Muskoka Heritage Areas Program
In the early 1990s, Muskoka undertook a field-based program to identify the most significant natural areas in the District. This was a joint initiative with the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Muskoka Heritage Foundation.
The program was science-based and used several data sources including air photographs, topographic maps, Ontario Geological Survey Maps, and local knowledge and information as well as extensive fieldwork.
Each of the candidate areas was evaluated following the work done in the field using a series of criteria. Biologists identified sixty-eight significant areas and sites located throughout Muskoka using generalized boundaries.
Heritage Areas are locations where more than one evaluation criterion was met, while Heritage Sites are locations where only one criterion was met.
The Town of Gravenhurst has set goals and objectives regarding the support of heritage lands. They have set a goal to “identify, conserve and enhance the Town’s cultural heritage resources whenever practical and to ensure that all new development and redevelopment occurs in a manner that respects and preserves the Town’s cultural resources.” The Council does this through site plan review and control when any development proposal is requested
Land Use and Zoning
The Town of Gravenhurst - Official Plan - Schedule A - Land Use Map clearly outlines all the defined land use designations within the township of Gravenhurst including Kahshe and Bass Lakes. The Official Plan speaks to the unique requirements of our lakes, the measures to protect our water access cottagers and the natural and cultural features that are protected when development is being considered.
In 1994, South Three Mile Lake Wetland and Kahshe Lake Barrens were defined as “heritage lands,” during the Natural Heritage Evaluation of Muskoka. Their borders can be seen on this map.
The KBLA Conservation Committee does the following to support these heritage areas not only because they enrich our community, but because they align with our goal to protect our lakes' robust history and culture for generations to come.
- Monitor and support the activities of the Muskoka Conservancy.
- Work with residents to find ways of preserving ecologically significant lands.
- Minimize to the extent possible, shoreline disturbance and destruction from future development.
- Encourage the renaturalization of shorelines.
Heritage Areas and Sites were identified to protect significant features as development occurs in Muskoka. Special areas, such as Muskoka Heritage Areas, bring an identity to an area and represent the uniqueness of one part of the Province. There is a need to recognize these special areas in advance of development pressures to ensure that they are protected for the future.
Download the Natural Heritage Evaluation of Muskoka report to learn more about the Muskoka Heritage Areas Program.