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Fish
Protecting Fish Habitat
Fish can be found in just about every natural body of water
on the planet. It’s only when the aquatic environment
becomes unhealthy that fish populations dwindle or disappear
altogether. Unfortunately, human activities are most often
to blame for the destruction of fish habitat. Many people,
for example, choose to live near a lake or stream. They
build cottages, boathouses and docks, dredge river bottoms
and pour sand on shorelines — all of which can damage fish
habitat and reduce fish populations. There are, however,
ways to reduce the damaging effects of human activity. This
Extension Note explains how to avoid harming fish habitat
when working in or around the water.
Ontario
Ministry of Natural Resources - Extension Notes (PDF,
373KB) more...
Improving Fish Habitat
The health of fish populations often depends on naturally
occurring elements, such as the availability of food, and
the impact of human activities. Unfortunately, of the two,
human activities are often the more destructive. There are,
however, many things that individuals and groups can do to
restore or enhance aquatic habitats and improve local
fisheries. This Extension Note highlights some of them.
Ontario
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Protecting Fish Habitat from Sediment
Fish and wildlife depend on shallow water close to shore.
Changing shallow areas in creeks, rivers and streams, even
slightly, can have devastating effects. That’s why it’s
important to be cautious when working near water.
Construction projects make soil unstable and vulnerable to
erosion. When this happens, rain or wind can sweep loose
soil particles into water bodies. These soil particles are
called sediment and can be harmful to fish and wildlife
habitat. Degrading fish habitat in any way violates the
federal Fisheries Act and can result in fines and
imprisonment. This Extension Note explains how to
reduce soil erosion when building or landscaping in and
around water. The information applies to projects such as
cottages, boathouses, docks, sheds and small landscaping
jobs.
Ontario
Ministry of Natural Resources - Extension Notes (PDF,
282KB) more...
Water
Preserving and Restoring Natural Shorelines
Natural vegetation along the shoreline of lakes and rivers
plays a crucial role in protecting water quality, preventing
soil erosion and preserving the ecological balance of
aquatic environments. However, much of the natural
vegetation around Ontario lakes and rivers has been cleared
or replaced with non-native species, resulting in the loss
of wildlife habitat and reduced water quality. This fact
sheet provides information on the importance of shoreline
vegetation and where you can get help to restore your
shoreline and others in your community.
Ontario
Ministry of Natural Resources - Extension Notes (PDF,
236KB) more...
Restoring Shorelines With Willows
Once common along the shores of Ontario’s lakes and rivers,
willows are an ideal native plant for restoring degraded
shorelines to a more natural state. Restoration of our
waterfront is important because natural shorelines protect
water quality, prevent erosion and provide habitat for
wildlife. This Extension Note provides information on how to
plant willows along shorelines.
Ontario
Ministry of Natural Resources - Extension Notes (PDF,
333KB) more...
Preserving Water Quality
We call it “Earth” but three-quarters of our planet is
actually covered in water. Of that amount, 97 per cent is
salt water in oceans and seas. The remaining three per cent
is fresh water, but nearly all of it is trapped in glaciers
and polar ice. In reality, only a fraction of the world's
water can sustain creatures like us. Which is why preserving
water quality, for drinking as well as habitat, is so
crucial. This Extension Note identifies some things that can
be done to protect the quality and quantity of our water
supply.
Ontario
Ministry of Natural Resources - Extension Notes (PDF,
271KB) more...
Buffers Protect the Environment
Conservation buffers are strips or pockets of permanent
vegetation planted in and around fields and along roads,
streams, rivers, lakes and wetlands. They can help resolve
environmental problems on your property and in your
community. In addition, buffers can create habitat for fish
and wildlife and beautify the landscape, increasing the
value of your land as an investment and as a place for
outdoor recreation. Conservation buffers are particularly
important on shorelands or riparian zones between land and
water. Strategically placed buffer strips in the
agricultural landscape can lessen the movement of sediment,
nutrients, pesticides and pathogens within farm fields and
from farm fields. This Extension Note describes several
kinds of buffers and identifies sources to help you develop
buffers on your property.
Ontario
Ministry of Natural Resources - Extension Notes (PDF,
333KB) more...
Building a
Pond
There are many reasons for building a pond, like having a
place to swim, fish and view wildlife. Ponds are also
reliable sources of water for livestock, irrigation and fire
protection. Whatever the reason, ponds add beauty to a
landscape and provide valuable habitat for animals and fish.
This Extension Note offers tips on the construction and
maintenance of artificial ponds.
Ontario
Ministry of Natural Resources - Extension Notes (PDF,
156KB) more...
Trees
Basswood
Basswood trees provide shade, wildlife habitat and soft,
light wood for making carvings and special wood products.
The closely related tree known as linden is prized as an
ornamental tree for its fragrant flowers and tolerance to
salt and pollution. This Extension Note provides information
on ways to use, identify and grow the native species known
as basswood.
Ontario
Ministry of Natural Resources - Extension Notes (PDF,
160KB) more...
Butternut
Butternut is a member of the walnut family and an important
source of nuts and wood. It’s in danger of disappearing
because of a fungal disease called the butternut canker.
This Extension Note provides information on identifying
butternut trees and growing butternut trees from seeds. For
information on the butternut canker, see the brochure A
Landowner’s Guide to Butternut Canker in Ontario.
Ontario
Ministry of Natural Resources - Extension Notes (PDF,
222KB) more...
