Get data about the water quality for Ontario's inland lakes. The data is collected through volunteer monitoring efforts – citizen science. The Lake Partner environment map The Lake Partner Program (LPP) measures water quality in inland lakes across Ontario. This dataset provides water quality and water clarity data, as well as data on the concentrations of: * total phosphorus * calcium * chloride Spatial information for lake monitoring locations across Ontario are also available. Keywords: Lake, Water, Citizen Science, Community Science, Volunteer, Phosphorus, Calcium, Chloride, Water Clarity

The Ontario Lake Partner Program (LPP) provides total phosphorus, chloride and calcium concentration data (as well as water clarity, when available) for hundreds of Ontario's inland lakes. The data are collected annually through volunteer monitoring efforts, known as community science. Engaging volunteers to take measurements and collect samples expands the geographic area monitored and fosters public interest in Ontario’s water quality and promotes lake stewardship. The Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associations (FOCA) has worked in partnership with the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks to collect this information.

The Ontario Lake Partner Program (LPP) provides total phosphorus, chloride and calcium concentration data (as well as water clarity, when available) for hundreds of Ontario's inland lakes. The data are collected annually through volunteer monitoring efforts, known as community science. Engaging volunteers to take measurements and collect samples expands the geographic area monitored and fosters public interest in Ontario’s water quality and promotes lake stewardship. The Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associations (FOCA) has worked in partnership with the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks to collect this information.

The Ontario Lake Partner Program (LPP) provides total phosphorus, chloride and calcium concentration data (as well as water clarity, when available) for hundreds of Ontario's inland lakes. The data are collected annually through volunteer monitoring efforts, known as community science. Engaging volunteers to take measurements and collect samples expands the geographic area monitored and fosters public interest in Ontario’s water quality and promotes lake stewardship. The Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associations (FOCA) has worked in partnership with the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks to collect this information.

America’s Great Lakes — Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie and Ontario — hold 21 percent of the world’s surface fresh water and host habitat for a variety of fish and wildlife species of concern. They provide drinking water for more than 40 million people and economic benefits from fishing and recreation. The Great Lakes Region is also a major agricultural area, with more than 55 million acres of land under production. All of these uses impact the Great Lakes ecosystem. With the CCA designation, USDA will build on existing strong partnerships in the Great Lakes Region to provide approaches and tools for producers to better manage nutrients and sediment on agricultural land. Accelerated conservation on private lands will help improve water quality, leading to better habitat for fish and wildlife and increased economic opportunities, including maintaining agricultural productivity in this vital region. This dataset includes a printer-friendly CCA map and shapefiles for GIS. Resources in this dataset:Resource Title: Great Lakes Region. File Name: Web Page, url: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-initiatives/rcpp-regional-conservation-partnership-program/critical-conservation-areas Information about the project and links to a printer-friendly CCA map (PDF, 1.2MB) and Shapefiles for GIS (ZIP, 232KB).

Data includes E. coli data collected since 2000 under the guidance of various volunteer Lake Stewards and analyzed by laboratories accredited in Ontario. E. coli samples are collected by volunteers who are trained to follow a specific collection procedure. Phosphorus, calcium and chloride testing results have been posted by the Lake Partner program since 2000. In 2021 phosphorus samples were collected in research supervised by Carl Mitchell (U of T). The Manitouwabing Lake Community Association began collection of samples for Phosphorus and Calcium in August of 2022. Sample analysis funding is provided by the Township of McKellar.

Water quality data are collecting using tools in the Water Rangers Freshwater Explorer testkit, including portable probes and test strips, conductivity meter, secchi disc, and dissolved oxygen tests. Long term trends are tracked and logged on the Water Rangers data platform. Additional microbiological and chemical analysis samples are collected and tested at an external laboratory and data sets are managed internally and published on Skootamatta District Ratepayers Association website.

