Healthy Shoreline Demonstration Site

Demonstration sites provide excellent opportunities for hands-on learning. As part of the Living by Water Project, CSW is working in partnership with Leeds County Stewardship Council, Parks Canada, Rideau Valley Conservation Authority, and The Old Field Garden and Wildflower Nursery to develop a demonstration site on the Portland Bay Conservation Area.

Over 1000 native trees, shrubs, grasses and wildflowers have been planted to both preserve and enhance the biodiversity within the wetland area and to demonstrate an example of a natural, healthy shoreline property. Interpretive signs guide visitors through demonstrations of native species, environmentally friendly docks, shoreline buffers, and softening a hardened shoreline.

It doesn't take a huge investment to develop a demonstration site. Publicizing a shoreline makeover or a protected natural shoreline provide excellent examples to show others the benefits of healthy shorelines.