Lakes and rivers are the most sustainable source of freshwater and are essential for ecological function and social economic needs. Since Canada has more lake area than any other country, we have a responsibility to protect it. You can improve your lake health and shoreline environment with help from the Love Your Lake program.
Participating in Love Your Lake is a great way to gauge the health of your lake and become a steward of your local freshwater! Over the past 10years, Watersheds Canada and the Canadian Wildlife Federation have been proud to support waterfront communities coast to coast across Canada through the Love Your Lake program.
Love Your Lake is a shoreline evaluation program designed to encourage waterfront property owners to take proactive steps toward improving lake health by creating and maintaining healthier shorelines. Each property owner on an assessed lake receives a personalized and confidential report that outlines voluntary actions they can take on their property to protect their freshwater. Anyone can discover how to become a steward of their local freshwater and explore helpful tips to keep your shoreline happy and healthy for future generations by visiting LoveYourLake.ca.
Shoreline property owners on Tuc-el-nuit Lake near Oliver can now download their free Love Your Lake shoreline assessment reports, with property-specific suggestions on how to protect water quality and lake health.
SILT completed two shoreline restoration projects this fall at Twin Lakes and Skaha Lake, with support from Love Your Lake, Canadian Wildlife Federation and Watersheds Canada. Restoration plans were designed based on recommendations from the 2020 Love Your Lake property surveys, which can now be downloaded by shoreline property owners throughout the Okanagan.
The restoration projects included planting native shrubs, perennials and trees along the shoreline and within the riparian area on both lakes. The goal of these projects was to create a naturalized riparian buffer that will stabilize the bank, reduce erosion, and filter runoff into the lake. Adding native species and trees into the riparian buffer will also create wildlife habitat for aquatic and land-based species.
A special thank you to Sagebrush Nursery for their involvement in both restoration projects.
Trained crews from the Southern Interior Land Trust will be conducting shoreline assessments on Tuc-el-nuit Lake in June as part of the ongoing Love Your Lake program, aiming to help lakeside property owners learn how to protect water health and quality.
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