Managing Your
Waterfront Property
in a Changing Climate
With support from
the Ministry of Natural
Resources and Forestry
Climate change is happening ........................................................................................ 02
Climate change is already occurring in Ontario ........................... 03
Healthy shorelines and climate change ....................................................... 05
Climate change is being observed in nature ......................................06
Climate change is projected to accelerate ............................................ 08
Shifting species distribution .............................................................................................. 10
Extreme weather events ............................................................................................................11
Invasive species ........................................................................................................................................14
Additional resources ........................................................................................................................ 15
Top 5 actions shoreline owners can take ....................................................16
Table of contents
01
K. Doughty
Climate change is real and it is happening now.
The impacts of climate change in Ontario are already being observed. The
impacts of climate change outlined in this document should be considered
as part of your waterfront stewardship plan.
As a good waterfront property
owner and Lake Steward, you make
wise environmental and economic
decisions, and implement the
most eective strategies to help
your waterfront property be more
resilient to climate change. Many
of these management options are
already part of good stewardship
practices to enhance wildlife,
recreation, and other objectives. You
may also want to consider how your
shoreline can play a vital role to help
capture carbon emissions, reduce
erosion and minimize the impacts of
climate change in the future.
Now is the time to get informed, make plans, and manage your waterfront
property as an informed steward. Shorelines that are well adapted to new
and changing conditions will be better able to meet your management
goals as you build a more sustainable future for your waterfront property.
Good shoreline management
can save you time and money
The choices you make will aect how well your waterfront property can
withstand changes or recover after extreme weather. It is important that
property owners take steps to keep shorelines healthy even as conditions
change. Preparing for these changes now will save time and money in the
long run, improve shoreline/lake health, increase your enjoyment of your
property, and reduce the risk of shoreline damage in the future.
There are several things property owners can do to enhance the ability of
waterfront properties to adapt to climate change and its eects (see the
list on the inside of the back page). In most cases, these actions are part of
normal shoreline management.
02
Climate change is happening
The following pages explain the potential impacts of climate change in
Ontario and how they may aect waterfront properties. Management
options are described that can help to reduce polluted runo, erosion
and shoreline loss, and impacts from flooding, as well as increase
the environmental benefits of a healthy property. In some cases, a
management option may be to take minimal-to-no action, and to allow
species composition and structure to change naturally over time (natural
succession). In other cases, the best management option may be to increase
the resiliency of your property through some of the recommendations in
this guidebook, such as planting more species, or building a buer zone to
reduce runo.
Within the last 40 years, Ontario has
experienced changes in temperature,
rainfall patterns, and extreme weather
events that can have pronounced
environmental and economic eects
on lakes, rivers, nearshore habitats
and wetlands. Within aquatic
ecosystems in the Great Lakes Basin,
surface water temperatures are on
the rise, water levels are in flux, and
the composition of plant and animal
communities in wetlands, lakes and
rivers is changing.
Temperatures are increasing
40 years of data show that Ontario
is getting warmer.¹ Minimum air
temperatures have increased in
northern Ontario between 1.4 and
3.8°C (averages shown on right). By
comparison, temperature increases
experienced in southern Ontario have
been less: between 0.7 and 2.1°C.
03
Climate change is already
occurring in Ontario
1. McKenney, D. W., Hutchinson, M. F., Papadopol, P., Lawrence, K., Pedlar, J. H., Campbell, K., Owen, T. 2011. Customized Spatial
Climate Models for North America. American Meteorological Society, 1611–1622.
