Rideau Valley Conservation Authority

When classifying shorelines, the RVCA looks at the major natural and artificial features along the watercourse. We then categorize the shorelines based on the degree of degradation/health. Information on the following five features is available in the Watershed Information System. Click on each title to learn more about each attribute and how observations are made.

Aquatic plants, rooted or floating, emergent or submergent, are also known as macrophytes. They are concentrated in shallow areas of a watercourse where light can penetrate enough to establish life. This area is known as the littoral zone. Habitats provided by these plants are vital to the survival of many fish and invertebrate species. Just as trees and shrubs provide cover and protection on land, macrophytes provide cover and protection underwater.

Shores are classified as one of the following: natural, regenerative, ornamental, and degraded. Learn more on each classification below.

Natural
		no significant human disturbance on land or in the waterbody
		a thick buffer of healthy native vegetation provides habitat and food for various organisms
		water quality and erosion control are good
Regenerative
		significant efforts have been made for restoration to a pre-development state
		less than 25 percent of the shoreline is disturbed for dock/water access
		the presence of native vegetation is vital to the regeneration of healthy ecosystems
		the ability of the property to control erosion and runoff is good
Ornamental
		development has focused on shoreline aesthetics and industry
		natural vegetation has been removed and replaced with groomed grass and other non-native vegetation
		construction of retaining walls, onshore structures and docks has significantly impacted wildlife habitat and the ability of the shoreline to slow runoff inputs of nutrients and pollution

Degraded
		an area where restoration is needed as soon as possible
		development with little consideration for river ecology or impacts from boat wakes can result in erosion, runoff from roads and driveways flows directly into the water, and/or garbage and debris is polluting the shoreline habitat

Erosion

Erosion is a process where natural forces of water and wind remove, transport and deposit soil and rock particles. Natural river flow causes erosion. However, the addition of boat traffic and shoreline development can increase erosional forces.

Deep rooting shrubs and trees provide bank stabilization. Grasses, especially groomed, ornamental varieties have weak, shallow root systems. They are simply not good enough at stabilizing shoreline soils. With roots that can penetrate soils to depths of 24 inches, the presence of shrubs in the riparian zone is vital for protection from erosion.

Percent shoreline frontage for each type of erosion was observed. The table below defines the types of erosion observed.

Toe Erosion		The flow of water at the base of a shoreline removes material and eventually causes an unstable, overhanging bank.
Mass Wasting Erosion		Once a bank has been undercut by toe erosion, gravity can cause a large mass of the shoreline to slide or slump. This can expose large areas of the shoreline. Erosion forces then have less difficulty removing the remaining exposed material further.

Land Use

All natural systems within a watershed are linked in some way. Water connects the entire watershed through overland, drain, ground water and watercourse flow. Therefore, what happens to the water on land directly affects the composition of ground water and surface water stores. Community species composition is significantly affected by land use.

Each property was given a Land Use designation based on the definitions below.

Agricultural		Land that is primarily used for the production of crops and livestock.
Industrial		Land that is used for industry and commercial applications. This includes manufacturing, repair and storage.
Natural Environment		Land that has a high level of natural community and/or species diversity. Vegetative communities are large enough to provide high quality terrestrial and aquatic habitat and perform important hydrologic functions.
Other		Land that does not fall within the other provided definitions. An example of this would be the many lock stations within the 2003 study area.
Recreational		Also referred to as Open Space, this is common land that is used by the public. A public municipal park would be an example of this.
Rural General		Land that has less resource potential than other parts of the surrounding rural area. Waterfront use of this land is primarily residential. Frontages are larger than properties identified as village.
Rural Natural		Land that is currently going through succession back to a natural environment state from agricultural or developed land use.
Village		Land that is used for residential development along the shoreline. Property frontage is the smallest of all land uses.

Terrestrial Vegetation

Vegetation provides a good base for terrestrial wildlife habitat. Within tree and shrub strata, animals and birds can nest, forage and hunt for food and hide from predators. riparian buffer can provide a continuous wildlife corridor that can allow for animal movement from place to place under protective cover. Overhanging trees in riparian areas provide shade for the littoral zone. Cooler temperatures increase dissolved oxygen levels and improve aquatic habitat.

As mentioned in the erosion section above, riparian vegetation stabilizes soils, preventing loss of fine particles into the watercourse, where they can significantly degrade habitat.

Inland Cover (2004 data only)

Dominant inland cover was included for 2004 because the Terrestrial Vegetation observations in 2002 and 2003 focused on the riparian buffer. While the riparian zone is certainly the most significant in terms of erosion and nutrient control, Inland Cover will give an idea of the degree of development and the ability of a given property to provide good habitat, erosion control and water filtering.

Shoreline and Littoral Zone Development (2004 data only)

This attribute simply observes the total frontage of a property that has been developed from a natural state in any way. The RVCA observes a target of 25% or less development for any type of shoreline property.