You have done a great job of maintaining a strip of natural vegetation along your waterfront. This strip of vegetation, called a riparian buffer, is beneficial in helping to intercept contaminants (manmade or natural) including sediments, pathogens, pesticides, fertilizers and others that reduce water quality and harm fish habitat. Shoreline buffers also prevent erosion of banks. Erosion can cause sediments and nutrients to enter the lake which can lead to accelerated growth of algae and aquatic plants, reduce clarity, abrade the delicate gills of fish and smother the eggs of fish and small aquatic organisms that are essential to the food chain. Buffers also improve habitat for fish by shading and cooling the water, and they provide protective cover for birds, mammals and other wildlife that feed, breed and rear young near water.

It is generally recommended that a minimum buffer depth of 10 metres (30 feet) be maintained with an ideal depth of 30 metres (100 feet), in order to protect water quality. As you currently have a great buffer, by simply continuing the good work you have started, you can protect your lake for the future.

A shoreline buffer is a strip of vegetation that lines the edge of a waterway. They help to intercept contaminants (manmade or natural) including sediments, pathogens, pesticides and fertilizers that reduce water quality and harm fish habitat. Shoreline buffers also prevent erosion of banks. Erosion can cause sediments and nutrients to enter the lake which can lead to accelerated growth of algae and aquatic plants, reduce clarity, abrade the delicate gills of fish and smother the eggs of fish and small aquatic organisms that are essential to the food chain. Buffers also improve habitat for fish by shading and cooling the water, and they provide protective cover for birds, mammals and other wildlife that feed, breed and rear young near water.

It is generally recommended that a minimum buffer depth of 10 metres (30 feet) be maintained with an ideal depth of 30 metres (100 feet), in order to protect water quality. This means you could consider expanding the amount of natural vegetation along your shoreline which will help to ensure that overland runoff is filtered prior to entering the lake. You can help expand your buffer as follows:

1. Allow natural vegetation to re-establish on its own near shore (vegetation will return as seeds from neighbouring forests are carried by wind and wildlife to the area), and/or
2. Plant native trees, shrubs, perennials and grasses to help actively create a buffer at your shoreline.

By taking one or both of these actions, you can create a strong, healthy buffer which will have a number of economic and environmental benefits.

It is generally recommended that shoreline properties be no more than 25 percent developed for personal use and 75 percent of the shoreline frontage be left or regenerated to a natural state. This will help protect water quality and clarity and the health of your property. By creating a shoreline buffer with native vegetation, (the more, the better) and allowing it to extend upland, you can reduce some of the impacts that development can have on water quality.

It is generally recommended that shoreline properties be no more than 25 percent developed for personal use and 75 percent of the shoreline frontage be left or regenerated to a natural state. This will help protect water quality and clarity and the health of your property. By creating a shoreline buffer with native vegetation, (the more, the better) and allowing it to extend upland, you can reduce some of the impacts that development can have on water quality.

In areas close to the shoreline, a lawn is generally not a good choice of ground cover because over 55% of precipitation runs off grass right into the lake, instead of returning to the water cycle by filtering through the soil. Natural ground cover and native vegetation, in comparison, slow the runoff and allow filtration, removing many contaminants such as oil, gasoline, road salts, fertilizers and others. These contaminants can be carried into the lake by runoff and can harm water quality and upset the natural ecosystem. Lawns also have short root systems and therefore don’t bind the soil well, which can lead to problems with erosion.

This is not to say your lawn should be entirely eliminated but you could consider restoring some natural vegetation in this area. This will begin to occur naturally if you leave a section of your lawn unmowed near shore, even a few feet to start. You can also help restore the natural shoreline by planting native species here. Many native shrubs and wildflowers are appealing and colourful and attract songbirds, butterflies and other wildlife. In addition, this native landscaping can be trimmed to retain your view of the lake.

Additionally, Canada geese love lawns that extend right to the water’s edge. They like to feed on the new grass shoots, and they don’t like to venture far from the water. In addition their feces can cause higher than normal levels of bacteria in aquatic environments. This can lead to unsafe swimming or drinking water conditions. If you are concerned about geese, you could consider changing your shoreline landscaping to include a buffer. This should help deter geese from inhabiting your property.

Note that lawns can lead to more runoff in the lake, in fact over 55% of precipitation will run off a lawn, instead of filtering through the soil and returning to the water cycle. Runoff can carry contaminants into the water which can upset the natural ecosystem.

As you have maintained much of the natural ground cover on your property, the lawn area is not as much of a concern here. In the future if you wish, you could restore some of the natural ground cover in the lawn area. This will begin to occur naturally if you leave a section of your lawn unmowed, even a few feet. You can also plant native trees, shrubs, perennials and grasses to naturalize these areas.

To mitigate erosion, it is recommended that naturalization take place either by allowing native vegetation to re-establish on its own over time, or by planting native vegetation. Vegetation is the ‘glue’ that keeps the banks intact. Their roots grip the soil, while the plants themselves protect the soil from the erosive forces of wind, rain and waves. If you take the glue away, the shoreline will likely experience problems with erosion.

Installing stairs is a great way to help avoid erosion that would occur from foot traffic on sensitive slopes. A raised wooden staircase, without backs and a one inch gap between the boards, allows rain and sun to reach the ground under the stairs and promote the growth of vegetation. As well, runoff will not concentrate here. This will prevent erosion and allow vegetation to regenerate.

