2010-Guide to Naturalizing a Lakefront Shoreline Sept 2010

Retaining walls and non-vegetated shorelines are a very common sight on shore-line properties in Alberta. These urbanized shorelines have a huge impact on the lake and shoreline from impacting aquatic vegetation and fish populations to reducing the stability and diversity of lake shores. There are numerous benefits associated with restoring a more naturalized shoreline. For example naturalization helps protect shorelines, reduces erosion and nutrient loading, re-establishes wildlife habitat, improves fish habitat and water quality, and is visually pleasing. In an effort to improve water quality and to demonstrate that modifying an urbanized shoreline into a more natural habitat is both possible and attractive, naturalization of a shoreline was undertaken at Seba Beach on Lake Wabamun. The following outlines the general steps interested lake residents could take to naturalize their shoreline. Read More