"This data was collected by Tinkers Creek Watershed Partners as a part of the Lake Erie Volunteer Network Sampling program. Lake Erie Volunteer Science Network (LEVSN) is a regional community of practice that empowers community members to collect, share, and engage with water quality data for the conservation and enrichment of Lake Erie.

​Tinker’s Creek Watershed Partners’ water quality monitoring program teaches volunteers how to monitor a stream, show what conditions to look for that are cause for concern, and who to contact with questions and data. The data will be compiled and logged online and shared with partners to monitor the health of the creek and to find sites for future restoration projects. Volunteers are encouraged to adopt a site where they take on the sampling every month for their favorite spot in the watershed. These data help prioritize work and track pollution.

This dataset includes only the 4 core sampling parameters collected as a part of the LEVSN program. Additional calculated parameters, statistics, and reports can be found at https://www.clevelandwateralliance.org/lake-erie-volunteer-science-network and additional information about Tinkers Creek Watershed Partners can be found here: https://tinkerscreek.org/volunteer-tinkers-creek/"

Water sample data collected and curated by Ohio State University's Stone Laboratory and others between 2013 and 2024 in Lake Erie. The samples were collected in part of several projects funded by various state (Ohio EPA and Ohio Sea Grant) and federal agencies (US EPA, NSF, NIH, NOAA). The program column describes who or why the samples were collected. The captains program is a partnership between Stone Lab and the Lake Erie Charter Boat Association in which the captains collect water samples and Stone Lab analyzes them (https://ohioseagrant.osu.edu/products/4c0k6/charter-boat-captains-help-monitor-lake-erie-water-quality). The SL Buoy program is a high temporal resolution dataset of grab samples paired with a high temporal resolution sonde data attached to a buoy (https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-2612-z). The HABs Grab were high spatial resolution samples collected on two days during peak blooms of 2018 and 2019 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hal.2021.102080). The flow-through program was an attempt to collect water quality data throughout the winter by pumping lake water into the research building at Stone Lab. Programs Stone Lab and UToledo were samples collected by Stone Lab and UT Lake Erie Center from research vessels at routinely monitored locations. Samples were analyzed for chlorophyll a (an indicator of algae biomass), microcystins (a group of toxins produced by cyanobacteria), total phosphorus and nitrogen (indicators of maximum biomass potential), dissolved nitrate, phosphate, and silicate (nutrients available for algae), and total suspended solids (mass of all particulates in the water).

The Nova Scotia Lake Survey program is a partnership initiative between the Department of Environment and Climate Change and the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture to inventory lakes throughout the province determining baseline water quality, in support of both sport fisheries and water resource management areas. The following weblink connects to a Department of Environment and Climate Change web map that includes the locations of the monitored lakes within the province and an alternative method for downloading the same lake chemistry dataset: http://nse.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=7ded7a30bef44f848e8a4fc8672c89bd"

The Nova Scotia Lake Survey program is a partnership initiative between Nova Scotia Environment (NSE) and Nova Scotia Fisheries and Aquaculture (NSDFA) to inventory lakes throughout the province determining baseline water quality, in support of both sport fisheries and water resource management areas.

A shapefile of freshwater water bodies hat have been sampled as part of the Nova Scotia Lake Survey. The Nova Scotia Lake Survey program is a partnership initiative between Nova Scotia Environment (NSE) and Nova Scotia Fisheries and Aquaculture (NSDFA) to inventory lakes throughout the province determining baseline water quality, in support of both sport fisheries and water resource management areas.

The following weblink connects to a Nova Scotia Environment web map that includes the locations of the monitored lakes within the province and an alternative method for downloading the same lake chemistry dataset: http://nse.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=7ded7a30bef44f848e8a4fc8672c89bd

The Nova Scotia Lake Survey program is a partnership initiative between Nova Scotia Environment (NSE) and Nova Scotia Fisheries and Aquaculture (NSDFA) to inventory lakes throughout the province determining baseline water quality, in support of both sport fisheries and water resource management areas.

