The river's water quality and quantity, and its fish and wildlife habitats, have steadily declined as the result of poor land stewardship practices in urban and rural areas of the watershed, including the removal of shoreline vegetation, increased urbanization, and poor farming practices.

The Maskinonge River subwatershed may be in bad shape, but the collective action of individuals can revive it. Now, with the Lake Simcoe Clean Up Fund, the Maskinonge River Recovery Project combines the efforts of the LSRCA, Save the Maskinonge, York Environmental Stewardship, and the towns of Georgina and East Gwillimbury to clean up the subwatershed.

The river begins in two places, near East Gwillimbury and Georgina, and flows through Ontario's greenbelt, Keswick, and into Lake Simcoe. Its subwatershed encompasses 4,733 parcels of land. Many use the Maskinonge River for recreation, wildlife viewing, fishing, and aesthetic purposes. It is also the home and drinking water source of numerous fish and wildlife species. In fact, the snapping turtle, which is a species of concern because of its sensitivities to human activities and natural events, has been identified in the Maskinonge River.

View the Maskinonge Remedial Strategy (PDF)