Good. A healthy buffer is your best method to avoid erosion.

In the past, it was common practice to install retaining walls because of their perceived maintenance-free longevity and ability to prevent shoreline erosion. However, we are now aware of the damage that these types of fixtures can cause to the environment. Retaining walls can actually cause more erosion to occur. Waves and wakes are reflected back from flat, hard surfaces with the same vigour as they struck the wall. This causes excess turbulence in the water which scours the sediments from the lake bottom. The waves can also cause cracks and fractures in the wall which can lead to failure. Solid walls also eliminate shoreline habitat and act as a barrier, preventing local wildlife from reaching the water.

Although we realize the importance of protecting your shoreline from erosion, there are more natural alternatives which actually provide more effective erosion protection in addition to wildlife habitat. Rip rap, for example, is an alternative erosion control method formed with a gently sloping layer of broken, angular rock placed along shore. Rip rap absorbs and deflects waves and greatly reduces erosion. At the same time, the porous surface provides habitat for wildlife, creates a vital land-water transitional area and improves water clarity by reducing the sediment load from turbulence. By restoring some of the natural buffer around and behind the wall, you can help prevent erosion in this area and can help restore some of the habitat connectivity between land and water that is so crucial to native species including small mammals, frogs and turtles. Please note that you may require permits and approvals before you get started. Please visit the Permits and Approvals section.

In the past, it was common practice to install retaining walls because of their perceived maintenance-free longevity and ability to prevent shoreline erosion. However, we are now aware of the damage that these types of fixtures can cause to the environment. Retaining walls can actually cause more erosion to occur. Waves and wakes are reflected back from flat, hard surfaces with the same vigour as they struck the wall. This causes excess turbulence in the water which scours the sediments from the lake bottom. The waves can also cause cracks and fractures in the wall which can lead to failure. Solid walls also eliminate shoreline habitat and act as a barrier, preventing local wildlife from reaching the water. Your best erosion control is a healthy vegetative buffer.

Despite their recreational value, manmade beaches can have negative impacts on aquatic life. The sand filled in at shore can cover natural aquatic features such as natural rock or organic material. It can also limit the growth of aquatic plants which provide shelter for a number of fish, reptiles and amphibians. The heavy equipment which is sometimes used to create and maintain beaches can also harm the shoreline. You can help mitigate the effects of a beach by not removing any aquatic vegetation that does develop. As well, by maintaining shoreline vegetation around the beach, you can obtain some of the filtration and habitat benefits of a riparian buffer.

Manmade beaches can have negative impacts on aquatic life. The sand filled in at shore can cover natural aquatic features such as natural rock or organic material. It can also limit the growth of aquatic plants which provide shelter for a number of fish, reptiles and amphibians.

There are a number of natural features which provide habitat for wildlife. By allowing fallen trees and branches to settle on your shoreline and in the water, you can provide crucial habitat. Turtles use logs to bask and fish use underwater branches and logs to hide from predators and lay eggs. On land, logs provide essential habitat for small mammals, certain woodpeckers, toads and salamanders (many of which are species at risk). In addition, allowing branches to hang out over the water provides important habitat for fish. This ‘overhanging’ vegetation shades and cools the water – fish search for food and spawn in these areas. And dead standing trees and cavity trees (trees with holes in the trunk or branches) are used by many species of birds and mammals for creating nests, raising young and feeding. By allowing these features to remain on your property – when safe – you are providing important habitat for wildlife.

There are a number of natural features which provide habitat for wildlife. By allowing fallen trees and branches to settle on your shoreline and in the water, you can provide crucial habitat. Turtles use logs to bask and fish use underwater branches and logs to hide from predators and lay eggs. On land, logs provide essential habitat for small mammals, certain woodpeckers, toads and salamanders (many of which are species at risk). In addition, allowing branches to hang out over the water provides important habitat for fish. This ‘overhanging’ vegetation shades and cools the water – fish search for food and spawn in these areas. And dead standing trees and cavity trees (trees with holes in the trunk or branches) are used by many species of birds and mammals for creating nests, raising young and feeding. By allowing these features to remain on your property – when safe – you can provide important habitat for wildlife.

Great. Malfunctioning septic systems are among the greatest polluters of our lakes. When not functioning properly, these systems leach phosphates and nitrates into nearby lakes and groundwater and are one of the major reasons for decreasing water quality, algal blooms and fish kills. Remember that septic systems are meant to control human waste – not food, grease or non-human waste. And a properly functioning system works best without the use of additives and toxic cleaners. Having your septic system pumped out by a licensed contractor every 3-5 years and having the system checked regularly can help save the cost of expensive repairs while also helping to protect the lake. If you have a holding tank, check it regularly to ensure it is not overfull or close to capacity

Malfunctioning septic systems are among the greatest polluters of our lakes. When not functioning properly, these systems leach phosphates and nitrates into nearby lakes and groundwater and are one of the major reasons for decreasing water quality, algal blooms and fish kills. Remember that septic systems are meant to control human waste – not food, grease or non-human waste. And a properly functioning system works best without the use of additives and toxic cleaners. Having your septic system pumped out by a licensed contractor every 3-5 years and having the the system checked regularly can help save the cost of expensive repairs while also helping to protect the lake. If you have a holding tank, check it regularly to ensure it is not overfull or close to capacity. For more information please visit Set up a well-functioning septic system.