A healthy shoreline helps keep a healthy lake. What makes a healthy shoreline? What can you do and with what regulations must we comply to keep Lac Sam’s shores and water healthy? Here are some tips on shoreline do’s and don’ts:
A Healthy Shoreline
Is critical to the survival of the ecological and biological components of our lake. It has trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants that:
- Filter and retain fertilizer nutrients, pesticides, sediments and other pollutants that can contaminate water.
- Prevent shoreline erosion. The roots of riparian (shoreline) plants form a closely woven mesh offering strong mechanical resistance to erosion caused by waves and ice. A healthy shoreline is much more effective at preventing erosion than artificial barriers.
- Provide shade, helping cool the shallow water. Water that is too warm allows excessive growth of algae and causes heat sensitive fish species to go elsewhere.
- Provides a rich habitat for fish and wildlife.
- Reflects the natural beauty of the landscape, provides a degree of privacy and a natural wind break.
- A natural landscape requires little maintenance, leaving more time for relaxation.
The Don’t’s and Do’s
Quebec Regulations:
Lac Ste Marie Municipal By-Law forbids mowing a lawn along lakes and waterways on a 10 meter strip if there is a slope going toward the water of less than 30%. When the slope is greater than 30% there is a minimum of 15 meters that must be respected and on which it is forbidden to cut grass.
Quebec Ministry of Sustainable Development, Environment, Wildlife and Parks regulations (enforced by all municipalities in Quebec) state:
You cannot:
- Remove vegetation inside the 10 m (sometimes 15 m) wide shore strip
- Plant a lawn to the water’s edge (lawns don’t have deep enough roots to withstand erosion)
- Add sand to create a beach
- Remove aquatic vegetation or rocks.
You are allowed to:
- Stabilize an eroding shoreline by planting natural vegetation
- Create a 5 m wide gap in the vegetation to allow water access
- Build a floating, cantilever or pipe dock instead of a concrete dock
- For any project on your shoreline, you need a permit or certificate of authorization from your municipality
Recommendations:
Let nature take its course- you will have a rich diversity of plants.
Minimize the disturbance of shoreline areas by maintaining natural vegetation cover.
Replace lakeside grassed areas with native vegetation. Do not import fine fill. Planting grass is prohibited.
Lightly prune trees to create discreet views of the water and surroundings. Leave a few dead trees, in order to provide shelter and food for wildlife. Cut only sick or dangerous trees.
Stop the use of fertilizers and pesticides.
JF
Resources:
http://www.environnement.gouv.qc.ca/eau/rives/richesse/index-en.htm
www.mddefp.gouv.qc.ca