NSDFA staff collect water samples along with fisheries related information from lakes, generally during the summer months. Water quality samples are taken according to standard protocols (developed by NSE staff ) at varying lake depths, depending upon thermal stratification, and submitted to a laboratory for analyses. NSE funds the analytical costs, and data is shared and used by both departments.

Period of record for the data extends from about 1940 to 2012. Water quality parameters include nutrients, chlorophyll a, dissolved oxygen, temperature, transparency, pH, conductivity, alkalinity, colour, major ions, selected metals, plus various fish habitat parameters. Temperature and dissolved oxygen profiles are recorded in the field and bathymetric or bottom contour maps are subsequently produced.

Samples are collected at 29 sites from major tributary systems in 15 subwatersheds across the Lake Simcoe watershed, carried-out in collaboration with Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority (LSRCA) and provincial and municipal government partners. LSRCA has two tributary sampling programs, the Lake Simcoe Protection Plan program (LSPP; formerly known as LSEMS), which was initiated in the 1980s, and the Provincial Water Quality Monitoring Network (PWQMN), starting at some sites in the 1960s. Samples are collected year-round and include both non-event flow and targeted runoff event sampling, especially during the spring freshet. Both programs include laboratory analysis of nitrogen and phosphorus species, total suspended solids, and chloride, and the PWQMN program includes a suite of metals as well. Physical parameters including pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, and turbidity are measured instantaneously on-site using a hand-held sonde. Water quality is closely tied to changes in the watershed including land use and natural heritage areas, climate change, and road salting, and impacts the water quality of Lake Simcoe. Data are used to assess the health of the streams through comparison to water quality objectives and with long-term trend analysis, and as part of a Key Performance Indicator (KPI) program. Estimates of total phosphorus (TP) loads to the lake are used to evaluate the progress towards achieving water quality-related objectives of the Lake Simcoe Protection Plan (MECP, 2009) and other various research initiatives.

The LakePulse Network performed a lake health assessment at the canadian scale. Launched in 2016 thanks to the funding of the NSERC (Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada) Strategic Partnership Program for Networks, LakePulse is an academic-government partnership that brings together 17 academic researchers from 13 Canadian universities, as well as eight provincial governments and two federal departments. Research interests were grouped under four research themes, with two to four projects within each theme. Approaches used in LakePulse include traditional, state-of-the-art and innovative methods in genomics, emerging contaminants, greenhouse gases, invasive pathogens, paleolimnology, spatial modelling, statistical analyses and remote sensing to answer the following main questions:

• How healthy are Canadian lakes?
• Is lake degradation widespread in Canada or worse in certain regions?
• Is lake health getting better, worse, or stable through time?
• How does land use and climate change affect lake health?

Popular lake and beach swimming spots are tested weekly from November through to April as part of Council’s recreational water quality monitoring program. This program is being run in partnership …Show full descriptionPopular lake and beach swimming spots are tested weekly from November through to April as part of Council’s recreational water quality monitoring program. This program is being run in partnership with the Office of Environment and Heritage’s (OEH) Beachwatch program. Council samples one beach and 13 lake sites and Hunter Water sample another five beach sites for Enterococci bacteria. The presence of Enterococci indicates that water may be polluted with stormwater or sewage, and Enterococci levels above 100 organisms/100mL indicate that water may be unsuitable for swimming.

