CARING FOR SHORELINE PROPERTIES...include ways of restoring damaged shorelines to their natural...

CARINGFOR SHORELINE

PROPERTIESChanging the Way We Look

at Owning Lakefront

Property in Alberta

CARINGFOR SHORELINE

PROPERTIES

CA R I N G F O R SH O R E L I N E PR O P E RT I E S

This booklet was produced in coopera-tion with the County of St. Paul; theSummer Village of Horseshoe Bay; thePublic Lands Branch of AlbertaAgriculture, Food, and RuralDevelopment; the Water ManagementDivision and the Fisheries and WildlifeManagement Division of AlbertaEnvironmental Protection; and theAlberta Conservation Association.

Concepts and conclusions have beenfreely borrowed from the earlier publica-tions listed in the References section.Much of the material found in the manylists throughout this booklet have beentaken from referenced material, particu-larly from publications by AlbertaEnvironmental Protection and theOntario Ministry of Environment andEnergy. The author would like toacknowledge the Ontario Ministry ofEnvironment and Energy’s very excellentEnvironmental Living: Protecting theEnvironment series. Volume 4 - At theCottage, was a valuable source of infor-mation for many of the issues dealt within this booklet, particularly the chapteron aquatic plants.

Many individuals have contributed tothis project. Especially important contri-butions were made by Alfred Jackson (S.V. Of Horseshoe Bay); Ken Yettaw andDarlene Smereka (Cty. of St. Paul);David Park, Blake Mills, and NatalieCook (ACA); Dave Ealey (Comm. AEP);Gerry Haekel, Allan Hare, and JimLindquist (PL-AAFRD); Larry Kuchmak(WMD-AEP); Hugh Norris (NRS-AEP); and Terry McCue.

Principal author: Pat Valastin, Alberta Conservation Association,Edmonton, Alberta.

Concept and principal editor: R. WayneNelson, Fisheries and Wildlife ManagementDivision, St. Paul, Alberta.

Project manager: David Park, Alberta Conservation Association,Edmonton, Alberta.

Line Drawings: Terry McCue.

Design: John Luckhurst / GDL

Photographs: John Luckhurst, David Park and Pat Valastin

Published by:

Alberta Conservation AssociationP.O. BOX 40027Baker Centre Postal OutletEdmonton, AB T5J 4M91-877-969-9091Charitable Registration Number88994 6141 RR0001

and

Fisheries and Wildlife Management DivisionNatural Resources ServiceAlberta Environmental ProtectionMain Floor, Provincial Building#416, 5025 - 49 AvenueSt. Paul, AlbertaT0A 3A4

1999

The concepts, recommendations, and requirements in this booklet are strongly supported by:

AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Public Lands

CA R I N G F O R SH O R E L I N E PR O P E RT I E S – 1

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this booklet is to promotethe preservation and restoration ofthe natural state of Alberta’s lakesand shorelands, while maintainingthe value of lakefront properties.

LAKES UNDER PRESSURE

Increased lakefront disturbance isdamaging sensitive shorelines.

THE LIFE CYCLE OF ALBERTA LAKES

Types of lakes, how lakes age, and thehuman contribution to the aging oflakes.

WE ARE NOT ALONE

The shoreline is home to a rich variety of life forms, both on landand in water. Our individual effortsto urbanize our lot and lakefront mayseem small, but with our neighboursdoing the same, the damage to theenvironment adds up.

ANATOMY OF THE SHORELINE

The shoreline includes the riparianand littoral zones. Definitions of thebank, shore, and bed, who ownsthem, and how to find them.

YOU NEED A PERMIT!Permits are needed before workingon the bed, shore, bank, or environ-mental reserve, who to obtain themfrom, why, and what if you don’t.

WEEDS!Types of aquatic plants, and theirvalue to fish, to wildlife, and to erosion protection. What humanactions encourage growth of plants,and how to minimize them.Methods and allowed limits ofaquatic vegetation removal, andmethods for restoring shorelinevegetation for erosion control andhabitat improvement.

Caring for Shoreline Properties

SHORELINE ALTERATIONS

The value of shoreline buffer strips,consequences of buffer removal,methods of protecting the buffer,and the need for permits to makechanges to shoreline areas.

ON YOUR LOT

On-lot activities that hurt the lake,and numerous ways to minimize that harm.

EROSION

Methods for controlling shorelineerosion through natural means, orwith structural or non-structuralrepairs.

FINAL NOTES

Considerations if buying a lakesidecottage. Living with nature, andother ways to make a difference atthe lake.

Changing the Way We Look at Owning Lakefront

Property in Alberta

CONTENTS:

2 – CA R I N G F O R SH O R E L I N E PR O P E RT I E S

Introduction

property lost to shorelineerosion, Bob and Jane con-

ceded victory to nature. Bob and Jane saw the

error of their ways, and theCook family’s lakefront prop-erty has now become arestoration project. Their

lawn was made smaller andseparated from the shoreline

by a buffer strip of vegetation.Dogwood, willows, bulrushes, andcattails (plants native to their lake)were planted to “naturalize” andhold together the shoreline. Byplanting, and by letting the aquaticvegetation grow, they hope torestore their lakefront to a relativelystable, natural state, one that isresistant to the forces of wind andwater, and home once again towildlife and fish. Their erodingproperty value will also be stabilizedand enhanced by this work. Aftermuch expense and hard work, finally,the Cook family may be able to really enjoy living by the lake.

Twenty years ago, Bob and JaneCook bought their dream cot-

tage on Antler Lake. In time, thiscottage became their permanentyear-round home. Like their neigh-bours around them, they set out totransform the land upon which theircottage sat into the perfect lakefrontlot. They started to “clean up.” Theycut down willows, brought in fill,and planted grass down to the water.They picked all the rocks from thesandy lake bottom, and they pulledout all the bulrushes and aquaticplants. They worked hard. Twentyyears later, with three meters of

Having a cottage at the lake has certainly

changed over the years. Today there are many people living along side lakes, the ecological balance has been disrupted at many lakes, and at some lakes, fish popula-tions are reaching critical lows. Biologists are very concerned, as are many cottage owners, and governments are start-ing to take lakeshore issues very seriously. As a result, the lawsregarding fish habitat and environ-mental reserves are being closelyexamined, and more rigorouslyenforced.

This booklet describes manage-ment practices that can be adoptedon lakeshore properties to help pro-tect the shoreline and preserve thewater quality of the lake. It will alsoinclude ways of restoring damagedshorelines to their natural state. Inmost cases, the best management forshorelands involves retaining thenatural characteristics of your prop-erty. Maintaining a healthy water-front is far less costly than trying tofix a disturbed system, and the bene-fits are far greater. Repairing shore-line damage can be costly, and diffi-cult, if not impossible to achievefully. This booklet is a guide to mak-ing sound choices that will benefitboth you and the lake you enjoy.

water quality and the lives of manyspecies of fish and wildlife. Theseadverse effects can be minimizedwhen we practise stewardship as weenjoy lakefront property and partici-pate in outdoor activities.Stewardship implies responsibilityand obliges us to understand thatwhat we do on the land and in thewater affects the lake and our enjoy-ment of it. Our responsibilityextends not just to our human neigh-bours, but also to all the plants andanimals for which the lake is home,and whose presence enhances thequality and enjoyment of our timespent at the lake.

TIMES HAVE CHANGED

The area of land that drainstoward a lake is called itswatershed. We all live in a

particular watershed, and ouractivities affect other peopleand other species within it, just

as their activities affect us. Overlong periods of time, a waterfrontenvironment will develop a natural“balance” due to interactions amongwater, land, vegetation, and wildlife.This delicate equilibrium can be eas-ily disrupted when humans rearrangethe lakefront area, or when any ofthe components are destroyed.

If we do not stop our damagingactivities at the lakefront, and helprestore natural shorelines, the qualityof our lakes will continue to deterio-rate. We need to change the way welook at lakeside properties. Ratherthan seeing shoreland as somethingto be “cleaned up,” something to“civilize,” we need to respect andenjoy the natural state of lakes.

At many Alberta lakes, there are a growing

number of lakefront cottages and residential developments. There is also a definite trend toward year-round lake-front living. People are putting unprecedented pressure onlakes and their shorelines. Shorelinescan be altered in many ways. Some cottage owners have created sandybeaches; others have built retainingwalls, and still others have lawnsdown to the water. Unfortunately,when people alter the shoreline, itoften becomes difficult for plantsand animals to survive there.

OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO THE LAKE

Most people buy lakefront property,or visit Alberta’s lakes, to enjoy thenatural scenic beauty and to takepart in recreational activities. Whenwe focus on the waterfront, however,our activities can adversely affect


Lakes Under Pressure

A lake watershed


Lake Types

Oligotrophic Lakes – above.

These lakes are generally

deep. Their littoral zone

is small. They hold low

amounts of dissolved

nutrients and organic

matter.

Eutrophic Lakes – left, are

relatively shallow. They have

a larger littoral zone than

oligotrophic lakes. They contain

high levels of dissolved nutrients

and organic matter.

The Life Cycle of Alberta Lakes

and pike. This type of lake is calledan eutrophic lake.

