Environment

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See also Green Cottaging, Nature

• Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary
  Website: www.aspenvalleywildlifesanctuary.com
  The Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary is a Rosseau-area wildlife reserve where injured or orphan animals are nursed back to health until they can return to the wild. Their website includes tips on what to do if you find wildlife in need of help, as well as a downloadable PDF guide to co-existing with wildlife in cottage country. A registered charity, their Adopt-an-Animal Program makes a great gift. Recipients will receive a picture, story and adoption certificate of one of the Sanctuary's residents.
• Association of Stony Lake Cottagers and Upper Stoney Lake Association
  Website: www.stonylake.on.ca
  Stony Lake is one of the largest and most popular cottaging lakes in the Kawarthas. This site, run by the Association of Stony Lake Cottagers and Upper Stoney Lake Association, highlights news and events from the region, and also outlines some of the environmental and political issues faced by area cottagers. Includes links to places of interest in and around the lake and the history of the area, as well as information on invading species.
• Bird Studies Canada
  Website: www.bsc-eoc.org
  Information on how the West Nile virus is affecting local bird populations, links to more than 15,000 birding sites worldwide, and an application form to become a loon watcher for the Canadian Lakes Loon Survey.
• Bullfrog Power
  Website: www.bullfrogpower.com
  Visit this website to find out how to buy renewable energy (wind and certified low-impact hydro) to power your cottage. The site also includes energy conservation tips and visitors can sign up for a free e-newsletter with up-to-date environmental news and environmentally friendly products and services.
• Canadian Museum of Nature
  Website: www.nature.ca/rideau
  Presents the Rideau River Biodiversity Project, which followed the health of the river from Smiths Falls to Ottawa. The multi-layered site runs through biological info on wildlife and water-quality statistics, and describes ways you can preserve and improve the biodiversity of this or any other river.
• Composting Council of Canada
  Website: www.compost.org
  Breaks down everything you need to know about composting, including how to build a composter and uses for the end product.
• Conservation Ontario
  Website: www.conservation-ontario.on.ca
  The Conservation Ontario homepage has info on watershed management projects, flood forecasting, links to all 36 regional Conservation Authorities, and details on the activities available in the province’s 200 publicly accessible conservation parks.
• Cottage Life
  Website: www.cottagelife.com
  Download Cottage Life’s booklets, The Shore Primer and The Dock Primer, co-produced by Cottage Life and Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
• Ducks Unlimited Canada
  Website: www.ducks.ca
  Ducks Unlimited’s website has detailed descriptions of waterfowl (some include audio and video clips), information on wetlands and their preservation, and downloadable plans for building a duck nest or a bat box. Support wetland conservation and research by making a donation to Ducks Unlimited.
• Earthroots
  Website: www.earthroots.org
  Earthroots is an Ontario-based environmental activist group devoted to wilderness protection through grassroots education programs. For example, from their main site, you can connect to Wolves Ontario, full of wolf trivia and biological information designed to "change the way we look at wolves." The Park Alert! sub-site explores threats to two protected cottage-country wilderness areas, Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park and Mellon Lake, northeast of Belleville. Earthroots is a charitable organization.
• Environmental Choice Program
  Website: www.environmentalchoice.com
  The Environmental Choice Program, run by Environment Canada, puts the "EcoLogo" stamp on consumer products and services that meet its ecological standards. The site includes a list of certified products ranging from rechargeable batteries to boat cleaners.
• Federation of Ontario Naturalists
  Website: www.ontarionature.org
  Detailed information about the group’s conservation programs, descriptions and directions to the 20 nature reserves in its care, and extensive links to other naturalist organizations around the province. Donations to this charitable organization help protect nature in Ontario.
• Fish Habitat Advisory Group
  Website: www.fish-habitat.com
  Want to protect or just learn about the aquatic habitat at your cottage? Check out this site, run by federal and provincial agencies that oversee lakes and shorelines.
• Fuel Economy Guide
  Website: www.fueleconomy.gov
  Driving back and forth from home to the lake can take a toll on your wallet and the environment, especially if you’re driving a gas guzzler. If you’re looking for a new ride, you can compare vehicles side by side under a number of categories including fuel consumption for both highway and city driving (in either metric or imperial units), passenger and luggage space, annual greenhouse gas emissions, and safety.
• Gardening for Life
  Website: www.goforgreen.ca/gardening
  A national program to encourage water-wise, chemical-free, native gardening. Read through fact sheets such as “Gardening without chemicals” and “Gardening with native plants.”
• George Barron, mycologist
  Website: www.uoguelph.ca/~gbarron
  Ever wondered about eating a forest fungus? This University of Guelph mushroom aficionado has set up a site with more than 500 of his photos and descriptions of fungi found around the province.
• Georgian Bay Association
  Website: www.georgianbay.ca
  An umbrella group encompassing 20 local associations. Link to many of those associations’ sites, view a large selection of photos taken around the north and eastern shores of the bay, find out about association events, and download issues of the GBA Update newsletter going back to 1997. The site has a boater and cottager code, research on water quality and levels, wildlife, fisheries, invasive species, taxation, First Nations issues, renewable energy, and telephone service, to name a few. You can donate to the group's charitable foundation, the Georgian Bay Area Foundation, from the website.
