. By August, the water temperature at the surface has risen to almost 25 C and
drops sharply to 5 C at a depth between 5 to 10 meters. This is called the thermocline.
Below the thermocline, dissolved oxygen concentration increases slightly with the
decrease in temperature because cold water holds more oxygen than warm water. The
oxygen concentration below the thermocline is approximately 8 mg/L, making this lake a
healthy lake for coldwater fish species such as Lake trout.
4) Shoreline land use surveys
Shoreline land use surveys started in the summer of 2002 to collect data on shoreline
vegetation, shoreline structures and the first 20 meters of land around a water body.
See Appendix 6 for a list of waterbodies with completed shoreline land use surveys. In 2019,
one lake was partially surveyed and will be completed in 2020.
a) Survey method
One lake was partially surveyed in 2019 (see Table 1 and Figure 5). Field data were
collected and entered into a database and graphically mapped using MapInfo
Professional.
b) Shoreline land use survey results

There are no results available for 2019.
5) Love Your Lake Program
Love Your Lake (LYL) is a program developed by Watersheds Canada (WC) and the
Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) being carried out in several areas across Canada,
including Muskoka. Each of the areas has a local delivery agent to oversee the program,
with resources, training, expertise and some funding provided by WC and CWF. In Muskoka,
the delivery agent is the Muskoka Watershed Council with the assistance of The District
Municipality of Muskoka through the Lake System Health program. Shoreline assessments are
conducted with the assistance of local lake associations and other community volunteers.
The core of the LYL program is an assessment of the shoreline quality of every property on a
lake followed by outreach to landowners with a personalized property report and
information package as well as suggested actions for shoreline enhancement. See
Appendix 7 for a list of lakes and bays in Muskoka that have been assessed through the LYL
program.
a) Love Your Lake survey method

Shoreline assessments were carried out on two lakes in 2019 as identified in Table 1 and
Figure 5. With the assistance of the Kahshe Lake Ratepayers’ Association, 696 properties on
Kahshe Lake and 34 properties on Bass Lake were assessed by Shoreline Assessment
Technicians using a standard evaluation protocol. The information was input into the LYL
database in order to generate custom property reports for each landowner and a Shoreline
Assessment Summary Report for each lake.
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FIGURE
FIGURE 55
592
LAKE
LAKE SYSTEM
SYSTEM HEALTH
HEALTH PROGRAM
PROGRAM Buck
Buck Lk
Lk
MONITORED
MONITORED LAKES
LAKES 2
Fox
Fox Lk
Lk
2019
2019 11
Rebecca Lk
Rebecca Lk
31
3
Lake
Lake Vernon
Vernon Walker Lk
Walker Lk 8
45 3
3 60
7 Chub Lk
Chub Lk Peninsula
Peninsula Lk
Lk 60
11 Bruce Lk
Bruce Lk
23
Stewart Lk
Stewart Lk 28 9
141
2 Otter
Otter Lk
Lk
12 24 Mary
Mary Lk
Lk
4 10
Three
Three Mile
Mile Lk
Lk
169 10 21
35
7 27
4 44 22
25
35
Ada
Ada Lk
Lk
9
11
118
Brandy Lk
Brandy Lk Menominee Lk
Menominee Lk
26 4
400 29
46
32 47 2
39
38 51
50 117
33 30 Ril Lk
Ril Lk
42
15 35
14
13 16 37
48 McKay
McKay Lk
Lk
34 169
5
17
18 Hoc
Hoc Roc
Roc River
River
1 36 118
Barron's Lk
Barron's Lk Turtle
Turtle Lk
Lk 41
400 13
20
South
South Muldrew
Muldrew Lk
Lk 6
0 5 10
19
kilometres
6
Bass
Bass Lk
Lk
Produced by the District of Muskoka under licence from
Shoreline Survey
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Copyright (c) Queens Printer 2019. 11
Includes material © 2019 of the Queen's Printer for Ontario. 13
All rights reserved.
The information contained herein may be erroneous, inaccurate or misleading.
Kahshe
Kahshe Lk
Lk
The parties compiling and/or disclosing the information make no warranties
whatsoever as to the accuracy of any or all of the information contained herein.
49 Love Your Lake
Any party relying on this information does so at their own risk and shall not,
under any circumstances, make any claim against anyone on the grounds
that the information was erroneous, inaccurate or misleading.
This road network information has been generated or adapted from Ontario Road
Network Database, a database built from source data provided by the Municipalities
of Ontario to the Government of Ontario under licence. 6
Benthic Monitoring
The Ontario Road Network Database is the property of the Government of Ontario
and is used under licence from the Government of Ontario.
S:\WATER\Watqual\Monitoring Program\2019\ReportMaps
2019 Annual Report
b) Love Your Lake results

Custom property reports for landowners on Bruce Lake
in Muskoka Lakes, McKay Lake in Bracebridge, and
Lake Vernon in Huntsville became available in spring
2019 from data collected through shoreline
assessments conducted in 2018. Shoreline Assessment
Summary Reports were provided to the Bruce Lake
Family Association, McKay Lake Association, and Lake
Vernon Association, which summarizes the information
on shoreline classifications, development, runoff,
invasive species, habitat and recommendations and
restoration opportunities, and provides a baseline to
compare future surveys to. It can also be used by the
lake association and other partners to determine
opportunities for restoration, education and
stewardship on a lake wide level.
6) Biological Monitoring Program
In 2003 Muskoka’s existing monitoring program was enhanced with a volunteer biological
monitoring program. The Biological Monitoring Technician provided training for lake
volunteers and developed a program of ongoing support to meet the needs of individual
associations.
The 2019 biological monitoring program focused on the Ontario Benthos Biomonitoring
Network (OBBN) benthic monitoring protocol, which supplements existing lake monitoring
and shoreline land use data.
a) Benthic macroinvertebrate sampling method

The benthic macroinvertebrate sampling protocol required the collection and
classification of macroinvertebrates from a variety of developed and undeveloped sites
of the near shore environment. The program follows the standard protocol for benthic
analysis developed by the Ontario Benthos Biomonitoring Network (OBBN), spearheaded
by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks through the Dorset
Environmental Science Centre.
The Kick and Sweep method was used to collect samples and the Teaspoon method
was the sub-sampling method used to collect organisms from within the sample.
b) Benthic macroinvertebrate sampling results

In 2019, benthic sampling occurred at 22 sites on 21 lakes and 1 river across Muskoka.
See Table 1 for a list and Figure 5 for a map of the areas involved in the 2019 benthic
macroinvertebrate sampling program. Aquatic Invertebrate Data Sheets for each site
sampled in 2019 are available in Appendix 9. They can also be accessed on the
Muskoka Water Web site at www.muskokawaterweb.ca.
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2019 Annual Report
c) Education programs
Hands-on workshops and presentations to youth and the community are an important
component of the Biological Monitoring Program. The most requested program is the
“Bugs in the Mud” presentation, which allows participants to learn about why benthic
macroinvertebrates are monitored, how to identify the critters found in Muskoka’s lakes,
and provides the opportunity to process a water sample themselves. Presentations on
watersheds, water quality, invasive species and species at risk are also available.
Stewardship programs were presented to over 800 youths and community members at
several venues throughout the year, including:
 Trillium and Lakelands District  Haliburton-Muskoka-Kawartha

School Board school groups Children’s Water Festival
 Private school groups  Community Groups
 Muskoka Discovery Centre  Summer camps
7) The Natural Edge Shoreline Re-naturalization Program
The Natural Edge is a new shoreline re-naturalization program administered in the Muskoka
area by the Muskoka Watershed Council to encourage waterfront property owners to plant
native trees, shrubs, groundcovers, wildflowers, and grasses along the water’s edge. The
program was created by Watersheds Canada with funding support from the Ontario Trillium
Foundation and the Daniel and Susan Gottlieb Foundation. The program is open to any
shoreline property owner in Muskoka (i.e. it is not restricted to certain lakes).
The program provides landowners with:

 A free site visit to discuss shoreline
concerns, provide
recommendations, and assess
planting conditions;
 A personalized planting plan,
including photos of selected planting
areas and ideal plant species (Figure
8);
 Free resources to ensure that the
newly planted vegetation thrives in
the first few years of establishment
and growth; and,
 Follow-up and support with their new
plants. Figure 6: The Natural Edge app developed by
Watersheds Canada is used to create personalized
A limited number of subsidized Shoreline Re- planting plans for waterfront properties.
naturalization Starter Kits were also available
for purchase by landowners wishing to get a start on their re-naturalization projects. In
addition to the free site visit and planting plan, the starter kits includes:
 50 native plants including bare root (small) and potted (large) plants and wildflowers
 Coconut fibre pads to deter grass from growing around new plantings
 Tree guards for deciduous trees
 Mulch for the wildflowers
 Plant Care Guide (with instructions on how to take care of your new plants), Habitat
Creation Guide and Wildflower Garden Guide
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2019 Annual Report
a) The Natural Edge program results

Seventeen site visits were conducted in 2019 on the following lakes:
Lake of Bays (Lake of Bays) - 10 Bruce Lake (Muskoka Lakes) - 1
Three Mile Lake (Muskoka Lakes) - 2 Lake Joseph (Muskoka Lakes) - 1
Rebecca Lake (Lake of Bays) - 2 Lake Vernon (Huntsville) -
Planting plans were created during each site visit.

