We are all aware of properties that have been clear-cut and landscaped, subdivision-style. These tracts form unsightly breaks in the forest setting that are jarring to the eye and intrude on the natural flora and fauna. Pesticides and fertilizers required for a "perfect lawn" seep into the lake, polluting the water.

 

Disturbed lands can be restored to their former natural beauty.

 

Shorelines: An Important Part of Our Lake 's Natural Heritage

 

Habitat
Shorelines are a critical and sensitive link between land and water. The land and shallow water that meet at the water's edge provide a nursery for the wildlife in the waterway. Here, fish spawn, aquatic insects find mates, waterfowl nest and turtles scramble ashore to lay their eggs. When development destroys the vegetation that feeds and protects this shoreline nursery, all living things in the water are affected.

 

Water Quality

Shoreline vegetation also helps to protect water quality.

A dense strip of natural vegetation is an important buffer that filters rainwater that runs over the surface of the land. Shrubs, trees, grasses and wildflowers all play an important role in removing sediment from this surface runoff, and promoting its percolation into the soil - further cleaning the water and recharging groundwater supplies.

A thick network of roots from a variety of waterfront plants helps to keep shoreline soil on land where it belongs, not in waterways. Soil eroding into waterways contaminates spawning beds, which reduces fish populations.

 

Role of the Cottage Owner
In addition to keeping a buffer of natural vegetation at the water's edge, you can protect your waterway by making other wise lifestyle choices:

 

Reduce Exposure to Toxic Products
Any product that you use on your shoreline property has the potential to wash into the lake and disrupt or destroy the natural processes in the waterway. For this reason, no hazardous products such as pesticides or toxic cleaning products should be used on waterfront properties. Extreme caution must be used when handling chemicals such as gasoline to prevent spills into the waterway.

 

Reduce the Use of Fertilizers
Nitrogen and phosphorus-rich fertilizers can leach into the water from your property, causing excessive growth of aquatic plans which clog waterways and disrupt habitat. Keep the use of any fertilizers on shoreline properties to a bare minimum. Better still, landscape with native plants that do not require extra fertilizer, and improve your soil compost.

Maintain Your Septic Tank
Septic tanks can be a source of bacterial contamination and nutrient overloading of lakes and rivers. Reduce the load on your tank by conserving water in your home, and make sure the tank is pumped out at least every two to three years. Septic tanks only delay the introduction of nutrients to the lake - USE WATER WISELY.

Use Phosphate-Free Cleaning Products
Cleaning products are a common source of phosphorus, a nutrient that causes excessive growth of aquatic plants when it leaches into the water. Make sure your cleaning products are bio-degradable and phosphate free

 

Owning waterfront property is a wonderful privilege. Looking out over the water is a calming and

rejuvenating experience – especially important in our hectic, modern lives.

Access to water opens the door to a host of recreational opportunities including swimming, boating and fishing.

Wildlife enthusiasts delight in the abundance and diversity of living things that inhabit the shoreline.

 

Linked with the joys of waterfront ownership is the

important job of protecting this delicate “ribbon of

life”and understanding how it affects the health of

the waterway. This is especially critical when

waterfront development is so popular, and increasing

numbers of people are moving to, and building on,

local shorelines.

 

Shoreline Checklist

 

To help you assess the quality of your shoreline, and

to set priorities for positive action, consider the

following checklist. It summarizes some of the

characteristics of a healthy shoreline. How many of

them describe your waterfront?

 

Ø     There is an unmown strip of natural vegetation 10

metres wide along the length of the shoreline

 

Ø     There is a variety of vegetation near the waterfront

including trees, shrubs, grasses and wildflowers.

 

Ø     There is a variety of materials in the shallow waters

offshore (these can include rocks, gravel, woody

debris, aquatic plants).

 

Ø     No toxic materials are used near the shoreline

where they could spill or leach into the lake

(gasoline spills, cleaning products etc.)

 

Ø     No pesticides, and a minimum of fertilizers are

used on the property.

 

Ø     The shoreline is made of natural materials which

slope gently into the water (not constructed

retaining walls).

 

Ø     Buildings and septic beds are set back at least 30

metres from the shoreline.

 

Ø     Septic tanks are pumped regularly.

 

 

Ø     There is no sign of serious erosion along the

shoreline.

 

Ø     On sloping shorelines, paths to the water are

angled across the slope to prevent erosion, (not

running straight down to the water).

 

Ø     The shoreline is dominated by plants native to the

region (see accompanying list of common native

shoreline plants).

 

Ø     There are no invasive exotic plants to disrupt

native vegetation (common problem plants in the

Kawarthas include purple loosestrife, black locust

and European buckthorn).

 

Ø     If the shoreline contains a dock, it is floating,

cantilever or post construction (to allow free

passage of water and wildlife).

 

This fact sheet provides some basic information to

help you build a healthy, diverse buffer of shoreline

vegetation to protect your waterway.

