MUSKOKA LAKES—Muskoka Lakes Mayor Phil Harding is urging residents to protect their properties and to direct concerns over water levels to the province.

Harding sent out several tweets on Wednesday asking the public to direct concerns over water levels to the province as the township does not oversee that function.

“People keep asking what the township is doing to protect property owners . . . regrettably lake levels are controlled by the province and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry who follow the Muskoka River Water Management Plan. This plan however, is significantly out of date as it came into effect in 2006,” Harding tweeted.

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He acknowledges the anticipation of the flooding to be comparable to 2013 or “worse.” In his tweet Harding urged Muskoka Lakes residents to protect their properties; including removing items from docks and boathouses which could float away and to open garage doors to avoid damage.

“North of Muskoka in our upper watershed there still remains significant snow pack and as spring rains continue lake levels in Muskoka will rise . . . this year, the province and the MNRF neglected to draw down the lakes more this year vs. last year, hence our significant flooding,” Harding said.

In another follow-up tweet he argues that the data within the Muskoka River Water Management Plan is outdated and was gathered in the 1980s and ’90s and is “absent of climate change information and as such the plan does not address the issues facing properties.”

Harding goes on to say that both the Muskoka Lakes council as well as the District of Muskoka council have passed resolutions pertaining to this matter in 2013, 2016 and the township once again in February 2019. He is asking residents to address and direct concerns about the water levels to the province, Premier Doug Ford and MPP Norm Miller.

“Request the province to address the outstanding resolutions as well as the (Muskoka River Water Management Plan) to address climate change and protect property owners. Clearly to date nothing has been done. In fact, even knowing that there was greater snow pack in the upper portions of the Muskoka Watershed,” tweeted Harding.

Councillor Glenn Zavitz is in agreement with Harding.

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“What the taxpaying residents of this township must endure again is beyond disappointing. High water and rising, damaging levels should have been dealt with at Queen’s Park by now . . . Why is the MNRF not revisiting the MRWMP 10-year plan instead of rolling it for another five years sight unseen? ‘Enough is enough’ is what I’ve heard from our mayor, Phil Harding . . . I intend to echo that sentiment and seek council support to craft a greater role and certainly a louder voice about this water that passes through this beautiful place . . . it should be enjoyed, not feared,” Zavitz said.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry wasn’t immediately available for comment.