Watersheds Canada is pleased to be listed as a finalist for the Water Canada 2023 Awards in the “Conservation” category. This category recognizes a conservation project that uses new technology or a creative approach to effectively manage, conserve, and restore impacted areas. Our Natural Edge shoreline restoration program is a finalist for this category alongside Connected Sensors, and Hamilton Water’s Proactive Leak Detection Program.

The Natural Edge Program is taking steps to create and conserve healthy shorelands. The program removes barriers to action allowing landowners to easily restore their shoreland to reduce soil erosion, improve water quality, create vital wildlife habitat, and regulate water temperatures.

Using custom-built technology for iOS, personalized restoration plans are created outlining native plant species best suited for each property based on Canada’s hardiness zones and property site conditions. You can see Chloe making a planting plan in the photo!

Natural Edge provides landowners with resources needed to bring their shoreline back to a natural state while still making it functional for their lifestyle. This Program has been built to be easily shared with organizations all across Canada who gain access to the iOS App, online Admin System, Native Plant Database, and educational materials and resources.

In total, 34,000m of linear shoreline and 216,000m² of riparian habitat have been restored using 105,000 native plants across 6 provinces!

Right now, shorelines across Canada are being restored with native species of plants which will help stabilize soils and prevent erosion, slow down and reduce overland runoff, and provide beautiful and valuable wildlife habitat. You can ensure this important work continues with a thoughtful Mother’s Day gift.

Thanks to the talents of Ottawa nature artist Lynn Moore, you can now give a “bouquet” of native wildflowers for Mother’s Day! This bouquet of Wild Bergamot and Wild Columbine will have lasting impacts for generations of humans and wildlife to come, and provide you with a meaningful gift to give to your Mom, Grandma, Aunt, or other impactful person in your life.

With each symbolic adoption, you will receive a beautiful 5”x7” postcard featuring information about the adoption as well as a blank honour card for you to personalize and give as a gift.

You can give many different plant-related symbolic adoptions, including:

Adopt a Native Wildflower “Bouquet”

Thanks to the talents of Ottawa nature artist Lynn Moore, you can now give a “bouquet” of native wildflowers this Mother’s Day! This bouquet of Wild Bergamot and Wild Columbine will have lasting impacts for generations of humans and wildlife to come, and provide you with a meaningful gift to give to your Mom, Grandma, Aunt, or other impactful person in your life. This bouquet comes with two postcards: one Wild Columbine, and one Wild Bergamot. Please note no live flowers are included in this “bouquet”; you will only receive postcards.

Adopt a Bouquet

Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)

Planting wildflower species provides food and habitat for pollinator species like bees, butterflies, bats, and hummingbirds. These insects and animals play a critical role in natural ecosystems and in human food production. Unfortunately, many of our pollinator populations are declining due to habitat loss, climate change, invasive species, new diseases, and pesticide use. By planting native wildflower species, like Black-Eyed Susan, Purple Coneflower, Cardinal Flower, and Butterfly Milkweed, you will provide important food sources for pollinator species and help keep their populations healthy.

Adopt Common Milkweed (Plant Pollinator Habitat for a Property)

Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum)

Trees protect shorelines. Species like Silver Maple are hardy and fast-growing, making them one of the most effective plants for shoreline restoration. They have a significant root system making them ideal for controlling erosion as well as filtering excess nutrients and contaminants from entering the water. Silver Maple also helps wildlife by producing seeds for food, habitat, and shelter. These trees are tolerant of flooding, drought, urban pollution, and poor soil. This adaptability makes them perfect for difficult shoreline sites with fluctuating water levels. By symbolically adopting a tree, you will protect a shoreline for over 100 years.

Adopt a Tree (Silver Maple)

Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)

The showy Wild Bergamot flowers can be seen in full bloom between July and September and are a beautiful lavender/pink. These native and perennial wildflowers belong to the mint family and can grow to a metre in height. They spread well along shorelines, with their roots helping to stabilize soils, reduce erosion, and protect freshwater quality. With this symbolic adoption, you will help plant more Wild Bergamot along Canadian shorelines, providing important food sources and habitat for pollinator and wildlife species and keeping their populations healthy.