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
and Forestry (OMNRF), 2014
Change in Annual Average
Climate Trends in Ontario
By Ecozone: 1970-2010
Precipitation
Minimum
Temperature
2. McDermid, J.L., S.K. Dickin, C.L. Winsborough, H.Switzman, S. Barr, J.A. Gleson, G. Krantzberg, P.A. Gray. 2015. State of Climate
Change Science in the Great Lakes Basin: A Focus on Climatological, Hydrological and Ecological Effects. Prepared jointly by the
Ontario Climate Consortium and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry to advise Annex 9 – Climate Change
Impacts under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, October 2015
3. International Upper Great Lakes Study. 2009. Impacts of Upper Great Lakes water levels: St. Clair River. Final report to the
International Joint Commission, December 2009
4. Cheng, C.S., G. Li, Q. Li and H. Auld. 2012. Climate change and heavy rainfall-related water damage insurance claims and losses
in Ontario, Canada. J. Water Resource. 4:49-62.
Warming water temperatures
have also been observed in
Ontario inland lakes and the
Great Lakes, reducing the
amount of suitable habitat for
fish species that are typically
found in lakes and streams.
In the last century, surface
water temperatures of the
Great Lakes have increased
by as much as 3.5°C.²
Rainfall patterns are changing
As temperature increases, we have experienced changes in rainfall
patterns. Generally, conditions have become slightly wetter and lake
eect precipitation is on the rise which is leading to increases in stream
flows. Small increases in precipitation may not be sucient to oset
the more significant rises in temperature and may lead to overall drier
conditions. Fluctuating water levels were observed in the Great Lakes
between 1985 and 2005, through natural phenomena (precipitation,
evaporation and transpiration) and also driven by human activities
such as water withdrawals.³
Extreme weather events are more frequent
Ontario is experiencing more frequent extreme rain and storm events,
and more flooding and drought. During the first half of the 20th century,
there were less than 10 flood disasters per decade in Ontario; however by
the 1990s, the frequency of floods per decade had increased five-fold.
4
Waterfront properties aected by extreme events such as wind storms,
ice storms, summer heat waves, droughts, floods, and wildfires can take
decades to recover after disturbance, and ecosystem structure and
productivity may change as a result.
04
OMNRF (2014)
Minimum Temperature Trend in Ontario
Natural landscapes store carbon and resist erosion
Scientists agree that our climate is changing and that these changes are
caused by human activities, particularly the increase in greenhouse gas
emissions from burning fossil fuels.
Nearshore habitats and ecosystems can help with flood storage, erosion
control, water filtration and carbon sequestration. Vegetation naturally
captures carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which is then stored as
carbon in live plants and trees, downed woody debris, and soil. This
carbon can be stored for decades and centuries in living trees or in durable
wood products like furniture or building frames until it is released when
vegetation either decays or is burned. Maintaining or increasing the amount
of carbon that can be stored within your property is crucial to help reduce
atmospheric carbon dioxide emissions and the eects of climate change in
the future.
If natural shorelines are converted to hardened or manicured shorelines
it decreases resiliency to climate change. Natural shorelines also provide
other benefits such as producing clean air and filtering water, creating
wildlife habitat, and other aesthetic values. With increased temperatures
and drought, plants and trees along shorelines may be stressed and less
successful at reproduction and seedling survival may decline, which makes
maintaining healthy ecosystems so important.
Healthy shorelines and climate change
05
OMNRF (2014)
Tracy Logan
Many changes to the natural environment are already being observed in
Ontario. These changes may aect the biodiversity on your property as well
as both ecosystem and human health. Some examples of observed changes
in nature include:
1. The northern range boundaries of warm
and coolwater sportfishes in Ontario lakes
are shifting northward. Over the past 30
years fish have moved northward at a
rate of 12 to 17 km per decade in Ontario.
5
Brown bullhead, bluegill and largemouth
bass showed the largest northward
shifts, each more than one-half degree
of latitude. These species are shifting at
rates comparable with other aquatic and
terrestrial species around the globe.
2. Ice cover declines on all Great Lakes
are aecting biodiversity in coastal
wetlands and nearshore habitat, reducing
ice fishing opportunities and rendering
shorelines more susceptible to extreme
storm events in winter. Between 1970 and
2013, mean maximum ice cover declined
most on Lake Superior (42%), followed by
lakes Ontario (32%), Erie (25%), Michigan
(21%) and Huron (19%).
