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.
Twenty years of Watersheds Canada
Watersheds Canada was proud to celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2022. This blog post, written by executive director Robert Pye, reflects on our organization's impact on freshwater ecosystems across Canada and all the diverse wildlife they host. He also discusses how much more work there is do, especially in the face of a changing climate, invasion by alien species, blooms of harmful algae, and other issues affecting our freshwater.
Vegetated riprap shoreline restoration - Natural Edge Program testimonial
Megan McCarthy, a Natural Edge participant, shares her experience naturalizing her shoreline property on Dalhousie Lake. She planted trees in her riprap, giving her shoreline extra stabilization against the effects of erosion.
Water, Water Everywhere!
After the drought in 2016, which saw hot summer days and very little precipitation, the change in the following year was resounding. 2017 brought intense precipitation and a variety of changes for our freshwater, from increases in our mosquito and black fly populations to explosions in the growth of native species. This personal reflection from Melissa Dakers tells of this time, and ties in the changes she saw to what the implications were for waterfront property owners.
Waterfowl on the Shore
The wellbeing of waterbirds is naturally intertwined with the health of shoreline and riparian ecosystems. Familiarize yourself with some common species and learn about the positive impact of naturalized shorelines on their populations in this blog post from a past intern of Watersheds Canada.
Western Chorus Frog: A Captivating New Voice in the Conservation Song
Despite only reaching up to 2.5cm long and weighing 1g when fully grown, the Western Chorus Frog has been making headlines recently. This is because their Great Lakes/St. Lawrence – Canadian Shield (GLSLCS) population has been facing ongoing threats as a result of increased residential, commercial, and industrial developments. Read this blog post to learn about the sweeping impact of the conversation around this species, and how Watersheds Canada is working towards preserving this species and countless others through our programs.
Wetlands, Waterways, and Waterbirds: The Boreal Connection webinar with Natasha Barlow
This is a handout from our webinar, "Wetlands, Waterways, and Waterbirds: The Boreal Connection". The document provides tips on how to help Boreal birds by restoring shorelines, removing invasive species, and practicing safe boating techniques. It also introduces the Greater Yellowlegs, a bird species that breeds in northern Canada and can overwinter in South America. The document highlights the importance of freshwater in the Boreal biome and encourages readers to join the Freshwater Stewardship Community. Additionally, it provides information on the Boreal biome and its ecological significance.
What Ive Learned as an Environmental Technician
This personal reflection from a past intern tells of everything he learned throughout his time working with Watersheds Canada, from species identification to plant care.
What is the ribbon of life, and who lives there? A Natural Edge testimonial
Blu Mackintosh has lived along the St. Lawrence River in Ontario since 1962. Here she has seen wonderful and amazing nature and wildlife and how extreme flooding and low water levels threaten the very things she loves. In this video, she explains how The Natural Edge program was the perfect fit for her property and why she hopes more shoreline property owners will follow her example.
What's your favourite river?
In this blog post, National Conservation Director Chloe Lajoie celebrates World Rivers Day by sharing her favourite river and what makes it so special to her. Hear about her close ties to the St. Lawrence river and about the changes she has been able to enact for it through our shoreline naturalization program, The Natural Edge!