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 Monitoring: Taking action with Water Rangers handout by Watersheds Canada and Water Rangers
The workshop is designed to test the water quality in the Tay River. Participants will use Water Ranger's tiny test kits to collect data. The kits contain various tools, including a thermometer, test strips, and a field guide. The workshop aims to educate participants about community science and the importance of water quality testing.
Crash Course webinar by Dr. Willow English
This is a handout from our webinar, "Crash Course: Saving birds one window at a time". Birds collide with windows due to transparency and reflectivity, as well as environmental context and design traps. Bird attractants like feeders and baths can also pose risks. To prevent collisions, it's essential to add visual markers, window films, and screens to windows. By being mindful of bird-friendly architecture and placement of bird feeders and baths, we can reduce the likelihood of bird window strikes.
Creating Healthy, Natural Habitats for Freshwater Fish webinar with Melissa Dakers
This is a handout from our webinar, "Creating Healthy, Natural Habitats for Freshwater Fish". There are over 155 species of freshwater fish in Ontario. Freshwater fish are globally valued but threatened everywhere. Native fish populations are facing increasing threats from invasive species, pollution, and habitat alteration. Throughout various lifecycles, up to 90% of fish and wildlife species depend on a healthy shoreland for their survival.
Critical Habitat Features for Fish and Wildlife – handout
Native plants protect against invasive species and provide habitat and food. Manicured lawns promote surface runoff and lack habitat for any species. Leaving woody debris and overhanging branches in place helps to cool water and provides a source of food. Defining a winding path to the water can prevent erosion and increase habitat for species.
Cultivating Community through Urban Gardens and Initiatives
Communities in Ottawa are coming together over one shared purpose: to greenify the city through gardening projects. These projects create countless benefits not only for the environment, but also for the people involved that find inspiration and fulfillment through them. Learn more about the projects going on in the Ottawa area, such as pollinator gardens and rain gardens, and how you could kickstart your very own!
Erosion by Love Your Lake
Shoreline erosion can happen naturally or be caused by human disturbances. Human activities cause 10 times more erosion than natural processes. Removing shoreline vegetation and other human activities can cause erosion and affect water quality and wildlife habitat. To prevent erosion, protect the natural shoreline, reduce runoff, minimize boat wakes, take precautions during construction, and limit foot traffic.
Fish Habitat Enhancement Toolkit Guide WEB
This guide introduces different types of fish habitat enhancement projects and provides resources to complete them. It covers topics such as underwater structures, walleye spawning bed restoration, and cold-water creek enhancement. The guide also includes protocols and videos for each project, as well as information on permits and funding. The ultimate goal is to improve fish populations and water quality by enhancing fish habitats. The guide is designed for lake associations, fish & game clubs, and local residents who want to get involved in fish habitat enhancement projects.
Garlic Mustard – New insights into the ecology and management of an old adversary handout
Garlic mustard is a non-native invasive herb that competes with native plants, reducing biodiversity and altering soil chemistry. It has a biennial life cycle and can become a dominant understory plant in as few as 5-7 years. Effective management requires prioritizing sites, sustaining long-term efforts, and considering the consequences of control. The document provides information on control methods, including physical, chemical, and biological approaches.
Guide to Building Resilient Shorelines manual (web)
This manual outlines several actions that can be taken to help create resilient shorelines capable of adapting to changing conditions. It provides information on how to protect your shoreline from the impacts of climate change, including installing raised stairs, planting deep-rooted vegetation, and managing stormwater runoff. The guide also emphasizes the importance of nature-based solutions and the benefits of using permeable materials and pathways. By following the steps outlined in this manual, landowners can help ensure the long-term health and resilience of their shoreline.