6
3. Smallmouth bass (shown at left)
spawning time in eastern Ontario
populations have advanced on average
by 2 days per decade since the 1960s as
a result of changing ice-out and spring
water temperatures. The opening day of
bass fishing season has been changed in
some areas to protect nesting fish and
young until the young disperse from
spawning sites.
7
Climate change is being
observed in nature
5.Alofs,K.M.,D.A.JacksonandN.P.Lester.2014.OntarioFreshwatershesdemonstratedifferingrange-boundaryshifts
in a warming climate. Diversity and Distributions. 20: 1-14.
6. Ontario Biodiversity Council. 2015. State of Ontario’s Biodiversity. http://ontariobiodiversitycouncil.ca/sobr
7. M.S. Ridgeway, personal communication.
06
Andy Metelka
4. Several frog and toad species have shifted
the timing of spring emergence and calling
in southeastern Ontario. In the four decades
of observation to date, the northern leopard
frog emerges significantly earlier now, by
an estimated 22 days. American toads have
advanced their start of calling by up to
19 days. This significant shift in breeding
behaviour for two species has occurred at
the same time as a significant local increase
in spring temperatures of an estimated
2.8°C over four decades.
8
5. Expansion of the native orchid nodding
ladies’ tresses northward since the 1980s
has been facilitated by its many small light
seeds’ ability to disperse naturally in the
wind and more northerly areas becoming
available with warming temperatures. The
orchid’s native range was traditionally
southern Ontario and US parts of the Great
Lakes Basin but it is now thriving on the
eastern shores of Lake Superior and
Algoma Highlands.
9
6. Until recently, the risk of Lyme disease, a
bacteria spread by some species of ticks,
has been restricted to localized areas
along the north shore of Lake Erie, Lake
Ontario, and the St. Lawrence River due to
temperature limitations. However, as the
climate changes, Lyme disease is emerging
as a serious health risk in many parts of
Ontario. Models suggest that the geographic
range of tick species that transmit Lyme
disease may expand significantly due to
climate change, with a northern expansion
of about 200 km projected by the year
2020. This expansion would likely be due
to longer growing seasons resulting from
warmer temperatures and decreased tick
mortality during milder winters.
10
8. Garroway, C., J. Bowman, T. Cascaden, G. Holloway, C. Mahan, J. Malcolm, M. Steele, G. Turner, P. Wilson. 2010. Climate
Change Induced Hybridization in Flying Squirrels. Global Change Biology. 16(1): 113-121. 3. Klaus, S. and S. Lougheed.
2013. Changes in breeding phenology of eastern Ontario frogs over four decades. Ecology and Evolution. 3(4): 835–845.
9. Catling, P. and Oldham, M. 2011. Recent Expansion of Spiranthes cernua (Orchidaceae) into Northern Ontario due to Climate
Change? The Canadian Field Naturalist.125:34-40.
10. Nituch, L. and J. Bowman. 2013. Community-Level Effects of Climate Change on Ontario’s Terrestrial Biodiversity. Ontario
Ministry of Natural Resources, Climate Change Resources Report Card-36.
07
Michael Oldham
Wasyl Bakowsky
As our climate changes, the projected changes in temperature and
precipitation that are most likely to aect shorelines and waterfront
properties are:
• More frequent extreme weather events including heavy rain, wind
and ice storms
• Drier soils in summer
• Increasing invasive species and new pathogens from southern climates
• Changing habitat ranges, particularly for species along the southern
edge of Ontario
• Changing ecological processes that may aect shorelines in unknown ways
(e.g. insect pollination, breeding, plant hardiness, wildlife interactions)
• Increased erosion of shorelines
• An earlier spring freshet
• More ice free days on inland lakes in the winter months
• Longer growing seasons
• More winter rain and earlier peak stream flows
08
Climate change is
projected to accelerate
Patrick Hodge
11. McDermid, J., S. Fera and A. Hogg. 2015. Climate change projections for Ontario: An updated synthesis for policymakers and
planners. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Science and Research Branch, Peterborough, Ontario, Climate
Change Research Report CCRR-44.