Most of Alberta’s lakes areeutrophic (nutrient-rich, highly pro-ductive) and even hypereutrophic(very highly productive). Alberta alsohas a small number of oligotrophiclakes (relatively deep, clear, nutrient-poor, and less productive), and some

Mesotrophic Lake – above.

TYPES OF ALBERTA LAKES

The majority of Alberta’s lakes were formed as glaciers retreated. As a result of glacial action, shallow depressions were created in the earth’s surface, and when the glaciers melted thesedepressions became lakes.

In many Alberta lakes, the water isshallow and becomes cloudy andgreen in the summer. The nutrient-rich soil surrounding the lake is con-stantly eroding, and the lake is slow-ly filling in with sediments. Thereare many aquatic plants, and the fishare cool-water species such as perch

that are classified as mesotrophic (mid-

range levels of nutri-ents and productivity).

A LAKE’S AGING PROCESS

Lakes and the plants and ani-mals that live in and near lakes, are allpart of an ecosystem. An ecosystemincludes all the living things in a certain environment and their inter-actions with one another and withtheir habitat. Temperature, waterdepth, the amount of oxygen in thewater, the nutrients available to feedthe living things in the lake, andmany other factors all effect this complex ecosystem.

I own the property right to the water’s edge!

SHATTERING COMMON MYTHS

The vast majority of lakefront

property owners in Alberta do not own the land

right to the water’s edge. In fact, even if a Municipal or

Environmental Reserve doesn’t separate your lot from the

lake, the most lakeward extent of your property is usually the

bank of the water body. Very few exceptions exist. It doesn’t

matter what the real estate agent said, the land title will

tell you what you own and the survey plan will show you

visually the dimensions and extent

of your property. – Haekel 1996


Encouraged by sunlight and nutri-ents, aquatic plants, including algaeand macrophytes (large aquaticplants) grow in the water, providingfood and habitat for fish and otheranimals. When these aquatic plantsdie, they sink and decompose at thebottom of the lake.

A lake changes from open waterto wetland to dry land over a verylong time. This evolution usuallytakes many thousands of years,depending on, amongst other things,the initial depth of the lake. Thetransformation happens naturally asthe lake fills in with soil eroded fromthe watershed, and from the plantmaterials that decompose on thebottom. Eutrophic lakes are “old”lakes. They are well into the processof transforming from open, clearwater to wetland, and eventually toland.

HOW PEOPLE AFFECT

THE LIFE OF A LAKE

Some people believe that Alberta’slakes were crystal clear and free ofplants before the arrival of theEuropeans, but the evidence showsthat this was not so. Core samplestaken many meters down throughthe sediments at the bottoms ofAlberta lakes show that they havebeen fertile for thousands of years.The soils surrounding these lakes arevery fertile, and nutrients arecontinually being washedinto the lake.

However, eventhough manyAlberta lakes arenaturally eutroph-ic, we know thathuman activitieshave contributed tolower water qualityin these lakes over thepast 50 years. Too manynutrients (specifically phos-phorus and nitrogen) entering alake can upset the balance of the

lake’s ecosystem. We know thatclearing the land for agricultural orcottage development increases theflow of nutrients from the land intothe water. Many heavily developedlakes certainly have a greater supplyof nutrients now than ever before.Nutrients can be added to a lake inmany ways. Whether the lake onwhich you live is warm and rich innutrients or cold and clear, you andyour neighbours can have a tremen-dous effect on the biological balanceof the lake.

ACCELERATING THE AGING PROCESS

On a large scale, activitiessuch as farming, devel-

oping cottage lots,and dischargingindustrial ormunicipal wastesinto the lake canalter the biologi-cal balance of the

lake. These activi-ties increase erosion,

sedimentation, and theflow of nutrients into a

lake. High amounts of nutrientscan accelerate the natural eutrophi-cation process of the lake.

On a smaller scale, activities at thecottage can also add harmful nutri-ents to the lake. Nutrients such asphosphorus, a fertilizer, help yourlawn and garden grow. It follows thatthey also encourage the plants in thelake to grow. Increased growth ofaquatic plants can result in problemssuch as slime or foul-smelling oozethat may develop on the surface ofthe water. Dense mats of algae andother decaying vegetation may form.The lake water may start to tastestrange.

When algae and other aquaticplants die, they settle to the bottomof the lake and decompose, a processthat consumes dissolved oxygen inthe water. If a lake receives an excessof phosphorus (a plant food), usuallyfrom human activities, plant growthis accelerated and, when the plantsdie, the decomposition process usesup much of the oxygen in the water.If enough oxygen is used, it mayresult in fish kills. Even in deep, coldlakes, dissolved oxygen can bedepleted by algal decomposition.

Ontario has 250,000 fish-bearing

lakes, with 585,000 licensed anglers,

or 2.3 anglers per lake.

Saskatchewan has 94,000 fish-bearing lakes,

with about 184,000 licensed anglers,

or 1.9 anglers per lake.

Alberta has only 800 lakes with fish,

but 250,000 licenced anglers, or

312 anglers per lake. – Alberta Environmental

Protection 1997


We Are Not Alone

plant/algae growth, chronic erosion,deteriorating water quality, and aloss of fish and wildlife. We may noteven notice the changes at first.When they do become apparent, it isoften hard to associate the changes

Including lakes, rivers, and streams, only 2.5 percent

of Alberta is covered by water. The total number of lakes in Alberta is very small compared to that of our neighbour-ing provinces. Balanced against thisis the fact that the population ofAlberta in 1997 was greater than thatof Manitoba and two Saskatchewanscombined. Consequently, certainAlberta lakes have a concentratedlevel of development. In Alberta,shoreline is a valuable, preciousresource, particularly in this day and age.

Many people buy lakefront prop-erty with the intention of developingit to conform to preconceived ideasof what lakefront property should be.The shoreline is a narrow butextremely rich habitat for many ani-mals from insects to mammals.Unfortunately, it does not take muchto upset the balance of this ecosys-tem. One or two little “clean-up”projects on the shoreline may notseem like much, but multiply thenumber of your projects bythe number of lakefrontcottages, and it is adifferent picture.We are losing ournatural shorelinesbit by bit, beachby beach.

When addedtogether, individualchanges that seemsmall can result in largeproblems such as increased

difficult to fix the situa-tion. Natural ecosystemsare very complex. Although no one really

understands completely how they work, we do

understand parts of the puzzle. For example, we know that local fishpopulations in some lakes havedeclined drastically, in part becauseof indiscriminate removal of theaquatic plants that fish need forspawning and rearing their young.

DID YOU KNOW?

with our activities.Besides, it isalways easier toblame problemson someone else.The dilemma is

that by the time westart seeing that

things have gonewrong, it is often very

Putting all the parts of the puzzletogether is an ongoing task. We haveto understand that our very presencemakes a difference, and we do notalways know what that differencewill turn out to be.


The area we refer toas the shoreline is a

transitional zone betweenland and water, and it isaffected by what happenson the land and in the water.If you alter either land orwater, the other will be affected aswell. For the purposes of this book-let, the lands of the shoreline includeboth the riparian zone and the lit-toral zone.

The riparian zone is the strip ofmoisture-loving vegetation growingalong the edge of a natural water-body such as a river or lake. The lit-toral zone is the zone below thebank, and it includes the portion ofthe lake and its bed that is relatively

wildlife habitat. Forthis reason, it is pro-tected by a variety oflaws.

Ownership oflakeshore property is

limited to what isdefined by the land title.

People with lakefront propertyoften assume that they own the landright down to the water. This maynot be true. In almost all cases own-ership does not extend to the water’sedge or beneath the water. Veryoften a municipally owned andadministered environmentalreserve separates the lot from thelake. Environmental reserves areusually left in a natural state to

Anatomy of a Shoreline

well lit by the sun and which sup-ports photosynthetic plants. At mostAlberta lakes, the littoral zoneextends out to about the three-meterdepth interval. Within the lake, thelittoral zone sustains the greatestdiversity of plants and animals. Anatural shoreline area protectsagainst erosion and provides some ofAlberta’s most productive fish and

Cross-section showing the

location of the bank and the

ordinary high water line.

These indicate the legal

boundary of the lake bed.

At times, the bank is located

many metres away from

open water.

Source: Minnesota Extension Service 1993.

Record high water level

Water table Average water level

Ordinary high water level

Ordinary high water line

The bank

Shoreexact location varies

Littoral Zone – to approximately 3 metres deep

Record low water level

Bed


protect sensitive banks and shore-lines. They also allow for publicaccess to the lake. They cannot bealtered by lot owners without themunicipality’s permission.

With or without a reserve, andwith only rare exceptions, the areafrom the bank to the water is consid-ered public land. Survey plans forlakeshore subdivisions will indicatewhether the lakeside boundary of theproperty is at the bank (not thewater’s edge) or at the edge of areserve.

But where exactly is the bank?Determining the location of thebank can be difficult. That is why itis important that we all learn the“anatomy” of the shoreline. Failingto do so may lead us to changethings that legally are not ours tochange, and to some unpleasantresults.

WHAT IS THE BANK? WHAT IS THE SHORE?All lakes have a bank, shore, and bed.The bed is the land upon which thewater sits. The shore is that part ofthe lake below the bank, but abovethe present water level. It is the partof the lake bed that is exposed whenwater levels are low. When waterlevels are normal to high there may

be no shore at all, while at times oflow water there could be manymeters of shore. The bed and shoreof a lake are public lands owned bythe Crown.

