Surface Water

Provincial Water Quality Monitoring Network/Watershed Characterization Network (PWQMN/WC)

The Provincial Water Quality Monitoring Network (PWQMN) and Watershed Characterization (WC) programs are the paramount sources for regional surface water quality data in the South Nation watershed. Both programs operate as a partnership between SNC and the Ontario Ministry of Environment.

The PWQMN has been collecting surface water quality data in the jurisdiction of the South Nation Conservation Authority (SNC) since 1964. The WC program was initiated in the SNC watershed in 1998 in response to a recognized need for greater spatial coverage in the current network design. A total of 13 surface water quality stations exist within SNC's jurisdiction. See the attached map for current PWQMN/WC station locations.

Ontario Benthos Biomonitoring Network (OBBN)

Benthic invertebrates ("bugs") are the insects, worms, mollusks and crustaceans that live at the bottom of a stream. These animals have many traits that make them useful as indicator organisms. Their presence and absence, and the "makeup" of their communities can relay a lot of information about the health of a stream and the types of stresses or pollution that the stream may be encountering. They have been widely used throughout the World as indicators of ecological health.

SNC is a partner of the Ontario Benthos Biomonitoring Network (OBBN). The OBBN is the Ontario standard protocol for sampling, processing, and analyzing "bugs" sampled in our local rivers. To learn more about the OBBN, please visit www.

Riverwatch Program

South Nation Conservation partners with landowners who are concerned with water resources in their local areas to monitor river health. Trained volunteers collect water quality information using monitoring equipment, and submit this data to South Nation Conservation for assessment.

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