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.
Blog Posts (Invasive Species Management) by Watersheds Canada
The Watersheds Canada Blog is a collection of articles about environmental conservation, lake health, and shoreline restoration. The blog features articles on topics such as seed and genetic diversity, pollinators, and the importance of native plants. The authors discuss the impact of human activities on the environment and provide tips and advice on how to protect and restore lakes and shorelines. The blog also features personal stories of individuals who have participated in shoreline restoration programs and the benefits they have experienced.
Blog Posts (Natural Shorelines) by Watersheds Canada
This collection of blogs covers various topics related to shoreline conservation, including algae, vegetated riprap, septic systems, ticks, pollinators, and creating a resilient shoreline. The series highlights the importance of native plants, natural shorelines, and wildlife habitat in supporting local ecosystems and human enjoyment of freshwater areas.
Blog Posts (Stormwater Management) by Watersheds Canada
This collection of blogs covers various topics related to stormwater management. The authors provide tips and advice on how to create a resilient shoreline, support winter wildlife, and protect lakes from pollution and invasive species.
Blog Posts (Youth Engagement) by Watersheds Canada
This collection of blog posts shares information about youth engagement. The articles cover topics such as pollinator gardens, lake health, snake conservation, and the importance of nature for human health. The blogs also provide educational resources and tips for creating wildlife habitat and reducing plastic waste.
Bridging Beauty and Conservation webinar with Acacia Frempong-Manso
This is a handout from our webinar, "Bridging Beauty and Conservation: Waterfront Property Owners' Perspectives on Riparian Zones". The Love Your Lake program is a shoreline assessment program founded by Watersheds Canada and the Canadian Wildlife Federation. A values survey was administered to explore how understanding relational values may support the program’s objective of promoting shoreline stewardship. The study found that the majority of participants demonstrated preservationist values, placing value on lower human interference with natural processes and preserving nature. The study concludes that understanding values is a useful tool for lake associations and stewardship groups.
Brown, green or silver in your tea affects your pee webinar with Sandra Klemet-Nguessan
This is a handout from our webinar, "Brown, Green, or Silver in Your Tea: A Fish and Mayfly Tale". The handout discusses the process of 'brownification' in streams and lakes, caused by dissolved organic matter. It also explores the impact of nutrients in aquatic ecosystems, particularly from animal excretion. Additionally, it touches on the effects of nanosilver particles on freshwater ecosystems and provides resources for further learning, including articles and videos from various institutions.
Buffer Zones to Prevent Harmful Algae Blooms
Harmful algae blooms pose a significant threat to aquatic ecosystems, human health, and wildlife, particularly in warm and nutrient-rich environments. Buffer zones, strips of vegetation around lakes and rivers, can play a crucial role in preventing these blooms by filtering out sediment, toxins, and nutrients, and providing habitat for wildlife. Learn more about them in this blog post!
Building a Greener Future: Shining a Light on Community Green Audit and Retrofit Projects
One of the most impactful changes everyday people can make to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is upgrading the appliances that we use every day. This blog post highlights two faith communities in the Ottawa area that undertook such community green audit and retrofit projects: Trinity United Church and Ascension Anglican Church.
CBC segment May 20/21: Shorelines not a backyard swimming pool, lakefront landowners reminded
This segment originally aired on May 20, 2021 on CBC Ottawa News. Watersheds Canada was featured to share information about why keeping shorelines natural is so important for maintaining lake health.