The bank separates the shore andbed of a lake from “terrestrial” land.Water levels in lakes fluctuate natu-rally and tend to return to “normal”levels after periods of drought orperiods of above-bank flooding.“The location of the bank is notaffected by occasional periods ofdrought or flooding” (AlbertaEnvironmental Protection 1997). Inmost cases, the bank can be found bycareful examination of a shoreline.Look for a distinct line formed bynormal, continuous wave action orthe presence of water at the edge ofthe lake. It usually is distinguishedby a distinct change in the soiland/or vegetation, such as a changefrom sand or cobble to topsoil, orfrom aquatic and semi-aquatic vege-tation, or mostly “invader” landweed species such as nettles or this-tle, to purely terrestrial vegetation.Unless the lake level has been lowfor many years, trees will not befound growing on the lake bed, butwill be growing just above the bank.The bank separates public land fromadjacent land.

Shore –Public Land

Source: AEP, Guidelines for Lakeshore Use 1997.

Private lot

Private lot

Survey pin indicates the

location of theproperty line

Bank

Bank

Bank

WaterlineFluctuates

EnvironmentalReserve Owned and

administrated bymunicipality

I’m entitled to a view of the lake - I paid good money for my lot!


You are one of the few privileged land owners to

have a property directly next to a lake. However, this

does not entitle you to a view of that lake. If a municipally

owned reserve that is treed separates your lot from the

lake, you do not have the right to cut down the

vegetation on someone else’s property. – Haekel 1996

The Environmental Reserve is an extension of my property!

It is a common mis-belief that if Environmental

Reserves are “publicly” owned, then it’s an adjacent

landowners right to use this land for his enjoyment. Such

reserves are separate parcels of land titled to the municipality.

These parcels are created at the time the land is subdivided.

Unauthorized developments or use of reserve lands are a

trespass on another persons land. – Haekel 1996



CLUES TO FINDING THE BANK

Along with physical evidence, docu-mentary information such as aerialphotos and survey maps are usedwhen looking for the location of thebank. They show where the lakewater historically has interacted withthe land. Physical evidence of thebank includes, but is not limited tothe following:

� the point at which there is a dis-tinct change from aquatic orsemi-aquatic vegetation such ascattails and bulrushes, to uplandvegetation like shrubs and trees.Sometimes finding this locationcan be difficult. There may bemostly terrestrial plants growingin varying amounts on the shoreif the weather has been dry formany years, the lake level hasremained low, and terrestrialplants have successfully - tem-porarily - invaded the shoreland.In this situation, cattails and bul-rushes may be found near thewater’s edge, dozens of metersbelow the bank;

� a change in the character of thesoil, caused by surface water. Sandoften indicates the bed and shore,

whereas topsoil usually confirmsupland terrain, above the bank.After many years of low lake lev-els, the upper areas of the shoremay give the appearance of top-soil, but it will be found to bemuch thinner than terrestrial top-soil a short distance above thebank;

� a ridge of gravel or rocks high onthe beach that is created by long-continued wave action. Finematerials, such as sand, are

washed out into the lake bywaves, leaving the large materialsbehind. At low lake levels, a seriesof these might be found as onewalks from the water up thebeach, each one created by waveor ice action at a different lakelevel; the highest one may be atthe “true” bank.

(Adapted from Alberta EnvironmentalProtection and Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development 1995.)

In some cases, this line is not clear.The exact location of the bank canbe determined by an Alberta LandSurveyor. For more informationregarding the Crown’s ownershipand for help finding the location ofthe bank, contact your local PublicLands officer, or:

Land Research and Analysis SectionLand Services BranchLand Administration DivisionEnvironmental Protection9915 - 108 St. NW 2nd. FloorEdmonton, AB T5K 2C9phone: 427-3509

I can do what I want with my property once I’ve bought it!

Just like in the city, bylaws and

development restrictions limit what can and

cannot be done on private property. A permit

from the municipality’s (County or Summer

Village) development office is usually required

for all structural improvements, and for

permission to occupy or develop within

reserve lands. – Haekel 1996


PERMITS? I DIDN’TKNOW WE NEEDED

PERMITS!The Public Lands Act,Section 3, states that thebeds and shores of all natu-rally occurring lakes, rivers, andstreams, belong to the Governmentof Canada or (usually) to theProvince, unless your land title(rarely) specifically states that yourproperty does include the bed andshore.

affect the bed orshore of a lake, orthe environmentalreserve immediately

above the bank, shouldfirst inquire as to how

Canada’s water and fisherieshabitat protection laws, Alberta’s

public lands and water protectionlaws, and the municipality’s environ-mental reserve bylaws, could affecttheir plans.

FISH AND THE LAW

Protection of fish and their habitat isprovided for under the federalFisheries Act. Canada’s first FisheriesAct was drafted in 1867. It remains avery useful guide to ensure thatCanada’s fisheries, which belong toall the people of Canada, are pro-tected.

An important mandate of the

You Need a Permit!


Government agencies are increas-ingly enforcing existing regulationsto protect these public lands. Asmore and more people buy lakefrontproperty, and more and more ofthese small, fragile lake ecosystemsare damaged, there is a real need tolook at why regulations protectingthe shoreline exist, and to enforcethese regulations. Further, publicviewpoints are changing. It isbecoming socially unacceptable todevelop or damage sensitive shore-land areas.

Anyone planning work that might

Cottage owners often treat publicland as though it were their own.Some cottage owners may not realizethat it is illegal to modify environ-mental reserve lands without permis-sion from the municipal authority,and that it is illegal to alter the shoreor lake bed below the bank withoutpermission from provincial PublicLands and Water Management agen-cies. Other cottage owners may feelthat because a neighbour did it, theycan do it too. Not so! Keep in mindthat public lands are public. Work onthe bank, bed or shore may requirepermits before the project begins.

My cottage needs a sand beach to add value to the property!

If time and geology didn’t create a sand beach

naturally, it’s unlikely an artificial sand beach will

remain where you put it. Don’t waste your money

on replacing lost sand year after year -

use the public beach. – Haekel 1996


Fisheries Act is to protect fish habi-tat. Fish habitat includes not onlythe water in the lake, but also theplants and other life forms thatinteract to make fish life possible.The Fisheries Act defines this habi-tat as follows:

“Spawning grounds, and nursery,rearing, food supply and migra-tion areas on which fish dependdirectly or indirectly in order tocarry out their life processes.[Section 34(1)]” (Fisheries andOceans 1991).

To prevent damage to our fisheriesresources, the Fisheries Act (Canada)Section 35(1) states that no personshould do any work in or near thewater that would result in the harmor destruction of fish habitat. It con-tinues in Section 36(3) to advise thatno one shall place any material intothe water that would harm fish orfish habitat (Fisheries and Oceans1991). This forbids a wide range ofactivities, including the clearing ofaquatic vegetation, dumping sand,the dredging of sediment, or theremoval of bank materials.

The primary goal of the federalpolicy is “no net loss” of fish habitat.Alberta endorses this goal. Theintent of the law is that projects atthe shoreline, at best, produce a gainin fish habitat, and, at worst, produceno net loss of fish habitat.

The federal Department ofFisheries and Oceans, and theFisheries and Wildlife ManagementDivision of the provincialDepartment of EnvironmentalProtection, would rather preventdamage to habitat and avoid losses tothe fisheries resource, than to takecourt action against offenders whohave altered, destroyed, or degradedfish habitat. When violations occur,however, departmental enforcementofficers will carry out enforcementaction.

WATER AND THE LAW

The Province of Alberta also haslegislation concerning constructionnear or in water, whether or not thewater contains fish. The WaterResources Act requires that a permitbe obtained before building anythingthat might interfere with the conser-vation or management of water. Thenew Water Act (January 1999)strengthens the protection of theaquatic environment.

ENVIRONMENTAL RESERVES

Land identified as municipal reserveor environmental reserve is ownedby and is the responsibility of thelocal municipality (city, town, munic-ipal district, county, or summer vil-lage) within whose boundaries it lies.This booklet will only deal with theenvironmental reserves.

The Municipal Government Act,1994, Chapter M26.1, states thatenvironmental reserves can be creat-ed when land is subdivided andwhere that land is a natural drainagecourse, subject to flooding, unstable,or next to the bed and shore of alake, river, or stream. This Act alsostates that environmental reserves


should be left in their natural stateor used as public parks.

People who own lakefront proper-ty should check their survey plans tosee whether or not an environmentalreserve separates their property fromthe lake. Any subdivisions surveyedafter 1978 will have the environmen-tal reserves marked ER. If your sub-division plan shows a strip of landmarked R between your propertyand the lake, this stands for Reserve,and it is to be treated as environ-mental reserve.

Modification of environmentalreserves requires a developmentapproval from the municipality thatowns this land. Development withinenvironmental reserves must complywith established local bylaws.Developers must check the munici-pal zoning bylaws to ensure that theyare not in conflict with local regula-tions and to obtain a developmentpermit. To obtain informationregarding individual land titles,property boundaries, or subdivisionplans, contact the local municipalgovernment office.

As a lakefront property owner, I can keep people off “my” lakeshore and

restrict others from using my dock!

