Changes Coming to Muskoka’s Waste Fees – March 2, 2023
On February 28, 2023, the District of Muskoka Council approved staff recommendations to help families meet new garbage limits in response to changes in the waste program. The changes aim to reduce garbage and extend the lifespan of Muskoka’s only remaining landfill. However, the district is struggling to meet diversion goals, with only 34% of waste being diverted. In contrast, other top municipalities in the province recycle, reduce, and divert over 60% of their waste.
Effective March 1, tipping fees for garbage and non-divertible material at District waste facilities will increase. On the other hand, District facilities will still accept blue box recycling and green bin organics at no cost. Residents can now deliver one clear bag of diapers and incontinence products free of charge every week to any transfer station. They can also purchase bag tags at a discounted price of five tags for $35 when bought in bulk from any transfer station. Furthermore, residents can set out one extra garbage bag without a bag tag on their regular collection day the week of Victoria Day, Canada Day, the Civic holiday, and Labour Day long weekends.
According to James Steele, the Commissioner of Engineering and Public Works, the District of Muskoka is dedicated to reducing garbage and extending the life of its last landfill while also assisting families to reach their diversion target. These changes will help residents divert more materials to their blue box and green bin programs.
To learn more about the updated rates and acceptable materials in the blue box or green bin programs, visit muskoka recycles or download the Muskoka Recycles app and use the waste wizard. Finally, Muskoka’s Roadmap to 60% Waste Diversion offers new and bold initiatives to create a better waste management system. By working together, positive change can be brought to Muskoka’s environment.
Read the official announcement at No Time To Waste – Working Together
Application for Consent and Zoning By-Law Amendment – Sandwood Road – January 20, 2023 – Planning Committee Meeting Update
An update on the Planning Committee Meeting on January 20th regarding the application to sever a back lot and rezone the back lots. Thanks to all of the concerned Three Mile Lake property owners who voiced their concerns on this application. Your voices were heard, loud and clear, particularly with the 4 new Township councillors who are new members of the Planning Committee. They decided to defer a decision and to go back to the District of Muskoka (which is responsible for water quality, not the Township) for an explanation as to why the District wasn’t opposed to this application, even though the District lists Three Mile as an endangered lake.
This application will be submitted again and discussed at a future Planning Committee meeting. We’ll keep you posted.
John Roberts, President Three Mile Lake Association
Beatrice Townline Road Closed at Falkenburg Road to 1738 Beatrice Townline Road Due to Flooding – January 6, 2023
MUSKOKA LAKES, ON – As of 2:30 pm on Friday January 6, 2023, Beatrice Townline Road from Falkenburg Road (Muskoka Road 47) to 1738 Beatrice Townline Road is closed due to flooding. There are spots through this portion of the road where water levels would be considered unsafe for vehicles.
We thank residents for their patience during this time, and will provide an update when the road has reopened and water levels have receded.
For more information, please contact:
Ken Becking
Director of Public Works
(705) 765-3156 Ext. 250
Blue-Green Algae Public Notice Lifted – December 14, 2022
The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) would like to inform residents and visitors to the Township of Muskoka Lakes that additional laboratory analysis confirms the blue-green algae bloom impacting Three Mile Lake and Hammell’s Bay, Township of Muskoka Lakes has dissipated.
Please be advised that the public health notice regarding precautions for blue-green algae issued on August 29, 2022, and updated on September 2, 2022, by the SMDHU for Three Mile Lake, Township of Muskoka Lakes has been lifted.
Additional Results from August 29th and September 2nd Water Samples – September 27, 2022
Three Mile Lake Community.
On Thursday, September 22 we received information concerning the blue-green algae bloom affecting Three Mile Lake from the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP). The communication reported toxin levels from the samples taken on August 29th and September 2nd.
Some brief background information regarding cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins.
- Blue-Green Algae is more correctly known as cyanobacteria
- Some cyanobacteria can produce various cyanotoxins (toxins).
- The cyanobacteria in Three Mile Lake produce microcystins and anatoxin. Microcystins are of greater concern.
- The release of toxins in an algal bloom into the surrounding water occurs mostly during cell death and lysis (i.e. cell rupture)
- Every governing body provides guidance with regard to microcystin exposure.
- Health Canada’s guidance:
- Total microcystins:
- Drinking water: less than or equal to 1.5 micrograms per Litre (µg/L)
- Recreational Use: less than or equal to 10 µg/L
- Total microcystins:
The following toxin results were sent from MECP via email. The toxin levels reported below are from the samples taken on August 29th and September 2nd. As noted above, keep in mind toxin levels change as the bloom deteriorates and cyanobacteria die off. These are point-in-time results.
The following are the results we received from our labs in regard to Three Mile Lake samples.
Location 1: Cowan Rd. – West Basin
Results:
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- Total Microcystins – 0.12 micrograms per Litre (µg/L)
- Total Anatoxin-A – below the detectible limit of 0.20 micrograms per Litre (µg/L)
- Algal ID- Yes to a Cyano bloom – Algae condition was very deteriorated.
- The most abundant algae in the bloom included blue-green algae; also known as cyanobacteria, which has the potential to produce toxins.
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Location 2: Hammell’s Bay Three Mile Lake
Results:
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- Total Microcystins – below the detectable limit
- Total Anatoxin-A – below the detectable limit
- Algal ID – Yes to a Cyano Bloom – Algae condition was in deterioration
- The most abundant algae in the bloom included blue-green algae; also known as cyanobacteria, which has the potential to produce toxins.
