In 2025, the Lake Rosseau North Association was proud to support meaningful progress by Friends of the Muskoka Watershed in addressing two growing threats to Muskoka’s waters: declining forest calcium levels and road salt pollution.
Through the ASHMuskoka program, research conducted with Trent University confirmed that a carefully screened application of residential wood ash can restore calcium lost from forest soils over decades and improve overall tree health. Building on this success, a large-scale forest restoration project is now being planned at Camp Big Canoe, using donated ash from local households.
At the same time, SALTYMuskoka volunteers collected chloride data from dozens of sites across the Muskoka River watershed. This work helped drive action at the municipal level, with all Muskoka municipalities now recognizing road salt pollution as a serious concern and committing to better tracking and reduced overuse while maintaining road safety.
These efforts were supported by public outreach, student programs, and hands-on learning opportunities such as the Peer Under the Surface cruise aboard the Peerless II, giving residents a closer look at how road salt and invasive species are affecting our lakes — and how community-led action can protect them.