 

Caring for your Waterfront

The motto of waterfront management is “Natural is Best!” Keeping

an unmown strip of natural vegetation up to 10 meters deep along

the shoreline allows natural shoreline functions to continue.

Mowing a small access to your dock or other viewing point is a

reasonable compromise, keeping the area of pedestrian access to the

water at a minimum.

If your shoreline is currently a mown lawn right down to the

water, consider a gradual shift towards a more natural look. A

combination of planting native shrubs and gradually moving the

mown edge farther away from the water allows a steady transition

towards a healthier waterfront.

METHOD 1: NATURAL REGENERATION

If you live or vacation in an area that is already surrounded by highquality,

native vegetation (usually where little development has

taken place to date), leaving the shoreline alone to renew itself is a

good option. This is also a good idea in areas with exposed bedrock

and very shallow topsoil. Seeds lying dormant in the soil will begin

to grow, while birds and other wildlife will deposit seeds to aid the

process. A surprising diversity of plants will begin to move in within

a very short time.

However, in a highly disturbed/developed area, the “hands-off”

approach will probably result in undesirable invasive species

moving in, such as purple loosestrife and European buckthorn.

Here, planting desired species and weeding out the undesirables will

provide better results (see Method 2).

METHOD 2: NO-MOW AND PLANT

You can also give nature a hand by removing small bits of sod and

planting native shrubs or trees within the area you plan to

naturalize. You can plant the area all at once, or in phases over

several years.

By naturalizing a part of your shoreline every year, you can

gradually create a thriving and diverse buffer strip to help protect

your waterway. Planting young native shrubs such as dogwoods,

shrub willows and meadowsweet along your waterfront will help

give the process a head start. A few native trees interspersed with the

shrubs will add extra stability to your shoreline.

Start by selecting an area to naturalize, and plan to plant one

shrub for every square metre of shoreline. Early spring or late fall are

good times to plant, since the weather is cool and there is usually

good rainfall to help plants get established. If the area you wish to

plant is 3 x 20 metres, you would have 60 square metres of planting

area. At a density of 1 shrub for every square metre, plan to plant

fifty or sixty small shrubs.

Check the accompanying list of suppliers and recommended

plants to help you in your planning. Shoreline shrubs can be

purchased bare-root (with no soil around the roots) or in pots. Barerooted

trees and shrubs must be planted before the leaves unfold in

the spring (or in late fall), and potted plants can be planted at any

time. Bare-rooted shrubs can often be purchased very inexpensively

(roughly $1 a piece), but are only available for a short period each

spring and fall. Potted stock will be more expensive, but success

with potted stock is usually higher. Make your plans according to

your budget and schedule.

When installing your shoreline shrubs, remove a piece of sod at

least 30 cm in diameter around each planting hole, and discard or

compost the sod. Dig a hole deep enough to comfortably

accommodate the roots of your shrub, and plant it so that all the

roots are well covered with soil. Firm the soil well around the

planting hole, and cover the bare soil with a mulch (leaves,

woodchips, etc.). Water well.

During the first season after planting, try to be sure that the new

shrubs get a good watering every week or two.

In a short space of time, your plants will fill in nicely, and

provide beauty and protection for your shoreline for many years to

come. And, you’ll spend less time mowing and more time enjoying

your waterfront property!

METHOD 3: DEVELOPING A LANDSCAPING PLAN

If you enjoy gardening and have the time and resources, a

waterfront landscaping plan can combine the important functions

of a natural shoreline with the visual appeal of flowers, viewing

points, benches etc. If the edges of natural areas are well-defined

with pleasing curves which flow naturally around spaces where

people congregate, the results can be very attractive. Accents such as

a barrel or bed of flowers, a bench, walking trail or carefully-placed

fire pit can combine human and natural features in a way that

appeals to even the most conservative eye. This approach is a good

starting point for those who are skeptical about a totally natural

look for their shoreline. Be sure that your plan contains a high

percentage of native plants, and seek advice from professionals who

understand the important functions of shoreline plants.

 

w a t e r cord grass

pussy willow

heliopsis

silver

maple

nannyberry

Joe-Pye weed blue flag iris cord grass

red osier

dogwood

button

bush

helenium black-eyed

Susan

Canada anemone

w a t e r cord grass

dogwood

chokecherry

nannyberry

shrub willow

meadowsweet

General Tips

Regardless of the approach you choose for managing your waterfront, keep in mind these important principles:

• Wherever possible, use nursery-grown plant material from local

sources for any planting projects.

• Avoid digging plants from the wild, since this can damage natural

areas and wild plants may not survive being transplanted.

• If your shoreline needs extra protection from erosion, loose rocks

(called rip-rap) laid along a gradual slope into the water and

interplanted with shrubs and vines provide good natural

protection which absorbs and dissipates wave energy. Solid walls

(hardened shorelines) are not a recommended solution.

Remember that any in-water work requires a permit (call your

Conservation Authority for permit advice).

