Your Link to Muskoka's Water!
Lake Plans
What is a Lake Plan?
A lake plan is an approach by a lake association to identify and protect the physical, environmental and social values of a lake or river system. It results in a long range vision for the lake community that can be implemented through a series of stewardship direction and potential land use policies.
A lake plan can:
- Provide education
- Document the condition of your lake
- Give guidance for the future development of your lake
- Identify special attributes of your lake
- Produce policy that can be used at a municipal level
The majority of lake plans are used for stewardship purposes. Any proposed land use policy must go through a municipal planning process and may involve an official plan amendment and a public review process.
Links and Information
Area Municipality
If your organization does decide to create a lake plan you should contact your local Area Municipality to find out about policies and other lake plans in your area.
District Municipality of Muskoka
Muskoka has many policies in its Official Plan directed at protecting lake health, including;
- Limiting development on lakes
- Maintaining natural shoreline vegetation
- Preserving wetlands
- Maintaining water quality
- Maintaining vegetation on steep slopes
- Regulating minimum setbacks for structures and septic systems
- Protecting Significant Heritage Areas
Section C - ECOSYSTEMS OF MUSKOKA: NATURAL HERITAGE AND WATER RESOURCES in the Muskoka Official Plan outlines lake and water related issues that should be reviewed when developing your lake plan.
Federation of Ontario Cottagers' Associations (FOCA)
Check out the Lake Planning for Community Groups webpage on the FOCA website for resources and a handbook to help guide the development of a lake for your lake.
Watersheds Canada
Watersheds Canada has a number of resources available on their website, including presentations from their Lake Links conferences and a Lake Plan Guide.
Presentation: Lake Planning…the health of your lake depends on it! by French Planning Services Inc.