General Recommendations
Here are some key actions everyone can do to support riparian area health
Minimize Impact
to Shorelines
Minimize or avoid activities that disturb the bed and bank of waterbodies. Minimize or avoid activities that compact the soil, such as driving vehicles in riparian areas or allowing grazing in these areas (especially during wet periods).
This can help to reduce the chance of introducing invasive species, ensuring clear water for native fish species, and ensure shoreline vegetation is available for nest species like ducks.
Maintain Native Plant Cover
Leave shorelines natural and don’t remove trees or plants.
Encourage deep-rooted native riparian plants to reduce erosion. Disturbance-caused plants or invasive plants have shallow root systems that may not be able to prevent erosion.
Maintaining plant cover increases shoreline stability, water filtration, and erosion control.
Join Local Volunteer Opportunities
Join in local volunteer opportunities that support riparian habitat. They could include activities such as:
- Tree planting or willow staking
- Invasive plant removal
- Water quality monitoring
- Shoreline litter cleanups
Municipalities, local lake/watershed stewardship groups, land trusts, and community groups are organizations who may request volunteer help with these.
Leave No Trace
Pack out all garbage, stay on designated access points, don't feed wildlife and don't remove shoreline vegetation when visiting lakes and rivers.
Simple actions like properly disposing of waste, avoiding trampling plants, and keeping soaps and pollutants out of the water help protect these areas for everyone.
Clean, Drain, Dry
Help protect our lakes and rivers from invasive species by always cleaning, draining, and drying your boat and water gear after every use, and especially when moving between water bodies.
CD3 cleaning stations (self-serve cleaning units) are available at popular Alberta lakes like Sylvan Lake and Wabamun Lake to make the process quick and easy.
Contribute to Citizen Science
Citizen science is the involvement of everyday people in collecting and reporting data to support scientific research.
Utilizing these apps and web platforms can help us to learn more about a wide array of species, including those that utilize riparian areas.
This platform shares invasive species occurrences, combining data from various agencies, researchers, and public users into an accessible, interactive map.
Record observations of all types of wildlife with this app/web platform run by the Canadian Wildlife Federation, and contribute to a growing database of biodiversity.
Your sightings are validated by other users, helping you learn to identify species and ensure correct data.
Use these freshwater testing kits (available to purchase online in a variety of sizes, complexities, and price points) to collect and share real-time water quality data.
These easy-to-use kits monitor key indicators like temperature, pH, turbidity, and conductivity.
Keep track what you see or hear for bird sightings and submit your observations through a simple mobile app or website run by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
Use the Merlin Bird ID app to help identify birds by sight or sound, then easily report your findings to eBird.
Sign up online to monitor a local lake during the breeding season from June through August, recording loon observations throughout the summer.
Lakes with clear water, minimal disturbance, and suitable nesting habitat are ideal, so is often where this citizen science work is done.
Explore a centralized hub of Alberta-based citizen science projects monitoring elements such as water, wildlife, plants, and more.
The platform also has resources and support contacts to help participants contribute data, build skills, and connect with others.
Get involved with EALT’s Citizen Science program by participating in activities like wildlife monitoring and plant surveys across their conservation lands. These lands are located throughout the Edmonton region, mainly outside of the city limits and many have water bodies on the land.
Take part by volunteering to monitor wetlands and listen for amphibian calls during the spring breeding season (usually April through June). Volunteer sites are located across Alberta, including areas like Elk Island National Park and other wetlands and lakes.
Take part by volunteering to monitor bats during the active season (usually May through August) by tracking roost sites and reporting sightings to support conservation efforts.
Volunteers should never handle bats or their guano due to health and safety risks.