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.
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.
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 – Spring Planting Success!
This blog post highlights the impact made by The Natural Edge program in 2015 with regards to shoreline naturalization, and provides an overview of how the program is structured.
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 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 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 Is Gorgeous!: Jane Discovers the Benefits of the Natural Edge
We at Watersheds Canada love stories about the impact of our programs on participants. This blog post is an interview with Jane, a past participant of The Natural Edge program. She explains what made her want to decide to restore her shoreline, what has changed since she completed the project, what her experience was like with our organization, and much more.
Nature Discovery Backpack – A Checklist to Pack-Your-Own Adventure! by Watersheds Canada
This document provides a checklist for packing items for outdoor adventures. It includes items such as a backpack, water bottle, hat, notebook, and pencils. The checklist also covers specific items for different types of adventures, such as a tick safety kit for forest adventures and goggles for aquatic adventures. The checklist is intended to help individuals prepare for their outdoor activities and minimize their impact on the environment.
Nature Discovery Backpack workbook
This booklet is designed for students to explore and learn about nature, specifically the Tay Watershed. It provides tips for safely exploring nature, activities to discover local species and biodiversity, and ways to help protect the environment. The booklet includes information on the riparian zone, water quality, and the importance of native plants. It also encourages students to participate in community science and nature journaling.