Funding was received to subsidize five Shoreline Re-naturalization Starter Kits (Figure 7),
and all five were distributed, including one on Bruce Lake, two on Three Mile Lake, one
on Lake Vernon and one on Lake Joseph.
Through The Natural Edge program, 346 native plants were distributed, including 10 trees,
123 shrubs, 123 wildflowers, 37 groundcover, and 53 ferns. An area of approximately 430
square metres was re-naturalized, including about 110 metres of shoreline.
Figure 7: The Natural Edge Shoreline Re-naturalization Starter Kit.
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2019 Annual Report
Planning Policy
1) Muskoka Official Plan Policies
The updated Muskoka Official Plan was approved by the Province of Ontario on June 28,
2019, which provides the roadmap for growth and physical change in Muskoka for the next
20 years. The Muskoka Official Plan contains a vision and provides policies to protect the
natural environment, align growth and development with municipal infrastructure
investment, drive a vibrant economy and promote complete, safe, accessible and inclusive
communities throughout Muskoka.
Following several years of review, Muskoka has updated its policies related to water quality
and the environment, as outlined in Section C of the Muskoka Official Plan. Key changes to
policies on water quality include the use of three water quality indicators, as specified in
Section C2.6.3.2., to identify vulnerable lakes:
i) A long-term statistically significant (p<0.1) increasing trend in total phosphorus
concentration demonstrated by at least five (5) spring overturn phosphorus
measurements obtained through the District of Muskoka water quality sampling
program since 2001;
ii) A long-term total phosphorus concentration of greater than 20 μg/L demonstrated
by the average of five (5) most recent spring overturn phosphorus measurements
obtained through the District of Muskoka water quality sampling program within the
last ten (10) years ; and/or
iii) A blue-green algal (cyanobacteria) bloom confirmed and documented by the
Province and/or Health Unit.
a) Vulnerable Lakes
Schedule E2 identifies waterbodies where a water quality indicator has been confirmed
in accordance with the policies of section C2.6 of the Muskoka Official Plan.
i) Waterbodies where long-term phosphorus concentrations exceed 20

micrograms/litre
 Barron’s Lake (GB)
 Bass Lake (GR)
ii) Waterbodies with a long-term statistically significant increasing trend in phosphorus
concentration
 None
iii) Waterbodies with a confirmed and documented occurrence of a blue-green
(cyanobacterial) algal bloom
 Bass Lake (ML)
 Brandy Lake (ML)
 Bruce Lake (ML)
 Clark Pond (ML)
 Echo Lake (LOB)
 Lake Muskoka – Boyd Bay (BR/ML)
 Leonard Lake (ML)
 Peninsula Lake (HT/LOB)
 Stewart Lake (GB/ML)
 Three Mile Lake (ML)
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APPENDIX 1: 2019 Spring Phosphorus Data

Date TP1 TP2 Ave TP
Lake Name
(dd-mm-yyyy) (µg/L) (µg/L) (µg/L)
Ada 20-06-2019 13.4 13.4 13.4
Barrons 18-06-2019 19.6 18.6 19.1
Bass (GR) 05-06-2019 20.2 18.4 19.3
Ben 05-06-2019 8.4 9.4 8.9
Bigwind 14-05-2019 5.6 8.0 6.8
Bonnie 06-06-2019 5.6 5.6 5.6
Brandy 03-06-2019 22.4 23.6 23.0
Brooks 22-05-2019 6.4 6.6 6.5
Bruce 07-06-2019 11.4 14.2 12.8
Camp 22-05-2019 3.8 5.0 4.4
Clark 11-06-2019 16.8 15.4 16.1
Cooper 16-05-2019 11.8 12.8 12.3
Cornall 31-05-2019 11.4 10.6 11.0
Dark 10-06-2019 5.8 6.6 6.2
Devine 16-05-2019 12.2 12.8 12.5
Dickie 06-06-2019 8.2 9.2 8.7
Doeskin 04-06-2019 18.6 15.4 17.0
Dotty 22-05-2019 9.4 8.0 8.7
Echo 06-06-2019 7.2 8.4 7.8
Fawn 16-05-2019 9.6 9.4 9.5
Flatrock 17-06-2019 7.4 6.6 7.0
Fox 21-05-2019 12.6 12.6 12.6
Gartersnake 28-05-2019 13.4 12.6 13.0
Gibson - North 12-06-2019 10.4 10.2 10.3
Gibson - South 12-06-2019 12.0 10.2 11.1
Golden City 21-05-2019 13.8 12.8 13.3
Grindstone 11-06-2019 5.2 4.6 4.9
Gull 04-06-2019 4.6 4.4 4.5
Haggart 29-05-2019 9.4 8.6 9.0
Healey 15-05-2019 8.6 7.8 8.2
Henshaw 03-06-2019 4.6 4.6 4.6
Jessop 23-05-2019 10.2 10.8 10.5
Jevins 05-06-2019 14.2 15.4 14.8
Kahshe – Grant’s Bay 31-05-2019 11.0 9.6 10.3
Kahshe - Main 31-05-2019 9.0 11.0 10.0
LaFarce 12-06-2019 17.6 15.4 16.5
Lake of Bays - Dwight Bay 27-05-2019 6.6 6.0 6.3
Lake of Bays - Haystack Bay 27-05-2019 4.8 4.6 4.7
Lake of Bays - Rat Bay 27-05-2019 7.6 8.2 7.9
Lake of Bays - South Muskoka River Bay 27-05-2019 4.4 4.0 4.2
Lake of Bays - South Portage Bay 27-05-2019 6.0 5.6 5.8
Lake of Bays - Ten Mile Bay 27-05-2019 4.8 4.8 4.8
Lake of Bays - Trading Bay 27-05-2019 4.4 5.4 4.9
Leonard 03-06-2019 5.4 4.8 5.1
Little Go-Home Bay 17-06-2019 7.6 7.4 7.5
Longline 11-06-2019 5.2 5.6 5.4
Mary 16-05-2019 6.8 7.0 6.9
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Date TP1 TP2 Ave TP

