“In wildness is the preservation of
the world.”
-Henry David Thoreau


For much of the past century people in southern Ontario, and the United States, have been flocking to “cottage country” in central Ontario. Unfortunately, the large influx of urbanites seeking Ontario’s pristine wilderness are now bringing with them extra baggage often associated with comfortable urban lifestyles destroying the very thing that attracts them to the area in the first place.
A significant portion of the land is being cleared to make way for large cottages and homes as well as garages, bunkies and various other buildings. Extensive driveways and large parking areas further decimate the forested property. Some “cottagers” can’t even do without a lawn and are installing these eco-unfriendly groundcovers at their “wilderness retreats.”
All of these southern comforts are having a large impact on the ecosystem. Fortunately, there are simple things that can be done to minimize our impact on the environment while at the cottage.

Maintaining a healthy shoreline buffer
A vital area, and one that is commonly destroyed or damaged, is the shoreline buffer. Shoreline buffers are vegetated strips of land that border lakes, rivers and other bodies of water. Shoreline buffers typically extend 20 metres or more back from the shoreline and include the shallow water just off shore. It is here where native grasses, shrubs, trees and aquatic plants exist – or should exist. All too often people remove plants (both on land and in the water), trees and other vegetation. These irresponsible acts can have serious consequences for the ecosystem.
Plants in shoreline buffers offer many benefits for the health of the ecosystem, including filtering runoff, controlling runoff, reducing erosion, providing shelter and food for animals –  including aquatic life –  and absorbing nutrients. Shoreline buffers also moderate water temperature by providing shade and they reduce noise coming from the lake such as noise from motorboats. These buffers also provide an important corridor for animals to safely travel to and from the water.
Maintaining shoreline buffers in their natural state also protects native plants – including rare and endangered plants. For example, Lake Wahwashkesh, northeast of Parry Sound, supports numerous Atlantic Coastal Plain species of plants including several rare species. Removing plants in the shoreline buffer will not only cause problems such as erosion and runoff, which will impact the water quality of the lake, but it can also affect species diversity which would be detrimental to the whole ecosystem.
If much of the shoreline buffer has been removed or altered, a simple and effective way to restore it to a more natural state is to allow it to regenerate itself. Native bushes, flowers and trees will soon be established. If you need to speed up the process you can plant some native flowers, shrubs and trees. Just make sure that the plants are native to the area.
It is also important to leave some fallen trees, branches and other material on the ground so that it can provide food and shelter for animals, eventually becoming a part of the forest floor supplying nutrients to the various plants and trees. Park-like settings may appeal to some people, but they aren’t good for the environment. To access the water, create a safe, low impact path.
It is also important to leave the shallow water part of the shoreline buffer alone. Don’t pull out any aquatic plants and leave other natural parts of the aquatic ecosystem intact, as these areas, which include sensitive fish habitat, are vital for many species of plants and animals.

Think Small
When it comes to cottages and the environment, bigger isn’t better. Large cottages and homes take up a substantial footprint on the property and require considerably more energy to heat and – for those who can’t do without air-conditioning – cool.
If you add a large garage and possibly a workshop and bunkie along with a driveway and parking area, then many cottage properties are left with little natural habitat. This not only detracts from the overall wilderness setting, but it leaves little room for the other species that also make the area their home. There should be reasonable limits pertaining to how built up a property in “cottage country” can be and incentives given for those willing to keep much of “their” land in a natural state.

Docks
For those who need a dock, minimize the impact that this structure will have on the shoreline and aquatic ecosystem. A dock can impact the shallow waters near the shore where fish often lay their eggs. Docks made of toxic materials will also affect the lake and its environs and possibly those who use it.
If you are planning on installing a dock or making significant repairs to one, check with the proper authorities to see what is acceptable. Use environmentally-friendly materials and ensure that the dock and any associated structures will not alter wildlife habitat.


Being Green on the Inside Too!
During the last half a century or so the number of chemicals being used has increased tremendously. A significant number of these chemicals are carcinogens. Many haven’t been adequately evaluated to know how dangerous they are. Many are harmful to people. Many are harmful to the environment.
The authors of the book Naturally Clean: The Seventh Generation Guide to Safe & Healthy, Non-Toxic Cleaning warn that household chemicals don’t stay in the house, impacting land, air and water. “Though our use of household chemicals may take place indoors, these substances invariably escape outside where they can cause a host of problems,” it notes. “Whether we spray a product into the air that’s then carried outside on a breeze, rinse a product down our drain that leads to a nearby river or a sewage treatment plant, or throw its remains out with the trash, a variety of environmental impacts are created near and far from the point of actual use.”
While making your cottage an environmentally-friendly wilderness retreat is important, so is how you live when you are there. Using green cleaners that are good for you, the environment and your septic system (if you have one) is an easy way to make a positive difference. Baking soda and water effectively cleans kitchen sinks. Vinegar and water does a good job cleaning windows. There are also many natural ingredients that you can use to make all purpose cleaners, furniture polish and various other household cleaners.
Quality commercial cleaners that are environmentally-friendly are also available. Frank T. Ross & Sons Ltd. is a Canadian company that has been making Nature Clean products for the past four decades. Not only is their impressive line of cleaning products environmentally-friendly, but they are not tested on animals, contain no animal ingredients, are biodegradable (99% within 28 days, depending on the product) and recommended for homes and cottages with septic systems. They also list the ingredients on their products which are non-toxic and hypoallergenic. Many of their bottles are made from recycled plastic.

A Final Word
While many cottagers profess to hold “cottage country” dear, many start changing “their” wilderness setting soon after they move in. The drastic changes are often made to suit the cottagers’ needs, comforts, desires and egos, irreparably harming the ecosystem and destroying the area’s aesthetic landscape in the process.
The Canadian Shield with its beautiful lakes, rivers, forests and wetlands isn’t a recreational playground for the rich, it is a vital, wondrous area that needs to be protected and respected. Those of us fortunate to have a cottage need to learn to minimize our footprint in this special place.