Muskoka Watershed Council

CLEAN AND GREEN 13

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#10 Ensure that my dock, boathouse and other structures do not occupy more than 25% of my shoreline

If you own a waterfront property, chances are you have a shoreline structure of some sort. Now, any changes to a natural shoreline will have some negative impacts; however, you can reduce these impacts by limiting your shoreline development to no more that 25% of your shoreline.

The first step in reducing the impact of your shoreline structures on the health of your lake or river is to pick an area no larger than 25% of the frontage where there is little or no vegetation and to set it aside for your dock, boathouse, swimming area, etc.

Before you begin altering the shoreline, it is important to remember to obtain all the necessary permits. At least six federal and provincial laws affect shore work in Ontario. According to the federal Fisheries Act, the responsibility is on the landowner to ensure that shoreline work does not "harmfully alter, disrupt, or destroy" fish habitat. Failure to obtain approval before beginning shoreline alterations can lead to hefty fines and even jail time.

When developing your shoreline, there are a few environmentally friendly practices you can follow to help ensure that your activities do not affect fish or fish habitat.

The first is to select structures that minimize disturbance to the river or lake bottom. Cantilever, floating and post-supported docks and boathouses are recommended because they only disturb river or lake bottoms minimally, and they do not restrict the movement of water near the shore.

If you need to use cribs in your structures, it is best if you use an open-faced design. Open-faced cribs without solid planking provide fish and aquatic organisms with spaces to hide from predators. Cribs should be placed at least six feet out from the high-water mark.

Vertical planking should not be used along the sides of your dock because it can restrict the movement of water. Instead, you should use bridging between cribs or poles that allows the water to circulate.

The safest materials to use in shoreline structures are untreated woods such as cedar, fir, hemlock and tamarack. When submerged, these timbers will not decompose. Plastic wood can also last a long time if it is installed properly.

You want to avoid projects that require in-water dredging. Dredging may be harmful to fish and their habitat, and permits will be needed to carry out this work.

You need to ensure that your in-water activities do not occur during local fish spawning and nursery periods as the work can disturb spawning behaviour, smother eggs and kill young fish.

Even within the 25% of shoreline that you have set aside for development, you should still minimize the amount of shoreline vegetation removed. This vegetation will prevent the shoreline from eroding and causing sedimentation problems in your lake or river. Building a small walkway from your cottage to the dock or boathouse will help maintain the shoreline vegetation by keeping people from trampling it.

Do you want to have a boat launch on your property? Avoid constructing it out of cement as this destroys the fish habitat it is placed on. Alternatives such as gravel or a marine railway will have less impact.

By incorporating these environmentally friendly practices into your shoreline developments, your projects will more likely be approved and you will be reducing your impact on your watershed.

#11 Leave the remaining 75% or more of my shoreline in its natural state

Natural shorelines have long been recognized as an important component of healthy and productive waterbodies. Unfortunately, it is still all too common to see landowners clear away the "messy" vegetation in their shoreline area and replace it with lawns and retaining walls.

You can still enjoy your waterfront property while preserving water quality and wildlife habitat by limiting your shoreline development to a small area and leaving the remaining 75% or more of your shoreline in its natural state.

The District of Muskoka has incorporated this guideline, suggested by Fisheries and Oceans Canada, in their official policy. The policy states that "where development is proposed, a natural, substantially undisturbed buffer is recommended at the water's edge to generally meet a target of 8 meters (26 feet) in width for three-quarters of the water frontage."

It is important to maintain the scenic beauty and natural character of Muskoka's lakes and rivers, not only for aesthetic reasons, but for practical ones as well.

Shoreline vegetation benefits water quality by reducing the amount of sediment, nutrients, organic matter and pesticides that enter our rivers and lakes.

There is no better way to prevent soil erosion that to leave your shoreline in its natural state. Plant roots anchor the soil, preventing it from being washed away by currents, waves and rain. This preserves fish spawning beds, which can become destroyed by sediment accumulation due to erosion.

Overhanging branches from trees and shrubs shade the waters to prevent overheating and provide cover for small fish and other aquatic organisms. Debris such as logs and boulders also provide cover for many species, spawning areas for fish, and will serve to reduce the impact of waves on your shoreline.

There are several ways to go about protecting or restoring your shoreline.

• Preservation - a natural shoreline is retained and access to the lake is designed in such a way as to avoid shoreline damage.
• Naturalization - degraded shorelines are left alone to return to their natural state.
• Enhancement - native species are planted and non-native species are removed.
• Restoration - cleared areas are planted with native species.

The simplest way to get your altered shoreline back on the right track is through naturalization. Simply mark out an area reaching at least 10 feet back from your shoreline and stop mowing it. Native grasses, shrubs and trees will colonize the area.

The process is an interesting one, with wildflowers and grasses moving in the first year, and trees and shrubs following a year or two later. Non-desirable species can be selectively cut or hand pulled. You can gradually increase the naturalized area each year.

Many native plant species are extremely attractive. You can create an aesthetically pleasing property while providing food and habitat for wildlife, preventing erosion, and maintaining water quality. Take the time to enjoy the view, instead of mowing the lawn.