Conservation Programs

Coastal Zone Program

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Take a minute to fill out this survey and find out more about Erie Coast Keepers. There's lots of perks to being an Erie Coast Keeper including exclusive coastal tours. From simple backyard actions to volunteer opportunities along the trail, everyone can help steward a healthy coast.
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The Lake Erie Coastal Stewardship Trail

What is the Coastal Zone Program?

The North Shore of Lake Erie is 592 kilometres long. It contains an array of habitats and species and is also a highly settled area. This landscape, Lake Erie’s Carolinian Coast, is a hotspot of diversity. Many species at risk call this area home.

The Lake Erie Coastal Zone Program is a way for public and private partners to work together. In joining forces, all stakeholders can better manage the coastal zone for people and nature. Improving business, research and conservation opportunities is a key goal of the Coastal Zone Program. One way to work towards this goal is through a Lake Erie Coastal Stewardship Trail.

With many partners, CCC is developing a proposal for a Lake Erie Coastal Stewardship Trail. Our vision is a trail that will link businesses, natural areas and other sites of interest along the entire coast of Lake Erie. It will provide community groups with the chance to get outdoors and join in caring for our coast! The trail can also be a tool to highlight Lake Erie’s important agricultural and human heritage. With many partners working together to care for ecosystems and species, associated natural areas will provide a haven for an array of plants and animals.

Follow the links for more information

  • Factsheet #1 - Download the low-res version here (PDF 100KB) and the high-res version here (PDF 600KB)
  • Factsheet #2: Next Steps Toward a Lake Erie Coastal Stewardship Trail - Download the low-res version here (PDF 200KB) and the high-res version here (PDF 2MB)
  • See what you missed at the 2011 Lake Erie Coastal Stewardship Trail Open House!
  • Check out what some of our Coast Keepers have been up to! View Doug Vallery's Tour in Photos of the proposed rout!
  • Attend the 2010 Virtual Trail Workshop. Explore the process! Get an insider view on some of the early planning that went into the Erie Coastal Trail. We are still taking input! Let us know what you think a Coastal Trail should be!
  • Read about the launch of the Coastal Zone Program and trail concept at the Caring for Our Coast: Forum 2009

Related Initiatives


Point Pelee, Lake Erie, SAR Camp 2010. Photo credit: Megan Ihrig

Left to right: Interns Samantha Dupre and Jennifer van Overbeeke with CCC Coastal Zone Program Coordinator, Megan Ihrig

SAR Camp 2010 participants assist in stewardship of coastal habitat on Point Pelee, Photo credit: Megan Ihrig.