The first people to arrive in the Huntsville area since the First Nations people were fur trappers. Fur-bearing animals were abundant along the waterways and lakes. In 1858, a party of men was dispatched from Lake Muskoka to map all the waterways that fed into the area. They mapped as far as what is now known as Lake Vernon.
This lake plan is the second edition prepared by the Lake Waseosa Ratepayers' Association,
which is facilitates social and communal activities of area residents, and which contributes to
the well-being of Lakes Waseosa, Ripple, Palette, and Jessop and the communities that
surround these lakes. The original Lake Plan was first adopted in August of 2006 and
presented to the Town of Huntsville in September of that year. Since then there have been a
number of regulatory changes. Most significantly, the District of Muskoka adopted OPA 32,
Note: this 2011 version is provided for historical context but has been superseded by the 2016 edition
As part of our 5-year review cycle we have drafted a revised version of the Lake Plan. The focus of this revision has been 3-fold:
1. Update information contained within the Lake Plan, including facts and figures as well as reflect the revised Official Plans and Zoning By-laws and the new Unity Plan.
This is not a part of the Lake Plan. It is included in this list as being relavent to the issues addressed by the Lake Plan.
NOTE: The new OP was enacted after the Lake Plan was published. The LP is currently under review with consideration of the following:
2 GUIDING PRINCIPLES
2.6.1 Effective community development requires the participation of a broad spectrum of residents, local organizations
and governments. The Town will provide a leadership role in the future development of Huntsville, and will
encourage the cooperation and active involvement of community organizations, ratepayer groups and various
Throughout this Lake Plan a number of matters affecting the Muskoka lakes and more particularly the Huntsville area have been identified and highlighted.
These matters should be of concern to all lake associations, particularly those of the smaller inland lakes since the smaller lakes have certain characteristics that differ from the larger lakes. Among other things, they may be spring fed, with lower or non-existent flushing capabilities and they often have shallower depths.
Natural Elements
Natural elements that provide for ecological conditions in the various areas contribute to the living conditions of all species and help to sustain their way of life and their ability to function and to adapt to changing conditions.
The following elements are part of the natural features of the areas. They are consistently under stress both from natural disasters and human development and activity. They require protection at all times by legal, educational and practical means.
Official Plans
There are two Official Plans governing the watershed of Lake Waseosa: the official plan of the District of Muskoka and the Town of Huntsville official plan. These plans have established comprehensive policies in great detail regarding development including waterfront development areas with specific water quality objectives for specific lakes.
Water Quality
The water quality of a lake is often the focus of concerns because it is directly related to recreation, fishing, aquatic vegetation and surface water uses. It is often a good place to begin when setting lake management goals and objectives.
Common Values and Areas of Concern
The Lake Waseosa Ratepayers' Association carried out a community-based survey to identify the primary values and concerns of the residents. A questionnaire was distributed to obtain their views, clarify their residential use and to obtain their observations with respect to any changes related to activities and development on the lakes. The Questionnaire had a response rate of 38%.