“Healthy Shorelines, Healthy Lakes: Municipal Planning Tools to Protect our Freshwater” workshop
This virtual workshop took place June 14th, 2022, geared towards an audience of Municipal Councilors and Planners, and waterfront association members. The goal of the workshop was to impart the science behind the concept of vegetated buffers, municipal planning and policy tools for healthy shoreline and better vegetative buffers (including real world examples from three different Municipalities) and public stewardship tools. The workshop was developed as a partnership between Cataraqui Conservation, Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associations (FOCA), Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP), Parks Canada, Rideau Valley Conservation Authority, and Watersheds Canada.
Slide decks
”The Ribbon of Life” – Rideau Valley Conservation Authority
”Science of Vegetated Buffer” – Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks
”Municipal Policy Tools for Vegetated Shorelines” – Watersheds Canada
”Helping to Protect our Lakes – Registering Site Plan Conditions on Title” – Upper Rideau Lake Association and the Township of Rideau Lakes
”Shoreline Protection By-law – An Approach to Protect South Frontenac’s Shores” – Township of South Frontenac
”County of Haliburton: Existing Shoreline Tree Preservation By-law” – County of Haliburton
”Public Stewardship Tools – Shoreline Planting Programs” – Rideau Valley Conservation Authority
”The Natural Edge Program – Public Stewardship Tools, Shoreline Planting Program” – Watersheds Canada
”Public Tools to Support Lake Health” – Cataraqui Conservation
Additional Materials
- “Lake Protection Workbook: A Self-Assessment Tool for Shoreline Property Owners” PDF
- Cataraqui Conservation’s Lake Reporting Dashboard
- Assessment of Municipal Site Evaluation Guidelines for Waterfront Development in Eastern Ontario’s Lake Country
- Conservation Authority policy example: Application of Site Evaluation Guidelines
- ”Water quality and cottage prices in Ontario” by Clapper and Caudill, 2014
- “Ontario Shoreline Planting Programs” PDF
- Township of Rideau Lakes’ “Shoreline Buffer Planting Guide” PDF
- Rideau Valley Conservation Authority’s “Vegetated Rip-rap” handout
- Q&A from the workshop PDF
- Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Association (FOCA)’s “Take the Plunge: A guide to Stewardship of Ontario’s Waters” PDF
- FOCA’s “A Shoreline Owner’s Guide to Healthy Waterfronts” webpage
- FOCA’s “Welcome to Cottage Country!” webpage
- FOCA’s “Climate change booklet” PDF
- Watersheds Canada’s “The Future of our Shores” report PDF
- “Community Planning Permit System in Lake of Bays” webinar with Melissa Markham
- “Tick safety and natural shorelines” blog
- “Living Sustainably in Seguin Township: A Handbook On Sustainable Living Practices For Shoreline Property Owners” PDF
- Ways to engage younger audiences: Water Rangers, and Watersheds Canada’s Nature Discovery Programming
- Lake Links 2022 information
- “The County of Haliburton Shoreline Tree Preservation FAQ” PDF
- “The Corporation of the County of Haliburton 3505 – Amended Shoreline Tree Preservation bylaw” PDF
- “County of Haliburton – Shoreline Pathway 30 metre” PDF