Online workshop provides opportunities for freshwater stewardship discussions
Lake Links is an annual workshop usually held in Perth, Ontario. Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2021, this one-day, collaboratively run workshop was held online and attracted citizens and scientists from across Canada to share ways we can all help sustain our lakes and rivers. This was a great opportunity for individuals, waterfront and nature groups, and students to gather together to discuss current issues, see what is being done, and learn how they can help. The workshop featured expert speakers and presentations, the Gord Rodgers Memorial Award presentation, and the sharing of fantastic education resources.
The year’s theme was “Take the Challenge: Connecting what we say and actually do in order to protect our lakes and rivers”. Increasingly, shoreline areas and freshwater bodies are facing pressures from human development, climate change, invasive species, and more. It is important for each of us to assess what we value and then see how our actions may or may not be aligned with those values.
Not sure what you value most about your shoreline property, or how your property measures up? Before you attend Lake Links, be sure to download the “Lake Protection Workbook” (https://watersheds.ca/resources). Created by the Lake Links Planning Committee, this free resource helps shoreline property owners self-assess their property using a scoring system. By ranking different factors of your property, such as lawns and gardens, docks and boathouses, sewage system, and light pollution, you can see what you currently value and prioritize. This workbook is also great at helping you figure out what next steps you can take to further protect your property, shoreline, and the wildlife that live there.
Individual actions make a difference on one’s property, and as a waterfront community our collective actions can restore and enhance local lake and river ecosystems. All presentations were posted to Watersheds Canada’s YouTube channel, so even if you did not attend live, you can view all recordings and resources from the workshop. You can view past Lake Links resources by visiting http://watersheds.ca/lake-links.
Lake Links 2021 was organized by a collaborative Planning Committee that had representatives from Cataraqui Conservation, Friends of the Tay Watershed, Lake Networking Group, Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority, Rideau Valley Conservation Authority, and Watersheds Canada. This Committee is fundamental to the success of Lake Links each year. Each year, financial support for Lake Links is received from various partners across the environmental sector. This year’s event was generously funded by the S.M. Blair Family Foundation, Cataraqui Conservation, Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority, Rideau Valley Conservation Authority, and Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associations.