Lake Name
(dd-mm-yyyy) (µg/L) (µg/L) (µg/L)
Mary Jane 18-06-2019 8.0 9.4 8.7
McCrae 13-06-2019 9.6 12.0 10.8
McDonald 13-06-2019 10.0 11.8 10.9
McRey 15-05-2019 14.8 15.6 15.2
Menominee 06-06-2019 8.4 9.2 8.8
Morrison 10-06-2019 8.8 9.2 9.0
Myers 29-05-2019 8.6 9.6 9.1
Nine Mile 10-06-2019 9.4 9.2 9.3
North Muldrew 30-05-2019 8.0 8.4 8.2
Otter 17-05-2019 9.6 10.4 10.0
Oudaze 11-06-2019 9.2 9.6 9.4
Oxbow 22-05-2019 7.0 6.6 6.8
Paint 11-06-2019 7.8 6.0 6.9
Pell 13-05-2019 14.2 13.6 13.9
Peninsula - East 17-05-2019 9.4 9.6 9.5
Peninsula - West 17-05-2019 8.8 8.8 8.8
Pine (BR) 15-05-2019 11.8 11.2 11.5
Pine (GR) 30-05-2019 7.6 9.6 8.6
Prospect 14-05-2019 9.0 7.8 8.4
Ricketts 07-06-2019 7.0 7.2 7.1
Rosseau - Brackenrig Bay 24-05-2019 8.4 8.0 8.2
Rosseau - East Portage Bay 24-05-2019 6.0 6.0 6.0
Rosseau - Main 24-05-2019 4.4 5.0 4.7
Rosseau - North 24-05-2019 5.8 5.8 5.8
Rosseau - Skeleton Bay 24-05-2019 6.4 6.6 6.5
Ryde 05-06-2019 14.2 13.6 13.9
Silver (GR) 04-06-2019 7.4 7.6 7.5
Silver (ML) 03-06-2019 7.2 7.6 7.4
Silver Sand 29-05-2019 9.2 8.0 8.6
Six Mile - Cedar Nook Bay 14-06-2019 6.8 8.4 7.6
Six Mile - Main 14-06-2019 8.2 8.6 8.4
Six Mile - Provincial Park Bay 14-06-2019 9.2 8.4 8.8
Solitaire 13-05-2019 5.4 4.8 5.1
South Muldrew 30-05-2019 7.8 8.0 7.9
Spence - North 28-05-2019 9.4 10.4 9.9
Spence - South 28-05-2019 5.6 5.6 5.6
Stewart 07-06-2019 5.6 5.0 5.3
Tasso 22-05-2019 3.8 4.0 3.9
Three Mile – Hammel’s Bay 21-05-2019 13.8 14.4 14.1
Three Mile - Main 21-05-2019 20.2 19.0 19.6
Toronto 29-05-2019 9.4 8.4 8.9
Turtle 30-05-2019 6.6 6.8 6.7
Waseosa 23-05-2019 10.0 10.0 10.0
Webster 12-06-2019 17.4 18.4 17.9
Weismuller 31-05-2019 11.0 10.6 10.8
Wood 14-05-2019 8.0 7.8 7.9
BR (Bracebridge) GR (Gravenhurst) ML (Muskoka Lakes)
27
2019 Annual Report
APPENDIX 2: 2019 Chemical Data for Select Parameters
Date Alkalinity Calcium Chloride Colour Conductivity DOC Sodium NO3 TKN Sulphate
Lake Name pH
(dd-mm-yyyy) mg/L mg/L mg/L TCU µS/cm mg/L mg/L µg/L µg/L mg/L
Ada 20-06-2019 12.70 5.78 38.20 45.4 168.0 6.0 24.90 8 471 6.96 2.15
Barron's 18-06-2019 21.00 7.30 46.90 107.0 211.0 11.2 32.60 10 617 7.10 2.70
Bass (GR) 05-06-2019 6.50 2.76 2.30 89.3 30.8 8.7 2.06 10 389 6.71 2.10
Ben 05-06-2019 7.03 2.34 0.49 30.8 23.3 4.6 0.97 8 273 6.84 2.10
Bigwind 14-05-2019 3.28 1.74 0.55 23.6 19.1 3.5 0.76 52 223 6.53 2.90
Bonnie 06-06-2019 5.67 2.30 0.89 11.1 22.7 2.7 0.82 4 190 6.77 2.75
Brandy 03-06-2019 9.01 3.24 5.90 112.0 46.9 9.9 4.26 2 410 6.92 1.60
Brooks 22-05-2019 8.82 3.46 0.45 17.8 31.2 3.4 0.97 124 264 6.92 3.30
Bruce 07-06-2019 9.88 3.72 5.49 21.5 50.7 4.0 3.72 8 269 7.07 3.20
Camp 22-05-2019 2.53 1.36 0.17 10.2 15.6 2.4 0.52 164 125 6.38 2.50
Clark 11-06-2019 3.02 1.44 0.90 106.0 19.0 8.9 1.11 6 356 6.28 2.00
Cooper 16-05-2019 3.90 1.54 0.22 25.7 18.4 4.0 0.59 154 156 6.61 2.55
Cornall 31-05-2019 9.39 4.74 60.90 44.7 232.0 6.0 38.10 2 323 6.86 2.40
Dark 10-06-2019 8.19 3.46 7.06 23.1 53.9 3.7 4.88 44 254 7.02 3.25
Devine 16-05-2019 2.99 1.46 0.57 55.5 17.4 5.8 0.74 70 227 6.35 2.25
Dickie 06-06-2019 4.31 2.38 3.58 40.9 29.5 5.4 2.13 4 253 6.58 1.95
Doeskin 04-06-2019 6.28 2.88 9.03 60.1 54.1 6.3 5.89 4 333 6.84 1.75
Dotty 22-05-2019 3.13 1.56 0.44 45.4 18.4 5.3 0.80 156 184 6.34 2.45
Echo 06-06-2019 5.02 2.42 4.27 38.0 34.9 5.1 2.77 20 253 6.75 2.40
Fawn 16-05-2019 3.44 1.72 1.64 78.4 22.7 7.6 1.26 58 268 6.33 2.25
Flatrock 17-06-2019 8.49 3.62 7.40 29.0 55.3 4.1 5.19 146 245 7.00 3.40
Fox 21-05-2019 2.12 1.48 0.69 82.4 17.1 7.6 0.87 96 261 6.04 2.20
Gartersnake 28-05-2019 3.14 1.34 0.21 66.8 15.7 6.8 0.63 6 325 6.36 2.20
Gibson - North 12-06-2019 6.30 2.30 6.50 60.5 43.3 7.2 4.44 8 341 6.69 1.80
Gibson - South 12-06-2019 5.44 2.00 3.57 63.4 31.1 7.3 2.63 8 364 6.61 1.60
Golden City 21-05-2019 0.53 0.84 1.26 60.3 13.5 5.7 0.97 6 268 5.40 1.35
Grindstone 11-06-2019 3.00 1.98 23.80 22.2 102.0 4.3 15.40 48 212 6.36 2.70
Gull 04-06-2019 13.00 5.58 20.80 20.9 111.0 4.0 13.70 86 206 7.05 3.00
Haggart 29-05-2019 6.03 3.14 21.20 76.4 94.3 7.5 13.40 4 294 6.64 1.80
Healey 15-05-2019 2.61 1.76 4.68 59.5 30.7 5.9 3.03 48 251 6.37 1.80
Henshaw 03-06-2019 16.00 6.68 15.60 35.0 97.9 5.9 10.40 74 271 7.16 2.75
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2019 Annual Report
Lake Name pH
Jessop 23-05-2019 2.62 1.50 1.00 66.7 20.0 6.4 0.97 80 262 6.23 2.40
Jevins 05-06-2019 10.80 7.24 117.00 53.2 438.0 6.4 81.40 4 348 6.93 4.05
Kahshe - Grant's Bay 31-05-2019 5.13 2.14 1.83 51.4 26.1 5.9 1.50 16 281 6.71 2.35
Kahshe - Main 31-05-2019 4.43 2.20 2.05 52.3 26.1 6.2 1.62 28 284 6.60 2.35
LaFarce 12-06-2019 9.56 3.76 17.80 65.6 94.0 7.8 11.80 4 430 6.92 2.55
LOB - Dwight Bay 27-05-2019 3.03 1.62 2.94 34.4 28.9 4.6 2.31 158 174 6.47 2.75
LOB - Haystack Bay 27-05-2019 5.09 2.20 3.11 13.6 33.7 3.1 2.28 130 184 6.69 3.30
LOB - Rat Bay 27-05-2019 3.30 1.66 2.98 34.3 28.6 4.7 2.26 154 183 6.47 2.65
LOB - S Muskoka River Bay 27-05-2019 4.74 2.08 3.27 16.9 33.5 3.4 2.42 160 143 6.64 3.25
LOB - South Portage Bay 27-05-2019 4.22 1.92 3.03 25.8 31.2 4.0 2.28 158 162 6.61 2.95
LOB - Ten Mile Bay 27-05-2019 4.61 2.02 3.10 16.0 32.0 3.3 2.30 134 154 6.64 3.20
LOB - Trading Bay 27-05-2019 4.18 1.96 2.38 15.9 28.9 3.3 1.85 126 172 6.61 3.15
Leonard 03-06-2019 3.96 2.20 4.80 24.4 35.9 4.8 3.43 10 219 6.70 2.85
Little Go-Home Bay 17-06-2019 70.40 27.30 29.30 22.5 263.0 5.0 17.20 14 356 7.89 9.80
Longline 11-06-2019 8.76 2.96 1.89 9.4 34.4 3.0 1.33 6 228 6.86 3.10
Mary 16-05-2019 5.62 2.44 6.78 48.0 46.4 5.4 4.38 262 161 6.57 3.10
Mary Jane 18-06-2019 2.23 1.02 0.47 21.8 13.5 4.4 0.65 32 285 6.19 2.10
McCrae 13-06-2019 47.20 18.10 18.90 32.2 179.0 5.5 11.30 4 340 7.72 6.80
McDonald 13-06-2019 53.30 19.70 20.20 29.2 194.0 5.3 11.80 4 332 7.77 7.25
McRey 15-05-2019 3.81 1.88 1.37 51.9 20.0 5.5 0.73 122 303 6.53 1.45
Menominee 06-06-2019 3.10 2.30 10.40 64.2 53.7 6.3 6.81 46 261 6.40 2.15
Morrison 10-06-2019 9.13 3.68 5.79 46.5 48.1 6.5 3.81 8 328 6.95 2.20
Myers 29-05-2019 4.64 2.48 11.00 51.6 56.4 5.7 7.10 64 260 6.58 1.45
Nine Mile 10-06-2019 3.86 1.82 0.77 75.4 18.2 7.9 0.79 20 322 6.56 1.40
North Muldrew 30-05-2019 8.70 3.74 7.00 53.7 50.7 6.8 4.30 2 291 6.92 2.05
Otter 17-05-2019 5.70 2.58 1.30 35.2 26.1 4.2 1.45 106 215 6.67 2.60
Oudaze 11-06-2019 6.07 2.12 1.46 41.4 26.7 6.0 1.46 4 281 6.76 2.70
Oxbow 22-05-2019 2.81 1.66 0.67 31.9 19.9 4.6 0.85 202 160 6.42 2.60
Paint 11-06-2019 7.09 2.66 4.30 24.0 41.3 4.0 2.86 2 237 6.84 3.30
Pell 13-05-2019 2.69 1.96 2.60 57.7 23.2 5.3 1.53 54 312 6.28 1.90
Peninsula - East 17-05-2019 9.26 4.08 11.80 18.2 73.5 3.3 8.49 76 212 6.94 3.45
Peninsula - West 17-05-2019 9.24 4.26 11.90 17.9 74.6 3.2 8.44 108 209 6.90 3.45
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2019 Annual Report
Lake Name pH
Pine (BR) 15-05-2019 6.49 2.60 0.81 35.7 25.3 4.5 0.97 16 319 6.84 3.05
Pine (GR) 30-05-2019 5.04 1.96 1.66 33.5 22.8 4.8 1.45 6 251 6.70 1.95
Prospect 14-05-2019 3.48 2.14 11.60 34.9 57.8 4.4 7.46 94 208 6.45 2.65
Ricketts 07-06-2019 16.20 7.10 24.40 50.2 128.0 6.8 15.90 38 336 7.07 3.20
Rosseau - Brackenrig Bay 24-05-2019 9.06 3.60 6.83 22.5 54.5 3.6 4.64 110 199 6.91 3.25
Rosseau - East Portage Bay 24-05-2019 9.07 3.58 7.13 19.8 54.8 3.5 4.78 172 159 6.87 3.40
Rosseau - Main 24-05-2019 7.02 3.58 7.36 14.9 54.9 3.4 4.92 174 142 6.81 3.60
Rosseau - North 24-05-2019 6.13 3.08 7.15 23.7 51.5 3.8 4.73 184 164 6.73 3.30
Rosseau - Skeleton Bay 24-05-2019 7.03 3.48 6.84 18.1 52.4 2.9 4.54 228 144 6.76 3.75
Ryde 05-06-2019 6.69 2.76 2.72 88.8 31.6 8.8 2.16 26 362 6.67 2.20
Silver (GR) 04-06-2019 7.37 2.90 2.63 41.9 31.8 5.9 1.94 10 249 6.88 2.10
Silver (ML) 03-06-2019 18.80 5.94 11.70 12.2 86.7 2.8 7.95 2 268 7.30 3.15
Silver Sand 29-05-2019 3.17 2.12 1.74 70.7 23.9 7.7 1.10 18 276 6.37 2.60
Six Mile - Cedar Nook Bay 14-06-2019 39.80 15.80 14.00 26.8 147.0 5.1 7.98 6 305 7.62 5.60
Six Mile - Main 14-06-2019 74.00 28.60 30.20 22.5 272.0 5.0 18.00 10 346 7.94 10.30
Six Mile - Provincial Park Bay 14-06-2019 59.40 22.70 28.90 22.3 239.0 5.0 17.00 8 388 7.76 8.25
Solitaire 13-05-2019 4.51 2.26 0.62 7.0 21.7 2.0 0.76 108 137 6.47 3.25
South Muldrew 30-05-2019 8.21 3.78 7.17 50.7 51.3 6.7 4.38 6 287 6.92 2.10
Spence - North 28-05-2019 2.44 1.32 1.11 48.8 18.8 5.8 1.18 38 242 6.29 2.40
Spence - South 28-05-2019 4.56 2.16 3.69 30.7 34.2 4.3 2.97 134 170 6.61 3.05
Stewart 07-06-2019 18.30 8.98 26.40 38.4 143.0 6.1 17.20 96 275 7.17 3.80
Tasso 22-05-2019 2.87 1.38 0.44 18.5 16.9 3.0 0.68 204 126 6.40 2.30
Three Mile - Hammel's Bay 21-05-2019 13.90 5.44 5.82 31.5 59.6 4.4 4.67 194 233 7.10 2.40
Three Mile - Main 21-05-2019 9.93 4.06 12.20 55.2 73.0 5.0 9.42 126 237 6.92 2.65
Toronto 29-05-2019 3.41 1.44 3.46 35.9 25.0 4.7 2.34 32 268 6.50 1.20
Turtle 30-05-2019 13.10 6.16 25.50 29.8 126.0 4.8 16.20 84 241 6.99 3.00
Waseosa 23-05-2019 5.40 2.22 1.41 36.5 27.4 3.9 1.24 168 196 6.58 3.10
Webster 12-06-2019 12.80 5.76 43.20 97.9 191.0 10.3 29.30 4 496 6.95 4.40
Weismuller 31-05-2019 8.39 3.76 5.35 30.6 44.5 4.4 2.44 2 309 6.90 2.35
Wood 14-05-2019 4.26 2.80 6.23 28.2 40.5 3.7 4.33 84 219 6.61 3.00
30
2019 Annual Report
APPENDIX 3: 2019 Secchi Depth Measurements

