Stewardship FAQs

Why Stewardship?

Muskoka’s natural heritage is unique. From the bare rock and lone pines found in the Georgian Bay area to the lush upland forests and undulating hills near Algonquin Park, Muskoka is blessed with a diversity of landscapes, waterways, and plant and animal life. Some species are found nowhere else in Ontario. Competing, and often conflicting, land use demands make the task of protecting our heritage a vital and urgent one. The Muskoka Stewardship Program encourages the careful management of natural lands.

Why is Natural Heritage Important?

Natural areas are the basis of the aesthetic appeal of Muskoka’s landscape.
Natural areas provide habitat for native plant and animal life, maintain genetic diversity, and have an inherent value.
Natural areas provide valuable hydrological benefits by regulating water level, and maintaining water quality.
Natural areas provide an ongoing benefit to the local economy, especially tourism, Muskoka’s primary industry.

As a landowner, what can I do?

Make a conscious commitment. Developing an understanding and appreciation of the natural features of your property leads to good private stewardship. Private land stewardship is one of the best ways to ensure that the natural values of your property remain for future generations.

What is Stewardship?

Simply put, it means to take good care of something. So private land stewardship refers to taking good care of the land while we use it. This does not necessarily mean absolute preservation nor does it leave room for unbridled development. Rather it means to have consideration for the land and to use it wisely. This is conservation. Landowners in Muskoka are encouraged to affirm their stewardship by joining the Muskoka Stewardship Award Program.

What is the Stewardship Award?

The Stewardship Award Program recognizes voluntary protection of Muskoka’s natural heritage by private owners, businesses and public properties. The award acknowledges protection in the past but more importantly represents a voluntary commitment on the part of the landowner to safeguard their property for the future.

Does acceptance of the award involve legal restrictions or curtail activities on my property?

No. The agreement is voluntary; its strength lies in the commitment of the landowner to protect the natural features of their property to the best of their ability. Any current or future use of the property, such as hunting or firewood removal, will not be affected by joining the Award Program. Our program staff can assist you with information on wildlife habitat enhancement and forest management techniques.

Are there financial advantages?

Participation involves no payment or receipt of funds. The Muskoka Stewardship Program receives funding from a variety of private and public sources and is operated for the benefit of our Muskoka Stewards. The Muskoka Heritage Foundation is a charitable, non-government organization and gratefully accepts donations but there is no charge for joining the Award Program.

Is the Muskoka Heritage Foundation a lobby group? Will the Foundation presume to speak on my behalf?

No. The Muskoka Heritage Foundation is strictly apolitical and non-partisan.

Sounds great! But what you describe as stewardship I have practiced for years. Why should I get involved?

The environment is important to everyone. Spaces and species are threatened, even in Muskoka. While the government can protect representative areas in parks, the very people who own them can best protect other natural areas. The Muskoka Heritage Foundation believes that private landowners can play an integral part in natural heritage protection. By joining the Muskoka Stewardship Award Program you can demonstrate the effectiveness of private efforts and confirm that individuals can make a difference.

Nominations

Do you know someone who deserves recognition for taking good care of his or her land? Someone who has: minimal lawn, retained native trees and shrubs wherever possible, minimized their footprint on the land, and done their best to live in harmony with the natural environment?

Each year the Muskoka Heritage Foundation presents a number of Natural Heritage Stewardship Awards to recognize the efforts of private or commercial property owners who have protected or rehabilitated natural areas. These natural areas are not only an attractive part of Muskoka’s rugged landscape but they also provide habitat for native plant and animal life.

The Natural Heritage Committee has two award categories. One recognizes the efforts of private property owners, whether that property is large or small, located on a shoreline, or in an urban area. The other category recognizes the efforts of commercial property owners, such as a business, a resort or even a government building.

Nomination process

Board members, Natural Heritage Committee members and the general public through newspaper articles and/or advertisements, will solicit nominations for award recipients.
The Natural Heritage Committee will review nominations and recommendations for award recipients will be provided to the Board of the Muskoka Heritage Foundation who will approve the nominees.
The deadline date for receipt of nominations is July 31.
Presentation of awards is at the MHF Annual General Meeting in the fall of each year.

Stewardship awards Criteria

For many cottagers and other waterfront residents, the quiet spot by the lake is a place to relax, play, and enjoy being closer to nature. It is a special location for another reason too. The shoreline is a “Ribbon of Life”, where land, water, and air meet, and is the richest and most complex natural environment with which most of us will ever come into contact. The waterfront is crucial to your lake’s health, acting as lungs, doormat, cafeteria and daycare for the lake, as well as a living retaining wall for the shore. When a natural shoreline is altered, often by well-intentioned projects meant to “improve” waterfront living, that intricate balance between the creatures, plants, and earth is toppled. Why not consider to weaving your cottage and waterfront needs into the natural shore? Caring for you shoreline means less, not more work! You will help preserve water quality and safeguard your family’s health. You will also help protect the beauty of your paradise, maintaining its investment value. Extra benefits include more time to relax and enjoy. There are lots of great examples of fine shoreline stewardship where waterfront dwellers are living in harmony with nature or are restoring shores to their natural wonder.

The Muskoka Heritage Foundation in cooperation with the various Cottage and Lake Associations would like to honour individuals and families who are doing an excellent job of protecting, preserving or restoring their lakeside areas. If you think you or your neighbour might qualify for an award (presented annually) by the Muskoka Heritage Foundation, contact your cottage association.

Here are ten features that help preserve and protect your waterway that we look for in making the shoreline stewardship awards. How does your property rate?

Is the area back from the shore well treed? Is the water edge natural?
Is there a good understory and natural ground cover on the property?
Are the walkways made of wood chips, pea gravel, or wooden slats spaced well apart so that rainfall can soak into the soil.
Has the septic system been upgraded recently?
Is there a low dock to shoreline ratio? (i.e. few and small docks)
Is the dock floating, cantilevered, suspension, or pipe/pile?
Are there few accessory buildings near the shore?
Is there minimal or no lawn?
Does the design and colour of the buildings harmonize with the natural environment?
Is there minimal lighting (no light pollution)?

If you would like more information on how to protect your shoreline drop into the Muskoka Heritage Foundation office at 11-B Taylor Road, Bracebridge, and see the brochures and booklets to guide you and your family to a healthy waterfront and /or a waterfront-friendly dock. Two of the best sources of information are The Shore Primer and The Dock Primer produced by Cottage Life in association with Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

Nomination Form