Welcome to the Watersheds Canada Resource Library!
Here you will find a comprehensive collection of free educational resources dedicated to helping rural shoreline property owners, families, municipalities, lake groups, and educators protect their lakes and restore natural habitat. Explore guides, best practices, case studies, lesson plans, and tools to become a freshwater protector. All resources are freely shareable so please include them in a newsletter, on social media, or printed for a community booth!
Funding support thanks to Peterborough K.M. Hunter Charitable Foundation, and S.M. Blair Family Foundation.
Community Initiatives Handout
This document presents various community initiatives and watershed management projects from different lake associations and organizations in Ontario, Canada. The projects include shoreline protection, invasive species management, water quality monitoring, and community outreach programs. The document highlights the challenges and successes of these projects and provides insights into the importance of community engagement and collaboration in watershed management. The projects showcased in this document demonstrate the efforts of local communities to protect and preserve their lakes and watersheds, and the need for continued support and funding to sustain these initiatives.
Exploring How We Can All Protect Freshwater Health webinar
In this family-friendly webinar, Chloe and Monica from Watersheds Canada will explore different factors on land and in the water that can impact local freshwater health and the wildlife that live there. Walk away with steps you and your family can take to help protect the waterfront that you love.
Fish Habitat Enhancement Toolkit evaluation
This report evaluates the Fish Habitat Enhancement Pilot Project conducted by Watersheds Canada. The project involved four habitat enhancements in three habitat types and the development of a Habitat Enhancement Toolkit. The evaluation was conducted through semi-structured interviews with key participants and a review of the toolkit resources. The results show that the project was successful in improving fish habitats and that there is a need for continued habitat improvement work. The evaluation also highlights the importance of seeking permits and consulting with stakeholders when designing specific interventions and selecting sites.
Gord Rodgers Memorial Award Presentation
Planning for Change: The Ripple Effect of Lake Planning.
How to Assess Your Property to Help Protect Freshwater Health webinar
Have you ever wondered how to naturalize your shoreline? What should you and your family be looking for on your property that might impact water quality and wildlife habitat availability? Chloe and Monica from Watersheds Canada will walk you through a property assessment to show you what our staff look for on a property that can help protect freshwater health and provide crucial habitat for wildlife.
If People Can See Value, They Will Get Involved: An Interview with Judy Hall
This is an interview with Judy Hall, President of the Dalhousie Lake Association. She sat down with the Watersheds Canada team to share her valuable thoughts about the importance of community engagement when it comes to preserving the long term health of lake ecosystems.
Lake Protection Workbook
This workbook is a self-assessment tool for shoreline property owners to evaluate their practices and identify areas for improvement to protect their lake. It covers various topics such as lawns and gardens, recreation, shorelines, wetlands, wildlife, docks and boathouses, sewage systems, and light pollution. The workbook provides information, recommendations, and space for recording improvements to help property owners become better lake stewards. By completing the workbook, property owners can learn about ways to improve their lakeshore practices, reduce their environmental impact, and contribute to the overall health of their lake.
Land-Use Planning on Your Property – Barbara King: Watersheds Canada Presentation
The presentation discusses the importance of land use planning on properties near lakes. It highlights the impact of human activities on water quality and the natural environment. The presentation also covers topics such as shoreline landscaping, rain gardens, and the role of aquatic plants in lake ecosystems. The goal is to educate property owners on how to protect and preserve the quality of their lakes.
Life in the Weeds: Exploring the rarely seen world of aquatic plants webinar by Dr. Jo Latimore
This is a handout from our webinar, "Life in the "Weeds": Exploring the rarely seen world of aquatic plants". The document discusses the importance of protecting native aquatic plants, which benefit lakes by absorbing wave energy, protecting water quality, and providing habitat. It encourages readers to join the Freshwater Stewardship Community and use the Lake Protection Workbook to assess their property. The document also highlights the different types of aquatic vegetation, including emergent, floating, and submergent plants. By properly managing invasive species and algae competition, readers can help maintain the health of aquatic ecosystems.