Spring Secchi Summer Secchi Average Secchi
Lake Name
(m) (m) (m)
Ada 3.3 2.3 2.8
Barron's 1.8 1.3 1.5
Bass (GR) 2.3 2.3 2.3
Ben 4.8 3.8 4.3
Bigwind 3.3 6.3 4.8
Bonnie 8.8 8.3 8.5
Brandy 1.8 1.3 1.5
Brooks 4.8 3.8 4.3
Bruce 4.8 4.3 4.5
Camp 7.8 7.8 7.8
Clark 1.3 1.8 1.5
Cooper 4.3 4.3 4.3
Cornall 3.8 4.3 4.0
Dark 4.3 5.8 5.0
Devine 2.8 3.3 3.0
Dickie 4.8 3.3 4.0
Doeskin 2.3 3.0 2.6
Dotty 3.8 3.8 3.8
Echo 3.8 3.8 3.8
Fawn 2.3 1.8 2.0
Flatrock 3.8 3.8 3.8
Fox 2.8 2.8 2.8
Gartersnake 2.3 2.8 2.5
Gibson - North 2.8 3.8 3.3
Gibson -South 2.8 3.3 3.0
Golden City 2.8 3.3 3.0
Grindstone 5.8 5.3 5.5
Gull 6.8 6.3 6.5
Haggart 2.3 1.8 2.0
Healey 2.8 2.8 2.8
Henshaw 3.3 4.8 4.0
Jessop 1.8 2.8 2.3
Jevins 2.3 2.3 2.3
Kahshe - Grant's Bay 3.3 3.8 3.5
Kahshe - Main 3.3 3.3 3.3
LaFarce 2.8 2.3 2.5
Lake of Bays - Dwight Bay 3.8 5.3 4.5
Lake of Bays - Haystack Bay 6.3 5.8 6.0
Lake of Bays - Rat Bay 3.3 4.3 3.8
Lake of Bays - South Muskoka River Bay 7.3 5.8 6.5
Lake of Bays - South Portage Bay 4.8 4.8 4.8
Lake of Bays - Ten Mile Bay 6.3 6.3 6.3
Lake of Bays - Trading Bay 6.3 7.3 6.8
Leonard 4.3 3.8 4.0
Little Go-Home Bay 5.8 7.3 6.5
Longline 6.3 6.8 6.5
Mary 3.3 3.3 3.3
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2019 Annual Report
Spring Secchi Summer Secchi Average Secchi

