It’s time for a shoreline makeover!

Want to fight erosion, discourage geese and spruce up your boring shoreline – all without breaking the bank? The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority offers a full-service, subsidized Shoreline Naturalization Program for waterfront property owners. We offer technical guidance, project management and financial assistance to help you get the job done!

Naturalizing a shoreline can have many practical and environmental benefits:

• Reduces water run-off that causes algae blooms and excessive weed growth;
• Significantly reduces shoreline erosion and makes your shoreline more resilient;
• Much cheaper and more eco-friendly than rock-based “rip rap” shorelines;
• Discourages geese;
• Invites more wildlife to your backyard paradise;
• Leaves less lawn to mow and more time to relax and enjoy the view.

Why naturalize?                                                                                                                                                              

Ninety per cent of all lake and river life depends on a healthy shoreline to survive. But this “ribbon of life” also plays a crucial role in filtering out pollutants, reducing erosion and easing flood risks. By adding a natural buffer between your home and the water, you are protecting the health of our drinking water, ecosystems and shores. 

What about my water access?

We know that convenient water access is paramount to an idyllic waterfront experience. Staff will work with you to prepare a customized plan that maintains your water access and your view.      

What’s involved?

1. Site visit: RVCA staff will visit your property to discuss your vision and assess planting potential. Site visits can be scheduled for June through October.

2. Custom planting plan:  Staff will work with you to develop a unique plan for your property, including recommendations for the best native species for your property’s growing conditions. They’ll discuss how you’d like to maintain your water access, seating areas and your view.

3. Choose your plants:  You can choose which native trees and shrubs you’d like based on your custom planting plan and the RVCA’s available species list, and we’ll order them for you. The cost of the plants is subsidized.

4. Delivery and planting assistance:  In spring, we’ll deliver your plants and, if you choose, we can even do the planting for you!

Who is eligible?

• Waterfront landowners along wetlands, streams, rivers and lakes within the Rideau watershed, who commit to maintaining a healthy shoreline;
• Lake associations, river groups or other not-for-profit groups within the Rideau watershed interested in completing shoreline demonstration sites, community plant hand-outs, or other shoreline stewardship projects.

Scroll over the pins to learn more about healthy shoreline habits:

Want to learn more? Contact:

613-692-3571 ext. 1192 or 1-800-267-3504 ext. 1192 or 

Resources:

• Shoreline Naturalization Program Species Availability List (PDF)
• Example Shoreline Buffer Plan (PDF) 
• Solutions for Shoreline Erosion: A Basic Guide to Bioengineering (PDF)
• Solutions pour l’érosion riveraine — Introduction au génie biologique (PDF)
• Benefits of a Natural Shoreline (PDF)
• How to Naturalize Your Shoreline (PDF)

Volunteers

The Shoreline Naturalization Program works closely with many volunteer groups to restore shoreline areas including Scouts, High Schools and corporate groups. Individuals interested in helping plant can register through the City Stream Watch Program.

Check out some before-and-after photos of recent projects:

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before-after-2

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The Rideau Valley Rural Clean Water Program (RVRCWP) offers grants and technical assistance program for on-farm and rural projects that protect water quality in the Rideau River watershed outside the City of Ottawa (see map). We work in partnership with individual landowners to help protect the land and water we all rely on. 

The RVRCWP is guided by a Steering Committee made up of local citizens drawn from farm organizations, environmental interest groups as well as all levels of government with a direct link to the water environment. Projects completed create a win-win situation all around. The landowner gets a helping hand with the financing of conservation work, the program sponsors get the pleasure of giving back to their community, and our children and grandchildren get to enjoy a clean healthy Rideau River as our legacy to them all.

If you are interested in applying, contact the RVCA at 613-692-3571 ext. 1136 to register your information and confirm eligibility. 

Ready to apply? Download your application form here or click here for instructions. Please note you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to e-sign your form.

RVRCWP Eligible Project Categories

 *Available only to farmers with an Environmental Farm Plan (EFP)

Please note: program grant rates may change without notice or be adjusted by the Review Committee.

More questions? Click here to view our FAQs (frequently asked questions).

Additional Links 

• Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority
• South Nation Conservation
• OSCIA - EFP Workshop
• Ontario Directory of Licensed Well Contractors

Our municipalities and their residents are our valued partners. We work hard to serve a wide range of municipal and public interests that benefit our watershed residents from lake country to farm lands to urban communities.

To see what we've done in 2019 in your community, click on your municipality. For a full watershed summary, check out our 2019 Annual Report.

Since our formation in 1966, the RVCA has been partnering with our local municipalities, residents, businesses, schools, service clubs, environmental and lake associations, community groups and provincial and federal governments to deliver programs and services that protect and manage the natural resources we all value and count on in the Rideau watershed.

Access our latest Budget and Work Plan here.

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