PURPOSE: This study is part of a two-decade series of research aimed to provide a comprehensive synthesis of the effects of harvest and environmental change on fisheries in Great Bear Lake. The main objectives are to assess demographic traits and the current status of harvested species, with a focus on evaluating sustainable harvest levels of lake trout, a cold-adapted species with a relatively narrow thermal niche. As part of this research, trends in water quality are monitored to evaluate potential effects of change on fisheries. DESCRIPTION: Great Bear Lake, one of the largest lakes in North America, contains culturally and recreationally important fish species. Great Bear Lake is located in the sub-Arctic and Arctic Circle. As part of a two-decade series of research aimed to provide a comprehensive synthesis of the effects of harvest and environmental change on fisheries in Great Bear Lake, the main objectives of this study are to assess demographic traits and the current status of harvested species, with a focus on evaluating sustainable harvest levels of lake trout, a cold-adapted species with a relatively narrow thermal niche. As part of this research, trends in water quality are monitored to evaluate potential effects of change on fisheries. From 2000 to 2011, surface water temperature data was collected at depths of approximately 0.1 to 1.0 meters using a handheld digital thermometer through partnered community-led and community/Fisheries and Oceans Canada/ university partners collaborative sampling. The project has strong community involvement, including youth through the Guardian Program, to facilitate capacity building and community leadership in the long-term monitoring of Great Bear Lake fisheries and the aquatic ecosystem. This data is the beginning in a series of baseline data sets on water quality from this lake. These data will contribute to a better understanding of cumulative impacts of climate change on the functioning of large northern lake ecosystems, and provide a benchmark for monitoring further change. This data will be important for developing effective strategies for maintaining community-led aquatic monitoring and managing natural resources, particularly fish, which are expected to be increasingly important to communities with declines in other country foods such as caribou. We acknowledge the data were collected in the Sahtú Settlement Area and are made publicly available with the agreement of the Délı̨nę Renewable Resources Council (Délı̨nę Ɂehdzo Got’ı̨nę (Renewable Resources Council)). Collaborators include: the Community of Délı̨nę partners (data collection), Délı̨nę Renewable Resource Council, Sahtú Renewable Resource Board, Great Lakes Fisheries Commission, and University of Alberta. Community of Délı̨nę partners and field workers that participated in data collection include Jane Baptiste, Doug Baton, Moise Beyonnie, Gloria Gaudette, Bruce Kenny, Greg Kenny, Hughie Kenny, Jonas Kenny, Morris Lennie, George Menacho, Morris Modeste, Nathan Modeste, Isreal Neyelle, Lyle Neyelle, Clyde Takazo, Lucy Ann Takazo, Freddie Vital, Cameron Yukon, Cyre Yukon, Tyrone Yukon, Charity Yukon, Chris Yukon, Archie Vital, John Betsidea, and Barbara Yukon. Funding and logistical support was provided by: Northwest Territories Cumulative Impact Monitoring, Sahtú Renewable Resource Board, the Polar Continental Shelf Program, Canadian Circumpolar Institute, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Government of Northwest Territories Renewable Resources Délı̨nę, and Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

Data includes E. coli data collected since 2000 under the guidance of various volunteer Lake Stewards and analyzed by laboratories accredited in Ontario. E. coli samples are collected by volunteers who are trained to follow a specific collection procedure. Phosphorus, calcium and chloride testing results have been posted by the Lake Partner program since 2000. In 2021 phosphorus samples were collected in research supervised by Carl Mitchell (U of T). The Manitouwabing Lake Community Association began collection of samples for Phosphorus and Calcium in August of 2022. Sample analysis funding is provided by the Township of McKellar.

The Great Slave Water Quality Monitoring Program is one component of the proposed Great Slave Lake Research and Monitoring Program which is in development with water partners to: coordinate long-term collection of baseline water quality across the lake; assess trends in water quality and quantity; carry out vulnerability assessments; better understand natural variability and changes being observed in the watershed; and to create long term capacity building research and monitoring partnerships.

Le programme Nova Scotia Lake Survey est une initiative de partenariat entre le ministère de l'Environnement de la Nouvelle-Écosse (NSE) et le ministère des Pêches et de l'Aquaculture de la Nouvelle-Écosse (NSDFA) visant à inventorier les lacs de la province afin de déterminer la qualité de référence de l'eau, à l'appui de la pêche sportive et des zones de gestion des ressources en eau.