As we enter the summer season in Muskoka, many are excited to spend time in our lakes and rivers. From swimming and fishing to boating, canoeing, and kayaking, there are countless ways to enjoy the water. 

As we approach the beginning of the summer season in Muskoka we also start the fire season.  We have already had a number of wildland fires in the District, most human caused, and forest fire warnings were high at the end of May due to the dry conditions and excess brush on the ground from the ice storm in March.  

The District is excited to announce the launch of its Climate Hero program! The Climate Hero program is a way for everyone - individuals and businesses - to take actionable steps to reduce their carbon footprint and make Muskoka more sustainable.The program has many different levels with various actions to choose from and reflect everyone's unique interests and lifestyle. Enjoy gardening? Plant a pollinator or a sustainable food garden!  Into technology? Take your e-waste to be properly recycled by the District. 

Welcome Spring! With warm temperatures, rain, and melting snow it is important to be prepared for flooding. Given that we live in the Muskoka River Watershed, with hundreds of lakes, rivers and streams, the potential of flooding is a reality during the spring thaw, also known as the freshet.  

This winter has been one for the history books with the amount of snow we have experienced in Muskoka. Extreme weather is something we can expect to see more of due to climate change. How we manage and prepare for this weather is important, as well as doing what we can to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions (GHG’s) to combat the larger issue. 

Unwanted and too much stuff? How to help the environment when decluttering.

The winter is a great time to take stock of what we need and don’t need for the year ahead.  Whether it be clothes or household items, when we declutter, it’s important we make sure to dispose of the items properly. In this month’s Climate Corner, we share ideas of how to reuse or repurpose items you are not using, and if you can’t, then where to donate or dispose of them. 

Reuse/repair:          

1. Many times, we have clothing items...

How we get around Muskoka has a big impact on the climate. Transportation fuel use is the primary driver of energy use and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions in Muskoka, making up 67% of energy costs and 74% of GHG emissions, most of which come from privately owned vehicles. To truly reduce GHG’s in Muskoka, it is essential that we embrace alternative transportation options such as public transit.  How can we do that when we live in a rural area where we don’t have the same public transit...