Shoreline Protection on the Muskoka Lakes
Lake Muskoka, Lake Rosseau and Lake Joseph sit on the Canadian Shield, have boat wake to contend with, and have no conservation authority. This page covers boat wake, managed water levels, rock shorelines and who approves shoreline work. Our service area includes Gravenhurst and Muskoka, and we supply and install shoreline stone across it.
What affects Muskoka shorelines
Boat wake is the pressure most owners notice. Transport Canada's guide for local authorities lists bank erosion among the environmental reasons for restrictions on how vessels operate, and says reduced wakes could cut the cost of shoreline degradation and broken docks. Only local authorities can apply for those restrictions, and the application needs scientific evidence.
Water levels matter too. A provincial advisory group report on the Muskoka River watershed links shoreline erosion to fluctuating water levels. Ontario's review of the 2019 floods records Lake Muskoka rising 1.59 metres between April 7 and April 28 of that year. The Port Carling and Bala dams control levels on the lakes under the Muskoka River Water Management Plan, and the Township of Muskoka Lakes reports 42 control dams and spill structures in the system, which are not designed for flood control. The Bala dams are the only outflow for Lake Muskoka. The 2006 plan sets drawdown triggers on March 15 and April 1, and dam owners must operate in accordance with it, except during a declared flood, low-water condition or emergency.
The rock is part of the picture. Ontario's geological guide places Muskoka in a belt of gneiss on the Canadian Shield and describes Shield rocks as largely hard and resistant granite, gneiss and volcanic rock.
No conservation authority
Ontario's independent review of the 2019 floods states that there are no conservation authorities in the Muskoka and Magnetawan watersheds. That does not mean there is no approval. The work goes through other bodies:
- The District Municipality of Muskoka and the area townships. The Township of Muskoka Lakes has site plan control, site alteration and tree conservation by-laws. Lake of Bays requires a permit for waterfront work under its community planning permit by-law and says most shoreline is to stay natural. Gravenhurst, Bracebridge and the other townships have their own rules, so ask yours.
- The Ministry of Natural Resources. A work permit may be needed for a new erosion control structure on shore lands, or an expansion of one, and for structures in contact with more than 15 square metres of Crown shore lands. Maintaining or replacing an existing structure may not need one if it is registered first and the conditions are met.
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada. The Fisheries Act covers work that harms fish habitat, and an authorization is needed where a project is likely to kill fish or harmfully alter habitat. In-water work has to avoid fish spawning times, which the ministry sets by species and region, so ask for the window that applies to your lake.
- Transport Canada. On navigable water, erosion-protection works are a class that is posted on a public registry with a public notice. Docks and boathouses that meet the Minor Works Order criteria can proceed without an application.
Because no conservation authority reviews a Muskoka application, the township is a sensible first call: it can say what its by-laws require and which other approvals to check. The full picture is in Shoreline permits in Ontario: who approves what.
Before you plan a Muskoka shoreline
- Call your township and ask which by-laws apply to the waterfront.
- Ask the Ministry of Natural Resources whether a work permit applies to the shore lands in front of the property.
- Photograph the shoreline and measure its length in feet before the first call.
How a revetment is built
The layers go in from the bottom up: toe stone below the lakebed, core stone, filter fabric, armour stone and cap stone. The size of the lake and the wave exposure at the site set how heavy the stone has to be.
What shoreline work costs
Shoreline work typically runs from about $500 to $20,000 per linear foot, depending on the scope of work, the height of the bank, the size of the lake and the wave exposure the site takes. Permit fees are extra. Every project is quoted after a site visit.
Questions about Muskoka shorelines
Is there a conservation authority in Muskoka?
Ontario's 2019 flood review states that there are no conservation authorities in the Muskoka and Magnetawan watersheds. Approvals for shoreline work come from the Ministry of Natural Resources, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the township and, where the water is navigable, Transport Canada.
Who controls the water level on Lake Muskoka?
The Port Carling and Bala dams control levels on the Muskoka lakes in line with the Muskoka River Water Management Plan, and the Ministry of Natural Resources makes the operating decisions.
Does Natural Stone Source Ontario work on the Muskoka lakes?
Our service area includes Gravenhurst and Muskoka, and we supply and install shoreline stone across it. Send us the township when you contact us.
Planning shoreline work? Call 1-855-787-8663 or Request a Quote.
What to send us: photos of the shoreline, the approximate length in feet, the lake and the township.