About Our Lake
What's Happening To Our Lake?

The visibly excessive plant growth and the decline of the cold water fishery are only symptoms of a much bigger problem brought on by:

Development and Population Growth
The official Lake Simcoe Watershed Land Classification and Existing Land Use study shows that land use has changed dramatically over the last 10 years. Woodlands, wetlands and scrubland declined by 4% between 1991 and 2002.

Urban or built-up areas increased by 335% over the same period.

The Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horsehow 2006, anticipates a growth of population in the watershed's contributing municipalities by 184% by 2031; the watershed's population, currently 400,000, would be approximately 642,000 in 2031.

Farming and Gardening Practices
Erosion and excess fertilizer - when agricultural or other human activities expose the soil or use more fertilizer than is needed, excessive phosphorous can enter the environment. Carried by either water or wind the phosphorous reaches the lake and fertilizes the growth of aquatic plants in the lake.

The Holland Marsh is a unique agricultural environment because soil-eroded and fertilizer phosphorus from the marsh loads into the canal and reaches the Holland River and eventually the lake.

Boating and Other Recreational Water Uses
Oil spills, garbage and human waste are only some of the impacts associated with boating on Lake Simcoe. Learn more about the Ontario Marine Operations clean marine program at www.marinasontario.com and start to recycle your oil, shrinkwrap and anti-freeze. Join a marina that is a certified clean marine operator.

Growth of Industry
New industries are good for the economy, but some industry requires water in the manufacturing process. In some cases, this water is drawn from the Lake, putting more pressure on the Lake and requiring more safeguards to ensure water safety.

Sewage and Other Discharge
Sewage treatment plants - the Lake receives direct municipal sewage discharges from Sutton, Keswick, Barrie, Innisfil, Orillia, Bradford (direct to Holland River).

Seasonal discharges come from Mt. Albert (Black River), Holland Landing (Holland River), Beaverton (Lake Simcoe) and Schomberg (Schomberg Creek)

Urban run-off
Urban stormwater runoff occurs as rain or melting snow washes streets, parking lots, rooftops and debris. Commercial and industrial areas usually have more impervious area (e.g. paved parking lots, sidewalks, rooftops) than any other type of land use and, consequently, generate more urban runoff and pollution. There are 11,000 hectares of uncontrolled urban stormwater in the Lake Simcoe watershed.

What Can We Do To Protect Our Lake?