Enjoying Lake Simcoe Responsibly

Recreational boating, swimming and angling are among the many great ways we enjoy Lake Simcoe. However, all of the garbage, septic, and fuel spills from everyone loving Lake Simcoe are adding to the lake's declining health.

What You Can Do

• Take all your garbage, including food leftovers and packaging, back to shore. Collect any garbage that other people have left behind.
• Take your children to restrooms as often as needed and obey "poop and scoop" bylaws.
• Encourage municipalities to maintain several restrooms and garbage containers along the shore.
• When boating, do not produce a wake close to shore, as this contributes to erosion. Observe posted speed limits.
• Use phosphate-free cleaners to wash your boat. It is important to clean your boat's hull, propeller and trailer if you are using it in different waterbodies. This will prevent the accidental introduction of non-native aquatic plants and zebra mussels that may reproduce in uncontrolled numbers and consequently alter the water habitat.
• Use pumpout facilities for emptying on board holding tanks. If your marina does not already have a pumpout station, encourage them to install one.
• Never throw garbage overboard or leave it at the beach. This debris can harm or kill wildlife. It can also endanger boaters because plastic rings, straps, and bags can foul propellers and clog intake valves.
• Place a drop cloth underneath your boat when it is being scraped or sanded, to catch the old paint scrapings and dust and place them in the garbage. Ask your marina to follow this practice if they do the work for you.
• Always be careful when using petroleum products around water. Even in small quantities, they can be toxic to aquatic life. Dispose of used oil and antifreeze at a marina, gas station, or recycling centre.
• Reduce unnecessary use of inboard and outboard motors. Whenever possible, use human or wind-powered boats, such as kayaks, canoes, sailboats, windsurfing boards, or rowboats.
• Wipe up any oil spills that occur. A single litre of oil, when spilled, can create a slick of up to one hectare, an area equal to almost three football fields.
• Slow down. Make sure that boat propellers do not stir up sediment in shallow areas. Sediment is rich in phosphorus, which can fertilize the lake and compromise water quality.