Canada’s millions of kilometers of shoreline are up for grabs.
Waterfront properties are hot real estate in even the most modest
markets.
If waterfront ownership is your goal, protect your investment by
learning how to evaluate more than the house, cottage or condominium on
the site. To ensure your real estate increases in value rather than
becoming a source of disappointment or frustration, investigate what to
expect from shoreline erosion and declining water quality in your chosen
area.
Just as all waterfront properties are not created equal, none of these
properties will stay in the same condition or at the same level of
desirability forever without a lot of help from owners, neighbours,
governments and everyone else that uses the waterway in question. Human
impact is the greatest shoreline and water quality destructor, so how
people use land in your area will affect your future.
When Bob and Mary Lou Carroll retired to the country, they built a new
home on a waterfront lot near Adolphustown on Lake Ontario. Years later,
their European cycling holidays triggered such a strong love of B & Bs
that they decided to turn their modern lakeside home into a welcoming retreat for travellers attracted to their quiet green corner in the Picton-area.
“You get used to it – the water, the view, the beauty,” said Bob
Carroll, explaining how visitors from around the world revitalize the
couple’s appreciation of shoreline living. “There are a few drawbacks to
living on the lake, but mainly it is well worth it.”
The Carrolls, who love their waterfront home even more than they had
expected to, find the relentless wear of winter storms is their main
concern.
“It depends on the size of the body of water,” said Mr. Carroll who has
learned the value of low-maintenance, weather-resistant exterior
finishes the hard way. “We get the full blast of Lake Ontario storms
so the wood siding gets it full blast and needs constant staining.”
Lakes, rivers and oceans are dynamic systems. Think beyond today when
you select a waterfront property, especially if you intend to live there
“forever” or want leave the land to your children:
What effects will shore erosion and/or decreased water quality
have on your property? What shoreline protection and lake stewardship
programs are in place or proposed?
What limitations on shoreline use, modification and development
will restrict your building plans or affect your future use? What type
of dock or shore line improvement can be built along your shoreline?
What are the riparian rights, or rights associated with
shoreline ownership, attached to the property you are considering? For
instance, if water levels gradually recede, will the gradual extension
of land become the property of the riparian owner? On rivers and
streams, what protection does a downstream owner have against water
diversion by upstream owners?
What water quality problems can be reversed or compensated for?
Which will require expensive compromises and alternatives? Talk to
long-term residents to find out how drinking water and recreational
water quality have changed over the years. What government initiatives
are underway to improve and preserve water quality? What septic system
and sewage treatment restrictions exist in the area?
What landscaping do you expect to change? What erosion problems
does the property currently face? You may dream of a sandy beach, but
keep in mind that the shallow near-shore zone is home to an estimated 90
per cent of natural aquatic life. Deep-rooted vegetation such as tall
grasses, shrubs, trees and aquatic vegetation such as reeds and cattails
help “buffer” the shoreline. By reducing the energy of waves and
currents, you can protect your shoreline from erosion, nurture wildlife
populations and gain protection during flooding. Trees, grass and other
vegetation on your waterfront property protect against erosion caused by
surface drainage from uphill properties, and reduce soil loss and other
damage.
The greatest challenge of waterfront living is not weathering one storm,
but minimizing the accumulated impact of your years on the waterfront.
Are you prepared to live lightly on the land and preserve what you
valued enough to buy originally, or will you be the greatest challenge
you face?
Published: August 27, 2002
Use of this article without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.
 Futurist and Strategist PJ Wade is "The Catalyst" -- intent on "Challenging The Best Become Even Better." PJ earned this title by translating the dynamic impact of Boomers and their multi-generation families into relevant insights that start people thinking and taking action—in business and in life.
Author of 7 books and more than 1600 published articles, PJ encourages individuals to become their own futurist. PJ writes and speaks about the insight, knowledge and solid decision-making skills that professionals and their clients need to live and work in this vortex of change. For instance, since PJ knows that home is headquarters for the new decades-long "unretirement," she wrote the popular book "Reverse Mortgages: Best Friend, Worst Enemy... Your Choice! (CatapultPublishing.com), which is filled with suggestions and insight on protecting and using home equity. Her new business book, "What's Your Point?," which identifies 7 common mistakes professionals unknowingly repeat to their detriment, will be published in 2009.
As The Catalyst, PJ provides strategic communication, client appreciation and advanced education services to the financial, tourism, lifestyle and service sectors -- and the clients they serve. A frequently-quoted financial and business commentator, PJ is a thought-provoking strategic speaker who offers practical, real-life suggestions on leaving "the box" behind and embracing Forward Thinking -- a talent she regularly demonstrates in this column. For more on blogs, books and topics, visit TheCatalyst.com. |
