Using Nature's Design and Assisting Natural Systems to Achieve Ecological Integrity and Resiliency
by Kelly Musselwhite
by Kelly Musselwhite
Ecological restoration is one of the major focuses of the Shawnigan Basin Society, which has now hosted three ecological restoration projects (also known as bioengineering) in the community: The first was in the fall of 2015 on private property; the second in the fall in the West Provincial Park; and the third in the summer of 2017, again on private property.
Ecological restoration is the process of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged, or destroyed. Natural processes have been doing this for millions of years. By observing how these natural processes operate to restore disturbed sites, effective restoration strategies can be developed. The first step in this process is to identify how the natural systems operate in the region where the restoration project is to occur. Wat are the successional pattern? Are there specific pioneering species that occur on the substrates that are similar to the substrates being restored? Are there specific processes that occur in the wet areas or on the dry knolls? Are there structures that are important to the growth of specific species? Once this understanding has been gained, the next step in the recovery process is to identify the filters that are preventing these processes from naturally restoring the site.
Starting with pioneering species is often an effective way of restoring drastically disturbed sites. Seeding or planting pioneering species can be used to re-establish natural successional trajectories that will lead to the recovery of the site. Other species will move into the restoration site when conditions are appropriate. In some cases the sue of these species in soil bioengineering structures can provide a very effective solution to drastically disturbed sites.
Restoration is a young science and many of its intricacies have yet to be elucidated. By trying new treatments and looking to natural processes for solutions, many new restoration strategies will be found (Polster, D., (n.d.), Natural Processes: Restoration of Drastically Disturbed Sites).
The Basin Society encourages ecologically sound solutions when addressing the problem of foreshore erosion. Following ecological restoration techniques will also act to protect overall ecological integrity at the lake’s edge where root systems clean surface water entering the lake; enhance and protect a healthy plant and aquatic habitat; increase environmental biodiversity; restore ecological services, which function to reduce sediment and nutrient runoff into the water; enhance opportunities for privacy; and aesthetically enhance property value. Lakeside and water solutions become reciprocally possible: from the lake to the shore and conversely, from the shore to the lake at the same time!
Retaining walls are expensive, negatively impact riparian areas, and resist wave energy (which eventually causes them to be damaged). Instead, wattle walls and live stakes slow the flow of water, absorbing and disbursing wave energy as it makes its way to shore.
The Basin Society invites you to consider having your lakeside property assessed for a similar project. We aim to undertake three additional projects along the Park’s foreshore to demonstrate the power of these simple, one-time effort and inexpensive techniques. Nature’s resilience will become clear as these restoration projects develop independently.
If you are interested in having your property assessed or require further information, please visit the Shawnigan Basin Society’s website at shawiganwater.org or send an email to info@shawniganwater.org.
TOGETHER, we can reduce our ecological footprint with cost effective, environmentally safe, and long-term solutions! Please, do your part, to help keep Shawnigan Lake clean!
Ecological restoration is the process of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged, or destroyed. Natural processes have been doing this for millions of years. By observing how these natural processes operate to restore disturbed sites, effective restoration strategies can be developed. The first step in this process is to identify how the natural systems operate in the region where the restoration project is to occur. Wat are the successional pattern? Are there specific pioneering species that occur on the substrates that are similar to the substrates being restored? Are there specific processes that occur in the wet areas or on the dry knolls? Are there structures that are important to the growth of specific species? Once this understanding has been gained, the next step in the recovery process is to identify the filters that are preventing these processes from naturally restoring the site.
Starting with pioneering species is often an effective way of restoring drastically disturbed sites. Seeding or planting pioneering species can be used to re-establish natural successional trajectories that will lead to the recovery of the site. Other species will move into the restoration site when conditions are appropriate. In some cases the sue of these species in soil bioengineering structures can provide a very effective solution to drastically disturbed sites.
Restoration is a young science and many of its intricacies have yet to be elucidated. By trying new treatments and looking to natural processes for solutions, many new restoration strategies will be found (Polster, D., (n.d.), Natural Processes: Restoration of Drastically Disturbed Sites).
The Basin Society encourages ecologically sound solutions when addressing the problem of foreshore erosion. Following ecological restoration techniques will also act to protect overall ecological integrity at the lake’s edge where root systems clean surface water entering the lake; enhance and protect a healthy plant and aquatic habitat; increase environmental biodiversity; restore ecological services, which function to reduce sediment and nutrient runoff into the water; enhance opportunities for privacy; and aesthetically enhance property value. Lakeside and water solutions become reciprocally possible: from the lake to the shore and conversely, from the shore to the lake at the same time!
Retaining walls are expensive, negatively impact riparian areas, and resist wave energy (which eventually causes them to be damaged). Instead, wattle walls and live stakes slow the flow of water, absorbing and disbursing wave energy as it makes its way to shore.
The Basin Society invites you to consider having your lakeside property assessed for a similar project. We aim to undertake three additional projects along the Park’s foreshore to demonstrate the power of these simple, one-time effort and inexpensive techniques. Nature’s resilience will become clear as these restoration projects develop independently.
If you are interested in having your property assessed or require further information, please visit the Shawnigan Basin Society’s website at shawiganwater.org or send an email to info@shawniganwater.org.
TOGETHER, we can reduce our ecological footprint with cost effective, environmentally safe, and long-term solutions! Please, do your part, to help keep Shawnigan Lake clean!
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