Lake Name
(m) (m) (m)
Mary Jane 3.3 2.3 2.8
McCrae 2.3 5.8 4.0
McDonald 3.3 7.3 5.3
McRey 2.3 4.3 3.3
Menominee 3.8 2.3 3.0
Morrison 3.8 3.3 3.5
Myers 2.8 3.8 3.3
Nine Mile 2.3 2.8 2.5
North Muldrew 2.8 3.3 3.0
Otter 3.3 4.3 3.8
Oudaze 3.3 3.8 3.5
Oxbow 4.3 3.8 4.0
Paint 4.8 4.3 4.5
Pell 2.3 2.3 2.3
Peninsula - East 4.3 4.3 4.3
Peninsula - West 4.3 4.3 4.3
Pine (BR) 2.3 4.8 3.5
Pine (GR) 3.8 4.8 4.3
Prospect 3.3 4.3 3.8
Ricketts 4.8 4.3 4.5
Rosseau - Brackenrig Bay 2.3 3.8 3.0
Rosseau - East Portage Bay 5.3 4.8 5.0
Rosseau - Main 7.3 4.8 6.0
Rosseau - North 5.3 4.8 5.0
Rosseau - Skeleton Bay 4.8 4.8 4.8
Ryde 2.3 2.3 2.3
Silver (GR) 3.8 3.8 3.8
Silver (ML) 4.8 6.3 5.5
Silver Sand 3.8 2.8 3.3
Six Mile - Cedar Nook Bay 4.3 5.3 4.8
Six Mile - Main 3.3 6.8 5.0
Six Mile - Provincial Park Bay 3.3 6.3 4.8
Solitaire 7.3 7.8 7.5
South Muldrew 2.8 3.3 3.0
Spence - North 3.3 3.3 3.3
Spence - South 4.8 4.3 4.5
Stewart 3.8 4.8 4.3
Tasso 5.3 6.3 5.8
Three Mile - Hammel's Bay 2.8 5.3 4.0
Three Mile - Main 1.8 2.3 2.0
Toronto 2.3 2.3 2.3
Turtle 4.5 4.0 4.3
Waseosa 3.8 3.8 3.8
Webster 2.3 2.3 2.3
Weismuller 3.8 3.3 3.5
Wood 3.8 4.3 4.0
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2019 Annual Report
APPENDIX 4: Interpretation of Water Quality Data
1. Spring phosphorus
Phosphorus is the nutrient that controls the growth of algae in most Ontario lakes. For this
reason, any increase in phosphorus in a lake will tend to increase the quantity of algae that
can grow.
High levels of phosphorus can lead to algal blooms that detract from recreational water
quality and in some cases affects the habitat of coldwater fish species such as Lake trout.
Phosphorus samples are collected in the spring during a period called “spring turnover”. This
is the best time to sample for phosphorus because the lake is completely mixed and a water
sample represents the phosphorus concentration throughout the whole lake.
By sampling spring phosphorus each year it is possible to detect a change in the nutrient
status of a lake. Several years of data must be collected to first observe the normal,
between-year differences, before a trend can be identified.
Phosphorus enters a lake naturally through sediment and precipitation. Human inputs of
phosphorus enter a lake primarily through surface runoff from sources such as septic system
seepage, lawn fertilizer runoff, agricultural runoff and municipal wastewater.
Lakes with phosphorus concentrations below 10 micrograms per litre (g/L) are considered
oligotrophic or nutrient-poor. Those with a phosphorus concentration falling between 11 and
20 g/L are termed mesotrophic or moderately enriched, while lakes with a phosphorus
concentration exceeding 20 g/L are called eutrophic and are considered enriched.
2. Secchi depth measurements
Secchi depth is a measurement of water clarity. In Muskoka, the major determinant of water
clarity may be either natural colour or an increase in nutrient input from the surrounding
watershed.
A lake may naturally be a brown colour due to high levels of dissolved organic carbon
(DOC) that comes from the wetlands in a watershed. DOC colours lakes brown and reduces
water clarity, but is not an indication of nutrient enrichment. Examples of lakes with naturally
high DOC content include Brandy Lake and Tea Lake.
Water clarity can also decrease as nutrients from the surrounding watershed enter and
enrich the lake, resulting in high levels of suspended sediments or algal growth.
Water clarity can change weekly or yearly as a result of weather, length of winter ice cover,
shoreline development, natural seasonal trends or other impacts. However, when the
primary determinant of water clarity is a function of nutrient enrichment, a long-term trend
that indicates a reduction in water clarity is an indication of reduced water quality.
In general, where a lake is not coloured by DOC, the higher the Secchi depth reading, the
clearer the lake and the less nutrients it contains. Lakes with Secchi depth measurements
over five metres are considered oligotrophic or nutrient-poor. Those with a Secchi depth
33
2019 Annual Report
measurement falling between three and five metres are termed mesotrophic or moderately
enriched, while lakes with a Secchi depth measurement below three metres are called
eutrophic and are considered enriched.
3. Temperature and dissolved oxygen measurements
Temperature is a measure of the intensity of heat stored in a volume of water. Temperature

patterns affect the solubility of many chemical compounds and influences the effects of
pollution on aquatic life.
Dissolved oxygen is a measure of the concentration of oxygen dissolved in water. Adequate

concentrations of dissolved oxygen are necessary for the survival of fish and other aquatic
organisms. Dissolved oxygen concentration is an indicator of a lake’s ability to support
aquatic life.
Dissolved oxygen levels above five milligrams per litre (mg/L) are considered optimal for most
aquatic organisms. Most fish cannot survive if levels fall below 3 mg/L. For coldwater species,
such as Lake trout, a minimum of 6 mg/L is needed, along with a temperature below 10C.
Lakes with dissolved oxygen readings below 0.5 mg/L are considered anoxic.
34
2019 Annual Report
Sample Lake Data Sheet
Lake trout lakes are managed by

the Ministry of Natural Resources
and Forestry to ensure adequate
dissolved oxygen concentrations.
At Capacity (AC) lakes may be
subject to development
restrictions.
Long-term (10-
year) average
for phosphorus.
Vulnerable lakes are Thermocline –

identified in Schedule E2 of where the water
the Muskoka Official Plan if temperature
one or more water quality drops quickly.
indicators are confirmed in
accordance with the
policies of Section C2.6.
Phosphorus and Secchi depth

measurements over time. An
increase in phosphorus often
results in a decrease in Secchi
depth and vice versa.
35
2019 Annual Report
APPENDIX 5: Lake Data Sheets
36
2019 Annual Report
Ada Lake
Sample Point: 45.091 -79.6408
Municipality: Muskoka Lakes Quaternary Watershed: Lake Rosseau

Surface Area: 0.23 km2 Watershed Area (excluding lake): 0.85 km2
Maximum Depth: 4m Lake Trout Lake? No
Wetland Area: 17 % Secchi Depth (10-year average): 2.2 m
Phosphorus (10-year average): 16.7 g/L Listed as Vulnerable? No
37
2019 Annual Report
Barron’s Lake
Sample Point: 44.829 -79.745
Municipality: Georgian Bay Quaternary Watershed: Severn River