• Georgian Bay Land Trust
  Website: www.gblt.org
  This group works to protect the uniqueness of the eastern shore and North Channel of Georgian Bay through the securement and stewardship of land that has ecological, geological and historical importance. It is a not-for-profit, registered charity.
• Georgian Bay Association
  Website: www.georgianbay.ca
  An umbrella group encompassing 20 local associations. Link to many of those associations’ sites, view a large selection of photos taken around the north and eastern shores of the bay, find out about association events, and download issues of the GBA Update newsletter going back to 1997. The site has a boater and cottager code, research on water quality and levels, wildlife, fisheries, invasive species, taxation, First Nations issues, renewable energy, and telephone service, to name a few. You can donate to the group's charitable foundation, the Georgian Bay Area Foundation, from the website.
• Gloucester Pool Cottagers Association
  Website: www.gloucesterpool.ca
  The Gloucester Pool Cottagers Association, which maintains this site, boasts members from four Parry Sound-area lakes: Little Lake, Baxter Lake, MacLean Lake, and Gloucester Pool. Their website contains information on local history and events, and explores environmental issues of concern to cottagers across the province, including the invasion of Giant Hogweed, the troubling migration of Canada Geese, and the logistics of water testing.
• IceWatch
  Website: www.icewatch.ca
  Meticulously recording the annual ice-in and ice-out dates on your lake doesn’t have to mean you’re just an obsessive cottager. It can also make you a "citizen scientist" if you contribute your observations to a growing body of data being compiled by researchers studying climate change. This site shows you how to consistently gauge accurate freeze and thaw cycles and then submit your notes online. There are also links to similar FrogWatch, PlantWatch, and WormWatch monitoring programs.
• International Dark-Sky Association
  Website: www.darksky.org
  Shines a spotlight on the negative impacts of light pollution and how you can help prevent it. Donations can be made on their website. (For information about the Torrance Barrens Dark Sky Reserve – a 1,900-hectare night sky-protected conservation area northwest of Gravenhurst – visit www.rasc.ca/light/print/muskoka/dsr.htm.)
• Kahshe Lake Ratepayers Association
  Website: www.kahshelake.ca
  The goal of the Kahshe Lake Ratepayers Association (the group that maintains this site) is to ensure the environmentally responsible development of their lake through the implementation of a detailed plan. Visitors can download the plan and also access useful articles on the challenges all lakeside communities face, including noise pollution and pesticide use.
• Kawartha Turtle Trauma Centre
  Website: www.kawarthaturtle.org
  Read about the Peterborough organization’s program for healing injured tortoises, check the hours for drop-off centres, and follow the progress of patients in the Recovery Room.
• Lake Plan
  Website: www.lakeplan.com
  In an effort to control the environmental damage caused by increased development in cottage county, many cottage groups are formulating a lake plan to help preserve the historical, social, and environmental value of their lakes. Visit this site to find out if a lake plan is a good idea for your area, and how to get one started.
• LandOwner Resource Centre
  Website: www.lrconline.com
  The LandOwner Resource Centre provides information and training on a wide range of shoreline naturalization and wetland preservation programs. Its website includes details about the centre’s programs and events, a list of brochures and videos available for order online, and links to government sites and related organizations.
• Ministry of Natural Resources
  Website: www.mnr.gov.on.ca
  The “Water Resources” section has info on water levels and quality. The site also has links to provincial parks, the Leslie. M. Frost environmental centre, and contact information for local MNR offices, plus searchable database for ministry news and bulletins on everything from work permits to nuisance bears.
• Ministry of the Environment
  Website: www.ene.gov.on.ca
  Check out the air-quality index for three dozen monitoring stations around the province or find advice in fact sheets ranging from coping with well water shortages to gardening without chemicals.
• MNR Bear Wise
  Website: www.bears.mnr.gov.on.ca
  This Ministry of Natural Resources site has a number of fact sheets on black bears, including one on what cottagers can do to keep bears away, and another on how to deal with a bear encounter. The site also contains a useful map showing that the area with the highest bear population density in the province (40-60 bears/100 km2) cuts a wide band through prime cottage country.
• National Office for Pollution Prevention
  Website: www.ec.gc.ca/nopp/docs/fact/en/p2cottage.cfm
  The National Office for Pollution Prevention, part of Environment Canada, publishes a cottage-specific Pollution Prevention Fact Sheet, found at this site. It offers tips for preventing the generation of pollution at the lake as well as some suggested activities to help protect natural resources through conservation and the efficient use of resources.
• Nature Conservancy of Canada
  Website: www.natureconservancy.ca
  If you’ve been thinking of donating your cottage land or establishing a conservation easement on your property, this is the place to go to find out how. A charitable organization, they can also send out cards for money donations made on a friend's behalf.
• Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters
  Website: www.ofah.org
  Most cottagers could ID the notorious zebra mussel and purple loosestrife, but how about a round goby or rusty crayfish? This site has photos and bios of these and other “invading species” and explains how to prevent their spread. There’s also an online form for reporting a sighting.
