Mississippi Valley Conservation

● Watershed Watch ● Invasive Species● Ontario Benthic Biomonitoring Network OBBN)● Ontario Stream Assessment Protocol (OSAP)● Stream Monitoring and Research Team Eastern Region

(SMARTER)● Provincial Groundwater Monitoring Network (PGMN)● Provincial Water Quality Monitoring Network (PWQMN)● Others

Program began in 1998

● Water Clarity – Secchi Disc● Chlorophyll a● Total Phosphorus● Dissolved Oxygen and

Temperature Profiles● pH, Air Temperature●Seine Netting

State of the Lake Reports are developed and available on the MVC website the

following spring.

*Mackavoy Lake *Kishkebus lake*Shabomeka Lake*Mazinaw Lake*McCausland Lake*Marble Lake*Kashwakamak Lake*Mississagagon Lake*Mississippi Lake

*MVC participates in the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters Invasive Species program.*MVC Samples for Zebra Mussels, Spiny Water Flea and Rusty Crayfish. *Updates on MVC website.

*The purpose of the OBBN is to enable assessment of aquatic ecosystem condition using benthos as indicators, of water and habitat quality.

*OSAP is a protocol containing a series of standardized methods used for identifying sites, evaluating benthos, fish communities, physical habitat and water temperature in wadeable streams.

*A collaborative stream-monitoring and stream-research network that consists of Eastern Ontario CA’s (MVC, RVCA, SNC, Raisin, Cataraqui, Quinte), City of Ottawa, MNR and MOE. The group share’s information, and collaborates on stream monitoring, research and data management.

*Members of SMARTER began a Biocriteria project in 2009 to determine the least disturbed reference site in the entire SMARTER region. This is done by taking a systematic approach to determine stressor variables on 3rd to 5th order streams and sample them using certain OBBN and OSAP protocols. This is a 5 year project and there is over 500 sites being sampled.

*MVC has been collecting data for the Ministry of the Environment and it’s PWQMN since the early 1970’s.

*PWQMN concentrates on surface water and is analyzed for such parameters as Nitrates, Lead, Suspended Solids and Chloride.

*MVC collects samples from 14 locations throughout our watershed once a month from April till November. An additional 2 sites were added in 2005 at the cost of MVC.

*The PGMN was developed by the Ministry of the Environment and it’s partners to better understand Ontario’s groundwater.

*Samples are analyzed for parameters such as; Ammonia, General Chemistry and Metals.

*MVC has 9 wells at 8 sites. Wells in Lanark, Carleton Place, Black’s Corners, Sharbot Lake and Dunrobin have water samples collected.

*Turtle Monitoring Project*Assist with Bio-blitz*Enviro-thon*Education Days

*Christmas Bird Count*Project Nest Watch*Project Feeder Watch*Canadian Lakes Loon Watch

Lake Partner Program / Great Ontario Dip-InMinistry of the Environment

www.ene.gov.on.ca