Phosphorus (10-year average): 22.2 g/L Listed as Vulnerable? Yes
38
2019 Annual Report
Bass Lake
Sample Point: 44.8718 -79.2085
Municipality: Gravenhurst Quaternary Watershed: Kahshe River

39
2019 Annual Report
Ben Lake
Sample Point: 44.8907 -79.2041

Wetland Area: 8% Secchi Depth (10-year average): 3.8 m
40
2019 Annual Report
Bigwind Lake
Sample Point: 45.0557 -79.0561
Municipality: Bracebridge Quaternary Watershed: South Muskoka River

Maximum Depth: 36 m Lake Trout Lake? Yes (AC)
41
2019 Annual Report
Bonnie Lake
Sample Point: 45.1405 -79.2597
Municipality: Bracebridge Quaternary Watershed: North Muskoka River

42
2019 Annual Report
Brandy Lake
Sample Point: 45.1077 -79.5252
Municipality: Muskoka Lakes Quaternary Watershed: Lake Muskoka

Maximum Depth: 8m Cold Water Fishery? No
43
2019 Annual Report
Brooks Lake
Sample Point: 45.4557 -78.9987
Municipality: Lake of Bays Quaternary Watershed: Oxtongue River

3.75
44
2019 Annual Report
Bruce Lake
Sample Point: 45.188 -79.6393

45
2019 Annual Report
Camp Lake
Sample Point: 45.4349 -78.909
Municipality: Lake of Bays Quaternary Watershed: Big East River

Maximum Depth: 44 m Lake Trout Lake? Yes
46
2019 Annual Report
Clark Lake
Sample Point: 45.4033 -79.2947
Municipality: Huntsville Quaternary Watershed: Little East River

47
2019 Annual Report
Cooper Lake
Sample Point: 45.3444 -79.0057
Municipality: Lake of Bays Quaternary Watershed: Lake of Bays

Maximum Depth: 12 m Lake Trout Lake? No
48
2019 Annual Report
Cornall Lake
Sample Point: 44.8915 -79.3288
Municipality: Gravenhurst Quaternary Watershed: Severn River

49
2019 Annual Report
Dark Lake
Sample Point: 44.9978 -79.5848

50
2019 Annual Report
Devine Lake
Sample Point: 45.1932 -79.2264
Municipality: Huntsville Quaternary Watershed: North Muskoka River

51
2019 Annual Report
Dickie Lake
Sample Point: 45.1495 -79.0866
Municipality: Lake of Bays Quaternary Watershed: South Muskoka River

52
2019 Annual Report
Doeskin (Doe) Lake

Sample Point: 44.9235 -79.2839

53
2019 Annual Report
Dotty Lake
Sample Point: 45.4719 -79.0031

54
2019 Annual Report
Echo Lake
Sample Point: 45.1736 -79.0645
Municipality: Lake of Bays Quaternary Watershed: South Muskoka River

55
2019 Annual Report
Fawn (Deer) Lake

Sample Point: 44.955 -79.4503
Municipality: Bracebridge/Huntsville Quaternary Watershed: North Muskoka River

56
2019 Annual Report
Flatrock Lake
Sample Point: 45.0331 -79.8218
Municipality: Georgian Bay Quaternary Watershed: Moon River

57
2019 Annual Report
Fox Lake
Sample Point: 45.3897 -79.3537
Municipality: Huntsville Quaternary Watershed: Mary Lake

58
2019 Annual Report
Gartersnake (Long) Lake

Sample Point: 44.962 -79.1274
Municipality: Bracebridge Quaternary Watershed: Kahshe River

59
2019 Annual Report
Gibson Lake - North

Sample Point: 44.9789 -79.7616
Municipality: Georgian Bay Quaternary Watershed: Gibson River

60
2019 Annual Report
Gibson Lake - South

Sample Point: 44.9523 -79.7353

61
2019 Annual Report
Golden City Lake

Sample Point: 45.3146 -79.4153

62
2019 Annual Report
Grindstone Lake
Sample Point: 45.1993 -78.8782
Municipality: Lake of Bays Quaternary Watershed: Upper Black River

63
2019 Annual Report
Gull Lake
Sample Point: 44.9209 -79.3611
Municipality: Gravenhurst Quaternary Watershed: Lake Muskoka

64
2019 Annual Report
Haggart Lake
Sample Point: 45.1092 -79.7465
Municipality: Georgian Bay/Muskoka Lakes Quaternary Watershed: Moon River

65
2019 Annual Report
Healey Lake
Sample Point: 45.0808 -79.1873

66
2019 Annual Report
Henshaw Lake
Sample Point: 45.0983 -79.5892

67
2019 Annual Report
Jessop (Jingo) Lake

Sample Point: 45.3873 -79.2681

68
2019 Annual Report
Jevins Lake
Sample Point: 44.8981 -79.3445

69
2019 Annual Report
Kahshe Lake – Grant’s Bay

Sample Point: 44.8377 -79.2752

70
2019 Annual Report
Kahshe Lake – Main

Sample Point: 44.8632 -79.2652

71
2019 Annual Report
LaFarce Lake
Sample Point: 44.990702 -79.742445

72
2019 Annual Report
Lake of Bays – Dwight Bay

Sample Point: 45.3158 -79.0241

73
2019 Annual Report
Lake of Bays – Haystack Bay

Sample Point: 45.2815 -79.0303

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2019 Annual Report
Lake of Bays – Rat Bay

Sample Point: 45.3134 -79.0503

Maximum Depth: 7m Lake Trout Lake? Yes
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Lake of Bays – South Muskoka River Bay

Sample Point: 45.1918 -79.0937

76
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Lake of Bays – South Portage Bay

Sample Point: 45.3061 -79.0698

77
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Lake of Bays – Ten Mile Bay

Sample Point: 45.2638 -78.9695

78
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Lake of Bays – Trading Bay

Sample Point: 45.2388 -78.9083

79
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Leonard Lake
Sample Point: 45.0751 -79.4496

80
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Little Go-Home Bay

Sample Point: 44.8549 -79.7265

81
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Longline Lake
Sample Point: 45.249 -78.9757

82
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Mary Lake
Sample Point: 45.2437 -79.2546

83
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Mary Jane Lake

Sample Point: 45.1855 -79.6693

84
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McCrae Lake
Sample Point: 44.9294 -79.7935

85
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McDonald Lake
Sample Point: 44.9299 -79.7781

86
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McRey Lake
Sample Point: 45.0787 -79.1991

87
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Menominee Lake
Sample Point: 45.2027 -79.1322

88
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Morrison Lake
Sample Point: 44.8664 -79.4535

89
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Myers (Butterfly) Lake

Sample Point: 45.0963 -79.751

90
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Nine Mile Lake

Sample Point: 44.9517 -79.5835
Municipality: Muskoka Lakes Quaternary Watershed: Gibson River

91
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North Muldrew Lake

Sample Point: 44.9049 -79.4365

92
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Otter Lake
Sample Point: 45.2969 -79.1698

93
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Oudaze Lake
Sample Point: 45.4539 -79.1936
Municipality: Huntsville Quaternary Watershed: Big East River

94
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Oxbow Lake
Sample Point: 45.434 -78.9635

95
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Paint (St. Mary) Lake

Sample Point: 45.2152 -78.9448

96
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Pell Lake
Sample Point: 45.3963 -79.0615

97
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Peninsula Lake – East

Sample Point: 45.3353 -79.0839
Municipality: Lake of Bays Quaternary Watershed: Mary Lake

98
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Peninsula Lake – West

Sample Point: 45.3454 -79.1165

99
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Pine Lake
Sample Point: 45.0663 -79.0693

100
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Pine Lake
Sample Point: 44.9416 -79.4456

101
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Prospect Lake
Sample Point: 44.9905 -79.1393

102
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Rickett’s Lake
Sample Point: 45.15 -79.7544

103
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Lake Rosseau – Brackenrig Bay

Sample Point: 45.1179 -79.5273

Maximum Depth: 4m Lake Trout Lake? Yes
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Lake Rosseau – East Portage Bay

Sample Point: 45.1538 -79.5262

105
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Lake Rosseau – Main

Sample Point: 45.1505 -79.6103

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Lake Rosseau – North

Sample Point: 45.2236 -79.6129
Municipality: Muskoka Lakes/Seguin Quaternary Watershed: Lake Rosseau

