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.
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.
PFAS: The Forever Chemicals
Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large, complex group human-made substances. They are nicknamed 'forever chemicals', as their rate of decay in the environment is so slow - and throughout this long period of decay, they can cause significant damage to our environment. Read this blog post to find out about our exposure to PFAS, about PFAS in Canada’s drinking water, about their environmental consequences, about their impacts on us and the environment, and more.
Parts of a plant worksheet
This document is about the four parts of a plant. It asks the reader to identify the parts and match them to the correct words. The parts of a plant are the leaf, root, stem, and flower.
Phragmites australis: Why we cannot afford to ignore this invasion webinar with Janice M. Gilbert
This is a handout from our webinar, "Phragmites australis: Why we cannot afford to ignore this invasion" webinar. Invasive Phragmites australis is a critical issue in Canada, threatening ecosystems. To control it effectively, a careful plan is necessary, considering factors like timing, capacity, and wildlife. A unique strategy is required for each situation, and access to funding, experts, and volunteers is crucial. This flow chart and education resource aim to help individuals and community groups develop a plan to address invasive Phragmites in their area.
Pierre - Natural Edge testimonial
Pierre planted over 100 native tree and shrub species along his shoreline to create a "natural edge"! We're excited to see how his plants continue to mature and fill in as time goes on.