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Lake
Superior
Lake
Huron
Lake
Michigan
Lake Ontario
Lake
Erie
New York
Toronto
Chicago
Thunder
Bay
Gatineau
Greater
Sudbury/Grand
Sudbury
Kingston
Barrie
Oshawa
St Paul
Hamilton
Buffalo
London
Grand
Rapids
Lansing
Detroit
Windsor
Madison
Pittsburgh
Des
Moines
Peoria
Ottawa
Timmins
Kenora
North
Bay
Pembroke
Cornwall
Sault Ste
Marie
Peterborough
Owen
Sound
Albany
Niagara Falls
Sarnia
Mansfield
Fort
Severn
Shamattawa
Peawanuck
Oxford
House
Kitchenuhmayko
osib
Inninuwug
Attawapiskat
Fort
Albany
Webequie
Sandy
Lake
Moosonee
Little
Grand
Rapids
Eabametoong
Pikangikum
Red Lake
Hearst
Armstrong
Kapuskasing
La Sarre
Cochrane
Geraldton
Sioux
Lookout
Dryden
Kirkland
Lake
Marathon
Mont-Laurier
Ville-Marie
Atikokan
Wawa
Chapleau
Rainy
River
Fort
Frances
Blind
River
Grand
Rapids
Little
Current
Parry
Sound
Goderich
© Queen's Printer for Ontario 2015
Published: 2015-01-30
Datum: North American 1983
Climate projections represent a composite (average) of four statistically
downscaled Global Climate/Earth Systems Models: CanESM2, MIROC-ESM-
CHEM, CESM1-CAM5, HadGEM2-ES. Smaller lakes are illustrative and not
necessarily considered during climate modelling.
Climate data provided by: Dan McKenney, Natural Resources Canad
a,
Canadian Forestry Service, Sault Ste. Marie.
This map is a product of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources & Forestry.
100 0 100 200 km
±
"
Settlements
Provincial / State Boundary
International Boundary
Temperature Change (°C)
2.5 to 3.0
3.0 to 3.5
3.5 to 4.0
4.0 to 4.5
4.5 to 5.0
5.0 to 5.5
5.5 to 6.0
6.0 to 6.5
6.5 to 7.0
Data source: norm71_2050rcp85_bio_01
Mean Annual
Temperature Change
2041 - 2070 projection
(RCP8.5) departures from
1971 - 2000 normal
Mean Winter
Temperature Change
2041 - 2070 projection
(RCP8.5) departures from
1971 - 2000 normal
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Lake
Superior
Lake
Huron
Lake
Michigan
Lake Ontario
Lake
Erie
New York
Toronto
Chicago
Thunder
Bay
Gatineau
Greater
Sudbury/Grand
Sudbury
Kingston
Barrie
Oshawa
St Paul
Hamilton
Buffalo
London
Grand
Rapids
Lansing
Detroit
Windsor
Madison
Pittsburgh
Des
Moines
Peoria
Ottawa
Timmins
Kenora
North
Bay
Pembroke
Cornwall
Sault Ste
Marie
Peterborough
Owen
Sound
Albany
Niagara Falls
Sarnia
Mansfield
Fort
Severn
Shamattawa
Peawanuck
Oxford
House
Kitchenuhmayko
osib
Inninuwug
Attawapiskat
Fort
Albany
Webequie
Sandy
Lake
Moosonee
Little
Grand
Rapids
Eabametoong
Pikangikum
Red Lake
Hearst
Armstrong
Kapuskasing
La Sarre
Cochrane
Geraldton
Sioux
Lookout
Dryden
Kirkland
Lake
Marathon
Mont-Laurier
Ville-Marie
Atikokan
Wawa
Chapleau
Rainy
River
Fort
Frances
Blind
River
Grand
Rapids
Little
Current
Parry
Sound
Goderich
"
Settlements
Provincial / State Boundary
International Boundary
Temperature Change (°C)
2.5 to 3.0
3.0 to 3.5
3.5 to 4.0
4.0 to 4.5
4.5 to 5.0
5.0 to 5.5
5.5 to 6.0
6.0 to 6.5
6.5 to 7.0
7.0 to 7.5
7.5 to 8.0
8.0 to 8.5
8.5 to 9.0
9.0 to 9.5
9.5 to 10.0
> 10.0
Data source: norm71_2050rcp85_bio_11
© Queen's Printer for Ontario 2015
Published: 2015-01-30
Datum: North American 1983
Climate projections represent a composite (average) of four statistically
downscaled Global Climate/Earth Systems Models: CanESM2, MIROC-ESM-
CHEM, CESM1-CAM5, HadGEM2-ES. Smaller lakes are illustrative and not
necessarily considered during climate modelling.
