Why This Matters:
Lake Simcoe’s health is threatened by the extent of and impacts of development in place and planned for the watershed basin. The nutrient Phosphorus contributes to algae and weed growth. When these die the process consumes oxygen in the water. This impacts our prized cold water fish, Lake Trout and Whitefish, and in turn our $420 million / year sustainable recreation sector.
Cutting phosphorus loads in half, as targeted in the Lake Simcoe Protection Act and Plan is essential for maintaining lake health. Water quality is also impacted by warmer waters thanks to climate change, invasive species, and increasingly, road salt.
There has been no new coordination between municipalities, Regional governments and the province on water and wastewater servicing capacity around Lake Simcoe since 2011.
It is essential that municipalities advocate to the province to do their job of maintaining environmental limits, and overseeing and coordinating and compliance at Lake Simcoe.
Cutting phosphorus loads in half, as targeted in the Lake Simcoe Protection Act and Plan is essential for maintaining lake health. Water quality is also impacted by warmer waters thanks to climate change, invasive species, and increasingly, road salt.
There has been no new coordination between municipalities, Regional governments and the province on water and wastewater servicing capacity around Lake Simcoe since 2011.
It is essential that municipalities advocate to the province to do their job of maintaining environmental limits, and overseeing and coordinating and compliance at Lake Simcoe.
Did You Know…?
- The natural cover target for the Lake Simcoe watershed is 40%. Today only 21% of the watershed is covered by forests and wetlands that are well protected by provincial policy. Some of these areas are threatened by highway development pushed by the government of Ontario: the Bradford Bypass.
- Nearly 60% of the watershed is in natural cover, so we could protect enough, if there’s a will to do so. See https://rescuelakesimcoe.org/about-us/accomplishments/lake-simcoe-greenlands-project/ for more information about environmental policy mapping and natural heritage protection
- Phosphorus comes from many sources and is not easy to control:
What You Can Do As A Municipal Leader:
Municipal advocates for Lake Simcoe have and can continue to effect change and spur responsible development and rehabilitation by communicating with the province in coordination with other watershed municipalities. The Rescue Lake Simcoe Coalition has and will continue to launch initiatives with this aim.
In the near term we need municipalities to ask the province to:
In the near term we need municipalities to ask the province to:
- Evaluate the impacts to Lake Simcoe of their planned doubling of the watershed population. It’s not just about sewage. Overland, stormwater, road building, salt impacts and reduction of natural heritage all chip away at the lake’s health.
- Stop the Brafford Bypass in its current location at least, and stop the Upper York Sewage “Solution” entirely.
- Municipalities should put money in the capital budget for improving stormwater control and maintenance, water infiltration over conveyance, and increased shading of streams and shoreline.
Local Organizations That Can Help:
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Rescue Lake Simcoe Coalition
Website: https://rescuelakesimcoe.org/ Email: RescueLakeSimcoeCoalition@gmail.com 
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Simcoe County Greenbelt Coalition
Website: https://simcoecountygreenbelt.ca/ Email: margaret@simcoecountygreenbelt.ca 
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