Monitoring Your Lake or Watershed
What's on this page |
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| Monitoring & Assessment Protocols |
| Monitoring Organizations |
| What Can You Test For? |
Monitoring & Assessment Protocols
Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network (EMAN) Programs
(EMAN and Ontario Benthos Biomonitoring Network (OBBN))
Benthic monitoring involves the study of the presence and abundance of bugs that live on the bottom of waterbodies. Benthos (water bugs) serve as an excellent early warning of threats to water quality, as they are greatly impacted by relatively small changes within their environment.
Monitoring terrestrial ecosystems is beneficial for long-term trend identification and overall ecosystem health assessments.
NatureWatch programs monitor local change in natural systems in order to understand broader climatic and ecosystem changes.
Bacteria Monitoring Protocol
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MWC Bacteria Monitoring Protocol
The Muskoka Watershed Council has worked with local lake associations and scientists to prepare a bacteria monitoring protocol for use by lake associations. When a lake does not want to use an accredited lab to analyze water for E. coli and total coliform, a home test kit called a 'coliplate' can be used. This method will give a reliable estimate of any bacteria contamination.
Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH)
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Invading Species Watch
Invading Species Hotline: 1-800-563-7711
Invading species are one of the greatest threats to the biodiversity of Ontario's waters, wetlands and woodlands. Originating from other regions of the world, and in the absence of their natural predators or controls, invading species can have devastating effects on native species, habitats and ecosystems.
Invading Species Watch is a free volunteer-based lake monitoring program for aquatic invading species. It is an initiative of the Invading Species Awareness Program, which is a partnership between the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.
Bird Studies Canada
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1-888-448-BIRD
Bird Studies Canada has a variety of volunteer based programs that provide information on the changing environment
Toronto Zoo
The Toronto Zoo supports two monitoring programs that study ponds and wetlands.
Ontario Lake Partner Program
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1-800-470-8322
The Ontario Ministry of the Environment (MOE), through the Lake Partner Program, supports lake associations in their lake monitoring programs by sponsoring a clarity (secchi disk) and phosphorus testing program.
Monitoring Organizations
The District Municipality of Muskoka
Muskoka monitors watershed health through;
- Recreational Water Quality Testing
- Shoreline Surveys
- Biological Monitoring Program
The program monitors approximately 150 sample locations across Muskoka on a rotating basis. The purpose of the program is to establish a long-term record of key parameters including phosphorus, dissolved oxygen, temperature and secchi depth.
This program maps shorelines, vegetation and land use using a Geographic Information System (GIS) format. Data collected includes shoreline structures, shoreline vegetation, and near-shore land use.
Assistance is provided to lake association interested in a variety of monitoring protocols, many of which were listed above. Emphasis is placed on benthic and terrestrial programs.
The Ministry of the Environment runs the Ontario Lake Partner Program out of the Dorset Environmental Science Center located in the eastern portion of Muskoka. The goal of the program is to protect the quality of Ontario's inland lakes by involving lake associations in a water quality monitoring program. Each year hundreds of volunteers monitor for both clarity, using a secchi disk, and nutrient enrichment, testing for total phosphorus.
The Federation of Ontario Cottagers' Associations (FOCA) encourages all lake associations to participate in the Lake Partner Program.
In 2005 FOCA has initiated the Docktalk program, which is a multi-year stewardship initiative to educate shoreline residents and improve the capacity of the Province's voluntary waterfront associations.
Lake Associations
Many lake associations monitor a variety or parameters. Check the links below to find out more about some programs.
What can you test for? |
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Water Clarity- Secchi Depth |
Phosphorus |
Benthic Monitoring |
Dissolved Oxygen |
Water Conductivity |
pH |
Temperature |
Bacteria |
