Part 4 of a 4-part series on watersheds
This watershed is divided into three parts, Lake Couchiching, Severn Sound, and Georgian Bay Coast. The first section is positioned at the southeastern tip of the area around the 34 square kilometre Lake Couchiching which is at the top of Lake Simcoe (EC). Severn Sound is comprised of a 130 square kilometre series of bays on south-eastern Georgian Bay (EC). The final part of this watershed is the section of coastline between Port Severn and where the French River enters Georgian Bay.
The townships of Severn, Tay, and Tiny, the Towns of Midland and Penetanguishene, and the City of Orillia in Simcoe County and areas along the coast in the Districts of Muskoka and Parry Sound are all represented in this watershed.
This watershed supports a large recreational and tourist industry. Severn Sound has a permanent population of 110,000 that swells seasonally to 300,000 (EC). The cottage industry is causing development along the coasts as it grows and this could become a concern as the integrity of the coastline is changed. Agriculture also has a presence; in Severn Sound there are about 900 farms on approximately 270 square kilometres (SSEA [1]).
Severn Sound was identified as an ‘Area of Concern’ by Environment Canada due to degraded water quality and environment health. Through phosphorus control, habitat restoration and enhancement, pollution prevention, planning, environment monitoring, and public education, it was removed from the list in 2003 (SSEA [2]).
This watershed is divided into three parts, Lake Couchiching, Severn Sound, and Georgian Bay Coast. The first section is positioned at the southeastern tip of the area around the 34 square kilometre Lake Couchiching which is at the top of Lake Simcoe (EC). Severn Sound is comprised of a 130 square kilometre series of bays on south-eastern Georgian Bay (EC). The final part of this watershed is the section of coastline between Port Severn and where the French River enters Georgian Bay.
The townships of Severn, Tay, and Tiny, the Towns of Midland and Penetanguishene, and the City of Orillia in Simcoe County and areas along the coast in the Districts of Muskoka and Parry Sound are all represented in this watershed.
This watershed supports a large recreational and tourist industry. Severn Sound has a permanent population of 110,000 that swells seasonally to 300,000 (EC). The cottage industry is causing development along the coasts as it grows and this could become a concern as the integrity of the coastline is changed. Agriculture also has a presence; in Severn Sound there are about 900 farms on approximately 270 square kilometres (SSEA [1]).
Severn Sound was identified as an ‘Area of Concern’ by Environment Canada due to degraded water quality and environment health. Through phosphorus control, habitat restoration and enhancement, pollution prevention, planning, environment monitoring, and public education, it was removed from the list in 2003 (SSEA [2]).
South-Eastern Georgian Bay Watershed [Picture Source: EC]
References
- Environment Canada. (2014, September 5). Lake Simcoe/South-eastern Georgian Bay Clean-Up Fund (LSGBCUF). In Environment Canada - Water - Lake Simcoe Clean-Up Fund. Retrieved September 15, 2014, from http://www.ec.gc.ca/eau-water/default.asp?lang=En&n=85C54DAE-1
- Severn Sound Environmental Association. [1] (n.d.). Description of Severn Sound. In Severn Sound. Retrieved September 15, 2014, from http://www.severnsound.ca/SSEA_AU_SevSound.htm
- Severn Sound Environmental Association. [2] (n.d.). Severn Sound Remedial Action Plan. In Severn Sound. Retrieved September 15, 2014, from http://www.severnsound.ca/SSEA_AU_SSRAP.htm
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