Publications

Lake Protection Workbook: A Self-Assessment Tool for Shoreline Property Owners

Check out our “Lake Protection Workbook: A Self-Assessment Tool for Shoreline Property Owners”. Diagnose any shoreline property problems, and see how you can help your shoreline. You can download an online copy for free, or order a physical copy for $1.50+shipping. Printing funded by Watersheds Canada and the Daniel and Susan Gottlieb Foundation.

This Workbook was produced by the Lake Links Planning Committee with collaboration and review from: Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority, Friends of the Tay Watershed Association, Lake Networking Group, Lanark County Stewardship Council, Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Rideau Valley Conservation Authority, and Watersheds Canada.

Habitat Creation Manual

This manual is intended for landowners wanting to enhance their properties, or create habitat which is essential for fish and wildlife species. This manual was possible because of generous funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation and the Government of Canada. Natural Edge – Shoreline Habitat Creation Manual

Wildflower Garden Guide

This guide will help landowners create their very own native wildflower gardens which will benefit our local pollinator species: bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. This guide was possible because of generous funding from the Daniel and Susan Gottlieb Foundation. Natural Edge – Wildflower Garden Guide

Native Plant Care Guide

This manual is intended for landowners participating in the Natural Edge Shoreline Naturalization Program. Naturalizing your shoreline is a great way to improve and protect your waterfront property. Naturalizing shorelines is a process which takes some time and care and plant loss is a normal occurrence in nature. This Guide will help you maximize your plant survival rate by providing you with information on how to maintain and care for your new plants – Restoring the Ribbon of Life! This guide was possible because of generous funding from the Government of Canada. Natural Edge – Native Plant Care Guide

Citizen (Community) Science Programs in Ontario

Developed for the 2019 Lake Links workshop, this handout outlines general identification and monitoring programs, and species identification and monitoring programs for animals, insects, birds, invasive species, water quality, and weather. This handout was compiled by Holly Evans from Cataraqui Conservation. Handout – Citizen (Community) Science Programs in Ontario PDF

All About My Lake: A Self-Assessment Exercise

Developed for the “Ontario Shoreline and Freshwater Health: Multimedia Experience” project generously funded by Wildlife Habitat Canada, this handout will help you and your family connect to your local water body, learn about the local species that live there, and take action to solve local problems you may be seeing on your lake. Lake Evaluation Card PDF

How to Engage Community in a Lake Plan

The process of developing a lake stewardship plan relies on full involvement and participation of the community on and around the lake. The process is community-driven, and the resulting plan is a community plan. Recounting the experience of conducting a lake plan for Mississippi Lake can offer useful insights into how to best engage people in such a process. This project was based on the Mississippi Lake Planning Project funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation. How to Engage Community in a Lake Plan PDF

Fish Habitat Enhancement Protocols

Before starting your own project you may want to consult our step by step protocol on In-Water Brush Piles, available here: In-water Structures – Brush Protocols. It includes everything you will need to know, from planning and developing the project through to carrying it out successfully.

These protocols were prepared by Lanark County Stewardship Council and Watersheds Canada, and was possible because of generous funding from the Government of Canada, Ontario Trillium Foundation, Cabela’s Canada Outdoor Fund, and LUSH Cosmetics.

Walleye Spawning Bed Enhancement Protocols

Before starting your own project you may want to consult our step by step protocol on Walleye Spawning Bed Enhancement in Ontario, available here: Walleye Spawning – Bed Enhancement. It includes everything you will need to know, from planning and developing the project through to carrying it out successfully.

Cold-water Creek Enhancement Protocols

Before starting your own project you may want to consult our step by step protocol on Cold-water Creek Enhancement in Ontario, available here: Cold-water creek enhancement. It includes everything you will need to know, from planning and developing the project through to carrying it out successfully.

BioBlitz Protocols

This manual will provide guidance and suggestions to best maximize the efficiency and value of these events through proper data collection and data sharing. The resources provide include species checklists, data entry forms, registration forms, information for landowners, and media and communications documents. As each BioBlitz is unique in its purpose, goals, challenges, and limitations, the advice and resources used during each event will be dependent on the organizers and participants.

Assistance for this project was provided by the following: Project Steering Committee: Jeff Ward, Community Stewardship Council of Lanark County; Barbara King, Watersheds Canada; Karen Hunt, Otty Lake Association; James Pagé, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources; Stew Hamill David Crossman, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources; Claire Lefrancois, the Friends of the Mac Johnson Wildlife Area; Partner Groups: Community Stewardship Council of Lanark County; Watersheds Canada; Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources; YMCA/YWCA Youth Eco Internship Program; Otty Lake Association. A guide for Planning Community BioBlitz Events in Eastern Ontario PDF

Light Pollution Handout

Developed at the 2008 Lake Links workshop, this handout outlines solutions to light pollution, including an activity for children to build a simple shield for outdoor lights using outdoor paint and cardboard. Light Pollution handout PDF

Natural Edge – Participating landowner evaluation results report (2017-2020)

This PDF report provides a snapshot of landowners who took part in the Natural Edge Program between 2017 and 2020 and filled in a pre-site visit survey and post-planting survey. Surveys were created to determine what barriers to action landowners faced, whether participants had a change in values and level of knowledge after taking part in the program, and if they would recommend the Program to others.

Natural Edge – Evaluation report in Muskrat Watershed (2018-2020)

The purpose of this PDF evaluation is to demonstrate how strategic restoration and conservation efforts through the Natural Edge Program can have long-term sustainable impacts on the health of the Muskrat Watershed, as well as its participating agricultural landowners.

Fact Sheets

Critical Habitat Features

This handout outlines eight action steps shoreline property owners can take to create and enhance critical habitat features for local fish and wildlife. These features will help local populations as you create a wildlife-friendly shoreline: Critical Habitat Features for Fish and Wildlife

What is a Watershed?

A watershed is an area of land that catches rain and snow, and allows it to drain into a stream, river, lake or seep into the ground as groundwater. Learn more: What is a Watershed?

Algae

Want to learn more about algae? Check out our Fact Sheet: Algae in Ontario Photo Source: Willem van Aken, January 1989, Science Image, https://www.scienceimage.csiro.au/image/4628

The Benthic Zone

Interested in the life within the substrate? Read our Fact Sheet: The Benthic Zone Photo Source: Macrobenthics, January 2016, Wikipedia the free encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benthos

The Riparian Zone

Known as the “Ribbon of Life”, the riparian zone is an area between the upland zone and the shoreline. Learn more from Fact Sheet: The Riparian Zone

Our Programs