Eastern
White Cedar
Eastern white cedar is one of Ontario’s most valuable trees
for wildlife habitat. Also known as “arborvitae” or “tree of
life,” it provides shelter and food to deer, small mammals
and many species of birds. With its dense, evergreen foliage
and cone shape, white cedar is a beautiful landscaping tree
and a popular choice for hedges and windbreaks. We also
value white cedar wood for its resistance to decay and its
distinctive aroma. This Extension Note provides information
on identifying and managing white cedar.
Ontario
Ministry of Natural Resources - Extension Notes (PDF,
144KB) more...
Conserving the Forest Interior: A Threatened Wildlife
Habitat
Only 200 years ago forests stretched nearly continuously
across southern and eastern Ontario. The uplands were shaded
by trees of all sizes, ages and successional stages. Natural
openings were rare, irregular breaks in the leafy canopy.
Today, the picture is very different. Forests now cover only
about 20 per cent of land — one in five hectares — south and
east of the Canadian Shield. This ranges from a high of 30
per cent — one in three hectares — in eastern Ontario, to a
low of about three per cent forest cover in extreme
southwestern Ontario. While we strive to manage the
remaining woodlands sustainably, some wildlife populations
struggle to adjust to the loss and fragmentation of forests.
Landowners are stewards of a great deal of forest habitat in
southern Ontario. But these forests are broken into
thousands of small woodlands ringed by roads, highways,
farms, fields and rural and urban developments. Small,
fragmented forests still sustain wildlife and produce wood
fiber, but they often lack a high-quality habitat called the
forest interior. The conservation values of this “deep
woods” habitat warrant a closer look for woodland planning
and management. This Extension Note introduces you to the
forest interior and the wildlife species that depend on this
threatened habitat. It provides ideas on how landowners,
conservation agencies and interested groups can protect and
improve forest interior conditions in the fragmented forests
of southern Ontario.
Ontario
Ministry of Natural Resources - Extension Notes (PDF,
583KB) more...
Do You Have a Healthy Woodlot?
The loss and fragmentation of the natural landscape in
southern Ontario means that private woodlots, big and small,
are more important than ever to human and environmental
health and to the wildlife species that need forest habitat
to survive. This Extension Note provides information on
assessing and improving the health of your woodlot.
Ontario
Ministry of Natural Resources - Extension Notes (PDF,
262KB) more...
Caring For Ice-Damaged Trees
Ice storms are fairly common events. Severe ice storms can
affect trees, but trees can also be remarkably resilient.
Healthy trees that have not suffered major structural
damage, such as split trunks and broken crowns, may recover
with time. In winter, trees are dormant and further injury
by insects and disease is less likely than if the injury
occurs during the growing season. Recovery depends on the
health of the tree and the extent of the damage; healthy
trees with few damaged branches should recover and in time
the crown may even appear normal. This Extension Note
outlines how to look after trees damaged by ice.
Ontario
Ministry of Natural Resources - Extension Notes (PDF,
319KB) more...
Planting and Caring for Nut Trees
Nut trees provide shade, shelter from the wind, fuelwood,
valuable timber and delicious nuts for both people and
wildlife. But to grow nut trees successfully, you need to
give them special care, particularly when choosing your
species sites and planting your trees.
Ontario
Ministry of Natural Resources - Extension Notes (PDF,
222KB) more...
The Old-Growth Forests of Southern Ontario
The forests that covered southern Ontario before European
settlement were a patchwork of forest environments in
different stages of succession. They included large,
unbroken tracts of mature forest, which we call old-growth,
as well as younger stands, meadows, prairies, savannas,
wetlands and openings of various sizes. When we think
of the old-growth stands within this varied landscape, we
sometimes imagine vast park-like expanses of old trees.
However, the old-growth forests in southern Ontario
contained trees of all ages and sizes. These wild and
diverse ecosystems also contained more tree and shrub
species than today’s forest and provided habitat for more
and different forms of life, including several species that
are now considered rare or endangered. This Extension Note
provides information on the characteristics of old-growth
forests and the many species that depend on these features
for survival.
Ontario
Ministry of Natural Resources - Extension Notes (PDF,
508KB) more...
Room to Grow: Protecting the Competition
There are four requirements for tree growth: water,
nutrients, sunlight and room to grow. Competition from
grasses, weeds and brush must be controlled to allow trees
to grow well. This Extension Note provides information on
ways to control different types of competition.
Ontario
Ministry of Natural Resources - Extension Notes (PDF,
246KB) more...
Designing and Caring for Windbreaks
Windbreaks perform a variety of jobs. They reduce soil
erosion, increase crop yield and protect livestock. They
shield buildings and help reduce heating costs. They can
also add beauty to landscapes and provide habitat for
wildlife. Getting the results you want from a windbreak can
depend on factors as obvious as its location and size, or as
subtle as the kind of trees you use and the spacing between
them. One of the most important factors when designing a
windbreak is knowing exactly what you want your windbreak to
achieve. This Extension Note provides information about
designing and caring for windbreaks that perform different
functions.
Ontario
Ministry of Natural Resources - Extension Notes (PDF,
232KB) more...
Planning for Tree Planting
Whether you wish to plant just a few trees or a large area,
planning ahead can make the difference between success and
failure. Use the information in this Extension Note as a
guide to planning your successful tree planting project.
Ontario
Ministry of Natural Resources - Extension Notes (PDF,
112KB) more...
Land
Management Options for Abandoned Farm Fields
Over the past few decades, people have been planting trees
in abandoned farm fields to restore native forests and to
grow wood products. However, planting trees is just one of
several management options for abandoned fields. This
Extension Note discusses these options and provides
step-by-step instructions for choosing one that suits your
property.
Ontario
Ministry of Natural Resources - Extension Notes (PDF,
416KB) more... |