Climate data provided
by: Dan McKenney, Natural Resources Canada,
Canadian Forestry Service, Sault Ste. Marie.
This map is a product of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources & Forestry.
100 0 100 200 km
±
Researchers with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry have modeled
the projected changes in climate in Ontario.
11
An ensemble of several downscaled
Global Climate Models are used to look at possible future climate. Scenarios describing
possible future climate are based on assumptions of how the earth’s climate operates,
future world population levels, economic activity and greenhouse gas emissions.
The maps shown below illustrate the average annual temperature dierence
comparing a base historical period (1971-2000) to a future period in the 2050’s
and 2080’s using a business-as-usual emissions scenario (RCP 8.5).
11
For more projections see:
www.climateontario.ca/MNR_Publications/CCRR-44.pdf (download 40 pages)
Suitable habitat for many species will move north
The composition of aquatic and
nearshore ecosystems is largely
controlled by past land use history
and by what species have adapted
to the climate in the area.
Slow and subtle changes in
ecosystem composition and
distribution are determined by a
number of factors such as: seasonal
temperatures, precipitation patterns,
soil moisture patterns, severity of
extreme storm events and natural
disturbances, and the abundance of
pests and diseases. As these factors
change, the habitat required for
species may shift. Species you find
on your waterfront property today
may not be there in the future.
Fish populations that are not
adapted to the warmer temperatures
may begin to disappear while those
who prefer warmer temperatures
will expand their ranges. Warmer
water temperatures provide more
favourable conditions for toxic algal
blooms which could make water
undrinkable and/or un-swimmable.
12
Shifting species distribution
12. Mark L. Wells, Vera L. Trainer, Theodore J. Smayda, Bengt S.O. Karlson, Charles G. Trick, Raphael M. Kudela, Akira Ishikawa,
Stewart Bernard, Angela Wulff, Donald M. Anderson, William P. Cochlan. 2015. Harmful algal blooms and climate change:
Learning from the past and present to forecast the future. Harmful Algae; 49: 68.
10
The beloved loon is projected to lose
over half of its current summer range
and approximately three quarters
of its’ winter range.
In both seasons the potential to shift
northwards in a warming climate is
signicant. While the loon may be able
to keep pace with the rapidly changing
climate, it looks all but certain that we
will lose the iconic loons in summer
by the end of the 21st century.
44% of summer
2000 range is stable.
9% increase in
summer 2080 from
2000 range.
25% of winter 2000
range is stable.
12% decrease in
winter 2080 from
2000 range.
K. Doughty
Variable temperatures lead to unpredictable
weather and damage
Warming is projected to continue across Ontario throughout the 21st century.
Across the province more precipitation is projected in the winter, though this
could vary greatly by region (provincial range is from -56 to 158mm from
historical levels). Summers are projected to be drier on average, with a range
of -69 to 48 mm less precipitation than historical levels across the province
by the 2080s. Higher temperatures in the winter may mean fewer frost days
per year. This could mean a longer growing season which could aect plants
and fish whose life cycles depend on the temperature.
