Changing your Shoreline Practices: Using The Natural Edge’s Native Plant Database

by Paige Jessup, Climate Resilience Intern What do you value most about your cottage? Maybe you like to go there and fish or swim, get out on the boat, or enjoy the quiet once you leave the city. In 2021, Watersheds Canada and Canadian Wildlife Federation conducted a survey to find out what shoreline property owners value most. The top three values selected were Water Quality, Swimming, and Scenery/View (Love Your Lake, 2021). However, most actions taken along the shoreline didn’t match with ... Read More

by Paige Jessup, Climate Resilience Intern Wastewater Management Planning Without a reliable place to dispose of contaminated water, all other best management practices will not have the maximum effort they could. That is why it is important for a municipality to develop a Safe and Reliable Wastewater Treatment System. In order to have a successful wastewater treatment plant upgrade, municipalities should consider: Developing a long-term vision. Engaging with a wide range of decision ... Read More

by Paige Jessup, Climate Resilience Intern There are a lot of concerns when it comes to standard pools and hot tubs, such as their cost and health impacts. What about their environmental impacts? Most hot tubs and pools contain chlorine, bromide, salt, and algaecides which can be harmful to the environment, especially when not disposed of properly.  Ultraviolet Light A great alternative to chlorine is ultraviolet light in conjunction with hydrogen peroxide which has been shown to be very ... Read More

Enter a contest to win a beautifully hand-crafted, new decorative Belted Kingfisher carving generously donated to Watersheds Canada by Canadian artist, Mike Reader: Belted Kingfisher are a common visitor to river and shoreline areas, nesting along banks and hunting almost exclusively on aquatic prey. You may have had the treat of hearing the rattling call of the kingfisher even if you haven't been able to spot it. Healthy riparian habitat is critical for Belted Kingfisher to thrive as ... Read More

by Ty Fischer, Riparian Health Restoration Intern Community gardens can vary widely in their purpose and design, but all of them share one common goal: to bring people together in creating and maintaining a thriving greenspace that benefits both humans and native wildlife. That’s why building a community garden is one of the greening projects offered by the Ottawa Faith Community Capacity Building Program, a joint effort between Greening Sacred Spaces Ottawa and Watersheds Canada. This ... Read More