The Natural Edge Program 2021/2022
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Transform your shoreline with the Natural Edge program. Pay only 25% of project costs! LIMITED SPOTS ARE AVAILABLE! This program is available to lakefront and riverfront property owners within the North Saskatchewan River Watershed until spring 2022.
There are many benefits that come with re-naturalizing your shoreline, including:
✔️ Reducing erosion
✔️ Improving water quality
✔️ Increasing wildlife habitat
Contact us to book your FREE site visit.
WE ARE NOW FULLY BOOKED. PLEASE CONTACT US IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN BEING PLACED ON A WAITING LIST FOR FUTURE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES.
This program is made possible with generous funding from the Royal Bank of Canada and partnership with Watersheds Canada.
Natural Edge Introduction
The Natural Edge Program is an option for lakefront property owners who wish to re-naturalize their shorelines. Lake health is affected by numerous sources, whether it’s pollution, aquatic invasive species, or shoreline development. While developing a shoreline isn’t necessarily a bad thing, there are ways to help maintain the integrity and health of shores. The shoreline is a buffer zone of vegetation acting as a natural filter and reinforcement to prevent things like erosion, nutrient loading, or eutrophication. It also provides habitat for native species that are part of the local ecosystem, promoting diversity.
The Natural Edge Program seeks to maintain, improve, and restore shorelines along with lakefront properties. Those involved will get to work alongside technicians in developing their shoreline, from the initial site visit to the planting operation and maintenance itself. The Natural Edge program promotes the health and diversity of our lakes and helps ensure a safe, healthy, and valuable resource to be enjoyed for generations to come.
If you would like more information on The Natural Edge Program visit this site here.
Emma Lake Shorelines at Work Demonstration Site
- Agnes Street, Emma Lake, SK
The educational sign is now up at the demonstration site at Emma Lake along Agnes Street. The sign educates locals about the importance of maintaining a natural buffer rich with plants. It's not only visible from the water, it has information about shoreline buffers, and tips about how to keep Emma Lake healthy. There are over 120 native plants planted at the demo site! The goal is to inspire lakefront cabin owners to bring back native vegetation their shorelines to help maintain and improve lake health while still providing room for shoreline use and access for recreational purposes.
"Emma Lake Action & Understanding"
The NSRBC is currently working on a project entitled “Emma Lake Action and Understanding”. The project's aim is to help mitigate the impacts negatively affecting water quality at Emma Lake, primarily nutrient loading. The NSRBC is partnering with Saskatchewan Polytechnic and the District of Lakeland on the project, which has been underway since April 2019 and will continue until March 2021.
One main piece of the project will collect and analyze water quality data from Emma Lake to examine how erosion, boating activity, and other shoreline activities impact the lake. The other piece of the project will involve nine shoreline restoration projects and an education campaign to engage Emma Lake users on how they can reduce their impact on the lake. With this funding as of this spring, this project will enhance the water quality monitoring and promote and undertake shoreline restoration and educational projects.
This project is funded by the Government of Canada’s EcoAction Community Funding Program.
Partners: 
Shorelines at Work Demonstration Site
The Shorelines at Work Demonstration Site is part of the project "Emma Lake Action & Understanding". The 3,600 ft2 site is located at Emma Lake, north of McIntosh Point along Agnes St. The site is open to the public and embraces natural shorelines while serving as public access for snowmobiling and dock access. Its goal is to promote the benefits of native vegetation along shorelines and to inspire others to plant more native species on their properties. Prior to planting, the site had significant erosion and monoculture grass. A total of 80 plants were planted in 2019 and 41 additional plants were added in 2020. The site also holds a double sided 8 foot wide educational sign to show locals the importance of maintaining a shoreline buffer rich with native plants.
Love Your Lake
Our lakes and water systems in this province are a valuable resource and maintaining the health of these lakes and rivers is essential. The Love Your Lake program was developed by Watersheds Canada and the Canadian Wildlife Federation. It is an educational initiative that assists shoreline property owners to make the connection between shoreline health and water quality of the lake. Natural vegetation plays a key role in maintaining soil structure, acting as a natural filter and improving water quality overall. Keeping these shorelines healthy and naturalized ensures a lake that will be enjoyed for generations to come. The program gives shoreline property owners the opportunity to receive a personalized property report with details on the state of their shoreline and recommended actions for improving lake health for people and wildlife. It is a voluntary and non-regulatory program. For the programs description and history click here.
We have been delivering the program in the North Saskatchewan River Watershed since 2016. Lakes in the North Saskatchewan River watershed that have completed the Love Your Lake program:
Brightsand Lake
Turtle Lake (R.M of Mervin Sides)
Shell Lake (R.M of Spiritwood Sides)
Meeting Lake
Jackfish Lake
Murray Lake
Anglin Lake
Christopher Lake
Emma Lake
Lac la Pêche
Emerald Lake
If your community is interested in participating in the Love Your Lake Program please contact us.
Read some of the frequently asked questions by property owners here.
Click here to take a look at a sample property report. These reports get generated for each shoreline property that surrounds the lake.
The Natural Edge
The Natural Edge Program is an option for lakefront property owners who want to follow up on the Love Your Lake survey. Lake health is affected by numerous sources, whether it’s pollution, aquatic invasive species, or shoreline development. While developing a shoreline isn’t necessarily a bad thing, there are ways to help maintain the integrity and health of shores. The shoreline is a buffer zone of vegetation acting as a natural filter and reinforcement to prevent things like erosion, nutrient loading, or eutrophication. It also provides habitat for native species that are part of the local ecosystem, promoting diversity.
The Natural Edge Program seeks to maintain, improve, and restore shoreline along with lakefront properties. Those involved will get to work alongside technicians in developing their shoreline, from the initial site visit to the planting operation and maintenance itself. The Natural Edge Program promotes the health and diversity of our lakes and helps ensure a safe, healthy, and valuable resource to be enjoyed for generations to come. Contact us to book your site.
For more details about a healthy happy shoreline and how your shoreline can look, visit here. If you would like more information on The Natural Edge Program visit this site here.
