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.
Something's Fishy Puzzle activity
These activity cards feature sunfish, walleye, yellow perch, largemouth bass, and brook trout.
Start a Nature Discovery Backpack Lending Library with Your Faith Community! poster by Watersheds Canada and Greening Sacred Spaces
The document discusses a lending library for youth to explore local nature areas and watersheds. Each backpack contains free activities and field equipment. The project aims to inspire youth to learn about local species and participate in environmental workshops. The goal is to take local environmental action.
Staying Safe
This document advises individuals to stay home if they feel sick or have been in contact with someone who has tested positive. It also recommends practicing physical distancing and best hygiene practices when interacting with others in nature. Additionally, it provides guidelines for outdoor activities, such as bringing necessary items and respecting wildlife. The document aims to promote safe and responsible outdoor exploration.
Talk to the Birds
This document provides guidelines for staying safe while exploring the outdoors. It emphasizes the importance of physical distancing, hygiene practices, and bringing necessary items such as masks, snacks, and sunscreen. Additionally, it offers tips for observing wildlife from a safe distance and learning about bird identification. The document is created by Watersheds Canada and Junction Creek Stewardship Committee with funding from TD Friends of the Environment Foundation.
The Riparian Zone
Riparian areas are very important and valuable habitat for land-based and water-based wildlife. The shoreline area includes the first 30 metres of land around a lake or river. Native wildlife species like birds, mammals, insects, fish, reptiles, and amphibians depend on shoreline habitat for food, water, shelter, and breeding. The riparian zone supports 70% of land-based wildlife and 90% of aquatic species at some point in their lifetime.
Walleye river bed colouring sheet
Walleye spawning beds are typically gravel shoals or rocky shallows with wave action present. These moving waters prevent silt from accumulating on the rock. Silt would prevent eggs laid in between the rocks from being adequately oxygenated. Moving oxygen in the water is critical in facilitating spawning.
Water Quality Experiment
This document provides a guideline for pH in finished drinking water, with a preferred range of 6.5 to 8.2 for most aquatic life. Different factors can affect the pH of the water, such as algae blooms or pollution. Aquatic animals like dragonflies can be used as bioindicators of an ecosystem's health. The experiment involves testing water quality in different spots and recording findings to compare results.
What Could I Bring On My Adventure
This document is an introduction to water testing and provides a list of items to bring on an adventure. It includes a water quality test kit, thermometer, test strips, guides, notebook, binoculars, collection jar, net, and identification guides. The purpose is to help users learn about local nature and biodiversity. Users are encouraged to write down their findings, draw, and take notes while outside.
What Is A Watershed
A watershed is an area of land where water flows through or across on its way to a particular water body. It is the land where precipitation falls and flows to a common, watery place. The article discusses the concept of a watershed and its importance. The resource was created by Watersheds Canada with funding from various organizations.