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Lake Rosseau – Skeleton Bay

Sample Point: 45.2163 -79.5675

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Ryde (Buck) Lake

Sample Point: 44.9003 -79.2439

109
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Silver Lake
Sample Point: 44.9014 -79.3191

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Silver Lake
Sample Point: 45.1174 -79.5665

111
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Silver Sand Lake

Sample Point: 45.0807 -79.7463

112
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Six Mile Lake – Cedar Nook Bay

Sample Point: 44.909 -79.7511

113
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Six Mile Lake – Main

Sample Point: 44.9088 -79.7363

114
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Six Mile Lake – Provincial Park Bay

Sample Point: 44.8909 -79.744

115
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Solitaire Lake
Sample Point: 45.3903 -79.0103

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South Muldrew Lake

Sample Point: 44.9003 -79.4431

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Spence Lake – North

Sample Point: 45.0052 -79.2693

118
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Spence Lake – South

Sample Point: 44.995 -79.2958

119
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Stewart Lake
Sample Point: 45.1397 -79.761
Municipality: Georgian Bay/Muskoka Lakes Quaternary Watershed: Lake Rosseau

120
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Tasso Lake
Sample Point: 45.4652 -78.9315

121
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Three Mile Lake – Hammel’s Bay

Sample Point: 45.1874 -79.466
Municipality: Muskoka Lakes Quaternary Watershed: Dee River

122
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Three Mile Lake – Main

Sample Point: 45.1735 -79.4335
Municipality: Muskoka Lakes Quaternary Watershed: Dee River

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Toronto Lake
Sample Point: 45.1071 -79.7575

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Turtle Lake
Sample Point: 44.925 -79.4498

125
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Waseosa Lake
Sample Point: 45.4094 -79.2747

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Webster Lake
Sample Point: 44.9971 -79.7753

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Weismuller Lake
Sample Point: 44.9374 -79.2143

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Wood Lake
Sample Point: 45.0174 -79.0754

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APPENDIX 6: Lakes with Completed Shoreline Land Use Surveys
Waterbody Municipality Year

Ada Lake Muskoka Lakes 2015
Barron’s Lake Georgian Bay 2015
Bass Lake Gravenhurst 2015
Baxter Lake Georgian Bay 2006, Updated 2017
Bella Lake Lake of Bays 2002, Updated 2013
Bird Lake Bracebridge 2007
Brandy Lake Muskoka Lakes 2002, Updated 2013
Brooks Lake Lake of Bays 2011
Bruce Lake Muskoka Lakes 2005, Updated 2015
Cardwell Lake Muskoka Lakes 2012
Clear Lake Bracebridge 2012
Clear Lake Muskoka Lakes 2010
Clearwater Lake Gravenhurst 2007
Clearwater Lake Huntsville 2007
Dark Lake Muskoka Lakes 2007
Dotty Lake Lake of Bays 2012
Flatrock Lake Georgian Bay 2011
Fox Lake Huntsville 2003, Updated 2013
Go Home Lake Georgian Bay 2007
Grindstone Lake Lake of Bays 2012
Gull Lake Gravenhurst 2006
High Lake Muskoka Lakes 2011
Lake Joseph Muskoka Lakes 2007/2008/2009
Joseph River Muskoka Lakes 2010
Kahshe Lake Gravenhurst 2015
Leech Lake Bracebridge 2006
Leonard Lake Muskoka Lakes 2006, Updated 2017
Little Long (Rutter) Lake Muskoka Lakes 2010
Long (Bala) Lake Muskoka Lakes 2006
Long’s (Utterson) Lake Huntsville 2006
Longline Lake Lake of Bays 2007
Loon Lake Gravenhurst 2004, Updated 2014
Mary Lake Huntsville 2008
McKay Lake Bracebridge 2006
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Medora Lake Muskoka Lakes 2010
Lake Menominee Lake of Bays 2015
Mirror Lake Muskoka Lakes 2011
Moon River – Bala Reach Muskoka Lakes 2009
Muldrew Lake (North & South) Gravenhurst 2003, Updated 2014
Lake Muskoka – Muskoka Bay Gravenhurst 2007, Updated 2017
Muskoka River (confluence to mouth) Bracebridge 2003, Updated 2015
Myers (Butterfly) Lake Georgian Bay 2011
Nutt Lake Muskoka Lakes 2006
Otter Lake Huntsville 2015
Oudaze Lake Huntsville 2017
Paint (St. Mary) Lake Lake of Bays 2005
Pell Lake Lake of Bays 2006
Pine Lake Bracebridge 2005, Updated 2015
Prospect Lake Bracebridge 2012
Rebecca Lake Lake of Bays 2002, Updated 2014
Ril Lake Lake of Bays 2004, Updated 2014
Riley Lake Gravenhurst 2002, Updated 2014
Lake Rosseau – Brackenrig Bay Muskoka Lakes 2007, Updated 2017
Lake Rosseau – East Portage Bay Muskoka Lakes 2011
Silver Lake Muskoka Lakes 2006
Six Mile Lake Georgian Bay 2005, Updated 2014
Skeleton Lake Muskoka Lakes/Huntsville 2012
South Bay Georgian Bay 2003, Updated 2015
Spring Lake Bracebridge 2006
Stewart Lake Muskoka Lakes 2010
Sunny Lake Gravenhurst 2012
Three Mile Lake Muskoka Lakes 2004, Updated 2006, 2015
Tooke Lake Lake of Bays 2006
Turtle Lake Gravenhurst 2004, Updated 2014
Twelve Mile Bay Georgian Bay 2004, Updated 2014
Lake Vernon Huntsville 2002, Updated 2012
Walker Lake Lake of Bays 2006
Lake Waseosa Huntsville 2002, Updated 2014
Wood Lake Bracebridge 2006
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APPENDIX 7: Lakes Participating in the Love Your Lake Shoreline Assessment Program

Ada Lake Muskoka Lakes 2017
Bass Lake Gravenhurst 2019
Brandy Lake Muskoka Lakes 2017
Bruce Lake Muskoka Lakes 2018
Church Bay (Honey Harbour) Georgian Bay 2014
Fairy Lake Huntsville 2013
Kahshe Lake Gravenhurst 2019
Lake of Bays Lake of Bays 2014-2015
Leonard Lake Muskoka Lakes 2013
McKay Lake Bracebridge 2018
North Bay (Honey Harbour) Georgian Bay 2014
Peninsula Lake Huntsville/Lake of Bays 2013
Stewart Lake Georgian Bay/Muskoka Lakes 2017
South Bay (Honey Harbour) Georgian Bay 2014
Three Mile Lake Muskoka Lakes 2016
Lake Vernon Huntsville 2018
Wood Lake Bracebridge 2017
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APPENDIX 8: Benthic Aquatic Invertebrate Information Sheet
Benthic Macroinvertebrate Monitoring
Monitoring bottom-dwelling aquatic invertebrate communities has been part of The District Municipality
of Muskoka’s Lake System Health Biological Monitoring Program since 2003. In biological monitoring,
composition of the aquatic invertebrate community, the pattern of abundances of different species
collected, indicates the health of the ecosystem.
Aquatic invertebrates, such as worms, mollusks, insects, crustaceans, and mites, are common indicators in
biological-monitoring programs. These animals are sensitive indicators of the health, or condition of lakes
and streams, and different species have different sensitivities to environmental changes such as pollution
or habitat alteration. Aquatic invertebrates live between 1 and 3 years and are in constant contact with
lake sediments. Contamination and toxicity of sediments affects those animals that are sensitive. For
example, lake acidification is accompanied by both a decline in the total number of species present,
and an increase in the abundance of those species able to tolerate acidity.
Reference-Condition Approach
One of the challenges of biological monitoring is that the composition of healthy invertebrate
communities varies from place to place, and from time to time. We therefore have to understand natural
variability to be able to make reliable conclusions about whether or not the community that we find in a
given lake is normal or not. One way to determine what normal looks like is to sample reference sites.
Reference sites are locations where human impacts (such as pollution, shoreline alteration, and
development) are minimal and the aquatic ecosystem is considered to be in the best condition found in
Muskoka.
Biological-monitoring assessments can make judgments about the condition of lakes by comparing
samples from a given lake of interest (a test lake) against a set of samples from reference lakes. In short,
reference lakes define what normal Muskoka invertebrate communities should look like in the absence or
near-absence of human influence. Atypical sites, which are biologically different from reference sites,
warrant further study to determine why their communities are unusual.
Because we need information from minimally-impacted reference sites before we can evaluate our
lakes, much of the focus of our biomonitoring program to-date has been on sampling reference sites.
Since reference sites are assumed to be in excellent condition, it doesn’t make sense to report their
condition; however, because their communities act as a benchmark for assessing other lakes, it is
informative to understand invertebrate-community composition in reference lakes, and to watch for
changes in reference lake composition over time. This report serves to characterize reference lake
community structure, and gives a preliminary assessment of local test lakes.
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Data Analysis
Biological monitoring programs yield large data tables. You can envision such tables as columns of
numbers, each column representing the counts of different species collected at a given location. It is
very difficult to pick-out ecological patterns in such complex datasets, so it is common practice to simplify
data tables into a manageable number of indices that represent meaningful ecological patterns. This is
similar to the way stock-market performance is measured using indices like the TSX or the Dow Jones
Industrial Average. The District of Muskoka uses several indices to simplify bioassessments, as described in
Table 1.
Table: Indices used to summarize aquatic invertebrate composition in Muskoka.
Indicator What it tells us
The number of taxa is a measure of biological diversity. Richness increases