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Location 3: Carlo Enterprise Road Three Mile Lake – East Basin
Results:
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- Total Microcystins – 0.13 µg/L
- Total Anatoxin-A – Below the detectable limit
- Algal ID – Yes to a Cyano Bloom – Algae condition was in deterioration
- The most abundant algae in the bloom included blue-green algae; also known as cyanobacteria, which has the potential to produce toxins.
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Barrie District
Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
It is important to note lakes are dynamic ever-changing environments and toxins are released after cyanobacteria die and decay. These results will change over the course of the bloom. Please continue to use common sense when using the lake. We anticipate further testing by the MECP over the next few weeks. We will communicate information as we receive it.
The following are links to Cyanobacteria publications for your reference.
Cyanobacterial Toxins in Drinking Water Health Canada
Guidelines for Canadian Recreational Water Quality – Cyanobacteria and their Toxins Health Canada
Blue-green Algae Government of Ontario
Learn about Cyanobacteria and Cyanotoxins United States Environmental Protection Agency
TMLA Board
All Candidates Meeting September 24th 2022 – Port Carling Community Centre
The Muskoka Ratepayers’ Association is sponsoring an All Candidates Meeting on Saturday, September 24th, 2022 starting at 10:00 AM sharp in the Port Carling Community Centre.
This is your opportunity to hear directly from the candidates for all positions so that you can come to an informed opinion when you exercise your vote.
- You will have an opportunity to meet with the candidates before the meetings – starting at 9:30 AM.
- You will then hear from each of the candidates (in the formal meeting)
- Finally, there will be a question period where candidates will respond to questions that you have had an opportunity to submit.
- Your written questions will be accepted until 10:30 AM.
The meeting will finish promptly at noon, but candidates will be available to you informally after the meeting.
Additionally, the Ratepayers have previously posed written questions to all the candidates, and their written responses to these are being consolidated into a document that will be available to all members in good standing of the Muskoka Ratepayers a day or so after the meeting.
As always, the Ratepayers believe that an informed electorate is key, and that it is up to each individual to make their own decision on October 24th, 2022.
We hope to see you all there, and let your friends and family know – all are welcome.
All Candidates Meeting
Saturday, September 24th at 10 am
Port Carling Community Centre
3 Bailey Street
Port Carling, Ontario P0B 1J0 Canada
More Information – click here
Muskoka Votes on October 24, 2022
On October 24th you have the opportunity to elect the next Township of Muskoka Lakes Council. We urge you to vote!
You can vote for the Mayor and for the Ward B Councillors. We have included the recommendations from the Muskoka Lakes Association (MLA Endorsement), but please do your own due diligence to determine your own choice of candidates.
You can find more information about the election and register to vote here: Vote 4 Muskoka
Blue-Green Algae Bloom Updated to include Hammell’s Bay – September 2, 2022
The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) is informing residents and visitors to the Township of Muskoka Lakes that laboratory analysis has confirmed the presence of a blue-green algae bloom impacting Hammell’s Bay, Three Mile Lake, Township of Muskoka Lakes. As a result, the blue-green algae notice issued August 29, 2022 for the Carlo Enterprise Road and Cowan Park Road, Utterson is being expanded to include all of Three Mile Lake and Hammell’s Bay, Township of Muskoka Lakes.
Many species of blue-green algae (also called cyanobacteria) have the potential to produce toxins that are harmful to the health of humans and animals when exposed in large amounts. Due to the confirmed presence of the bloom, we are asking residents and visitors to exercise caution and recognize that toxins may also be present.
As a precautionary measure, the SMDHU urges residents and businesses to avoid drawing or drinking water from private water supplies that are impacted by the lake where blue-green algae has been identified and to take the following precautions:
- Do not use a private water supply that is impacted or draws water from this area of the lake for the preparation of infant formula.
- Do not allow pets or livestock to drink or swim in the water where an algae bloom is visible.
- Fish taken from waters with cyanobacterial blooms have the potential to contain toxins. Exercisecaution when eating fish caught in water where blue-green algae blooms occur.
- Do not use herbicides, copper sulphate or other algaecides that may break open algae cells and release toxins into the water.
- Avoid water sport activities where an algae bloom is visible.
I strongly recommend seeking medical attention if symptoms such as skin, eye or throat irritation, allergic reactions or breathing difficulties occur following contact with the blue-green algae bloom. Anyone who comes into contact with blue-green algae should wash with soap and water or rinse thoroughly with clean water. Swimming, bathing or showering with water not visibly affected by a blue- green algae bloom is not expected to cause health effects.
The health unit and the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks will continue to work together to monitor the algal bloom and updates will be provided on our website www.smdhu.org/algae.
For further information, call Health Connection Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 1-877-721- 7520. Links to general information and updates about blue-green algae are available on the health unit website at www.simcoemuskokahealth.org.
Sincerely,
Charles Gardner, MD, CCFP, MHSc, FRCPC Medical Officer of Health
Blue-Green Algae Notice – August 29, 2022
The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) is informing residents and visitors to the Township of Muskoka Lakes that laboratory analysis has confirmed the presence of a blue-green algae bloom impacting two locations on Three Mile Lake in the area of Carlo Enterprise Road and Cowan Park Road, Utterson, Township of Muskoka Lakes.
The full notice is found here: Blue-Green Algae Public Notice August 29, 2022
Potential Algae Bloom – August 20, 2022
To the Three Mile Lake Community.
This is to inform the Three Mile Lake community of “potential” Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria) blooming in the main basin of Three Mile Lake. Please use common sense with regards to the lake water.
A report of a potential bloom was submitted Friday, August 19th with the Spill Action Centre of the Ministry of Environment. A representative has confirmed sampling to be taken from the lake on Monday, August 22nd.
We will keep the community updated with any information we receive concerning this potential bloom.
TMLA Board of Directors
