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.
Non-native earthworms: Entering the second wave of invasion webinar with Dr. Michael McTavish
This is a handout from our webinar, "Non-native earthworms in Canada: Entering the second wave of invasion". Non-native earthworms are highly influential ecosystem engineers that fundamentally change the habitats they invade. They are a major challenge to conservation and restoration as there are currently no practical, large-scale options to control them. The invasion of non-native earthworms in Canada is a recent phenomenon, with the second wave of invasion being led by species from Asia. The handout provides information on the signs of an invasion and what can be done to control the spread of non-native earthworms.
Nora Hammells Natural Edge shoreline renaturalization program testimonial
Using 50 native shrubs and wildflowers that came in the Natural Edge Shoreline Re-Naturalization Starter Kit, Nora's property is well on its way to providing shade and habitat to wildlife, and shoreline stabilization and filtration.
North Saskatchewan River Basin Councils Natural Edge testimonial through RBC Tech for Nature grant
The North Saskatchewan River Basin Council is a non-profit in central Saskatchewan that has been working on source water protection & land stewardship projects since 2008. They work with RM’s communities, First Nations, schools, and industry on environmental stewardship initiatives and programming, including delivering the Natural Edge shoreline renaturalization program. This year they were able to provide the program to shoreline property owners thanks to generous funding from RBC Tech for Nature.
On the Ice Road to Restoration: Reflecting on our recent Walleye Habitat Enhancement Project
On February 6th, 2025, staff from Watersheds Canada's Fish Habitat program met with volunteers and partners on the shores of Big Clear Lake to restore a historic walleye spawning bed. This blog post provides an account of what happened that day and the impact that it made on both the lake ecosystem and its surrounding community.
One Shoreland at a Time webinar with Chantal Lefevre
This is a handout from our webinar, "One Shoreland at a Time: Restoring the Ribbon of Life". This document discusses nature-based solutions to protect or restore terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Nature-based solutions can help combat climate change and biodiversity loss while supporting sustainable development. The benefits of nature-based solutions include supporting biodiversity, providing ecosystem services, and slowing further warming. The document also highlights the importance of shoreland protection and provides additional resources for waterfront property owners.
Ontario Biodiversity Council welcomes Watersheds Canada
The Ontario Biodiversity Council is a volunteer group made up of conservation organizations, government bodies, academia, indigenous communities, and more. In 2023, the council accepted Watersheds Canada into their ranks. This blog post was written to celebrate this occasion, marking a better means for us to provide policy, education, shoreline naturalization, and fish habitat enhancement programs.
Our favourite memories of 2019
2019 was a busy year for Watersheds Canada! This blog post provides an overview of what was accomplished this year, told from the point of view of our passionate team of staff members.
Out on the Lake: Reflecting on my Experience with the Love Your Lake Program
This personal reflection from one of our past interns centers on his experience with Love Your Lake, our shoreline assessment program delivered in partnership with the Canadian Wildlife Federation. It discusses the program's impact on lake communities and how collaboration towards an environmental goal inspires everyone involved.
Overview of Canadian policies for the protection of Ontarios freshwater ecosystems
The document provides an overview of Canadian policies for the protection of Ontario's freshwater ecosystems. It discusses the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA), Ontario's Clean Water Act, Ontario's Fisheries Act, and the Code of Practice by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). The policies aim to address road salt pollution, which poses a significant risk to aquatic life and water quality. The document highlights the strengths and weaknesses of each policy and guideline, and emphasizes the need for a collaborative approach to address the challenge of road salt pollution.