11
It is likely that lake-eect snow will increase in the short term as lake
temperatures rise. However, by the end of the 21st century, snowfall will likely
be replaced by heavy lake-eect rain events due to the higher temperatures.
As well, warmer annual temperatures will cause warmer winters which will
lead to precipitation in the form of ice, sleet and freezing rain as opposed
to snow.
13
Ice storms will likely occur more frequently with more moderate
winter temperatures across most of Ontario in the future. Ice storms occur
primarily when surface temperatures are hovering at or just below the
freezing point. Changes to rainfall can also aect connectivity within and
among streams and lakes.
14
Extreme weather events
13. Town of Oakville. 2014. Oakville’s Climate Change Primer; 19,22.
14. Chu, Cindy. 2015. Climate Change Vulberability Assessment for Inland Aquatic Ecosystems in the Great Lakes Basin, Ontario.
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Science and Research Branch, Peterborough, Ontario. Climate Change
Research Report CCRR-43.
11
Patrick Hodge C. Roshe
Ice accumulations on branches can
increase branch weight up to 30
times and cause even large branches
to break, severely aecting tree
growth. Damages to your home may
result from falling branches, power
lines could be downed and roadways
blocked. Unfortunately this could
mean increased power outages and
restricted access to your property
via cottage roads in severe weather.
Melting and freezing of water in
variable temperatures can cause
ice jams which may result in
flooding of natural creeks and
rivers. Historically, in Southern
Ontario we have experienced a
single spring melt, when the majority
of the winter snow and accumulation
melts. During this period rivers
and lakes are at capacity, and if
overwhelmed can cause potentially
dangerous situations.
More recently due to variable
temperatures, spring melt is not
necessarily happening all at once
and not necessarily happening only
in the spring. There is also evidence
that rising air and water temperatures
may contribute to more tornado
activity in areas not previously prone
to this type of activity.
15
Warmer winters and variable
temperatures will make winter
activities even more unpredictable
and dangerous. Extreme weather
events present both health and
safety risks and can result in
property loss, environmental
damage, insurance claims, costly
repairs and maintenance.
15. Sills, D., V. Cheng, P. McCarthy, B., Rousseau, J., Waller, L. Elliot, J. Klaassen and Hauld. 2012. Using tornado, lightning
and population data to identify tornado prone areas in Canada. 26th AMS Conference on Severe Local Storms, Nashville, TN,
American Meteorological Society Paper, 59.
12
Patrick Hodge
K. Doughty
K. Doughty
Drought may cause wetlands
to dry up and decrease water quality
Wetlands are a vital part of a functioning
ecosystem as they play an important
role in maintaining local water quality.
Wetlands are also capable of slowing the
eects of climate change by capturing
and storing carbon. A functioning wetland
is capable of storing large amounts of
water which is then filtered and slowly
released into the surrounding watershed.
When wetlands are removed or dry due
to the eects of climate change, storm
water runs directly into the watershed,
increasing the chances of flooding and
decreasing water quality. In the Great
Lakes Basin, many wetlands are projected
to be vulnerable to potential drying or
shrinkage due to changes in temperature
and precipitation, particularly wetlands
in southern Ontario and the north-east
shores of Lake Superior.
14
Warmer temperatures
help insect pests and
disease to overwinter
Insect pests and disease can have
a significant impact on shorelines,
and a changing climate may
aect what kind of pests are
seen in Ontario. Many insects
and diseases are controlled
by winter temperatures, with
colder temperatures reducing
their populations. As winters get
warmer with climate change,
the number of these pests and
diseases that survive the winter
may increase, leading to greater
outbreaks and infestations.
13
Invasive species outcompete
Invasive plant and fish species aect shoreline/
lake health and regrowth through competition
for light, nutrients, habitat and food. As many
of these invasive species have been introduced
from other regions, the absence of competitors
or predators means that they are able to
outcompete and replace many native species.
Aquatic ecosystems are especially vulnerable.
