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.
Its all about the WHY!
Read this reflection-style blog post from past executive director Barbara King to hear her take on what makes Watersheds Canada's work atmosphere, approach, and outlook on freshwater stewardship so unique and powerful.
Join the Monarch Butterfly on its epic journey from Canada to Mexico!
The Monarch Butterfly is one of the most iconic species of insect in North America, and is frequently seen as a symbol for conservation efforts. This blog post guides you throughout the multi-thousand mile journey taken by Monarch Butterflies each year from Canada down to California and even Mexico, and provides some ways that you can help them along the way by planting wildflowers or buying a symbolic adoption.
Lake Trout Spawning Bed Restoration - Paugh Lake, Ontario
Paugh Lake, located in the township of Madawaska Valley, Ontario, is known for its cold-water fishery. Wave action and ice movement and push had altered the rock formations on the spawning bed, making it less productive for the fish to spawn on. The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry has been monitoring the lake trout spawning in recent years on Paugh Lake and noticed a decline. Action was required to protect the lake trout population, and was taken thanks to the dedicated efforts of the Paugh Lake Property Owner’s Association, and funding from the Government of Canada’s Environmental Damages Fund, Honda Canada Foundation, and Ontario Wildlife Foundation. Sleds, ATVs, and a compact tractor transported seventeen tonnes of smaller gravel-sized stone across the plowed ice road to the spawning bed. Once the rock was unloaded, it was time for volunteers to spread out the rock in a thin layer using rakes and shovels. With the spring ice melt, the rocks will fall into place overtop the spawning bed and ensure the lake trout have areas to lay their eggs that will receive enough oxygenation. The spawning bed will be monitored in future years to document the spawning activities that take place.
Light Pollution Introductory Slide Deck
Light pollution is unwanted, inappropriate, or excessive artificial light that can affect wildlife behavior, human health, and environmental quality. It can disrupt the natural behaviors and processes of aquatic life, interfere with nocturnal wildlife, and impact human health by disrupting circadian rhythms. Light pollution can also contribute to climate change by wasting energy. To prevent light pollution, simple changes can be made, such as installing light shields, choosing lower-wattage bulbs, and turning off unnecessary lights.
Light pollution: A Hidden Threat to Biodiversity, our Night Sky, and our Health
Light pollution is not something we think about often, however it can have deep impacts both on us and on our native wildlife. This blog post investigates this threat for biodiversity, shedding light on such terms as skyglow, glare, and light clutter. It also provides information on the impacts it can cause, and how we as citizens can help reduce the prevalence of these issues.
Macroinvertebrate Biomonitoring: Small Creatures, Big Impacts
Biomonitoring involves using living creatures (bioindicators) to determine changes in water quality. It is especially important in rivers in streams, where rapid changes in hydrology make typical water quality measurements less indicative than in still waters. This blog post provides an in-depth overview of macroinvertebrate biomonitoring and provides you some options for you to get involved in this important endeavour yourself.
Mary Janes Creek Walleye Spawning Bed Restoration - Watersheds Canada
Funding from Cabela’s Canada Outdoor Fund and the LUSH Charity Pot has allowed for the restoration of a historic walleye spawning bed in Mary Jane’s Creek near Westport, Ontario. The project was completed thanks to Watersheds Canada, the Westport Area Outdoors Association, local volunteers, and Tackaberry G & Sons Construction Co Ltd. One hundred and eight tonnes of washed river stone was placed in the creek and along the banks on October 3, 2019. Silt curtains were hung to minimize impacts on the system. The rocks will be critical to walleye spawning because typical spawning sites include gravel shoals or rocky, wave-washed lake shallows.
Maude Barlow at the Watersheds Gala
On January 22nd, 2015, we hosted our first fundraiser, the Watersheds Gala. We were honoured to have renowned author and citizens’ advocate, Maude Barlow, as our keynote speaker, and the energetic and revered Canadian professor and naturalist, Michael Runtz, as our Master of Ceremonies. You can view Maude's presentation here!
May all your Christmases be green
This personal letter from executive director Robert Pye discusses the impact of our Save Our Shorelands campaign. This campaign saw over 5,000 of letters addressed to MPPs, which helped Watersheds Canada make two official submissions to the Ontario legislature about shoreland development and the leadership and knowledge of municipalities and conservation authorities.