This Saturday: Great Muskoka Paddling Experience

A fun racing experience for canoes and kayaks for all levels of participants

Saturday, October 8, 2011

Annie Williams Park, Bracebridge, Muskoka River

www.muskokapaddlingexperience.com

The race includes two distances to choose from in an “out-and-back” course. The start and finish line is just below the Bracebridge Falls in downtown Bracebridge. A 12 km family/short course will take boats downstream to a turn-around at Santa’s Village. A 20 km long course will take paddlers from the falls downstream all the way to Lake Muskoka, around McVittie Island and back upstream to the finish/falls.
Water depth is good all year and flows are generally low.
The staging area (parking, registration, launching, etc.) is at Annie Williams Park.

The weather for Saturday is looking dandy!

Add this race to your calendar and come to Muskoka to enjoy the fall leaves, paddle a classic river, support a local watershed initiative Muskoka Watershed Council and work up an appetite for Turkey.

Golf Courses and Environmental Stewardship

Golf courses aren't always the most environmentally friendly of places. However, in Muskoka they are an important part of our economy. The Muskoka Highlands golf course takes steps to provide a scenic and challenging golf course while contributing to a healthier natural environment. Now that's environmental stewardship in action!

Muskoka Heritage Foundation held our Annual Golf Classic tournament at the Muskoka Highlands in an effort to showcase the possibilities for stewardship in Muskoka- both on and off the course! Below a sample of what we learned. Click on the images for a larger view.

Hole #1

Hole #4

Hole #10

Hole #13

Hole #17

We had a great day at Muskoka Highlands on Monday. All funds raised from the tournament, silent auction and putting contest go directly to support our Stewardship Programs. A HUGE "thank you" to our golfers and sponsors.

Above: Gord Durnan takes a practice swing before his chance to win the putting contest.

Above: Looking over Hole #2. The rain held off despite ominous skies.

Above: Golfers at Hole #17: a chance at a hole in one!

Above: Supporters from Muskoka Watershed Council pose for their team photo.

Winners take all! And will have their names put on the tournament trophy.

This team won "most honest". Looking good!!

Thanks again to all our sponsors and golfers. It was a great day!

See you again next year.

In the meantime, what are you doing to incorporate stewardship practices on your property?

Baysville Horticultural Society

Baysville Horticultural Society gets a sneak peek at the Species at Risk booklet!

I presented to the lovely folks at the Baysville Horticultural Society last week. I spoke with them about land trust properties near Baysville, native species in the area, the importance of shoreline re-naturalization, the Well Aware program, and of course, the stewardship program.

I also spoke with them about the upcoming publication of the MHF’s Stewards’ Guide series, which will include the topics of Species at Risk in Parry Sound-Muskoka, Forest Management Options, Shoreline, Wetlands, and Trail Building. I had just received the proof from the printer for the Species at Risk booklet so they got to have a peek at what's to come! The Species at Risk booklet will be available at the MHF office in March and on the website soon!

Tyler, MHF Communications Intern, came along to help me sell tea towels and promote MHF programs.

The folks at Baysville Horticultural Society were a very engaged, interested audience who asked great questions and were enthusiastic about stewardship. Thank you!

Tree Trivia & Stewardship Conference

Globally, forests are host to 80 percent of our biodiversity.

Ten percent of the world's forests can be found right here in Canada.

And remember, the United Nations has declared 2011 the International Year of Forests.

photo: Greg Francis

Registration opens today for the 2011 Muskoka Stewardship Conference!

View the full agenda and register here

There will be speakers about the Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program, wildlife topics, native species gardening, water quality, and more!

It is an excellent change to learn more about stewardship in Muskoka and network with like-minded folks.

Hope to see you there!

Considering Logging? Hiring a Qualified Logger

I wrote last week about researching, planning, and exploring your property before commiting to logging- or a logger.

Today, I noticed on the Ontario Forestry Association website a new resource they have developed called Hiring a Qualified Logger- it's a matter of doing your homework!

It includes:

• Questions you may want to ask when hiring a logger
• Questions to ask when checking references
• Additional Tips

Check it out and Good Luck!

Considering logging? Read this first!

Have you been offered money from a logger to harvest your woodlot?

Interested but think there is a better way?
There is!

It requires researching sound advice to make the best decisions possible to protect the health and integrity of your woodlot.

Woodlot owners harvest trees for many reasons: to generate income, produce lumber or firewood for your own use, create recreational trails for skiing, hiking, or hunting, improve wildlife habitat, or to maintain the health of your forest.

These reasons are not mutually exclusive.

Whatever your reason, there are many factors to consider first.

Do Some Research

The choice of a silvicultural system depends on characteristics unique to each woodlot. The book "A Landowners Guide to Careful Logging" provides landowners with sound advice as they make decisions to protect the health and integrity of their woodlots, while maximizing financial returns. Download it, or pick up a free copy at MHF.

In addition to a silvicultural system that is appropriate for your woodlot, a reputable consultant and/or logger is a must. They ensure that logging operations are conducted accordance with good forestry practices and that other values in the woodlot are protected and maintained. This guide also has more information about this selection process. Contact me for a list of loggers in Muskoka.

Make A Plan

Download or pick up a copy of "A Guide the Stewardship Planning for Natural Areas". Fill in the blanks on the worksheets to make a personalized plan for your woodlot. I have these books at the MHF office and they're free! Also, see the upcoming December issue of the MHF newsletter, the Steward, for an article about planning for your stewardship activities.

Learn, Read, Explore!

Access resources: do some winter reading.

Attend workshops: learn from others and the experts

Explore your property: what wildlife lives there? when and where is it wet, dry? what kinds of trees? what do you use it for?

Consider becoming a landowner participant in the Stewardship Program.

I'd love to chat with you about how the program can help you! Contact me today.