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.
Using Benthic Macro-invertebrates as a Way to Assess Aquatic Pollution Levels blog
Benthic macroinvertebrates are excellent bio-indicators of freshwater health, since they spend large parts of their lifecycle in the water and are very sensitive to different levels of pollution they encounter over their lifetime. Read this blog post to learn about how biomonitoring works, what some of the key species are, and how you can take part in benthic macroinvertebrate monitoring yourself.
Valley Heritage Radio 98.7FM CJHR interview - December 16, 2021
Monica Seidel from Watersheds Canada speaks to Andrew Cartright of Valley Heritage Radio about a fish habitat restoration project that took place on Olmstead and Jeffrey Lakes in Renfrew County.
Walleye Spawning Bed Enhancement Protocol video
This document outlines planning and implementation guidelines for walleye spawning bed enhancement projects. It provides information on determining the objective of the project, consulting experts and stakeholders, obtaining necessary permits, choosing a project site, planning the project, funding the project, and communicating the project plan. The toolkit also includes a section on implementation, which covers ordering material and equipment, stockpiling rock, installing a silt curtain, transporting and depositing rocks, and evaluating the success of the project.
Walleye Spawning Bed Restoration - Muskrat River, Ontario
In recent years, the Muskrat River suffered a flooding event which silted out the walleye spawning bed. Since that event, spawning numbers have drastically decreased. Because walleye is a very sensitive fish species, siltation negatively affects their spawning beds. Silt covers the eggs, preventing them from being adequately oxygenated. This increases embryonic (early-stage development) walleye mortality. With approval from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources & Forestry, the restoration of the historic walleye spawning site was completed in two steps in fall 2022. First, community members and staff swept the bed to stir up the silt. Next, volunteers came through with a power hose to push the silt downstream into a silt curtain. This fish habitat enhancement project was possible thanks to a grant from the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund, and strong community support and involvement from Olmstead Jeffrey Lake Association, Muskrat Watershed Council, OFAH Zone F, Algonquin College – Environmental Technician Program from the Pembroke Campus, and Watersheds Canada.
Water – Change is Upon Us
This personal reflection from past executive director Barbara King discusses what is responsible for the inaction seen sometimes in the current environmental landscape. Read it to hear of her personal reflections and experiences with the power of change, and what she feels is missing.
Watersheds Canada 1-pager Handout
Watersheds Canada understands the importance of preserving shorelines and water quality. They provide practical ways to restore deteriorating shoreline conditions and improve water quality. The organization offers various programs, including the Natural Edge Program, Fish Habitats Program, and Love Your Lake. These programs aim to protect, enhance, and restore freshwater fish habitats and promote sustainable waterfront development.
Watersheds Canada lesson 1 – Shoreland Health Q&A Teller Activity
The importance of site-preparation for pollinator gardens cannot be overstated. To prepare a site, eliminate existing undesirable vegetation, eradicate weeds, remove plant debris, and ensure a clean surface for seed to soil contact or transplants. Tilling should be avoided as it kills ground nesting insects and damages soil structure. Two effective site preparation methods are smothering and solarizing, which are chemical-free and can be up to 90% effective at eradicating weeds.
Watersheds Canada lesson 2 – Let's Shine a Light on Light Pollution lesson plan
The impacts of artificial light on wildlife behavior, human health, and the environment are explored through field observations, research, and educational activities. The effects of light pollution on freshwater resources, migratory birds, aquatic ecosystems, and human health are analyzed and discussed. Strategies for reducing light pollution, enhancing dark-sky-friendly outdoor lighting, and protecting freshwater habitats and water quality are presented. By raising awareness and promoting responsible practices, individuals can make a positive impact on the environment and their communities.
Watersheds Canada lesson 3 – At-Capacity Cold Water Lakes factsheet
This lesson plan aims to educate students about biodiversity, interactions between biotic and abiotic components, and the impacts of development on freshwater resources. Students will learn about the importance of protecting cold water lake trout lakes and create an informational poster on the topic. The activity will help students understand and communicate the importance of reducing the cumulative impacts of development on deep cold water lakes. Students will also assess the impact of human activities on the environment and analyze ways to mitigate negative impacts and contribute to environmental sustainability.