Healthy Lakes and Wetlands For Tomorrow - Species at Risk

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LAKE SHORELINES Extreme High Water Level Ordinary High Water Mark Average Water Level J. Sutton Riparian Zone Lake Shoreline Flood Zone Lake Shoreline: The band of exposed land below the ordinary high water mark extending to the water’s edge. Riparian Zone: The land next to water bodies such as lakes, rivers, and wetlands. Ordinary High Water Mark: The highest point on the shoreline where water will rise under normal weather conditions. It is usually distinguished by the presence of shrubs and other vegetation that does not tolerate wet conditions. The lake shoreline and riparian zone are interconnected and work together to maintain clean water and a healthy, functioning ecosystem. Lake waters, lake bottoms, and the land up to the ordinary high water mark is crown land and owned by the province. Permits from Nova Scotia Environment are required to modify the shoreline area. WETLANDS A wetland is an area that is waterlogged, or partially or completely covered by water for all or part of the year. The Canadian Wetland Classification System organizes wetlands into five types: Bog: Acidic, low nutrient, peat rich areas that may contain trees. The only water source is from precipitation and snowmelt. The main plants are peat mosses and shrubs. Fen Bog J. Lefevbre M. Crowley Fen: Peat rich areas that receive nutrients from the water that flows through them (surface runoff, groundwater). Typically flooded in the winter and dominated by mosses, sedges, rushes, and shrubs. Streams and/or pools may be present. Swamp: Treed wetlands with stagnant or slowflowing pools. Marsh: Periodically or permanently flooded wetlands with changing water levels. The main plants are rushes, reeds, grasses, sedges and shrubs. Shallow Water: Transitional areas between bogs, fens, swamps, marshes and permanent water bodies such as lakes. Include basins, pools, ponds, and channels. 8
BLANDING’S TURTLE HABITAT Timeline Activity Habitat June Nesting Shorelines/Outcrops/Gravel July Feeding/Basking Wetlands September Hatchling Emergence Lake Shorelines & Wetlands December - May Overwintering Wetlands J. McNeil Female Nesting Habitat • Gently sloping sand, cobble, gravel, or slate lake shorelines and islands that are often south facing. • Rock outcrops in the forest and along lake shorelines. • Gravel pits and gravel roads. J. McNeil Feeding and Basking Habitat • Slow moving dark waters of lake coves, fens with stillwater streams, and marshes. • Often found in shallow areas with lots of aquatic plants, places to warm in the sun, and muddy bottoms. Associated with beavermaintained wetlands. • Peat moss, water lilies, and shrubs like Sweetgale, and Leatherleaf are often present. M. Crowley Hatchling Habitat • Emerge from underground nests in September and October. • Overwinter in wetlands, temporary pools of water, or upland forested areas. • Spend the winter buried down in the vegetation or underwater. M. Crowley Adult Overwintering Habitat • Shallow pools and slow flowing streams in wetlands. • Can be buried under soft mud, sitting on the bottom, or suspended in the underwater vegetation. Protection of this habitat is critical to Blanding’s Turtle long-term survival. B. Caverhill Travel Corridors • Found in other habitats as they move to and from their feeding, nesting, and overwintering areas. • These habitats include forests, open water, and roads. • Road kill can seriously affect the Blanding’s Turtle population. Refer to page 31 for information about turtles and roads. 9
Page 1 and 2: Healthy Lakes and Wetlands For Tomo
Page 3 and 4: STEWARDS IN ACTION Checking for hat
Page 5 and 6: TABLE OF CONTENTS Getting Started 1
Page 7 and 8: GETTING STARTED This landowner stew
Page 9 and 10: SPECIES AT RISK Thread-leaved Sunde
Page 11 and 12: RESEARCH and STEWARDSHIP: Working T
Page 13: SENSITIVE HABITATS Blanding’s Tur
Page 17 and 18: LAKE SHORELINE HABITAT M. Crowley P
Page 19 and 20: NEW JERSEY RUSH Found along the edg
Page 21 and 22: HOW YOU CAN HELP ON YOUR LAND The f
Page 23 and 24: Do not infill, rake, or mow your la
Page 25 and 26: STEWARDSHIP STORIES: The Turners Sn
Page 27 and 28: ESTUARIES Estuaries are coastal loc
Page 29 and 30: LAWN and GARDEN Sometimes what we c
Page 31 and 32: STEWARDSHIP STORIES: Carter Feltham
Page 33 and 34: Stay well away from the water when
Page 35 and 36: Avoid This Try This ON-SITE SEWAGE
Page 37 and 38: MOTORIZED VEHICLES Motorized vehicl
Page 39 and 40: MOTORIZED WATER VEHICLES: Drive at
Page 41 and 42: WILDLIFE and PETS We appreciate our
Page 43 and 44: INVASIVE FISH and PROHIBITED BAIT S
Page 45 and 46: FORESTRY PRACTICES Forestry practic
Page 47 and 48: NOVA SCOTIA WOODLOT OWNER OF THE YE
Page 49 and 50: AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES Agricultural
Page 51 and 52: Resources: Water on the Farm: Benef
Page 53 and 54: RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES Humans are
Page 55 and 56: NSNT NSNT The Nova Scotia Nature Tr
Page 57 and 58: Eastern Ribbonsnake Thamnophis saur
Page 59 and 60: THREATENED M. Crowley S. Boates M.
Page 61 and 62: APPENDIX C: Contact Information Bla
Page 63 and 64: APPENDIX D: Permits and Development
Page 65 and 66:
GLOSSARY Alien Species: Animals and
Page 67:
Acknowledgements American Marten Ow
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