Adopt a Wild Bergamot

Looking for a paper-free option? Make an in honour donation for your loved one and we’ll email you an e-card to give instead. All symbolic adoptions and in honour donations are eligible for a Canadian tax receipt. All donations raised go directly back into Watersheds Canada’s habitat and shoreline restoration projects, including the Natural Edge Program and Fish Habitat Program.

April 18, 2023 — There are many newly restored shorelands in the Quinte and Cataraqui watersheds in Ontario thanks to a project led by Watersheds Canada and Quinte Conservation. In total, 17 shoreline properties were restored with 4,000 native species of trees, shrubs, and wildflowers which have restored a total of 14,780 square meters of shoreline.

Shoreline ecosystems, or riparian zones, are especially valuable habitat for terrestrial and aquatic wildlife. The shoreline area includes the first 30 metres of land around a lake or river. It is considered the “ribbon of life” because it supports 70% of land-based wildlife and 90% of aquatic species at some point in their lifetime. Native wildlife like birds, mammals, insects, fish, reptiles, and amphibians depend on shoreline habitat for food, water, shelter, and breeding.

Watersheds Canada was honoured to receive funding for this project through the Ontario Community Environment Fund. The Ontario government is reinvesting almost $900,000 in 17 projects across the province that will help protect and restore the environment and support stronger, healthier, and cleaner communities.

“As a national charity, Watersheds Canada receives no regular funding year to year to lead our vital freshwater stewardship and restoration programs. We are thankful to individual donors, family foundations, and granting organizations like the Ontario Community Environment Fund for coming alongside property owners and community groups to take locally relevant stewardship actions to protect freshwater health for decades to come”, says Chloe Lajoie, Natural Edge Program Manager at Watersheds Canada.

Without the support and knowledge from local community partners, Watersheds Canada’s programs would not be successful. For this project, Watersheds Canada was fortunate to work with long-time partner Quinte Conservation to deliver practical and proven ways to restore deteriorating shoreline conditions and improve water quality over the long-term.

“Our government is proud to partner with community organizations across the province, like Watersheds Canada and Quinte Conservation, to invest in the incredible work they are doing to restore shorelands. This is a great example of how the Ontario Community Environment Fund is supporting healthy communities and a healthy environment for generations to come,” said David Piccini, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.

The Natural Edge is a custom-built program developed by Watersheds Canada. When a shoreline property owner participates in the Natural Edge Program, they are involved in every step of the process. Each custom plan is designed on-site with trained staff and includes descriptions of native plant species that are selected by the landowner based on their personal preferences and property conditions, such as sunlight and soil type. Using the App, photos are taken of different areas of their property. These photos are then overlaid with selected plants so landowners can see what their restored shoreline will look like before planting actually takes place.

“This [the Natural Edge] is about experts advising me all along the way and providing personalized advice about the land and shoreline that I am stewarding. The relationship part of the service is such a huge part of this program. The consultants listened to my priorities and offered solutions that really fit for the shoreline. They are helping us plan for our grandchildren and maybe the next 100 years of shoreline and keeping the water clean and habitable and the land completely in balance for all sentient beings”, said Linda, a participating property owner in this project.

Because of this project, a number of lake health and shoreline environmental benefits will be observed for decades to come in the Cataraqui and Quinte watersheds. These benefits include:

• Naturalizing shorelines to reduce the amount of algae;
• Improving water quality by filtering out contaminants, nutrients, and sediments from local runoff;
• Increasing soil retention and erosion prevention; Increasing resilience to climate change;
• Improving and increasing fish habitat by providing overhanging vegetation for shade, cover, and spawning; and
• Increasing the variety of habitat to attract wildlife, including pollinating insects, birds, and bats.

