Muskoka's Wetlands
What's on this page |
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| Local Wetland Initiatives |
| Significant Wetlands in Muskoka |
Local Wetland Initiatives
In Muskoka, both the District and Area Municipalities have adopted land use policy that recognizes and protects the values of wetlands.
The Official Plan policy in Muskoka states that all wetlands are important and should be preserved. Limited development may be permitted within a wetland provided that wetland values can be protected.
Significant Wetlands in Muskoka
In response to the concern for wetlands in Muskoka, the Muskoka Heritage Areas Policy Review Program's wetland evaluation system was put into place through a joint initiative with the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Muskoka Heritage Foundation.
It is necessary to identify wetland types and evaluate their importance so that those areas can be protected from development (drainage and land reclamation) and environmental stresses such as invading species.
Heritage Areas are significant lands in Muskoka. The goal of the program is to identify significant areas on a comprehensive or landscape level basis.
Of these Heritage Areas in Muskoka, 23 have been grouped as wetlands. Thirteen of these wetlands contain all or a portion of a Provincially Significant Wetland. The Dwight Conifer Peat Forest and Cooper's Pond have also been determined to be of regional significance. The remaining areas have not been evaluated using the Provincial wetland evaluation system.
The Muskoka Watershed Council has developed a Best Practices brochure on small private wetlands. Download Caring for Wetlands on your Property from the Muskoka Watershed Council website to learn how to protect and enjoy the wetland on your property.
