News

The results are in …

Calcium, News, Program Updates, Science, wood ash

Recent research co-authored by our Trent University collaborator, Dr. Shaun Watmaugh and led by his M.Sc. student, Holly Deighton**, has definitively shown that dosage levels of 6 tonnes per hectare of wood ash addition to forest soil resulted in significant increases in soil pH and calcium and magnesium concentrations. The level of response, however, varied by treatment. Foliar concentrations of base cations in sugar maple seedlings significantly increased in ash treatments and there was no significant treatment effect on foliar metal concentrations or seedling growth. In roots and shoots, concentrations of several metals (manganese, aluminum, iron, boron, arsenic, cadmium, zinc, copper, lead, chromium, and nickel) increased after ash application, however response was most pronounced in yellow birch ash.

These results suggest that application of non-industrial wood ash can counteract the lasting effects of acid rain by increasing soil pH and base cation concentrations, as well as increasing sugar maple seedling foliar nutrient concentrations, but ashes from species with high metal contents may also increase metal availability to vegetation, at least in the short‐term.

What does this mean for Muskoka forests and our ASHMuskoka program?

The research cited suggests we should see real benefits from our ash additions, both the one completed in the fall of 2019 and the upcoming larger-scale addition in 2021. With such positive results after only 3 months, it means we are on the right track in the revitalization of our local forests which have been impacted by acid rain. It also means that proceeding with our larger-scale deployment will not be problematic with respect to levels of metals concentrations in the ash as they do not exceed provincial regulations. Given the conclusions of this early research, we anticipate extremely positive results with our larger-scale deployment of between 6 and 8 tonnes per hectare, results which may not only “wake up” the currently napping forests but also increase transpiration rates and have a positive impact on the ability of the forest to mitigate the effects of increasing levels of precipitation in the region.

**Holly D. Deighton and Shaun A. Watmough, Effects of Non‐Industrial Wood Ash (NIWA) Applications on Soil Chemistry and Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum, Marsh.) Seedling Growth in an Acidic Sugar Bush in Central Ontario in Forests 2020, 11, 693; doi:10.3390/f11060693

Norm’s Notes: The first evidence is in, wood ash works!

Calcium, News, Program Updates, Science, wood ash

FMW’s approach to protecting Muskoka watersheds is to work with the local and scientific communities to identify, develop and foster solutions to the stressors in our watershed. The proposed solutions may be novel, such as the use of non-industrial wood ash to solve the widespread calcium decline problem. New approaches are risky. They may not work. This issue’s Graph of the Month provides the first proof that the risk was worth taking, i.e. local firewood ashes do provide a rapid and substantial benefit to local sugar maple.

The accompanying chart highlights one key result of Holly Deighton’s Masters thesis research directed by Dr Shaun Watmough at Trent University, and FMW partner. With FMW support, Holly added ashes from maple, yellow birch and pine firewood to small 2*2 m plots supporting maple seedlings in a local sugar bush. All three ash types reduced the acidity and increased calcium and magnesium levels in the soil. The chart shows this led to dramatic increases in calcium levels in all parts of the maple seedlings. Holly’s work was a small pilot study in the ASHMuskoka project, but it provides our first proof of principle that local residential wood ashes can provide the solution to ecological osteoporosis in Muskoka forests.

It takes knowledge and will to solve ecological problems. For the ecological osteoporosis problem, we are beginning to develop the knowledge. The next step is to refine the needed doses and prove additions work at a larger scale in multiple locations. That’s why we are following the results of last November’s larger ash additions in three sugar bushes. This should teach us what we need to know for our watershed-scale ash addition over the next 12 months.

Please keep “saving your ash” for us. We will be continuing to collect it from you over the coming months.

Good News! Ash Drives are resuming in August.

Donating Ash, Events, News, Program Updates

It’s been a long time since our last ash drive for our ASHMuskoka Program – 6 months, in fact. We are sincerely grateful for your patience during this time and for continuing to save your ash in order to help restore vital calcium levels in our Muskoka forests and lakes.

We are announcing today that ash drives will be resuming beginning August 15th with a total of 7 currently scheduled for the remainder of 2020. They will take place at the Rosewarne Transfer Station in Bracebridge from 9am to 3pm on the following Saturdays:

August 15th
August 29th
September 12th
September 26th
October 24th
November 21st
December 19th

We are holding 2 ash drives in each of August and September as many of you have informed us that you have large quantities of ash saved. We want to make it as convenient as we can at this point for you to drop off the ash to us.

Yes, I’d like to drop off my wood ash at an upcoming ash drive

As we do for each ash drive, we again ask that you indicate whether you will be able to drop off your saved ash by clicking on the link button above and filling in the form on the page. Note that this does not restrict you to only one ash drive. It simply helps us to effectively plan each date for the benefit of our ash contributors.

PLEASE NOTE:

Physical distancing protocols will be in effect to help ensure the safety of our staff, volunteers and you, our valued ash contributors.

A note regarding FMW and our COVID-19 response

Announcements, FMW, News

Doug Clark

Vice-Chairman, Friends of the Muskoka Watershed

COVID-19

Over the last 48 hours, much of the global response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has focused on strategies to avoid overburdening healthcare systems that don’t have the infrastructure to handle a sudden surge of cases all at once. It’s called flattening the curve, and the best way to do this is through “social distancing” — measures designed to limit social interaction.

That is why Friends of the Muskoka Watershed is announcing that effective Wednesday, March 18 our offices will be closed until further notice, and all ash collection has been put on hold, including the canceling of our Ash Drives scheduled for March 21st and April 18th.

In the short term, nothing is more important than reducing the spread and transmission of COVID-19. That being said, our important work will continue so please keep following us online and feel free to contact us as usual through our office number (705-640-0948) or our e-mail ids (friends@fotmw.org or use ashmuskoka@fotmw.org if you need a new ash can).

Stay healthy,

Doug Clark, Vice-Chair

Friends of the Muskoka Watershed

Our ASHMuskoka promotional video

News, Program Updates

During the summer months this year (2019), Ian Black, a Master of Science Communication student from Laurentian University, expertly crafted a video on the ASHMuskoka program for Friends of the Muskoka Watershed. This effort was part of the commitment we made when we received the Ontario Trillium Foundation grant.

The purpose of the video is to bring public awareness to, and inspire willingness to act on, the issue of calcium decline, emphasizing how recycling wood ash could help solve the problem while also fostering community involvement in preserving and protecting Muskoka’s forest and freshwater ecosystems.

We encourage individuals and groups to share this video, as we want to reach as many people in Ontario as possible. Even if you are not a wood burner or ash donator, you can help to make our program a success by being one of our stewardship ambassadors.

Thank you. We sincerely appreciate your participation.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License

Have you seen our new building?

Announcements, News

Truth be told, neither have we. But we are desperately looking for one. And maybe you have seen it.

Do you know of one that is available?

You see, we really need a place to store and process approximately 100 tonnes of wood ash in preparation for our large-scale deployment in the third year of the ASHMuskoka program. And though we gratefully acknowledge the support which the District Municipality of Muskoka has provided by allowing us storage space at the Rosewarne transfer site in Bracebridge for our first year, it is not enough space for our next phase.