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| In its natural
state, shoreline vegetation provides shelter and food to numerous
animal species. |
It is remarkable just how much what grows along the
shoreline affects what lives in the Rideau River! In fact, the preservation
of shoreline vegetation and the natural character of its banks is key to
the health and biodiversity of the River.
Shoreline vegetation:
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Provides
food and shelter, and nesting and breeding areas for wildlife. |
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| Turtles
need basking sites, such as fallen tree trunks; basking helps
them digest their food. |
Stabilizes the riverbank by anchoring the soil
in place, thereby preventing erosion. During rain storms unanchored
soil washes into the River. This decreases water quality significantly;
many animals move away from these areas because the soil blocks gills
and impairs vision, making it more difficult to locate prey and avoid
potential predators. The eggs of fish and frogs become smothered and
even suffocate. |
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Acts as a
filter, preventing some of the residential and agricultural fertilizers,
pesticides and herbicides from entering the River. |
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Buffers against
shoreline erosion caused by motorboat wakes. A bed of cattails or
arrowheads helps to dissipate the energy from the wave action. |
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The strip of vegetation
that is preserved here along the shoreline stabilizes
the soil and filters leaching fertilizers. |
The disappearance of natural vegetation
through the development of shorelines is one of the main threats
to the Rideau River. Happily, people can improve the shorelines
by doing some simple things.
In residential and agricultural areas,
manicured lawns or crops that are grown to the water's edge
are not able to stabilize riverbanks. Structures such as retaining
walls are often added in compensation.
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| Eroded riverbank. |
These are poor alternatives to natural
native vegetation because they eliminate the variety of habitats
that is created by a diverse plant community. Artificial shorelines
do not provide habitat, food or suitable nesting areas for the
animals of the River. Ultimately, artificial shorelines reduce
the biodiversity of the Rideau River.
If structures are absolutely necessary
to stabilize shoreline, the best thing to do is to also add
native plants along the River's edge.
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| Natural banks shelter a
variety of animals. |
The red-osier dogwood (Cornus
stonolifera) and the meadowsweet (Spiraea
alba) have roots that grow in a tangle, like a web,
and so are particularly effective in preventing soil erosion.
The virginia creeper (Parthenocissus vitacea)
and the shrub willow (Salix eriocephala)
are also suitable. [23]
Several of the most severely degraded shorelines
along the Rideau River were damaged by mudslides caused by
livestock walking in and out of the River. Also, the water
is left muddy and contaminated. Shoreline fencing would go
a long way to eliminating this problem.
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