• Ontario Onsite Wastewater Association
  Website: www.oowa.org
  When you need to install, repair, or update a septic system, members of the Ontario Onsite Wastewater Association are the people to call. The OOWA’s website has a clickable provincial map linking to contact information for septic manufacturers, installers, and municipal regulators.
• Ontario Professional Planners Institute
  Website: www.ontarioplanners.on.ca
  If your cottage sits on any environmentally protected land you'll be required to hire an accredited environmental planner to get a severance approval on your property. Visit this site to find one.
• Ontario Watersheds
  Website: www.ontariowatersheds.ca
  Helpful information for maintaining a healthy watershed. Once registered (registration is free), you can access water-quality data from across the province, and also find out how to effectively monitor you own watershed. Then, you can add your information to the database for others to access.
• Peterborough Green-Up
  Website: www.greenup.on.ca
  Peterborough Green-Up is a non-profit organization that promotes environmentally friendly practices in and around its namesake community. The organization’s website has a range of information for eco-conscious cottagers. In addition to online primers on subjects like composting and pesticide-free gardening, there are also a number of downloadable documents on topics like outboard motors, shoreline restoration, and native plants. There’s also an extensive list of links.
• Pollution Prevention
  Website: www.ec.gc.ca/nopp/docs/fact/en/p2cottage.cfm
  This Environment Canada page has cottage-specific tips for pollution prevention such as using phosphate-free soaps and creating a "reuse it" swap program for exchanging unwanted items with your cottage neighbours. There are also links to other eco-friendly websites.
• Pollution Probe
  Website: www.pollutionprobe.org
  For 35 years, Pollution Probe has been championing a cause cottagers can appreciate: clean air and clean water. From its Publications section you can download detailed primers on topics such as acid rain, drinking water issues, and the health of the Great Lakes. They also have extensive links to other environmental groups and relevant government websites.
• Royal Ontario Museum
  Website: www.rom.on.ca
  Scan field guides to birds (including bird calls), amphibians, and fish. The site also hosts the ROM/Ministry of Natural Resources’ Species at Risk section with detailed info (including range maps) for all the flora and fauna in Ontario listed from vulnerable (eastern grey wolf) to extinct (passenger pigeon). The ROM is a charitable organization.
• Steve Marshall, entomologist
  Website: www.uoguelph.ca/~samarsha
  Handy for identifying what’s bugging you. University of Guelph professor and regular Cottage Life contributor Steve Marshall has compiled photos and descriptions for a portion of the school’s one million-strong insect collection.
• The Clean Boater Program
  Website: www.cleanboater.com
  The Ontario Marine Operators Association maintains this site containing tips for safely cleaning, maintaining, operating, and storing boats year-round in an environmentally sensitive way. Visit to join the Clean Boater Program, and gain access to coupons for products and services. Also find an eco-rated Ontario marina where you can book your boat for an environmental inspection.
• The Green Pages
  Website: www.thegreenpages.ca
  An environmentalist web portal, greenpages.ca allows you to search by province for issues of concern and for related events in your area. The Resources section has links to more than 2,000 eco-related websites, and book reviews of ecology titles.
• The Living By Water Project
  Website: www.livingbywater.ca
  A national organization that promotes healthy shorelines for human and non-human residents. Learn about the littoral zone and why it’s so important to the aquatic ecosystem or read a detailed guide to re-naturalizing your waterfront.
• The Weather Network
  Website: www.weathernetwork.ca
  Rain, rain not going away? Check to see if there’s any sun on the horizon. There’s also a Marine Forecast for boaters. (For official Environment Canada weather and marine forecasts, visit www.weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca.)
• The Wildlands League
  Website: www.wildlandsleague.org
  The Ontario chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society has been a leader in fighting many environmental threats to the province’s lakes and forests. The group is currently onside with cottagers protesting a quarry on Mellon Lake, near Kaladar, Ont. Learn what’s at stake and how you can get involved. The Wildlands League is a charitable organization.
• The Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre
  Website: www.wyemarsh.com
  The Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre in Midland promotes an understanding of the environment and wildlife with year-round programs. Take a canoe for a spin through the marsh - home to a diverse array of birds and mammals. Explore their hiking and walking trails on your own or with an Outdoor Educator. The Wye Marsh is a registered charity.
• Tree Canada Foundation
  Website: www.treecanada.ca
  Ever wondered which types of trees are growing in your back forty? The website for the non-profit Tree Canada Foundation includes a searchable index of Canadian conifers and their deciduous counterparts. Listings include photos of bark, leaves, flowers, cones, and other identifying features. Also contains a detailed tree-planting guide. Tree Canada Foundation is a registered charity.
• Wildflower Farm
  Website: www.wildflowerfarm.com
  Cottage gardeners will want to peruse Wildflower Farm’s online catalogue. Use their Wildflower Selection Guide to get specific information on plants and seeds native to cottage country, including their optimal soil and shade growing conditions and colour photos of each species.

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See also Green Cottaging, Nature