No. Most lake/river front property owners in Saskatchewan do NOT own the land right to the water’s edge. The area between the bank and the water’s edge (often called the beach or foreshore) belongs to the Crown, not to landowners. Even if dedicated lands don’t separate your lot from the lake, the land closest to the lake or river is usually the bank of the water body. What is meant by “bank”? The bank is the ground bordering the water that acts to contain the water in the water body. The bank can generally be identified by changes in vegetation from aquatic to riparian species. In Saskatchewan, properties are legally defined by their land title. Only the land title states what you own, and the survey plan illustrates the dimensions and extent of your property. Note: this may differ from what you assume you own, or what you have been told by your real-estate agent or neighbours.

No. Dedicated lands, such as municipal, public and environmental reserves are “publicly” owned, and not for the exclusive use of the adjacent landowner. These dedicated lands are separately titled parcels of land owned by the municipality, in the case of environmental and municipal reserve, or the Crown, in the case of public reserve. These titles are created when the land is subdivided. Dedicated lands provide recreation space and public access for all residents, as well as supporting the environmental goals for the area. Unauthorized developments or uses of these dedicated lands are essentially trespassing on land owned by the municipality. For example, if there are trees on the dedicated lands that separate your lot from the lake, you do NOT have the right to cut down the trees without municipal approval.

Not necessarily. Landowners seeking to subdivide their property require approval from the Ministry of Government Relations, unless the municipality has been declared a subdivision approving authority. Landowners may need to obtain a development permit from the local municipality before beginning construction if the local municipality has a zoning bylaw. Landowner may need to obtain a building permit from the local municipality before beginning construction if the local municipality has a building bylaw. Alteration to the shoreline of a water body requires approvals from the Water Security Agency. Work causing serious harm to fish or their habitat requires approval from DFO.

No. In most cases, adding sand right to the water’s edge will not be allowed. If a sand beach is not natural in your location, an artificial sand beach is not likely to remain where you put it and will not typically be approved. From a shoreline health perspective, artificial beaches are less productive and are less stable than a natural shoreline. Consider using the public beach. It is often safer for swimming and is usually protected from boating. Alteration to a beach, foreshore or lakeshore of a fish bearing water body requires approval from the Water Security Agency and the local municipality before work is started.

No. Beds and shores of lakes and rivers are Crown owned public land for all to use. You cannot prevent the public from using the shore or dedicated lands in front of your cottage. Any structure placed on public land, without authority, could be assumed by the public as an invitation for use. Although your dock/structure is a private structure, it would be difficult for you as the owner of the dock, to initiate a civil action against someone else for using it (or any other unapproved improvements). NOTE: The owner(s) of unapproved structures are liable for them and their use by others. (If someone gets injured, you could be liable).

No. Adding even diluted sewage and wastewater into our lakes and streams will affect water quality and contribute to excessive algae growth. Wastes from residences can add significantly to the nutrient load in a lake and will harm the ecosystem and the health of aquatic wildlife. These wastes may even risk our own health. Under The Environmental Management and Protection Act, 2010, a permit is required from the Water Security Agency or the Ministry of Environment for Industrial companies to discharge sewage or water into a water body or watercourse. Under Canada’s Fisheries Act, you may not discharge substances that may affect fish habitat.

No. Don’t think of aquatic plants, such as cattails and reeds as “weeds” or as a nuisance: these plants actually play an important role in maintaining the health of our lakes and rivers. Plants stabilize the bed and shore, reduce soil movement and erosion and provide important habitat for fish, waterfowl and other wildlife. Aquatic plants absorb nutrients that may otherwise contribute to unwanted algae growth. Abundant plant growth can affect safe boat access to open water. There may be cases where a boat lane may be permitted to cut through areas with heavy aquatic plants. An approval must be obtained from the Water Security Agency and the local municipality if you are affecting dedicated lands.

Yes it will. What goes on your lawn also goes into the lake. Fertilizer washes or leaches into the lake causing increased algae growth. Avoid applying fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides. To protect lake health, maintain your yard with as much natural vegetation as possible (it doesn’t need to look wild). Landscape your lot based on your recreational needs. Maintaining a smaller sitting and play area with a good path to the dedicated lands should provide enough recreational space and will cause less impact to the shoreline environment and the water body. Any alteration to dedicated lands requires permission from the local municipality. Any alteration within the bed, bank and boundary of a watercourse or water body requires a permit from the Water Security Agency.

No. Septic fields leach material (including nutrients) into our lakes and streams. Water quality can be severely affected by the improper use or installation of septic fields or tanks, not just for fish and wildlife, but for humans as well. In Saskatchewan, The Shoreland Pollution Control Regulations, 1976 govern the installation of sewage systems within 457 m (1,500 feet) of the high-water mark of any lake, river, stream or any other water body. Unless your residence is connected to a communal sewage disposal system, individual holding tanks must be installed and maintained correctly, and a licensed contractor must haul the contents of the tank to an approved disposal facility. Contact the Saskatchewan Health Authority for more information or permits.