Next TLWI Board meeting, Saturday, June 16, 2012, 10:00 am - Noon, Turtle Lake Mission
The Importance of shoreline protection and permit requirements - posted May 15, 2012
Natural shorelines are richly diverse habitats and an integral part of a functioning lake ecosystem. The abundant aquatic vegetation found there not only provides important habitat for fish and other aquatic species, but also act as erosion control to protect shore land from ice and wave action. Trees, shrubs and grasses found along a bank also protect the shore land. When these areas are disturbed by development they cease to provide erosion protection and valuable habitat can be lost. Many cottage subdivisions now have dedicated reserve land between the lots and the bed of the water body. These lands provide public access to the water as well as providing an important buffer area between developments and the lake.
Shorelines are protected by The Environmental Management and Protection Act., 2002. Under this legislation any person planning any work near any water body must contact the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment to:
Alter the bed, bank or boundary of any water body or water course,
remove or add any material to the bed, bank, or boundary or any water body or water course, or
remove vegetation from the bed, bank, or boundary or any water body or water course.
Approvals are also required from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) for any work in, or near water that may affect fish habitat. All development (including landscaping) on Municipal reserves, must be approved through the local municipality. For shore land development permits on Turtle Lake contact the Ministry of Environment at 236-7557. If you suspect unauthorized shoreline alterations, or are aware of any circumstances that could threaten the lake and shoreline, you can report it to the Saskatchewan TIPS line at 1-800-667-7567 where your call will be relayed to a Conservation Officer in the local area.
click here for more information on Lake shore Development and many of the Common Myths
Joint Committee Established to Monitor and Address Water Level Concerns at Turtle Lake
Divide Forest Advisory Council Tours Harvest Operations at Four Mile Creek
  |
Welcome to the Turtle Lake Watershed Inc. Website. If you're interested in Turtle Lake's aquatic eco-system, and more importantly how you can help protect it... this is the website for you.
The maintenance of a healthy aquatic ecosystem within the Turtle Lake watershed basin.
Since 2004 the Turtle Lake Watershed Inc. (TLWI) has been incorporated as a non-profit corporation with representative membership by the Rural Municipalities, First Nations, Villages and Hamlets throughout the drainage basin. TWLI’s mission is the maintenance of a healthy aquatic ecosystem within the Turtle Lake watershed basin.
A constitution was adopted and a board of directors elected. The board meets regularly throughout the year to discuss watershed related issues, dialogues with government regulators and plans initiatives to protect the watershed. An Annual General Meeting is held every summer where members are invited to ask questions of the Board. AGM minutes and audited financial statements can be obtained on the resources page of this website.
The TLWI Board views education and involvement as the most effective tools in ensuring and maintaining water quality and healthy fisheries within the lake. The Living by Water handbook has been instrumental as a tool to educate and instruct property owners in their role in protecting the aquatic ecosystem. In July 2005, TLWI sponsored a workshop for cabin owners to come and learn about these principles and methods. The TLWI provide all new lakeshore property owners with a free copy of this handbook, so that mistakes of the past need not be repeated. In 2007 the TLWI website www.tlwi.ca was launched to provide an easily accessible way for both members and the general public to find out about initiatives and reference information.
Since its inception the TLWI has engaged a number of Federal and Provincial agencies responsible for regulating some aspect of the watershed in an effort to better understand the regulations and the responsibilities of these agencies. These have included the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority, the Prairie North Regional Health Association – Community Health Officer and Sask Environment.
Thank you to our Supporters:
If you have more questions about the Turtle Lake Watershed Inc. Please feel free to contact us at the by phone, email or post.