Number of taxa collected
with increasing habitat diversity, suitability, and water quality; therefore,
(Richness)
the healthier a site’s community, the greater its number of taxa.
Percent of collection made-up of Ephemeroptera (mayflies), Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies), and
mayflies, dragonflies, damselflies, and Trichoptera (caddisflies) are very sensitive to pollution and habitat
caddisflies alteration. They should be prominent in healthy ecosystems, but their
(% EOT) numbers will decline in response to stress imposed by human activities.
Percent of collection made-up of

Midges (true flies in the family Chironomidae) are tolerant of pollution and
midges
habitat changes so their dominance indicates water quality problems.
(% Chironomidae)
Percent of collected animals that are In a healthy ecosystem, the numbers of predators and prey are
predators maintained within a narrow range. Extreme fluctuations in this balance
(% predators)* signify that the ecosystem is sick.
Shredders are a group of plant eaters adapted to breaking down leaves,

Percent of collected animals that are
wood, and other plant matter that originates on land but gets transported
adapted to feeding on coarse plant
into waterbodies. Such animals should be abundant if there is a good
matter
connection between a lake and its watershed. In addition to recycling
(% shredders)*
nutrients, shredders are food for other animals.
Collector-gatherers feed on small pieces of organic matter that arise from

Percent of collected animals that are
the processing activities of shredders (described above). Their presence
adapted to feeding by collecting
indicates a good population of shredders, which provide them with food.
small pieces of organic matter
Like shredders, these animals perform a vital role in energy cycling, and
(% collector/gatherers)*
are prey for other animals.
The Hilsenhoff index combines information about the abundances of

different types of animals collected at a site with information about those
Organic pollution score
animals’ sensitivities to sewage pollution, farm wastes, and other sources
(Hilsenhoff index value)
of nutrients like phosphorus, nitrogen, and carbon. High values of this index
indicate pollution; low values indicate good water quality.
 In healthy ecosystems, the proportion of the aquatic invertebrate community that is made-up of predators,
shredders, collector/gatherers, and other animals is maintained within a narrow range. Marked divergences in
abundances of any type of animal signifies a stressed ecosystem.
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How do your local sites fare?
The Aquatic Invertebrate Data Sheet provides a preliminary evaluation of your lake. If your sites are
reference lakes, assumed to reflect the best ecosystem conditions in Muskoka, no assessment is
warranted. For test locations, assessments can be made by comparing test-site index values against the
averages for Muskoka reference lakes, which are provided in the shaded box at bottom right.
In general,
1. Richness should be high (close to the average for Muskoka or above).
2. % EOT will decrease and % Chironomids will increase over time with water quality impairment.
3. % Predators should be less than the other types of benthos (shredders, collector/gatherers) and these
percentages should remain relatively constant over time.
4. The Hilsenhoff Index value should be close to the average for Muskoka or less, as a lower value
indicates healthier water.
Even though most of the lakes in Muskoka are quite similar, no two lakes are identical and there are
various factors that play a role in determining the relative abundances of different types of aquatic
invertebrates. Comparing your lake’s data to the rest of the lakes in Muskoka is not definite, but it can
give you an idea. If there is a trend in all the types of indices and data, either above or below normal, it
may indicate your lake’s overall quality.
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APPENDIX 9: 2019 Aquatic Invertebrate Data Sheets
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2019 Lake System Health Program Report

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2019 Lake System Health Program Report

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Lake System Health

Muskoka Water Strategy .............................................................................................................................. 4

Lake System Health ....................................................................................................................................... 4

Summary of Lake System Health Monitoring Activities ............................................................................ 5

Monitoring Staff .............................................................................................................................................. 7

Lake System Health Monitoring Program Components .......................................................................... 7

1) Spring phosphorus sampling and other chemical parameters .............................................. 10

2) Secchi depth measurements ....................................................................................................... 15

3) Temperature and dissolved oxygen measurements ................................................................ 18

4) Shoreline land use surveys ............................................................................................................ 20

5) Love Your Lake Program ............................................................................................................... 20

6) Biological Monitoring Program ..................................................................................................... 22

7) The Natural Edge Shoreline Re-naturalization Program ........................................................... 23

Planning Policy ............................................................................................................................................. 25

1) Muskoka Official Plan Policies ...................................................................................................... 25

APPENDIX 1: 2019 Spring Phosphorus Data ............................................................................................. 26

APPENDIX 2: 2019 Chemical Data for Select Parameters ..................................................................... 28

APPENDIX 3: 2019 Secchi Depth Measurements .................................................................................... 31

APPENDIX 4: Interpretation of Water Quality Data ................................................................................ 33

APPENDIX 5: Lake Data Sheets .................................................................................................................. 36

APPENDIX 8: Benthic Aquatic Invertebrate Information Sheet .......................................................... 133

APPENDIX 9: 2019 Aquatic Invertebrate Data Sheets ......................................................................... 136

Muskoka Water Strategy

The Strategy consists of four components:

Lake System Health

Lake System Health is a broad, watershed-wide approach to protecting Muskoka’s waterbodies

Summary of Lake System Health Monitoring Activities

The objective of the biological monitoring program is to develop a network of monitoring

 Bruce Lake Family Assoc.  Chub Lake Property Owners’ Assoc.

Lake System Health Monitoring Program Components

 Spring phosphorus sampling conducted in May;

 The Natural Edge site visits conducted from July to October.

Table 1: Sites monitored in 2019.

1) Spring phosphorus sampling and other chemical parameters

b) Spring phosphorus results

c) Other chemical parameters

Table 2: Full suite of chemical parameters analyzed in the laboratory.

Name Units Name Units

A measure of a lake’s “buffering capacity” or its Values of 20-200 mg/L are

A salt compound that results from the combination

A shade or tint imparted to water that is often

The ability of water to pass an electric current. It

A highly soluble metal found everywhere in the Aesthetic objective in drinking

Elevated levels may indicate Natural levels in surface water

A measure of both ammonia and organic forms of Excessive amounts contribute to

A measure of the hydrogen ion concentration in Provincial water quality

Sulphate is natural in many minerals but is often

2) Secchi depth measurements

b) Secchi depth measurement results

3) Temperature and dissolved oxygen measurements

Temperature is a measure of the intensity of heat stored in a volume of water. Temperature

Dissolved oxygen is a measure of the concentration of oxygen dissolved in water. Adequate

b) Temperature and dissolved oxygen measurement results

In general, the dissolved oxygen concentration

In these deep regions of the lake, dissolved

Peninsula Lake - West

4) Shoreline land use surveys

b) Shoreline land use survey results

5) Love Your Lake Program

a) Love Your Lake survey method

b) Love Your Lake results

6) Biological Monitoring Program

a) Benthic macroinvertebrate sampling method

b) Benthic macroinvertebrate sampling results