Above: Dahwamah Island 2016 – Flyover
Dahwamah Island is a 30 acre Island in the north end of Lake Joseph. It is almost completely untouched, having been deeded from the crown to the family that currently owns it in the 1880s. There is an old victorian cottage on the south tip of the island, a small day cabin down the west side, but it is otherwise untouched.
There are several significant ecological areas on the Island’s shoreline and the forest within is unique to the area – it has old growth species that are over 300 years old and has not been logged or touched by fire in all that time. It has been part of the Managed Forrest Initiative for decades.
Several years ago, it became apparent that with rising water levels, and increased boat and wake-boat activity, the old cottage and especially the waterfront buildings were going to need significant restoration and rebuilds. Facing a large financial commitment to undertake such a project, the family began exploring one or more sales of land on the island.
Word of such potential sales reached the Muskoka Conservancy, who proposed a different course. They suggested raising funds from conservationists, surrounding cottagers, etc, to allow the family to take a large portion of the island and place permanent conservation easements against it, preserving the old growth forest and shorelines in perpetuity. The family is fully supportive of such an effort.
The plan is to add as much as 5,000 feet of shoreline on the north portion of the island, and place certain development restrictions on the remaining south portion representing another 2,200 feet of shoreline. This will preserve the unique character of the island and the cottage on it.
On Lake Joseph over the past 15 years, there have been a number of similar conservation initiatives involving Island K, Yoho Island, Chiefs Island and Portage Lake that collectively have permanently preserved nearly 13,000 feet of shoreline from future development. This initiative would permanently preserve another significant length of shoreline leaving it in its natural state. As there is no significant crown land left on Lake Joseph it is solely through these conservation initiatives that we can hope to keep for future generations the wonderful natural topography which we currently enjoy.
There is significant financial support for this project already, and to meet the financial goal, the family and the Conservatory needs your help – click here to see how you can.
