Ideas and best management practices for land-owners to properly maintain and care for the shoreline area of their property.

1. Shuswap Watershed Shoreline Care Presentation
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2. Why are shorelines important?
• The shoreline areas of the Shuswap watershed are critical to
• A sustainable environment
• The liveability of the region
• The water quality we depend on for drinking and recreation
• Important fish and wildlife populations
• The region’s economic opportunities
• Shorelines are unique ecosystems that have developed over thousands of years
• We all share the responsibility for keeping our shorelines healthy
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3. What is the shoreline area?
• The shoreline is the most sensitive part of the lake
• The shoreline consists of:
- All areas from the high water level to the edge of the littoral zone (an
area of high productivity, approximately 4 to 6 m of depth at low water
level)
• The shoreline is Crown Land and is a public resource, not private property
• Riparian areas (areas within about 30 meters of the high water mark) often
include critical vegetation and are part of a healthy, functioning shoreline
• Floodplain areas are important for water quality, fish and wildlife habitat and
flood control
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4. What makes a healthy shoreline?
Components of a Healthy,
Sustainable Shoreline
• Adequate, natural riparian
buffers/setbacks
• Careful planning to avoid damage
to critical habitat (wildlife or
fisheries)
versus
• Protection of wetlands and
floodplains (water quality buffers)
• Protection of drinking water
intakes
• Good storm water management
planning
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5. What is needed for healthy drinking water and recreation?
Water Quality
Requirements
• Healthy shoreline
vegetation to filter
contaminants out of
groundwater and runoff
before entering the
lakes
versus
• Erosion control to
prevent sediments from
entering the lakes
• Protection of drinking
water intakes
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6. What do fish and wildlife need?
Fisheries / Wildlife Life
History Requirements
• Spawning Areas
(both shore and
stream)
• Rearing /Foraging
Areas
• Migration Corridors
• Nesting / Mating /
versus
Wintering Areas
• Clean, cool water
• Riparian areas,
wetlands, and
floodplains
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7. How are lake shorelines managed in BC?
Step 1
• Foreshore Inventory and Mapping – Provides the background
information regarding the shoreline.
Step 2
• Aquatic Habitat Index – Provides an environmental sensitivity
analysis of the shoreline, using existing biological data (e.g.,
shore spawning locations) and the FIM Database
versus
Step 3
• Shoreline Management Guidelines – A comprehensive look at
types of development and level of risk associated with them.
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8. Summary of Shuswap Lake
• Overall, 57%
remains natural
• ~43% has a High
Level of Impact
• ~8.2% with No Level
of Impact
versus
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9. Summary of Shuswap Lake
• 2,789 docks @ 6.86/km
• 1,529 retaining walls @
13% of shoreline or
~52,000 m
• 1,170 groynes @ 25%
substrate modification
or ~101,000 m
versus
• 186 boat launches, 51
marinas, and 120
marine rails
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10. How fast is the shoreline changing?
Why does this all matter?
• Rate of Change on Okanagan
Lake was estimated to be
between -0.5% and -2% per
year
• The high rate of change is
potentially similar to some
areas of the Shuswap versus
experiencing higher
development rates
• The rate is too fast for fish and
wildlife to adapt, potentially
resulting in significant habitat
related population effects
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11. Tips for Shoreline Care
What can you do to ensure healthy shorelines?
• Consult with your local government and FrontCounter BC before starting a
project near the water as you need to comply with zoning and regulations for
your area. Any modification of Crown Land requires approval
• Be aware of what’s around you and do your part to protect our watershed
• Plant native trees and shrubs and limit vegetation removal
• Replace turf with native vegetation in areas within 30 meters of the high water
mark. Visit slippbc.com for a list of native plants versus
• Keep docks in 1.5 m water depth (when possible) and remove above water
level during fall fish spawning or use mooring buoys with helical screw anchors
• Limit beach modifications (i.e., removal of cobbles and boulders) and repair
old modifications by replacing natural materials
• Do not import sand
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12. Tips for Shoreline Care
What can you do to ensure healthy shorelines?
• Avoid significant impacts to areas ranked as Very High or High by the Aquatic
Habitat Index (available through the Watershed Atlas at slippbc.com)
• Use softer erosion control techniques by planting vegetation rather than using
vertical concrete retaining walls
• Reduce boat wake in bays to avoid erosion and damage to fish and wildlife
habitat or young and lower gradient areas that have a higher erosion potential
• Follow proper septic tank maintenance and repair versus
• Always ask a Qualified Environmental Professional for advise prior to starting
a project
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