The beds and shores of most

lakes are Crown owned and therefore public

land for everyone to use. You cannot prevent the

public from using the shore or a reserve in front of your

cottage. Seasonal piers and boat lifts located on a lake bed

without a permit are technically (legally) a trespass on Crown

land. Any structure left on public land without authority could be

assumed by the public as an invitation for use. Although a pri-

vate structure, it would be difficult for a cottager to initiate a

civil action against someone else for using their pier.

– Haekel 1996

Note: the owner of such a structure

is, however, liable for it and its

use by others.



tion. Contractors may be liable for work done without the properpermits.

GETTING A PERMIT

Applying for a permit is not neces-sarily a complicated business, and itmay save you and the lake fromsome unpleasantries. In Alberta,shoreline projects require approvalfrom the Public Lands Branch ofAlberta Agriculture, Food and RuralDevelopment, and also from theWater Management Division ofAlberta Environmental Protection.These agencies have adopted a “onewindow” approach so that applyingto one means applying to the other,and also involves the FisheriesManagement Division of the NaturalResources Service. Complete an“Application for Lakeshore/WaterBody Modification” form, availablefrom your nearest Public Lands, orAlberta Environmental Protectionoffice. Every application must con-tain the following information:

� “a legal land description;

� a location plan, a site plan, and across-sectional sketch that showthe existing conditions of the siteand the proposed works in rela-tion to property lines;

� a letter explaining the proposal,why it is needed, and when it is tobe built; and

� the appropriate fee (if required) tocover the cost of processing theapplication”

(Alberta Environmental Protection 1997).

Apply for the permit well in advanceof when you would like to start theproject. It would be wise to apply inthe fall or winter for work to bedone the following summer. Youprobably will not be allowed to dowork in the water until after July 1,so as to not disturb spawning fish.

Proposals are reviewed for poten-

YES — YOU NEED A PERMIT

Before undertaking any project in,on, or near the water, check to see ifa permit is needed. A provincial per-mit is required before diverting(impounding or withdrawing) water,or the development of the followingstructures or modifications on lakebeds, shores and floodplains:

� “any projects (temporary or per-manent) involving the disturbanceor modification of a lake’s bed,shore, or floodplain;

� any projects that involve theplacement onto or the removal ofmaterial from the bed, shore, orfloodplain. This includes theremoval of pressure ridges causedby ice thrusts and the addition ofsand for beaches;

� any commercial development(temporary or permanent);

� the cutting or removal of aquaticvegetation;

� erosion protection, retainingwalls, groynes, breakwaters, andcauseways;

� permanent piers, boat launches,boathouses, and other improve-ments supporting these struc-tures;

� permanent waterline installationsinto or beneath the lake; and

� other permanent structures onthe bed, shore, or floodplain ofthe lake”


Anyone wishing to make any perma-nent changes on public lakeshoresmust have legal access to the relevantlakeshore before permission can begiven. Permits for lakeshore projectsmust be obtained before construc-tion begins. Contractors shouldensure that their clients have theproper permits. Copies of permitsmust be on the site during construc-

A lake or stream is a convenient place to dispose of sewage and waste water. Because it’s diluted, it won’t hurt anything!

Streams link surface runoff within a

watershed directly to some collection point like a lake.

Wastes diluted by water in a stream will enter a lake and

any nutrients dissolved in the water are then available

for algae growth. Wastes from cottage use can result in

a considerable input to the nutrient load

within a lake. – Haekel 1996


tial repercussions to the lake’s bedand shore, water quality, fish andwildlife habitat, and public access.The less disturbance the project hason the shoreline, the more likely it isthat a permit will be given. Consultwith these agencies to find environ-mentally safe ways to carry out yourproject. Advice from experts willhelp you do your work withoutharming the environment. It mayeven be possible to improve thehabitat. Following good advice willalso help you to avoid penaltiesresulting from failure to comply withprovincial legislation, or the federalFisheries Act.

Applicants are advised in writingwhen a project is rejected orapproved. The approval will containthe conditions under which the proj-ect may be constructed. For moreinformation about the need forshoreline permits in Alberta, contactthe nearest regional Public Lands, orAlberta Environmental Protectionoffice.

RIPARIAN RIGHTS -MISUNDERSTOOD RIGHTS

People often ask about riparianrights. What are they? Do we ownthem? Some people assume that hav-ing riparian rights enables them todo whatever they want on the shore-line without a permit. This is nottrue. Riparian rights are much morelimited in nature. Riparian rights donot confer ownership of the bed orthe shore or the water on the holderof the right, nor do they conferdevelopment privileges.

In common law, a person whoowns land adjacent to water has cer-tain rights to access and usethe water. The commonlaw rights of an adja-cent landowner toaccess and use thewater are knownas riparian rights.The terms “ripar-ian rights” and“common lawrights” are some-times used inter-changeably in reference


to an adjacent landowner’s right toaccess and use the water. Riparianrights were modified by the WaterResources Act, and were modified fur-ther on January 1, 1999, when thenew Water Act came into force.

Riparian rights also include theright of an adjacent landowner tolands formed by accretion. Accretionis the natural process where newland forms upon the bank of a lake,river or stream. For accretion tooccur, the accreted land must havebeen exposed over a long period oftime in an imperceptible manner.Accretion does not occur when a

landowner has intentionallyproduced accretion

through artificialmeans. Accretion

does not occurduring periods ofdrought or lowwater. If accretionhas truly occurred,

an adjacentlandowner may

apply to the Registrarof Land Titles to amend

the description of the parcel toinclude the accreted land. Ownershipof the bed and shore of the lake,river or stream will remain vested inthe Crown, and will require a permitbefore any developments may beconstructed or other alterations maybe made.

IGNORING THE RULES

CAN BE COSTLY

Damaging the bed and shore of alake, or the environmental reserve, isnot being tolerated. Infractions mayresult in a fine as well as you beingrequired to reclaim the land back toits original state. This will ofteninvolve a lot of hard work, greatexpense, or both.

As an indication of what couldhappen, consider the effects of unau-thorized activities (for example, treeremoval, slope grading, installation


of a beach, and planting of a lawn)that damaged a significant part ofthe environmental reserve andextended out onto the dry lake bedand into the shallow water of a fish-bearing lake.

1. The County, Municipal District,or Summer Village that ownedthe environmental reserve would,through their bylaws, order recla-mation of that land to the originalslopes and vegetation type, andmay impose a fine.

2. Public Lands Branch and WaterManagement Division wouldorder removal of all foreign mate-rial (such as earth fill that wouldeventually erode into the water)from the Crown owned bed andshore. They would require stabi-lizing of the up-slope areas,including private land if neces-sary, to prevent further erosiononto the public land and into the

lake. They might require seedingwith a native seed mix or plantingnative plants on the damagedshore lands and shallows or mightallow those areas to revegetatenaturally depending on the set-ting. Fines might also be imposedfor unauthorized use of the landand for excavation and placing fillon the Crown land with no per-mits.

3. Fisheries Management may rec-ommend laying of charges underthe federal Fisheries Act fordestruction of fish habitat, andthat could result in court pro-ceedings and similar or additionalreclamation orders and finesimposed by the courts.

When all was said and done, thepeople who committed the intrusionand damage would have achieved lit-tle if any of their original objectivesand would have brought upon them-

selves a very expensive clean-up andreclamation task.

Three broad principles apply indealing with such infractions:(a) the perpetrator of the damage to

public property, resources, andvalues should not ultimately beallowed to benefit from causingsuch damage. If the perpetrator is“rewarded” for such harmfulbehaviour, others will be encour-aged to follow suit;

(b) the lake shoreline must bereclaimed to a stable, non-erod-ing configuration; and

(c) the reclamation that is put inplace should quickly provide thehabitat values and water qualityprotection that are equivalent toor better than what was originallyat the site of the damage. Thelake’s many values should not bedegraded as a result of the dam-age and reclamation.

Your project may seem minor inthe vast scheme of things, but thecumulative effect of “minor” projectsundertaken by you and all yourneighbours can be devastating to thelake. Think about whether the proj-ect is absolutely necessary. If it is,consider how you can do the work inthe most environmentally friendlyway, and set it all out in your permitapplication. In the long run, we, andthe lake, will all be better off for it.


HAVE A LITTLE RESPECT

Most of us have learnedto hate the aquatic plantsin a lake. When peopleare inconvenienced byaquatic vegetation dur-ing their recreationalactivities, they may feelthat the lake is being over-come by these plants. Cottagersmust put things into perspective. A lake is not a backyard swimmingpool. “A lake is a community ofmany living things — plants, fish,wildlife — connected in a complexecosystem” (Ontario Ministry ofEnvironment and Energy 1993, Vol.4). Aquatic plants play the same crit-ical role in the lake ecosystem as dotrees in the forest and grasses on theprairie.

When cottagers first came tomost Alberta lakes, the lakes hadaquatic plants in them and they wereringed by sedges, rushes, and cattails.The water was likely cleaner than itis today, and populated by numerousfish, frogs, and waterfowl. This wasthe normal state of our lakes. Today,after decades of cutting and improp-er treatment of these “weeds,” thequality of water in many Albertalakes is deteriorating and fewer fish,birds, and animals live in and aroundthe lakes. It is time to recognize theimportant role that so-called“weeds” have in the lake.

amphibians, reptiles, and other animals.

