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.
Native Plants Activity Booklet (grade 3-4)
This activity book introduces children to native plants in Ottawa, teaching them about the parts of a plant, what plants need to live, and the importance of pollinators. It includes coloring pages, a crossword puzzle, and educational activities to engage young learners. The book is created by artist Debra Lynn Ireland and is a product of Watersheds Canada, a registered Canadian charity. The organization aims to provide programs across the country to enhance and protect the health of lakes, rivers, and shorelines. The book is a fun and interactive way for children to learn about the natural world and the importance of conservation.
Native wildflower identification cards
Draw your favourite native wildflower in this fun handout.
Natural Edge Impact Report for Ontario Delivery Support and the Daniel and Susan Gottlieb Lake Stewardship Grant
The 2019 Impact Report highlights the accomplishments of Watersheds Canada, including the launch of the Natural Edge Program and the Daniel and Susan Gottlieb Lake Stewardship Grant. The report showcases the positive impact of these initiatives on shoreline communities and the environment. It also features testimonials from participants and partners, demonstrating the effectiveness of the programs in promoting lake stewardship and conservation.
Natural Edge Native Plant Database handout by Watersheds Canada
The Natural Edge is a free shoreline naturalization program. It allows waterfront property owners to plant native trees, shrubs, and other vegetation. The program was developed by Watersheds Canada. It includes a free native plant database for selecting suitable plants.
Natural Edge Program: Quinte Project Evaluation, 2019-2021
The Natural Edge program was a shoreline rehabilitation project that ran from 2019-2021 in the Quinte watershed. The program aimed to engage landowners in planting native plants and rehabilitating shorelines. The evaluation report assesses the program's success, lessons learned, and recommendations for improvement. The report highlights the program's positive impact on the environment, landowners' knowledge and attitudes, and the importance of community engagement and social networks. The evaluation also identifies areas for improvement, including the need for more effective outreach and publicity materials, and the importance of leveraging interest in wildlife to build support for natural shorelines.
Natural Edge Testimonial - Watersheds Canada
Join Al Best, a Natural Edge participant, and President of Carson, Trout, Lepine and Greenan Lakes Association, as he shares his initial experience with The Natural Edge program.
Natural Edge testimonial - Fran Murphy
Hear from Fran Murphy, a resident on Trout Lake, as she talks about her experiences with the Natural Edge program, and what advice she would give to future program participants.
Natural Edge update: Muskrat watershed
Step into the field with our The Natural Edge shoreline restoration program as they celebrate a big win for freshwater stewardship. This blog post highlights the end of a three-year project where 45,000 native trees and shrubs were planted along agricultural stream banks and shorelines in the Muskrat watershed.
Natural Edge – Participating landowner evaluation results report (2017-2024)
The Natural Edge program empowers waterfront property owners to re-naturalize and restore their shoreline using native trees, shrubs, and wildflowers. The program provides guidance and education to participants, and 100% of participants value fish and wildlife and the habitat that protects them. The results of the evaluation surveys show that 65% of landowners are not confident in knowing what to plant on their shoreline, but 94% of landowners said the guidance and education from The Natural Edge was critical to their participation. The program has a high success rate, with 100% of participants being very satisfied or satisfied with The Natural Edge.