Once established in an aquatic ecosystem, an
invasive species is almost impossible to eliminate
and control measures can be costly. A changing
climate may also intensify the problem in the
following ways:
• A longer growing season can give invasive
species a bigger advantage in their
competition with native species.
• Higher nitrogen levels are linked to a faster
spread of invasive plants and increased
resistance to herbicide applications.
• Increasing water temperatures will result in
native fish populations being replaced with
invasive species that favour warm water.
• Shifting species distributions provides
an opportunity for invasive species to
outcompete native species.
Three of the most aggressive invasive plants that are already stressing
Ontario’s shorelines and waters include: Phragmites, Japanese knotweed
and Water soldier.
Invasive Species on your waterfront property?
Ontario has an Early Detection and Distribution Mapping System (EDDMapS
Ontario) to detect and monitor the spread of invasive species in the
province. Through EDDMapS Ontario you can report sightings of invasive
species and view their local, regional or provincial distributions. It contains
information profiles for over 150 dierent species, as well as tools for
searching and downloading data. You can also set up alerts to be notified
when a new species is detected in your area.
Visit www.eddmaps.org/ontario for more information.
14
Invasive species
Wasyl Bakowsky
Francine MacDonald MNRF
Andrea Hicks
Additional Resources
Shoreline Owner’s Guide to Healthy Waterfronts
This guide gives a quick and easy overview of ways to make the most of your
shoreline property, while living in balance with your lake’s fragile ecosystem.
https://foca.on.ca/shoreline-owners-guide-to-healthy-waterfronts/
Take the Plunge – A Guide
to Stewardship of Ontario’s Waters
This guide includes new topics such as green cottage design, air, light and noise
pollution, and new information about today’s waterfront issues and solutions.
A must-have for the interested waterfront property owner or lake steward.
https://foca.on.ca/take-the-plunge-a-guide-to-stewardship-of-ontarios-waters/
Lake Planning Handbook for Community Groups
The Lake Planning Handbook helps waterfront property owners and
associations in building the important relationships around their lakes, Lake Plan
development and implementation, and responsible stewardship practices. It
also includes support materials such as example templates, lake plans, surveys,
workshop agendas, presentations, and more.
https://foca.on.ca/lake-planning-handbook-overview/
Ontario Centre for
Climate Impacts and
Adaptation Resources
www.climateontario.ca
Forests Ontario
www.forestsontario.ca
Ontario Woodlot Association
https://www.ontariowoodlot.com/
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Invasive species at the cottage
Visit the website below to learn more about how to stop the spread
of invasive species at the cottage. Includes a link to the Cottagers
Invasive Action Plan (PDF) to help you fight the invasion.
https://www.ontario.ca/page/cottager-action-plan/
K. Doughty
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Top 5 actions shoreline owners can take
Keep your shoreline natural
and enhance it if possible
A naturalized shoreline is generally considered the best multi-purpose
approach to protecting the lake’s edge. Protect the natural shoreline
by replanting areas that lack vegetation and maintain those areas
that already exist.
Keep aquatic plant populations intact
Aquatic plants support the insects that fish eat, and are a primary food
and habitat source for birds. In addition, aquatic plants help stabilize
loose sediment and are an eective natural breakwater keeping waves
from eroding the shoreline.
Maintain and improve your waterfront
property’s health and biodiversity
Enhance biodiversity on your property by leaving rock piles, fallen tree
limbs and brush piles untouched so they can function as wildlife habitat.
Re-vegetate bare grounds near streams, rivers and lakes and encourage
native species of flowers, shrubs and trees to limit your maintenance
work and provide shelter to native species.
Manage pests and disease
Understand which insects, diseases and invasive species might be
expected at your waterfront property and be on the lookout for them with
regular monitoring to enable early intervention and easier management.
Stay informed
It is important to stay informed and attuned to developments in science
and research and incentive programs that may aect you and your
waterfront property. Sign up to receive FOCA’s free monthly Elert
(electronic newsletter) today at https://foca.on.ca!
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www.foca.on.ca
705-749-3622
Are you ready for
our changing climate?
