Lakeshore Owners
Living on a lake provides a unique opportunity and responsibility to steward riparian areas.
Some beneficial management practices for lakeshore owners include:
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Understand that riparian areas include both land and shallow water areas (where cattails and bulrushes grow)
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Avoid disturbing the soil or building structures in riparian areas
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Eliminate the use of lawn herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers to reduce water pollution and algal blooms
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Maintain a properly functioning septic system (have it routinely inspected and emptied)
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Slow and filter runoff from your property by using “low impact development” techniques such as rain barrels, rain gardens, and permeable pavement
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Maintain a natural shoreline and replace turf lawns with deep-rooted native plants to reduce erosion, help filter water runoff, and support biodiversity
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Share docks, piers and boat lanes within your community to minimize shoreline disturbance
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Allow aquatic and semi-aquatic plants to grow (e.g. cattails and bulrushes). These provide natural shoreline armoring, protect from wave and ice damage, and provide important fish and bird habitat
Quick Resources
Government of Alberta
Brochures that highlight different aspects of caring for lakes, water, riparian vegetation and lake health. Topics such as Blue-Green Algae, aquatic plants, and Alberta lake legislation.
Cows and Fish
Use this checklist by answering to questions about your shoreline to quickly gauge its health, helping you identify strengths and problem areas so you can make informed decisions to protect and improve your lakeshore.
Cows and Fish
An overview of the importance of lakes and wetlands. Healthy riparian areas means bank stability, biodiversity, water storage and water quality.
Alberta Conservation Association
This poster highlights how small changes to your property can help enhance and restore your shoreline and riparian area.
Nature Alberta
A beginner-friendly checklist that introduces Alberta’s diverse shorebird species and helps birders identify and appreciate birds found along the province’s lakes and waterways. $9.95/copy.
In-Depth Resources
Pigeon Lake Watershed Association
Provides guidance on practices that slow, filter, and redirect runoff to reduce pollutants entering lakes, helping communities adopt more lake-friendly development and landscaping.
Nature Alberta
A guidebook for landowners to learn more about how to work well with land and water and things to consider before building or making changes. $19.95/copy.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
A practical guide that explains how natural shorelines function and provides landowners with stewardship and restoration practices to protect water quality and prevent erosion.
Government of Alberta
A guidance document that explains how to protect water bodies by setting appropriate setbacks and conserving riparian areas.
Alberta Conservation Assocation
This is an older resource that provides guidance for lakefront landowners on preserving and restoring natural shorelines while maintaining property value and reducing environmental impacts.
Government of Alberta
Provides access to recorded trainings and an extensive library of fact sheets, guides, and tools to help well owners understand, maintain, and protect their water wells and groundwater.
Alberta Lake Management Society (ALMS)
People can volunteer by participating in LakeWatch (summer monitoring with staff support) or LakeKeepers (independent, year‑round monitoring).
Watersheds Canada & CWF
This resource hub has info on shoreline stewardship (e.g., docks, vegetation, and water quality) with an online self‑assessment that helps property owners evaluate the health of their shoreline and identify actions to improve it.
The Natural Edge- Watersheds Canada
This resource provides practical steps for lakeshore owners to protect and restore shoreline habitat (planting native vegetation, limiting disturbances, and adding wildlife-friendly features) to improve water quality and support biodiversity.