WC136 MayJune 2024 - Magazine - Page 10
WATERSHEDS CANADA
What Makes a Home?
Shoreline conservation for turtles, property owners, and kayakers.
BY MONICA SEIDEL
LOP. Before I have a chance to see it,
I hear the sound that lets me know
my kayak has come too close to a
nearby turtle. I have already seen
painted, Blanding’s, and snapping
turtles today, and this latest ripple-making
turtle is clearly not pleased with me as I
softly floated by it. The turtle quickly made
its decision, forgoing its spot on a fallen
log for the safer, deeper waters. I continue
kayaking along, looking around for more
wildlife while I enjoy the reflection of the
sun on the water. For me, the lake is a
temporary destination for the day that offers
moments of peace and wonder. For the
turtle that I just happened upon, the lake is
much more than that: it is its home.
Ninety per cent of aquatic life and 70 per
cent of terrestrial life depend on a healthy
land-water interface – the riparian zone – at
some point in their lifetime. In the eyes of
the turtle, this lake’s riparian zone provides
areas for it to feed, bask, breed, and nest.
When a turtle looks at the lake and its
shoreline, it is searching for much different
things than I am.
A healthy shoreline begins with native
plants, both in the water and on the land.
Native aquatic vegetation provides a host of
benefits to a lake: absorbing wave energy,
protecting water quality, providing habitat,
producing oxygen, taking up nutrients
(nutrient cycling), and stabilizing shorelines
and bottom sediments. As I paddle along, I
see this beautiful underwater forest, made up of species like pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata), yellow water lily (Nuphar lutea), and
common waterweed (Elodea canadensis).
A vegetated shoreline is also critical in protecting the lake’s health.
A natural shoreline buffer with native species of grasses, trees,
shrubs, and wildflowers will contribute to the health and beauty of
the waterbody. Deep-rooted native riparian vegetation, like red osier
Monica Seidel
is the communications and
fundraising manager for
Watersheds Canada
10
WATER C AN ADA • M AY/JUNE 2024
Simon Lunn
P
WAT E R C A N A D A . N E T