Property owners across Ontario can participate in the Natural Edge in 2023, particularly in the Quinte, Mississippi, Cataraqui, and St. Lawrence watersheds. Interested landowners can purchase a “Shoreline Re-naturalization Starter Kit” which includes a site visit, staff expertise, 50 carefully selected native plants, and all the materials and resources needed to complete a shoreline naturalization project. For more information, please visit https://naturaledge.watersheds.ca/ or email naturaledge@watersheds.ca

About Watersheds Canada
Watersheds Canada is a national non-profit charitable organization that works with landowners, communities, students, and organizations to enhance and protect lakes and rivers through developing effective and transferable long-term solutions. Watersheds Canada envisions people caring for their waters, resulting in clean, healthy lakes and rivers to support humans and wildlife for years to come. Learn more at Watersheds.ca

About Quinte Conservation
Quinte Conservation is a local watershed based not-for-profit environmental protection agency. They deliver science-based programs and services to residents and municipalities within their watershed. Learn more: QuinteConservation.ca

-30-

Media Contact
Chloe Lajoie
Natural Edge Program Manager
Watersheds Canada
lajoie (at) watersheds.ca

As the interface between land and bodies of water, shorelines are essential for both humans and wildlife and must be protected against erosion and flooding. Historical means of shoreline protection consisted of hardened structures such as retaining walls made of concrete, steel, armour stone, gabion baskets, or wood. However, this shoreline armouring can have severe ecological and economic impacts with few short-term benefits. Recent studies evaluating the effectiveness of “soft” shorelines have indicated their use as a sustainable alternative to hardened shorelines. Through a combination of science and art, you can soften your shoreline by enhancing its natural features to create a beautiful shoreline buffer consisting of native vegetation. In addition to shoreline stabilization, natural shorelines restore or enhance critical ecological functions including wildlife habitat, sediment and nutrient filtering, and wave energy reduction (Mitchell & Bilkovic, 2019).

Soft shorelines strive for long-term stability with erosion and flooding control and the capacity to adapt in response to changing external conditions (Priest, 2017). To maintain ecological functioning, hydrological regimes of soft shorelines should be similar to those of naturally occurring shorelines in timing and magnitude of water-level fluctuations (Strayer & Findlay, 2010). Embracing the dynamic characteristics of natural shoreline processes will increase soft shoreline resilience to the impacts of climate change (Mitchell & Bilkovic, 2019). To improve longevity under water level rises, soft shorelines should minimize wave energy to promote shoreline stabilization, maximize the potential for upland retreat, and maximize the production and accumulation of sediments needed for accretion (vertical growth) through natural feedback loops (Mitchell & Bilkovic, 2019).

Before beginning any shoreline project, evaluate its potential ecological impacts on natural resources such as endangered species, vegetation, and critical fish habitat and spawning areas (Priest, 2017). Consider the biological, physical, and geological parameters of your site, including infrastructure proximity, sediment type, and erosion rate, to determine which softening techniques are most applicable to your shoreline (Priest, 2017). Maintain low gradients that are similar to the natural shoreline slope to ensure habitats are not lost, lake-derived wrack is deposited and retained, and wave energy is dissipated (Strayer & Findlay, 2010). 

Structures rough in topography support higher biodiversity, habitat connectivity, and biogeochemical function than completely smooth structures like retaining walls (Strayer & Findlay, 2010). If your shoreline has a retaining wall in good condition, consider planting deep-rooted vegetation along the top and landside of the wall to filter runoff and reduce erosion (Canadian Wildlife Federation [CWF] & Watersheds Canada [WC], 2022). You can also place an angular rock at a 45-degree angle in front of the wall to absorb wave energy and build ‘shore ladders’ to facilitate wildlife crossing by placing angular rocks from the lakebed to the top of the wall (CWF & WC, 2022). Moreover, permanent docks remain in place year-round and disturb habitat and water flow while environmentally friendly docks can be removed during winter and cause minimal disturbance to fish and shoreline habitat (CWF & WC, 2022). Environmentally friendly dock options include pipe/post, cantilever, and floating. 

