Have a stake in the health of your lake
Protecting the health and integrity of lakes in Southern Ontario's 'The Land Between' bioregion.
The Blue Lakes Program is a free, voluntary program for lakefront property owners in The Land Between bioregion interested in protecting the health and integrity of their lake. Under the program, participants take guided lake conservation actions tailored to their property's unique needs and their desires.
Our health, well-being, and economic viability are directly related to the health of our lakes. However, they are currently under threat from development, pollution, and other human activities. Urgent action is needed to ensure that our lakes remain healthy and intact for generations to come.
How It Works
During the planning phase, participants work with a Blue Lakes Program Admin to select a subset of actions to take within 7 guiding Performance Areas. This is done over a quick, 30-minute intro call through the use of our Dreamboard planning tool.
During the execution phase, participants work towards completing their chosen actions on their property. The Blue Lakes Program offers optional supporting workshops, events, site visits, and training to help participants complete these actions.
After a year, participants determine whether they've successfully completed their actions during the assessment phase. If so, they are permitted to fly the Blue Lakes flag and continue to work on their chosen actions or select new ones in subsequent years.
Blue Lakes Performance Areas
With 7 Performance Areas to choose from, the Blue Lakes Program offers flexibility to participants with respect to selecting actions that make the most sense for them, their property, and their lake. Participants must operate under a minimum of 4 Performance Areas. You can swipe through the below slider to learn about these 7 Performance Areas!
Ready to get started?
Whether your lake is healthy and intact and you're looking to keep it that way or you're facing specific pressures like development and algal blooms, the Blue Lakes Program is a fit for all lakefront property owners.
If you meet our eligibility criteria to the right, the process to join is quick, straightforward, and free!
Eligibility check-list
☐ I own a lakefront property in The Land Between bioregion (check our map to confirm).
☐ My lakefront property has a minimum 10-foot wide buffer of natural shore
☐ I don't have any hardened shorelines on my property (like walls)
www.thelandbetween.ca
@landbetweencharity
The Blue Lakes Program is a project of The Land Between charity, a national registered charity (#805849916RR0001) working to research, conserve, and project a bioregion of the same name spanning Ontario's cottage country through to the Ottawa Valley.
We respectfully acknowledge that The Land Between is located within Williams Treaty 20 Mississauga Anishinaabeg territory and Treaty 61 Robinson-Huron treaty territory, in the traditional territory of the Anishinaabeg. We respectfully acknowledge that these First Nations are the stewards and caretakers of these lands and waters in perpetuity and that they continue to maintain this responsibility to ensure their health and integrity for generations to come.