• Be especially careful when planting within high-water areas, on

steep slopes or immediately adjacent to the water’s edge. Avoid

removing soil, roots or sods in these areas since this may lead to

erosion. Areas which may be seasonally subjected to waves or

water currents should be planted with bare-root stock, willow

cuttings, or left alone to regenerate naturally.

• In areas where beavers are active, wrap trunks of newly-planted

deciduous trees loosely with chicken wire or hardware cloth.

• Keep all bare soil covered with a mulch such as woodchips or

straw to prevent soil erosion and hold moisture in the soil.

• Watch your planting project carefully as it becomes established.

Water during dry periods for the first year or two. Look for signs of

erosion and repair damaged areas as necessary.

Living at the Shoreline

In addition to keeping a buffer of natural vegetation at the water’s

edge, you can protect your waterway by making other wise lifestyle

choices:

 

These plants are all native to to shoreline

rehabilitation.

DRY, UPLAND AREAS

(rocky, exposed sites)

Trees

Balsam Fir . . . . . . . . . .Abies balsamea

Sugar Maple . . . . . . . .Acer saccharum

White Birch . . . . . . . . .Betula papyrifera

White Ash . . . . . . . . . .Fraxinus americana

White Spruce . . . . . . .Picea glauca

Red Pine . . . . . . . . . . .Pinus resinosa

White Pine . . . . . . . . .Pinus strobus

Black Cherry . . . . . . . .Prunus serotina

White Oak . . . . . . . . . .Quercus alba

Red Oak . . . . . . . . . . .Quercus rubra

Burr Oak . . . . . . . . . . .Quercus macrocarpa

White cedar . . . . . . . . .Thuja occidentalis

Basswood . . . . . . . . . .Tilia americana

Shrubs

Serviceberry . . . . . . . . .Amelanchier sp.

Chokeberry . . . . . . . . .Aronia melanocarpa

Grey Dogwood . . . . . .Cornus racemosa

Common juniper . . . .Juniperus communis

Creeping juniper . . . .Juniperus horizontalis

Ninebark . . . . . . . . . . .Physocarpus

opulifolius

Chokecherry . . . . . . . .Prunus virginiana

Fragrant Sumac . . . . . .Rhus aromatica

Staghorn Sumac . . . . .Rhus typhina

Red Elder . . . . . . . . . . .Sambucus pubens

Grasses and Wildflowers

Canada Anemone . . .Anemone canadensis

Heath Aster . . . . . . . . .Aster ericoides

New England Aster . . .Aster nova-angliae

Helen’s Flower . . . . . .Helenium autumnale

False Sunflower . . . . .Heliopsis

helianthoides

Switchgrass . . . . . . . . .Panicum virgatum

Black-eyed Susan . . . .Rudbeckia hirta

WET, LOWLAND AREAS

(wet or flooded part of the season)

Trees

Red Maple . . . . . . . . . .Acer rubrum

Silver Maple . . . . . . . .Acer saccharinum

Black Ash . . . . . . . . . .Fraxinus nigra

Green Ash . . . . . . . . . .Fraxinus

pennsylvanica

Tamarack . . . . . . . . . . .Larix laricina

White cedar . . . . . . . . .Thuja occidentalis

Eastern hemlock . . . . .Tsuga canadensis

Shrubs

Speckled Alder . . . . . .Alnus incana

Silky Dogwood . . . . . .Cornus amomum

Red Osier Dogwood .Cornus stolonifera

Sweet gale . . . . . . . . . .Myrica gale

Common Shoreline Plants of Southern Ontario

 

 

Bebb Willow . . . . . . . .Salix bebbiana

Pussy Willow . . . . . . .Salix discolor

Shrub Willow . . . . . . .Salix eriocephala

Sandbar Willow . . . . .Salix exigua

Slender Willow . . . . . .Salix petiolaris

Common Elderberry .Sambuccus

canadensis

Meadowsweet . . . . . . .Spirea alba

Highbush Cranberry .Viburnum trilobum

Nannyberry . . . . . . . . .Viburnum lentago

Grasses and Wildflowers

Canada Anemone . . .Anemone canadensis

Swamp Milkweed . . . .Asclepias incarnata

Canada Blue-joint Grass …Calamagrostis

canadensis

White Turtlehead . . . .Chelone glabra

Water Willow . . . . . . .Decodon verticillatus

Canada Wild Rye . . . .Elymus canadensis

Boneset . . . . . . . . . . . .Eupatorium

perfoliatum

Joe-Pye Weed . . . . . . .Eupatorium rugosum

Closed Gentian . . . . .Gentiana andrewsii

Helen’s Flower . . . . . .Helenium autumnale

Cardinal Flower . . . . .Lobelia cardinalis

Giant Bur-reed . . . . . .Sparganium

eurycarpum

Prairie Cordgrass . . . .Spartina pectinata

Common Vervain . . .Verbena hastata