An ideal shoreline buffer is a strip of native wildflowers, trees, shrubs, and grasses at least 30 metres wide that extends from the waterline upland to protect the water from both natural and human-induced impacts (CWF & WC, 2022). If your property has a manicured lawn to the water’s edge, try leaving a 10-15 metre (or more!) strip of shoreline un-mowed to allow for natural regeneration of native vegetation (Natural Edge, 2022). Planting deep-rooted vegetation, like trees and shrubs, will bind and stabilize the soil along your shoreline, reducing property loss caused by erosion (Natural Edge, 2020). Using their extensive root systems, trees and shrubs will also act as barriers to reduce surface runoff, slow floodwaters, and filter pollutants and excess nutrients (Natural Edge, 2022). Planting native shrubs that produce berries and flowers will provide birds, pollinators, and small mammals with shelter and a year-round food source (Natural Edge, 2020). 

Consider your preferences, goals of the planting, and site conditions, including soil type, moisture levels, and sunlight availability, when choosing plants for your shoreline property (Natural Edge, 2020). Planting native species requires less maintenance because they do not need fertilizer or pesticides, reproduce on their own, and are suited to local conditions (Natural Edge, 2020). Varying the species and ages of plants increases the biodiversity on your property and minimizes the risk of disease (CWF & WC, 2022). Plant a combination of wildflowers, trees, shrubs, and grasses for more benefits to wildlife and your property (Natural Edge, 2020).

To help avoid erosion caused by foot traffic on sensitive slopes, consider defining your pathway to the water (CWF & WC, 2022). Ideally, your defined pathway should follow the contours of the slope in an “S” curve pattern to slow runoff and erosion (Natural Edge, 2022). Rather than using hardened or paved surfaces, cover the pathway in permeable materials such as wood chips, mulch, gravel, or pine needles to prevent soil from washing away and to allow water to soak into the ground more easily (Natural Edge, 2022). For steeper slopes, install a raised wooden staircase without backs and with one-inch gaps between the boards to allow rainwater and sunlight to reach the ground below the stairs to promote plant growth (CWF & WC, 2022). When stairs are built into the ground and made of hardened materials like concrete or stone, rainwater runoff can concentrate along the sides of the stairs and cause erosion (Natural Edge, 2022). If you have an existing staircase with this problem, plant native vegetation at the sides of your stairs so the roots can hold the soil in place (Natural Edge, 2022).

Consider leaving fallen trees, logs, and branches on your shoreline to absorb wave energy and protect against erosion (Natural Edge, 2022). Woody debris and overhanging vegetation provide cover, shade, food sources like insects, and other crucial habitat features for fish, frogs, turtles, and other wildlife (CWF & WC, 2022). Leave dead standing cavity trees as many birds and mammals depend on the holes in the trunk or main branches for feeding, roosting, nesting, rearing young, storing food, hibernating, and escaping predators (CWF & WC, 2022). Brush piles constructed using the cut waste materials from trail clearing, pruning, or woodlot management can also create habitat for mammals and birds (Natural Edge, 2020). Additionally, leave aquatic vegetation in place to buffer wave action and stabilize sediments, preventing erosion and improving water quality (Natural Edge, 2022). Removal of vegetation eliminates key habitat features for aquatic life and makes the area available for invasive species which can outcompete native species and are more challenging to manage (Natural Edge, 2020). To access your lake, try clearing a small area through the existing vegetation to reach deep water and leave the rest untouched (Natural Edge, 2020).

The more shoreline softening techniques you employ (and the larger the buffer!) the better, but every action helps! Whether you allow your shoreline to naturally regenerate or accelerate the process with native plantings, you are contributing to the health and beauty of Canada’s freshwater systems!

References

Canadian Wildlife Federation & Watersheds Canada (2022). Sample shoreline property report. Love Your Lake.

