Your Lakes. Your Rivers. Your Future.
Love Your Lake
Healthy Shorelines for Healthy Lakes
Love Your Lake is a shoreline evaluation and stewardship program that provides individuals with a property specific report outlining voluntary actions that can improve the health of your lake and shoreline property. It was developed and is managed by the Canadian Wildlife Federation and Watersheds Canada.
The Natural Edge
Shoreline Naturalization Program
Does your waterfront property have a Natural Edge? Waterfront properties are among the most beautiful, and valuable, places to live. We offer free site visits in our delivery region. We work with you to create a plan that works for you including selecting native species to plant based on factors like soil type and sun conditions.
Fish Habitat Programs
With the steady increase in development along our lake and rivers, critical fish habitat is being compromised and degraded. Watersheds Canada in partnership with local organizations is working to protect, enhance, and restore freshwater fish habitats. These include walleye and trout spawning bed restorations, cold-water creek enhancements, and adding woody debris with brush bundle projects.
Freshwater Stewardship Community
Sharing best practices and resources and fostering community relationships is daunting in a country as vast and diverse as Canada. This virtual community brings together students, lake and river associations, individuals, and organizations to connect and collaborate to protect freshwater and shoreline areas. It features a webinar series, networking opportunities, and free education resources.
Planning for our Shorelands
Watersheds Canada and its program steering committee are leading the path towards an ecosystem-based approach to land use management. Planning for our Shorelands is for waterfront property owners, municipal staff, elected officials, and everyone who cares about decisions affecting the future enjoyment of our waterways. This program is a growing information hub where the science of natural climate solutions is explained in plain language, practical best management toolkits are created and shared, and education and outreach support on the numerous benefits of shoreland restoration is provided.
Lake Links
Lake Links is a collaborative, one-day workshop held every October. It attracts citizens and scientists to share ways we can help sustain our lakes and rivers. Individuals spread across five watersheds in Eastern Ontario (and beyond) attend this day-long event to learn, network, and see what’s new.
The Lake Links Planning Committee is fundamental to the success of Lake Links each year, and has representatives from Cataraqui Conservation, Friends of the Tay Watershed, Lake Networking Group, Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority, Rideau Valley Conservation Authority, Watersheds Canada and other organizations.
Nature Discovery Programming
This Ontario-curriculum linked programming was created to decrease financial, geographic, experiential, and knowledge-based barriers for the next generation to participate in community science, species identification, and environmental stewardship. Nature is for everyone, at all learning levels! Discover videos, lesson plans, and handouts to help your family or classroom identify local species, explore and connect with nature, learn about water quality, and lead stewardship projects.
Resources
If you are looking for information on planting native vegetation, maintaining a shoreline buffer, invasive species, engaging your community in stewardship projects or something else that’s impacting your shoreline and lake, chances are we have it here! These resources are free to share and distribute thanks to the input and support of granting organizations, private foundations, steering committees, and community partners.