We may feel thatmacrophytes are a nui-sance, but in addition totheir importance to fish

and wildlife, they helpstabilize shorelines and

lake bottoms, reduce erosionby suppressing wave action, and

help maintain good water quality.Macrophytes take up nutrients in thelake that would otherwise be left forunwanted algae growth.

Algae are the microscopic plantsthat float or are suspended in thewater. Like other plants they acquireenergy from sunlight, but, becausethey have no roots into soil or bot-tom material they obtain their nutri-ents from the water itself. Algaeform part of the base of a lake’s foodchain. They provide food for micro-scopic animals, which in turn pro-vide food for fish and other aquaticlife.

AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION — A POUND OF CURE

Generally, the benefits that algae andmacrophytes offer a lake far out-weigh the inconveniences. At times,however, excessive aquatic plantgrowth can upset the biological bal-ance of the lake ecosystem. Algaethrive under conditions of highnutrient concentrations. If a lakebecomes very fertile, or nutrient-rich, it may have rapid growth(blooms) of green and blue-green

Weeds!“. . . A WEED IS JUST A FLOWER OUT OF PLACE” - RALPH WALDO EMERSON

TYPES OF AQUATIC PLANTS

The large aquatic plants that weoften call weeds are properly namedmacrophytes, meaning “plants largeenough to be seen with the nakedeye.” Most, but not all, are rootedplants that obtain most of theirnutrients (food) from sediments inthe lake bed. Some macrophytes aresubmergent (the plant is underwa-ter, although some leaves may floaton the surface), some are emergents(most of their foliage is on or abovethe water surface), and others (e.g.,duckweed) are floating plants thateasily drift on the water surface.

Macrophytes provide oxygen,food, and shelter for fish. They alsoprovide spawning and rearing habi-tat. A number of fish species rely onrooted aquatic plants for the repro-duction and rearing of their young.Northern pike, for example, attachtheir eggs to the stalks of bulrushesand other submerged vegetation.These plants also support wildlife.Many animals, including moose, feedon them. Macrophyte beds providehiding and nesting sites for birds,

Aquatic plants in front of my lot have to go. These “weeds” decrease the quality of my lake

and value of my cottage property!

Many people consider aquatic

plants like cattails and reeds as “weeds” and a

nuisance. These plants, however, play an important

ecological role in maintaining the health of our lakes. They

stabilize the bed and shore, reduce soil movement and erosion,

and are important habitat areas for fish, waterfowl and other

wildlife. Aquatic plants also make use of nutrients in lakes

that would otherwise contribute to unwanted algae growth.

Too much growth, however, limits boat access to open

water. In such cases, a boat lane may be cut

through heavy stands of aquatic plants.

A permit is required. – Haekel 1996



gents), to enter the lake. Nutrientsalso leak into the lake from septicsystems.

Cottage owners can help reducethe nutrient input into lakes bymaintaining a strip of well-vegetatedland between any cleared areas andthe water, and by repairing orupgrading septic systems and notusing fertilizers. Cottagers andrecreational users of lakes can alsoput pressure on local governments tocontrol agricultural runoff andindustrial effluent entering lakes.

SHORT-TERM CONTROL OF

EXCESSIVE AQUATIC PLANTS

Occasionally, some control of aquaticplants may be necessary to create aboat lane to open water, or to main-tain a community beach and swim-ming area. Random, unrestrictedremoval of aquatic plants by cottageowners, however, can harm the lakeenvironment and disrupt the ecolog-ical role of these plants in providingfish habitat and in maintaining waterquality. Aquatic plants are consideredto be fish habitat and are protectedunder the federal Fisheries Act.Except for very small-scale handremoval of aquatic vegetation, theremoval of aquatic plants from theprovincially owned bed of the lakerequires a permit from Public Landsor Water Management Division.

The preferred way for an individ-ual cottager to control macrophytesis to remove some, but not all of

them. To remove some veg-etation, manually pull

out plants, or use ascythe. This is prac-tical for smallareas, and is per-haps the leastdamaging form ofplant control. Be

sure to remove thepulled or cut plants

from the lake.Mechanized, self-pro-

algae. These blooms are most com-mon in central Alberta lakes fromlate June to mid-September. In mostlakes they last for two to threeweeks, but can persist throughoutthe summer and early fall if theweather stays sunny and warm.Besides being aesthetically unappeal-ing, such as when masses of algaewash up on the shore, algae can betroublesome in other ways. Althoughlive algae produce oxygen, thedecomposition of dead algae con-sumes oxygen dissolved in the water.Occasionally, decomposing algaemay reduce oxygen levels to theextent that fish suffocate and die.Decomposing blue-green algae alsorelease toxins into the water which,if ingested in large quantities, can betoxic and lethal to animals, includingpeople.

Excessive aquatic plant growthand algae blooms can be worsenedby human activity around a lake. Anincrease in the amount of sedimentswashing out of the watershed andinto the lake, bringing nutrients,

occurs when people clear theirshoreline areas of natural vegetation.“Improving” the natural shoreline(e.g., by bringing in sand or fill) cancause a problem with sediment input.The only practical, long-term solu-tion is to reduce the amount of sedi-ment and nutrients entering the lake.

The best way to combat sedimentinput is to keep the shoreline intact.Do not clear away vegetation nearthe lake. Instead, consider plantingeven more vegetation. Plants such aswillows and dogwood offer verygood erosion control.

As serious a problem as sediment input isnutrient loading.Nutrients are con-tinually washinginto a lake fromits watershed, butcottagers add tothis when theyallow extra nutri-ents, particularlyphosphorus (found infertilizers and most deter-

A highly manicured lot in front of my cottage is the best way to landscape a lot. Regular fertilizing

of the lawn at my lake shore property won’t affect the quality of the lake!

A highly manicured grass lawn

is high maintenance! Think how much

work it is in the city. Remember, you are at the cot-

tage to escape the chores and demands of city life. Never

fertilize at the lake. Fertilizers promote grass growth and

increase the maintenance required to keep it in check. Excess

fertilizer ends up washing into the lake where it contributes to

algae growth. Maintain your yard with as much natural vegeta-

tion as possible (it doesn’t need to look wild). Landscape your

lot based on your recreational needs. Most people don’t need

nor regularly use 1000 square feet of lawn. A sitting

and play area with a good path to the water

should provide more than enough week-

end work. – Haekel 1996



nity beaches are exceptions, whereconcentrated recreational opportuni-ties for many people are provided bymeans of beach manicuring and veg-etation removal. On the other hand,in certain parts of certain lakes noaquatic vegetation removal is allowedbecause of its very good, perhapslocalized, importance for fish.

For recreational cottage areas,permits usually can be obtained stip-ulating the following conditions:

� aquatic plant control is limited toa maximum width of 4 metersadjacent to a temporary pier, andto a boat lane that provides accessto open water, is perpendicular tothe lakeshore and not more than4 meters wide.

� controlling rooted aquatic plantsis restricted to a single cut afterJuly 1 to prevent the loss ofspawning or nesting habitat. This

pelled cutters are sometimes usedwhen several cottagers get togetherto do some plant control in front ofmore than one property. Typically,machine operators are hired to dothe cutting. Depending on the typeof machine used, mechanized cutterscan cause much more damage thanmanual techniques. It is important toknow that cutting these plants stimu-lates further growth (similar to mow-ing a lawn).

Regardless of the method used,authorized aquatic plant cutting willbe limited to what is necessary forthe intended project. The primaryreason for issuing a permit toremove aquatic vegetation is to allowfor boat access to open water. But if,in front of a lot, 25 per cent or moreof the waterfront offers clear accessto open water, no permission to cutadditional vegetation would begiven. Provincial Park and commu-

timing ensures that the reproduc-tive cycles of fish and waterfowlare mostly complete before thearea is disturbed.

� cutting must be less than 1 meterfrom the water’s surface.

� disturbance to the bed and shoreof the lake while cutting is to beminimized. Stirring up sedimentin the water releases nutrients andmay contribute to future algaegrowth problems.

� all plant cuttings are to beremoved from the water andshore area as the plants are cut.Plant cuttings can take root andgrow again. If they die and sink tothe bottom of the lake, theyremove oxygen from the water asthey decompose. They are to bedisposed of in such a way thatthey cannot reenter the water ordecay on the shore. They may becomposted.

Chemicals are sometimes used tokill aquatic plants, but chemical useis restricted because of environmen-tal and health concerns.Unfortunately, many chemicals aretoxic to other forms of life, includingfish and fish food organisms, andtheir use can often create moreproblems than it solves. Chemicalmethods of plant control are prohib-ited within 30 meters of any waterbody in Alberta, except by speciallylicensed operators.

Either large plants or smallplants will flourish if nutrientsand oxygen are present in thewater. “As a rule of thumb, rootedaquatic plants will be dominantover algae if the area colonized bythese plants covers 40 percent ormore of the lake’s bottom”(McComas 1993).