Mitchell, M., & Bilkovic, D. M. (2019). Embracing dynamic design for climate‐resilient living shorelines. Journal of Applied Ecology, 56(5), 1099–1105. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.13371 

Natural Edge (2020). Shoreline habitat creation manual. Watersheds Canada. https://watersheds.ca/habitat-creation-manual-download/ 

Natural Edge (2022). Guide to building resilient shorelines. Watersheds Canada. https://watersheds.ca/download-building-resilient-shorelines-guide/

Priest, W. I. (2017). Practical Living Shorelines. In D. M. Bilkovic, M. M. Mitchell, M. K. La Peyre, & J. D. Toft (Eds.), Living shorelines: The science and management of nature-based coastal protection (1st ed., pp. 185–210). CRC Press. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781315151465

Strayer, D. L., & Findlay, S. E. G. (2010). Ecology of freshwater shore zones. Aquatic Sciences, 72, 127–163. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00027-010-0128-9 

This blog is part of a five-part series generously funded under the Great Lakes Protection Initiative – Areas of Concern (AOC) Program by Environment and Climate Change Canada. This three-year project will support important shoreline restoration in the St. Lawrence River AOC through the Natural Edge Program, and is being delivered by Watersheds Canada, Mohawk Council of Akwesasne, River Institute, Great River Network, and Raisin Region Conservation Authority.

Erosion is a major problem for shorelines, agriculture, and freshwater areas. Erosion is a natural process that removes soil and also reduces specific aspects of the soil like its ability to retain water (Duran Zuazo & Rodriguez Pleguezuelo, 2008). Erosion affects the soil’s ability to grow food and can cause eroded land cover that can lead to severe land loss. Human impacts are known to accelerate erosion (Aziz & Islam, 2023) and erosion has increased in intensity and occurrence in recent decades (Maximiliano-Cordova et al., 2019). Erosion can come from a variety of sources, such as wind and water, so it is important to look at different types of erosion control.

Why is erosion a major issue for soil? Soil is more than just dirt. Soil is composed of many parts and functions and is better understood with science and expertise. When erosion happens, soil becomes unable to function as best as it can because erosion takes away soil biota and organic matter. Without these aspects, soil loses its ability to grow plants let alone food. This makes erosion control incredibly important in conserving our soil and shorelands.

When exploring the different methods of erosion control, there is now more intensive research on the prospect of using plants to reduce the impacts of erosion. Current research shows that plants are a great way to reduce erosion, while also provide resiliency against climate change, and valuable wildlife habitat. Plant roots reinforce soil (Chok et al., 2015), increasing soil cohesion and creating a closely spaced root system for the soil to stay in (Chok et al., 2015).

When selecting plants for erosion control, it is important to think about whether they are native to the environment, and will thrive in the area where they are planted. Important factors to consider are soil type, moisture level, sunlight availability, and height (to protect any desired views). Native plants are better because they have healthy linkages to the wildlife and other plants around them. Invasive plants lack predation and can over- and out-compete with the other plants for space, food, and sunlight. Some native plants species that are well suited for erosion control because of the complex and deep root systems include Sweet Gale, Fragrant Sumac, and Silver Maple. You can find suitable native species for your region by using the free, Canada-wide Native Plant Database from Watersheds Canada’s Natural Edge Program.

Another method of erosion control is using hard structures. These structures can look like retaining walls or groins (Ciarmiello & Di Natale, 2016). However, human-made structures are not perfect. Using hard structures can actually create erosion in adjacent locations and negatively impact the littoral zone (Maximiliano-Cordova et al., 2019), and impedes the land-water interface for aquatic and terrestrial wildlife to use. In all cases of erosion control, here are some best practices (from the 2010 Shoreline Stabilization Techniques guide):

1. Imitate nature: Nature knows best. Native vegetation helps keep the shoreline intact by holding it together with its roots and foliage. Try to imitate nature wherever possible.

2. Keep slopes gentle: Steeper slopes mean more erosion impacts. Steeper slopes are more susceptible to erosion from waves and water currents, whereas gentle slopes break waves and can lead in less soil loss.

3. Mix it up: The more diverse it is, the better. Diversity through different plant types adds to biodiversity in the ecosystem. With variety, there is better resilience to impacts like plant disease and herbivory.

4. Plant as much as possible: Native species are adaptable to changing environmental conditions (ex: floods or droughts) and can grow and multiply to provide even more security for erosion control. 

