STEWARDSHIP AWARDS CRITERIA

For many cottagers and other waterfront residents, the quiet spot by the lake is a place to relax, play, and enjoy being closer to nature. It is a special location for another reason too. The shoreline is a "Ribbon of Life", where land, water, and air meet, and is the richest and most complex natural environment with which most of us will ever come into contact. The waterfront is crucial to your lake's health, acting as lungs, doormat, cafeteria and daycare for the lake, as well as a living retaining wall for the shore. When a natural shoreline is altered, often by well-intentioned projects meant to "improve" waterfront living, that intricate balance between the creatures, plants, and earth is toppled. Why not consider to weaving your cottage and waterfront needs into the natural shore? Caring for you shoreline means less, not more work! You will help preserve water quality and safeguard your family's health. You will also help protect the beauty of your paradise, maintaining its investment value. Extra benefits include more time to relax and enjoy. There are lots of great examples of fine shoreline stewardship where waterfront dwellers are living in harmony with nature or are restoring shores to their natural wonder.

The Muskoka Heritage Foundation in cooperation with the various Cottage and Lake Associations would like to honour individuals and families who are doing an excellent job of protecting, preserving or restoring their lakeside areas. If you think you or your neighbour might qualify for an award (presented annually) by the Muskoka Heritage Foundation, contact your cottage association.

1. Is the area back from the shore well treed? Is the water edge natural?
2. Is there a good understory and natural ground cover on the property?
3. Are the walkways made of wood chips, pea gravel, or wooden slats spaced well apart so that rainfall can soak into the soil.
4. Has the septic system been upgraded recently?
5. Is there a low dock to shoreline ratio? (i.e. few and small docks)
6. Is the dock floating, cantilevered, suspension, or pipe/pile?
7. Are there few accessory buildings near the shore?
8. Is there minimal or no lawn?
9. Does the design and colour of the buildings harmonize with the natural environment.
10. Is there minimal lighting (no light pollution)?

If you would like more information on how to protect your shoreline drop into the Muskoka Heritage Foundation office at 9 Taylor Road, Bracebridge, and see the brochures and booklets to guide you and your family to a healthy waterfront and /or a waterfront-friendly dock. Two of the best sources of information are The Shore Primer and The Dock Primer produced by Cottage Life in association with Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

Thanks to thousands of years of practice, natural shores are among the world's most effective and least expensive.