To determine what plants to use,find an undisturbed area of theshoreline and see what is growingthere. Seed can be collected fromthese native plants, and planted onyour lot in areas with similar waterand soil conditions. If you takeplants out of a natural area, be care-ful not to deplete it. Never takemore than 10 per cent of the plantsout. Plants will look more natural ifplanted in groups rather than inrows. Aquatic plants are sometimesavailable from a local nursery. For alist of native plant nurseries, contactthe:

Alberta Native Plant CouncilGarneau P. O. Box 52099Edmonton, AB T6G 2T5

most nuisance exotics, it has nolocal insects, diseases, or grazingspecies to control its population,so it out-competes native plants.Purple loosestrife has become aserious problem in lakes acrossNorth America.

IT’S NEVER TOO LATE: RESTORING

THE NATURAL BALANCE

If the lake bed in front of your lothas been routinely “deforested,” hereare some things you can and shoulddo to help turn back the clock onwater quality deterioration and lossof fish habitat:

� Do nothing. Allow aquatic plantsto come back on their own. Theywill.

� Instead of cutting all the plants tomake a near shore swimmingarea, cut a 4-meter-wide pathwayout to clear water and anchor aswimming raft there, or use acommon area already maintainedby the municipality.

� If you must do something anddecide that you want to re-plant,use only plant species native toyour lake. Importing plants fromother lakes is potentially danger-ous. Transplanted plant speciescan grow out of control andbecome a nuisance. For example,purple loosestrife is an exotic thatspreads primarily by abundantseed production and by brokenstems that root in moist soil. Like

A single boat channel


Ask any biologist the best way to make shoreline

alterations and they will probably answer “don’t”. Yet, many of you reading this booklet have probablychanged your shoreline, some extensively, and maybe you think it looksgreat. Perhaps though, youare starting (or continuing)to have erosion problems, or your “beach” just keepswashing away, and certainly, you are spending a lot more time working at the lake than you everexpected. As well as being time consuming and expensive, projectssuch as retaining walls and artificialbeaches damage the shoreline.

In this section, we will look at thefunction of the shoreline and talkabout why maintaining this area in anatural state is so important. We will also tell you about moreenvironmentally friendly ways tomake changes to this sensitive environment, if changes are wanted.

LET NATURE DO THE WORK

Remember that both riparian and littoral zones are included in ourdefinition of the shoreline area. A natural shoreline usually has trees,shrubs, and other plants growingright down to the water’s edge andbeyond, providing shade and shelterfor fish, insects, and other creatures.

Healthy shoreline vegetationzones, or buffer strips, provideexcellent habitat for wildlife, supply-

ing food, cover, and shelter, alongwith easy access to water. Songbirds,nesting waterfowl, upland gamebirds, aquatic furbearers such asmuskrat and beaver, and big-gameungulates depend on this vegetationfor their survival. And there is theadded bonus of greater privacy forcottagers.

Shoreline vegetation also acts as afilter by trapping sediment and slow-ing runoff that can carry nutrientsand chemicals (pesticides) into thelake. The dense, interlocking rootsof these plants also hold the soil inplace, and stabilize the bank. Theunderlying, saturated soil of theshoreline allows these moisture-lov-ing plants and trees to grow. If theshoreline is damaged, for example,by excessive clearing of vegetation, itcan turn into an unbeneficial erodedzone. The wider the buffer strip, thegreater the benefits it provides. Anideal buffer strip extends a minimumof 30 meters from the bank.

CONSEQUENCES OF AN

ALTERED SHORELINE

Lakes in a natural state arerelatively stable ecosystems.

Destructive practices in theshoreline area contribute tothe overall degradation of the lake environment. Whenthe natural vegetation hasbeen altered or removed toaccommodate artificialstructures or landscapes,

the lake will deterioratemore rapidly. Without natural

lakefront vegetation the followingoccurs:

� increased erosion; waves and currents can cause the bank tocollapse or erode into the water,

� an increased amount of silt enter-ing the water, covering fish-spawning beds and killing aquaticbottom life,

� fertilization of the lake by nutri-ent-rich rainwater runoff that isnormally used by the shorelinevegetation for their growth. Thisenrichment can contribute to anincrease in aquatic plant growthand algae blooms,

� a loss of valuable fish and wildlifehabitat,

� a loss of privacy for lakefrontproperty owners, and

� an overall loss of the natural scenic beauty of the lake.

Shoreline Alterations“THE FIRST RULE OF INTELLIGENT TINKERING IS TO SAVE ALL THE PARTS.”

- ALDO LEOPOLD

A septic field is good enough for getting rid of sewage and grey water!

This may have been true with limit-

ed development and when a lake cottage was only

a weekend cabin receiving occasional use, but today we

are living at the lake year round and in permanent homes.

Septic fields can be effective in dealing with limited amounts of

solid waste but are less effective at containing liquid wastes.

Nutrient rich liquid wastes can move through soil and into

our lakes. It is recommended, at the very least, that

pump-out holding tanks be used instead. –

Haekel 1996


PROTECTING THE SHORELINE

There are a number of things peoplecan do to prevent damaging shore-line habitat.

� Avoid removing tree cover or anyother vegetation between thedeveloped area and the lake. Ifyou do want to remove sometrees to improve your view of thelake, be selective. Eliminate asfew trees as possible. Even heavilydeveloped backshores can stillleave lakes looking natural ifchanges are made in an environ-mentally friendly way.

� Do not create a beach wherenone existed before. It will notwork over the long run. Artificialbeaches usually wash away.Creating beaches by dumpingsand or other materials on thelake bed and shore requires a per-mit because it alters the naturalcharacteristics of the lake and cannegatively affect water quality andfish habitat. Imported sand canintroduce nutrients into the lake,increasing algae growth. Insteadof bringing in sand, build a “float-ing beach” — a floating dock orswimming platform will give yousome of the same amenities as abeach, but with a lot less damageto the environment. Considerbuilding a “beach” in a largesandbox, set well back on yourlot.

� If you rake plants out of thewater, or back from the waterline,make sure that you remove thementirely from the shore instead ofleaving them to rot and returnnutrients to the lake.

� If there are rocks in front of yourproperty, leave them. They actu-ally help stabilize your beach, andprovide habitat for aquatic insectsand fish. If you must removesome for better swimming, or toprotect boat propellers, movethem selectively, by hand.

� When creating a boat lane, trycreating a joint access channelwith several neighbours, or gettogether with a neighbour toshare a dock and boat access.

� When building a dock, considerfloating, cantilever, or post-sup-ported docks. These structureswill minimize damage to theexisting lake bottom, and do notrestrict the movement of fish andwildlife.

� Build your boathouse back fromthe shore, and use a winch to takethe boat out of the water.

� Rather than building a retainingwall to control erosion at theshoreline, keep existing vegeta-tion and add new plants, such asshrubs and small trees. For mostproperties that slope toward thewater, leaving the natural shore-line area undisturbed is the bestand least expensive protectionagainst erosion.

� Use stairs or a meandering path(maximum 2 meters wide) onslopes leading to the water. Makerainwater flow off the path, not

straight down it into the lake. Try to keep the path or the slopebeneath stairs vegetated, versusdirt, sand, or gravel.

� Leave natural ice ridges in place(they slow meltwater runoff intothe lake).

� Do not wash vehicles, dogs,clothes, hair, or dishes in the lake.Carry out these activities inside oras far back from the shore as pos-sible. Both soap and dirt containnutrients that the lake does notneed.

� Do not dump water from anothersource into the lake.

� Drive motor boats slowly in shal-low water. Disturbance of nutri-ent-rich bottom sediments fertil-izes the water above them.Motorized vehicles are also verydisturbing to fish and waterfowl.

� Never put fuel or garbage intothe lake, or on the ice in winter,and remember to clean up afterice fishing.



PERMITS ARE REQUIRED

Before you start any work along theshoreline, remember that the shoresand beds of almost all Alberta lakesare public lands. Make sure that youhave a permit from Public Lands orWater Management Division. Thispermit requirement applies to any-thing you may want to build or alter

on the bed or shore, includingimporting sand and controlling erosion. Unauthorized projects maybe investigated, require restoration,and/or result in fines.

Structures that do not disturb thebed and shore of the lake may beerected on lake beds without author-ization. “Examples of these include

small removable piers or docks, andboat lifts. These structures are forseasonal use only, must not preventpublic access along the shore, andmust be completely removed fromthe lake bed or shore before winter”


Damaged shoreline – right. All

vegetation has been removed and

sand has been brought in, creat-

ing an unappealing, very sterile

shoreline.

The same shoreline – left, with

natural vegetation allowed to grow

in. Allowing natural vegetation to

grow in will result in an interesting

shoreline and create habitat for

fish, frogs, birds and other animals.


What you do in the water and on the

shoreline is important to the health of your lake. So is what happens on yourlot. Yes, this area is private,and it belongs to you, but what you do here can affect public landand water nearby.

STOP FEEDING THE LAKE

We know that adding nutrients to alake speeds up its natural agingprocess. Unless a great deal of care istaken, cottagers may contribute tonutrient loading of the lake everytime a toilet is flushed, clothes arewashed, or the lawn is fertilized.Recreational activities on or near thelake can also contribute to this.Fortunately, there are things thatpeople can do to ensure that they arenot contributing to nutrient “over-load” of the lake.

� Be sure your septic tank/wastewater system is working correctly.Is it built and maintained accord-ing to municipal bylaws? Can yousee evidence that your septic fieldis leaking or malfunctioning? Ifyou have an outhouse, is it as farback from the shore as possible,and dug in proper soil (not sand)?Is your pump-out tank intact? Do you know where pumped-outmaterial is being disposed?