This blog is part of a five-part series generously funded under the Great Lakes Protection Initiative – Areas of Concern (AOC) Program by Environment and Climate Change Canada. This three-year project will support important shoreline restoration in the St. Lawrence River AOC through the Natural Edge Program, and is being delivered by Watersheds Canada, Mohawk Council of Akwesasne, River Institute, Great River Network, and Raisin Region Conservation Authority.

References

Aziz, S., & Islam, M. S. (2023). Erosion and runoff reduction potential of vetiver grass for hill slopes: A physical model study. International Journal of Sediment Research, 38(1), 49-65. doi:https://doi-org.proxy.lib.uwaterloo.ca/10.1016/j.ijsrc.2022.08.005

Chok, Y.H., Jaksa, M.B., Kaggwa, W.S. et al. Assessing the influence of root reinforcement on slope stability by finite elements. Geo-Engineering 6, 12 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40703-015-0012-5

Ciarmiello, M., Di Natale, M. (2016). Coastal Erosion Control. In: Kennish, M.J. (eds) Encyclopedia of Estuaries. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-8801-4_386

Durán Zuazo, V.H., Rodríguez Pleguezuelo, C.R. Soil-erosion and runoff prevention by plant covers. A review. Agron. Sustain. Dev. 28, 65–86 (2008). https://doi-org.proxy.lib.uwaterloo.ca/10.1051/agro:2007062

Maximiliano-Cordova, C., Salgado, K., Martínez, M.L. et al. Does the Functional Richness of Plants Reduce Wave Erosion on Embryo Coastal Dunes?. Estuaries and Coasts 42, 1730–1741 (2019). https://doi-org.proxy.lib.uwaterloo.ca/10.1007/s12237-019-00537-x

Shoreline Stabilization Techniques. (2010). Department of Environmental Conservation. New York State. https://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/permits_ej_operations_pdf/stabiltechguid.pdf

March 29, 2023 – Watersheds Canada is encouraged by the Government of Canada’s focus on freshwater health as announced in the new federal budget. First, it was announced there will be a Canadian government investment of $420 million over ten years to support the Great Lakes (announced last Friday), and second, a federal commitment to fund a new standalone Canada Water Agency.

“The new federal funding is a critical first part of the solution as all freshwater leaders, including Watersheds Canada volunteers, continue to find new streams of support to tackle local lake and river issues in the wake of climate change,” said Robert Pye, Executive Director of Watersheds Canada. “Congratulations to all of the freshwater coalitions, nonprofits, donors, taxpayers, and political leaders (on both sides of the border) who strongly advocated for these two announcements, and who continue to lead the way in supporting programs that protect Canada’s freshwater health.”

Since 2019, Watersheds Canada has been involved in over 8 projects on the Great Lakes including shoreline restoration along Lake Ontario, in the Quinte watershed, and the St. Lawrence River Area of Concern. These education and stewardship programs have also been funded by Fisheries and Oceans Canada to help support Species at Risk in the region including the Pugnose Shiner fish.

Watersheds Canada proudly stands in solidarity with our numerous freshwater partners and coalition organizations in the advocacy for climate change resiliency through lake and river protection. Every action matters. 

About Watersheds Canada

Watersheds Canada is a national non-profit charitable organization that works with landowners, communities, students, and organizations to enhance and protect lakes and rivers through developing effective and transferable long-term solutions. Watersheds Canada envisions people caring for their waters, resulting in clean, healthy lakes and rivers to support humans and wildlife for years to come. Learn more at Watersheds.ca

-30-

Media inquiries
Robert Pye, Executive Director
Watersheds Canada
pye (at) watersheds.ca

Enter a contest to win a beautifully hand-crafted, new quarter size decorative Common Loon carving generously donated to Watersheds Canada by Canadian artist, Mike Reader:

Common loons are an indicator of water quality in a lake. Except for migration and nesting, Common Loon spend their entire lives in the water. As a top predator on the lake, they almost exclusively prey on fish, with adults eating about 2 pounds of fish every day! Breeding pairs of Common Loon are a real treat to see on any Canadian lake, and you can bring this treat home by entering our new contest!

Full contest details and entry form can be found here.