Shoreline Home Visit Program

The Shoreline Home Visit Program is a confidential one-on-one landowner contact program, designed to advise waterfront residents on healthy shoreline living practices.

Visits can range in time - from 15 minutes to 2 hours - based on priorities and resources available. During a 1-2 hour visit, trained staff or volunteers walk about the property with the property owners and highlight simple solutions geared towards their own property. The visit is a straightforward and practical way for property owners to learn how to put conservation principles into practice, including:

• Prevention and control of shoreline erosion
• Protection of water quality from land use
• Creation of wildlife habitat
• Lawns and gardens
• Water conservation
• Docks and fisheries habitat
• Invasive species
• Lighting
• Septic system maintenance
• Much more......

CSW has carried out Shoreline Home Visits since 2002, reaching over 170 shoreline properties on 20 lakes in eastern Ontario. Here's what participants have to say:

“Such visits should be mandatory for all cottage owners.”

“Before Shoreline Home Visits became available, the most that our Lake Association could do was to inform property owners about water quality protection at our Annual General meetings and in our Newsletters. We were not able to offer individual multi-purpose visits with professional advice such as those provided by the Shoreline Home Visit Program."

“The advisors were very knowledgeable... They gave us many suggestions and options, most very inexpensive so we were able to act promptly.... This is an excellent service, keep up the good work and thank you!”

The Shoreline Home Visit program is designed to help groups connect with and motivate local shoreline residents to take positive actions in helping to protect, conserve or restore shorelines on their properties. Not only can it raise awareness about the importance of shoreline stewardship but it can also be used to engage volunteers and help profile your group's activities. Find out about training and resources to help you start a Home Visit Program in your area!