� Reduce or stop your use of prod-ucts containing phosphorus.Septic tank systems do not breakdown or dilute phosphorus — it

� Consider nativevegetation as a quality alternative toturf grass lawns. Landwill revert to a naturalstate if no maintenanceis performed. Natural

vegetation is “best” because it isadapted to the local climate andusually has strong, well- estab-lished root systems that providebetter erosion control and water-cleaning ability. It also offersmore typical habitat for wildlifeand is more resistant to pests anddisease, and occasional flooding.

� Consider making your lawnsmaller. Let a buffer strip of wildgrass or other plants grow upbetween the lawn and the lake.Planting trees and shrubs in thisarea will create habitat for a vari-ety of birds and wildlife.Evergreens may be a good choicefor planting near the shorelinebecause they will screen buildingsfrom view during all seasons.

The best buffer strip ismature woodland with

undisturbed grass andshrub layers.

On Your Lot

ends up in the ground around thecottage, and eventually, in thelake.

� Use liquid dishwashing detergentfor hand washing and dishwashers— it has one-third the phosphatecontent of powders. Wash dishesonce a day, and cut down on dish-washer use at the cottage.

� Buy and use laundry detergentwith a low-phosphate or no-phos-phate content.

� Do not remove all the trees,shrubs, and other natural vegeta-tion that grow on your property.They are valuable. They reducesoil erosion and therefore protectthe lake waters. Vegetation slowsdown runoff and naturally fil-ters rain water fromroads, parking lots,patios, and cot-tage roofs. Italso takes upsome of thosenutrients thatreach theground waterfrom your septictank system.


� If you have a lawn never use fer-tilizers. Commercial fertilizersmake the lawn greener, but theyalso run into the lake and fertilizethe algae and other aquatic plantsgrowing there.

� Rake and remove leaves fromlawn and garden areas from whichthe leaves or their breakdownproducts will rot and end up inthe lake.

� Compost grass clippings or veg-etable wastes, such as corn husks,pea pods, or other plant materialaway from the lake. Never putthese materials into the water.

� In wooded areas, do not rakeleaves or other forest floor debris;leave them to help trap and filterwater.

� Never plant your garden on aslope leading toward the lake;accelerated soil erosion andrunoff can occur. Bare soil is anutrient source.

� Create meandering paths andtrails to screen buildings fromview from the lake and to slowdown the flow of nutrient-carry-ing rain water into the lake. Paths should be no more thantwo meters wide. A winding,

vegetated path aids in preventingerosion.

� Plan paths and roads with moderate or gentle slopes.

� Never dispose of any motor oil orother petroleum products ondriveways or roads, or downdrains. Most petroleum productsare high in phosphorus and contain toxins. Motor oil can berecycled. Take it to a service sta-tion that collects used motor oil.

� When cattle are allowed to defecate near water, they can addlarge amounts of nutrients tolakes or to creeks draining intolakes. Their hooves break downbanks, promoting erosion. Theyshould not be allowed directaccess to the lake or to inflowcreeks near the lake. Use alternatewatering techniques; they doexist.

� Treat creeks near or on yourproperty as you would the lake.Creeks surrounding lakes carrynot only water, but also largequantities of nutrients.

Improving lake water quality is not a simple task, but reducingnutrient inflow definitely helps. If you see any problems that youcan’t fix yourself, contact the appropriate government agency. The fewer nutrients from outsidesources that enter a lake, the“healthier” it will be.

To open water

A community boat channel


Erosion of the bankis a common prob-

lem at lakefront lots. Aswe continually removevegetation in an attemptto “clean up” our proper-ty, erosion can becomemore and more of a problem.When cottage owners see erosion,they often try to stop it using unnat-ural materials such as tires and brickwalls. Wouldn’t you rather look attrees and shrubs, and the birds andanimals that come with them?

Generally, erosion is a majorproblem only on properties wherethe shoreline has been altered. Evensmall ripples can erode banks thathave had their protective vegetationremoved. Remember, natural vegeta-tion has been withstanding erosionat the lake for hundreds, if not thou-sands, of years.

CONTROLLING EROSION

The best thing to do about erosion isto prevent it, or at least to reduceproblems as soon as possible.

� Keep natural vegetation, naturalrocks, and wave-hardened sand inplace. They help hold the soil andshoreline in place and reduce ero-sion, especially on steep slopes,but also on wave-washed beaches.Limit the planting of turf grass tohigh traffic areas. Turf grass hasfew protective soil-holding prop-erties.

� Keep heavy objects away from thebank. They may weaken theground there and cause it tobreak away and slip into thewater.

� The routes that people and vehi-cles use to reach the water shouldbe only at locations where theland is very stable.

There are two main methods forprotecting damaged shorelinefrom further erosion. Such workprobably will require an approvalif it is on an environmentalreserve, may require a permit ifthe work extends to the bed andshore, and may also require con-siderable effort and expense.

1. Nonstructural Methods:- reshaping (sloping) the bank;- aquascaping; and

2. Structural Methods:- protecting the bank with armourmaterial.

NONSTRUCTURAL

METHODS

Bank Sloping: Flatterslopes reduce the energy

of crashing waves. Slopesof 3 to 1 (horizontal to ver-

tical) are preferred, but somebenefits can be obtained at

slopes of 5 to 1. Planting vegetationon the reshaped bank will help stabi-lize and protect it. One drawback ofcontouring a gradual slope is thatsome loosened materials may bewashed into the water by runoff andwave action before new vegetationcan stabilize it. Some maintenancemay be required.

Aquascaping: Planting aquatic vegetation to stabilize shorelines(aquascaping) has become popular ineastern Canada. This technique canbe difficult on shorelines where a lotof wave action occurs. If you decideto aquascape, choose a combinationof plants native to the lake. Do notintroduce or use exotic plants. Usesubmerged or emergent vegetationto stabilize soil from the lake side.Aquascaping enhances wildlife andfish habitat and blends naturally intothe landscape. Some maintenancewill probably be required at first.

Erosion


STRUCTURAL METHODS

Shorelines can be protected againsterosive wave action by placing rocksor other inert materials against thebank. This type of protection iscalled a revetment. Revetments canbe divided into two categories:

1. Flexible structures including;a) Riprap — which consists

of large washed stones or gravel placed on a natural slope or on an artificially graded shore, and

Shoreline Erosion – left. All natural

vegetation (aquatic and terrestrial)

was removed from the shoreline.

Grass was planted to the existing

water’s edge. In high water years,

wave action cut away under the turf,

resulting in the loss of feet of property.

b) Gabions — which are rectangular wire mesh baskets that hold large washed rocks. Individual baskets are wired together. This type of revetment is most appropriate for areas without much foot traffic. The wire mesh may require occasional maintenance.

2. Rigid structures (such as retainingwalls). Rigid structures are notrecommended by Alberta

Environmental Protection exceptin public use areas, such as marinas.

In constructing a revetment, several criteria must be met. For example, a filter cloth must beanchored behind the revetment toprevent the loss of fine grain materi-al into the lake. When you receivethe permit for your erosion controlproject, it will include advice fordesigning and installing the revet-ment. Follow this advice.

Erosion protection – right, using

riprap, aquatic and terrestrial

vegetation. All the components will

work together to “protect” the bank.

The aquatic plants will dampen wave

action. The riprap will armour the

vulnerable bank, keeping the waves

from carrying away soil. The roots of

the shrubs behind the bank will also

help to hold the soil on the bank in

place.


BUYER BEWARE

If you are contemplatingbuying a cottage at thelake, consider the following:

� Do not buy someoneelse’s environmentalheadaches. Altered shore-lines, as well as being dam-aging to the lake environ-ment, are often troublesomeand expensive to maintain.Natural shorelines are very resist-ant to erosion, whereas waveaction wreaks havoc on altered,cleared shorelines.

� Select a property in a subdivisionthat respects environmentalreserves, and be mindful of howyour potential neighbours treattheir shorelines. Often, problemscaused by one alteration effect alarger area.

� Consider what you want in aproperty, and then find a parcelthat meets your needs, ratherthan thinking that a property canbe greatly modified to suit yourdesires. If you want a sandybeachfront, do not purchase aproperty with a soft, weedy shore-line. Instead, buy property front-ed by a natural sand beach.Attempts to alter natural condi-tions are often futile, expensive,and environmentally harmful.Think about how you can live inharmony with the lake, ratherthan how the lake can be made tosuit you.

SUMMING UP - MAKING A DIFFERENCE

The condition of alake reflects what is hap-pening on the landaround it. Our activitiestoday will determinewhether our children will

be able to enjoy these lakesas we have. As increasing

numbers of people seek relieffrom the stresses of city life,

pressure on our lakes will continueto increase. Cottage owners and visi-tors to the lake must learn to under-stand and prevent the damage thispressure may cause. Ignoring the“health” of the shorelands willinevitably result in ruining the lakeas a supply of drinking water, theloss of the lake for swimming, andthe destruction of fish and wildlifehabitat.

If the aesthetic value of having acottage has to do with having achange from city life, natural habitatshould be preferable to manicuredlawns anyway. People often arguethat they have to keep their yardsshipshape to maintain their propertyvalues, but, in the long run, what willhappen to property values if thelakeshore is monotonous and sterile,if the bank is eroding away, and thewater quality of the lake is declining?Property value can, in fact, increaserather than decrease when naturalhabitat is protected.

