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What can I do to prevent shoreline erosion?
If you live on the river and are concerned about erosion along your shoreline, there are many methods of prevention and remediation that do not involve intrusive alterations to the landscape. It is commonly believed that the installation of a retaining wall at the water’s edge or the in-filling of the shore with boulders and rocks are the best ways to prevent shoreline erosion; however, such alterations to the shoreline are quite often temporary solutions to a long-term problem, and can in some cases increase the rate of erosion downstream.
The best thing you can do to protect both your river and your shoreline is to establish a band of natural vegetation along the shoreline, consisting of long-rooted plants, shrubs and trees. The purpose of this band of vegetation is two-fold – the roots work to hold together the soil, increasing shoreline stability and preventing erosion, and the plants themselves act as a filter for surface water run-off, preventing sediment and water-soluble pollutants from entering the water course. This type of shoreline alteration does not require any approvals or permits, and is a much more permanent solution to shoreline erosion.
It is important to plan your re-vegetation of the shoreline carefully – the best time of year to plant vegetation at the waterfront is in the fall when water levels are lowest. If your shoreline has a steep slope, the band of vegetation should be at least 15m in width, whereas if your shoreline has a gradual slope, it should be at least 10m in width. To encourage the viability of plant growth, shrubs should be planted at least 1m apart, trees should be planted at least 4m apart, and they should be watered regularly for at least one year after being planted.
The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and the Québec Ministère du développement durable, de l’environnement et des parcs (Department of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks) suggest planting the following species of trees and shrubs for the remediation of your shoreline:
Shrubs:
Speckled alder
Red-osier dogwood, silky dogwood, grey dogwood
Bush honeysuckle
Sweet gale
Beaked Hazelnut
Sandbar willow, pussy willow, shrub willow, shining willow
American elder
Trees:
White birch, yellow birch
White oak, red oak
White spruce
Silver maple, red maple
Red ash, American mountain ash
Tamarack
American elm
Balsam poplar
Trembling aspen
Eastern white cedar
If the risk of shoreline erosion is to a greater degree than what you would typically expect along calmer parts of the river – whether it be the result of increased traffic on the water or proximity to a dam – then it is possible that physical alterations to the shoreline may be necessary to prevent erosion. If this is the case, then you will be required to present a draft of your planned shoreline alterations to your local municipality, who will then review your proposal and proceed with an approval and the granting of a permit. Before beginning the approval process, it is highly recommended that you first seek the advice of a consultant or engineer who will be able to assess the severity of erosion along your shore to avoid any unnecessary intrusion in the shoreline ecosystem. In Québec, there are strict guidelines governing shoreline alterations under the provincial Politique de protection des rives, du littoral et des plaines inondables (Policy for the protection of lakeshores, riverbanks, littoral zones and floodplains) that regulate which types of alterations are permitted, while in Ontario, shoreline alterations are subject to municipal by-laws and approval processes.
Whichever course of action you decide to pursue, make sure that the remediation of your shoreline has been carefully thought-out and respects the natural processes of your river, lake or stream. In keeping your shoreline as natural as possible, you are not only protecting your land from erosion, but you are also protecting the water by strengthening the capacity of its natural buffer zone and allowing the aquatic environment to thrive.