Muskoka Watershed Information

PHYSIOGRAPHY AND TOPOGRAPHY

The entire watershed is situated on the Canadian Shield, on bedrock formations that date from the middle to late Precambrian Age. The topography varies from the rugged Algonquin Highlands to rocky knolls and ridges through the middle and lower portions of the watershed. Soils are generally sandy, and shallow in depth atop the underlying bedrock. Deeper deposits of sand, silt and clay soils can be found in the valleys through the central part of the watershed.The watershed is mainly forested, with mixed hardwood (i.e. maple, birch and oak) and coniferous (i.e. white and red pine, spruce, tamarack and hemlock) species.

CLIMATE

The watershed experiences cool to moderate temperatures, and is one of the wetter areas in the province. The average annual precipitation is nearly 1000 mm, including nearly 300 mm snowfall.