SNC Spends Summer Monitoring Watershed Health
For many, the summer is a time for holidays, relaxation and downtime; a time to get outdoors and explore the beauty of the local landscapes found across South Nation Conservation’s (SNC) 4,384 square-kilometer jurisdiction in Eastern Ontario.
For SNC, it’s time to take advantage of the warm weather and monitor local streams and waterways to inform watershed health and future stewardship projects.
This summer SNC monitored the North Castor River in the City of Ottawa and the Bear Brook Subwatershed, which comprises parts of the rural east end of the City of Ottawa and the municipalities of Clarence-Rockland, Russell, and Nation.
The Conservation Authority collected water samples to asses water quality and collected information on fish species and aquatic habitat.
“Monitoring the health of our watershed’s natural resources allows us to better understand the issues facing the local environment,” says Katherine Watson, SNC’s Water Resources Specialist. “We use data to focus our actions where they are needed the most, and track progress over time.”
SNC also uses the data to produce annual Subwatershed Report Cards for different regions of its jurisdiction, reporting on surface water and groundwater quality along with forest and wetland cover.
SNC’s summer monitoring will continue this month in the Ottawa through the City Stream Watch Program with the help of citizen scientists. Volunteers will sample local streams to help guide future restoration projects in the region.
“We are looking forward to using this year’s monitoring data to make science-based decisions that will protect and enhance the local environment,” added Watson.
For more information on SNC’s watershed monitoring programs visit:
www.nation.on.ca/water/watershed-monitoring.
Sign-up for SNC’s monthly newsletter to receive updates on volunteer opportunities:
www.nation.on.ca/resources/publications/monthly-newsletter.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Katherine Watson, 1-877-984-2948, ext. 291, kwatson@nation.on.ca.
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