Gananoque River Watershed Shoreline Naturalization Program

Dear Shoreline Property Owner,                                                                                                                                              June 2013

You are invited to participate in The Natural Edge, a shoreline makeover program to naturalize up to 60 private shorelines within the Gananoque River Watershed. With minimal cost to you, we will design and plant your shoreline for you. Natural shorelines help reduce erosion, maintain your lake’s water quality, provide habitat for fish and wildlife, and enhance the aesthetics of your shoreline property.

To be eligible for this shoreline makeover program, your waterfront property must meet the following criteria:

ü  Located in the Gananoque River Watershed (which includes the following lakes among others: Gananoque, Upper Beverley, Lower Beverley, Graham, Redhorse, Fody, Centre, and South)

ü  Have little shoreline vegetation and/or ongoing erosion issues. Properties with some shoreline    vegetation, but room for more, will also be considered

To participate in this program, please contact us as soon as possible to express your interest and arrange a free site visit. During the site visit, program staff will assess your eligibility, take measurements and photographs, and discuss with you how your land use needs can be merged with the concepts of shoreline naturalization. This information will be used to develop a shoreline planting plan for your property.  Please note that site visits are completely non-regulatory in nature.

Once a plan is approved by you, the planting will be scheduled for either this fall, or the spring of 2014. Program staff will provide all the technical and physical assistance required, including ordering the plants, accessing volunteer help, supplying equipment, and planting your shoreline. As an eligible shoreline property owner, your only financial contribution will be 25% of eligible costs.

We also invite you to attend a workshop to learn more about the benefits and techniques of shoreline naturalization and/or to volunteer to help with planting, on your property or elsewhere.  You can visit www.watersheds.ca for updated information on these opportunities. 

This voluntary landowner assistance program is offered by Centre for Sustainable Watersheds in partnership with the Gananoque River Waterways Association and the Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority.  Please contact Hillary Knack (telephone and email below) to indicate your interest, discuss opportunities and arrange a shoreline site visit. We very much look forward to talking with you and including you in our program.  


Sincerely,

Hillary Knack
Shoreline Naturalization Coordinator
Centre for Sustainable Watersheds
(613) 264-1244
(613 328-1295 (cell phone)

knack@watersheds.ca

Main office:
8 Herriott, Unit 10E­
Perth, ON  K7H 1S9
Westport office:
25B Church Street, Westport, ON