By being careful and responsible,and by thinking about the conse-

Final Notes

ESTABLISHED OWNERS: SIT BACK — RELAX

If you own lakeshore property thathas been “improved,” considerrestoring the shoreline back to itsnatural state. Often the best way todo this is to do nothing. Thinkabout it — no more (or at least a lotless) mowing, cutting, digging, haul-ing. . . . Gives you a lot more timefor relaxing, doesn’t it?

If you still really want that lawn,consider a compromise. Erect asmall fence or grow a hedgerow thatperhaps cuts the existing lawn inhalf. Let the half nearest the waterrevert to native vegetation. Leavedead trees on your property to pro-vide shelter, nesting sites, and foodfor woodpeckers, wood ducks, andother species found along the shore-line. Plant some trees and shrubsand enjoy them as they grow.


quences of our actions, we can allhelp to keep the lake surroundingsbeautiful and healthy.

Please remember, even if you doown property down to the bank, thebed and shore of a lake do notbelong to you. They are public prop-erty, belonging to all the people ofAlberta. If your land is separatedfrom the lake by an environmentalreserve, this reserve is not yourproperty either, but belongs to thepeople of your municipality. Be care-ful to avoid embarrassing and costlymistakes. Get the proper authoriza-tion before any alterations to theseareas are made.

We see that there are good rea-sons to keep shorelines in a naturalstate, and we know why laws exist toprotect these lands, but some of therecommendations in this booklet arenot laws, but are just that — recom-

mendations to better care for thelake. Cottagers must be responsible,practice conservation, and encouragetheir neighbours to do the same.Form a cottage association. Thiswould provide an arena for dis-cussing concerns about the lake andany future developments on it.

Cottage associations can helpretain fish and wildlife in an area bydiscouraging such activities as themass destruction of aquatic plants,chasing wildfowl with power boats,and disturbing nesting areas andknown fish spawning grounds in theshallow parts of the lake. They canalso organize projects or activitiesthat benefit the lake, such as restor-ing buffer zones. Cottage associa-tions can also work with local gov-ernments to establish and enforceguidelines and regulations on cottagedevelopments and shoreline use.

You may be just one landowner, butyou can make a difference. Whilesome environmental issues can seemto be largely beyond our control,maintaining lakeshores as naturalareas is not. If you and your neigh-bours think in these terms, shore-lines can be protected on an evenlarger scale. Maintaining the naturallake environment is just commonsense. It preserves the health of thelake and the quality of the environ-ment, as well as protecting yourinvestment in a natural, enjoyableproperty.

Alberta’s lakes and shorelines arefragile and sensitive areas. They areenormously valuable, and they needspecial care. We must all worktogether to protect them — now,and in the future.


Alberta Environment. n.d.Alberta lakes. . . a legacy worthprotecting. AlbertaEnvironment. Edmonton,Alberta. [Pamphlet.]

Alberta Environment. 1986.Controlling shoreline erosion.Water ResourcesManagement Services,Technical Services Division.Edmonton, Alberta. 11 p.

Alberta EnvironmentalProtection. n.d. Aquatic plantcontrol - fact sheet. AlbertaEnvironmental Protection.Edmonton, Alberta.[Pamphlet.]

Alberta EnvironmentalProtection. 1993. How to be a“lake friendly” property owner.Alberta EnvironmentalProtection. Edmonton,Alberta. [Pamphlet.]

Alberta EnvironmentalProtection. Revised 1997.Guidelines for lakeshore use.Agriculture, Food and RuralDevelopment. Pub. No.1/453. Edmonton, Alberta.[Pamphlet.]

Alberta EnvironmentalProtection and AlbertaAgriculture, Food and RuralDevelopment. Revised 1995.Permanent and naturally occur-ring water bodies. In The“how-to” manual for commonland use application forms.Alberta Forestry, Land andWildlife. Pub. No. 118.Edmonton, Alberta.

Alberta Forestry, Lands andWildlife. 1971?. Riparian habi-tat. Alberta Forestry, Landsand Wildlife. Edmonton,Alberta. [Pamphlet.]

Alberta Forestry, Lands andWildlife. 1991. Principles ofwater boundaries. TechnicalServices Section, PublicLands Division. AlbertaForestry, Lands and Wildlife.Edmonton, Alberta. 103 p.

COLA (Congress of LakeAssociations). 1994. The lake-book: actions you can take to pro-tect your lake. Congress ofLake Associations of Maine.Yarmouth, Maine. 28 p.

Dresen, M.D. and R.M.Korth. 1994. Life on the edge. .. owning waterfront property.University of Wisconsin-Extension. 64 p.

Environment Ontario. 1989.Cottage country: an environ-mental manual for cottagers.Sixth edition. Queen’s Printerfor Ontario. 49 p.

Fisheries and Oceans. 1986.Policy for the management offish habitat. CommunicationsDirectorate. Department ofFisheries and Oceans. Ottawa,Ontario. Cat. No. Fs 23-98/1986 E. 28 p.

Fisheries and Oceans. 1991.Canada’s fish habitat law.Communications Directorate.Department of Fisheries andOceans. Ottawa, Ontario.Cat. No. Fs 23-40/1991 E. 16 p.

Fisheries and Oceans. 199?.Protecting your shorelands forbetter farming and ranching,and healthier fish habitat.Department of Fisheries andOceans. Central and ArcticRegion. Ottawa, Ontario. 15 p.

Haekel, G. 1996. The law andthe lake: navigating Alberta’sregulatory framework. In G.Haekel, ed., Proceedings ofthe Alberta LakeManagement Society’s 1996annual workshop, SylvanLake, Alberta. Privately print-ed. Pp. 113-134.

Kingsmill, S. 1992. Clean upthe waterfront. CanadianLiving Magazine, July, pp. 63-69.

MAPLE (Mutual Associationsfor the Protection of the LakeEnvironment). n.d. Workingtowards a natural shoreline.[Undated magazine clipping.]

McComas, S. 1993.Lakesmarts — the first lakemaintenance handbook. TerreneInstitute, Washington, DC.215 p.

Minnesota Extension Service.1992/93. Protecting Minnesotawaters: shoreland best manage-ment practices. MinnesotaExtension Service, Duluth,Minnesota. 60 p.

Mitchell, P. and E. Prepas.1990. Atlas of Alberta lakes.University of Alberta Press,Edmonton, Alberta. 114 p.

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References


AN UNWELCOME LAKESIDE

NEIGHBOUR — DON’T LET THIS BE YOU!When the Wilson family moved totheir new cottage on Snarling Lake,they immediately bulldozed downthe trees on the slope between theirlot and the lake to get a view fromtheir front window. To make theslope more gentle they bladed off itstop and pushed that earth down theslope, out onto the gravel shoreline,and into the water. But before theirdump truck loads of sand could bebacked down the new slope to theshore, a horrified neighbour phonedNatural Resources Service. AConservation Officer soon arrived toadvise the Wilsons to immediatelycease any further work on their proj-ect. The Wilson’s summer planswere suddenly changed. Their shoe-string budget landscaping project,that mostly involved disturbing landwhich they did not own, turned intoa lakeside nightmare of escalatingreclamation orders and expenses.

Their Summer Village Council,supported by its Environmental

Reserve (ER) Bylaw, soon met andinstructed the Wilsons to reclaim theER slope to certain specificationswithin 30 days, or the SummerVillage would hire someone to dothe job and bill the Wilsons. Thosespecifications included rebuildingand stabilizing the slope by replace-ment of topsoil, seeding with anative, shade tolerant grass mixture,and planting (and watering for atleast two summers) nursery stock(minimum height 1.5 meters) whitebirch, willow, trembling aspen, whitespruce, and saskatoon at a density ofone tree per three square meters.Additional plantings might berequired in two years if tree survivalwas poor. A carefully designed twometer wide meandering paththrough the ER to the lakeshorewould be acceptable.

Public Lands Branch issued anorder to the Wilsons to remove all ofthe hilltop soil that had been pushedonto the shore and bed of the lake,and to immediately spread a nativegrass seed mix onto the silt-coveredlakeshore. Water Management

ordered armouring of the vulnerabletoe of the slope using rock rip rap;additional orders for erosion protec-tion might arise as needed. And laterthat winter, in a effort to compensatefor the input of mud and silt into thelake for the next several years untilvegetation took hold, and for thedamage to fish habitat that occurred,under the Fisheries Act a judgeordered the Wilsons to truck in andspread rounded cobble over the dis-turbed area and from the existingwater line out to a depth of twometers.

Despite all of these efforts, it stillwould be a number of years beforethe disturbed ER slope was stabi-lized, providing satisfactory wildlifehabitat and affording erosion protec-tion for the lake, and before theshoreline and near-shore lake bedwas again providing good fishspawning and rearing habitat. TheWilsons definitely had left theirmark on the lake, and it was notgood.

“The challenge in managing a waterfront property

will be to find a balance that protects your property

and preserves the environmental features of the

shoreline” (Dresen and Korth 1994).

CARING FOR SHORELINE PROPERTIES...include ways of restoring damaged shorelines to their natural...

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