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Global water monitoring event is chance to highlight local water quality research along Lake Huron shore


Conservation authority collects local water quality data that supports research by Great Lakes partners in Canada, U.S.


The World Water Monitoring Challenge (EarthEcho Water Challenge) is held each year to highlight work that takes place around the world to monitor water quality. In past years, World Water Monitoring Day has been celebrated on September 18. The EarthEcho Water Challenge now takes place between March 22 (World Water Day) and December of each year.

Find out more at EarthEcho Water Challenge.

Mari Veliz is Healthy Watersheds Manager at Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA). She said this world-wide World Water Monitoring education event is a chance to highlight some of the important Great Lakes and climate research taking place locally.

“Staff at ABCA are collecting and analyzing data about water and climate at the Integrated Water and Climate Station in Parkhill,” she said. “Our conservation authority has also been a local research partner collecting information about phosphorus and other nutrients in Lake Huron and their impacts on lower Great Lakes such as Lake St. Clair and Lake Erie.”

Conservation authority staff aren’t doing this work alone. They provide boots-on-the-ground expertise and local data as part of partnerships with federal departments and provincial ministries in Canada; with education institutions; and even partners from the United States.

Conservation authority staff collect and interpret data for programs such as flood forecasting and warning; drought and low water response; and environmental monitoring of watershed conditions.

Local landowners have also been partners on research projects. Agricultural producers from the Huron County Soil and Crop Improvement Association (HSCIA) are the leaders of the ONFarm Huronview Demonstration Farm along with the County of Huron and industry partners and other partners such as the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association. 

As September 18 approaches, ABCA is sharing information on some important research projects that have local participation.

Watch for articles on water and climate research in Parkhill and Great Lakes phosphorus sampling and modeling on Lake Huron.

To learn more visit the Ausable Bayfield Conservation website.

Learn more:
Staff and landowners sample water quality in Lake Huron.
Ross Wilson with OAC water level gauge.

Monitoring of water and aquatic species inform restoration work in Old Ausable Channel (OAC) in Grand Bend area 


Environmental monitoring staff from Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) collect data on the Old Ausable Channel (OAC) in Grand Bend. 

Mari Veliz is ABCA Healthy Watersheds Manager. She said it is important to know about water levels and the concentration of nitrogen, phosphorus and oxygen in this important channel ecosystem.

The OAC is home to three at-risk fish species: Pugnose Shiner; Lake Chubsucker; and Grass Pickerel. Low oxygen concentrations, nutrient enrichment, sediment loads, and invasive species can all impact aquatic species.
 
Ausable Bayfield Conservation works with local communities, including Southcott Pines and Huron Woods, on projects to monitor and improve the channel.

This year (2022), the ABCA has installed staff gauges at the road crossings so local people can better understand water level information. ABCA is also helping to prepare a Natural Infrastructure Grant to improve habitat conditions for the channel.

To learn more visit the Ausable Bayfield Conservation website and the Friends of the Old Ausable Channel website.

You are also invited to contact Healthy Watersheds staff at Ausable Bayfield Conservation by email or phone. Their contact information is listed on the staff contact page of the abca.ca website.

This article is one in a series on environmental monitoring in Ausable Bayfield watersheds around September 18 (the date when World Water Monitoring Day has traditionally been celebrated).

This series is part of the World Water Monitoring Challenge (EarthEcho Water Challenge). The EarthEcho Water Challenge is held each year to highlight work that takes place around the world to monitor water quality.

This world-wide event takes place between March 22 (World Water Day) and December of each year.

Learn more at EarthEcho Water Challenge.

Find out more:
Local, national, international partners research Lake Huron water quality.

Local researchers work alongside U.S. scientists to study Great Lakes water quality


Research partners study nutrient loading in Lake Huron and how this impacts lower Great Lakes such as Lake St. Clair and Lake Erie


A local conservation authority has worked side by side with American researchers studying phosphorus nutrient loading in Lake Huron and its impact on lower Great Lakes such as Lake St. Clair and (through the Detroit River) Lake Erie.

The impact of nutrient loading on the Great Lakes, and the resulting potential for eutrophication, is a public health and environmental concern.

Eutrophication is when there are too many nutrients, such as phosphorus and nitrogen, causing too much growth of plants such as algae. Too much algal growth leads to algal blooms. As algae decompose, there is less dissolved oxygen in the water and other organisms, such as fish, can die. The growth of algal blooms can smell bad, block sunlight, and release toxins.

Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) environmental monitoring staff began water quality research, in 2021, alongside the University of Michigan, the National Atmospheric Oceanic Administration, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The researchers used satellite imagery to locate sediment plumes flowing from Lake Huron into the St. Clair River. They tested water in the plumes for suspended solids and total phosphorus.

Mari Veliz is ABCA Healthy Watersheds Manager. She said partnerships between U.S. and Canadian researchers make it possible to better understand issues facing Lake Huron and the other Great Lakes.

“The spread of algal blooms can have negative impacts on human health and ecology,” she said. “They can also have negative economic impacts.”

The research project found the Lake Huron phosphorus load was a significant component of the overall load affecting lower lakes. The scientists found ways to improve load estimates using turbidity and suspended sediment measures. The research found phosphorus concentrations are higher than is typically measured in most monitoring programs during re-suspension of sediment in water, particularly during storms and high wind events.

Researchers measured water turbidity (lack of clarity that is correlated with phosphorus concentrations) and found ‘re-suspension’ events are more frequent than found in typical monitoring programs. The researchers showed phosphorus loads from Lake Huron, estimated using turbidity from water treatment plant intakes, were almost 90 per cent higher than previous estimates.

The research shows the need to reduce nutrient loading is even greater than previously thought, according to Mari. International partners preparing lake management plans should consider this as they update and implement their lake remediation action plans, she said. 

Canadian and U.S. departments and ministries and agencies and universities often lead these research projects. Local data, collected by conservation authorities and the technical staff from the local wastewater treatment plants, also play an important role, according to Mari.

Read about it here:

Order Trees Now


Ausable Bayfield Conservation accepts faxed, mailed, and e-mailed orders until September 16, 2022. 

We accept orders accompanied by payment until September 30, 2022.

Download the Fall Tree Order Form 2022 on this web page: Download the Fall Tree Order Form 2022 (PDF) at this link: Learn more about fall tree planting here:

Ausable Bayfield Conservation offers Oaks and Acorns at two conservation areas in October 2022


Oaks and Acorns is an outdoor, play-based, inquiry-based program for children and their adult caregivers. Ausable Bayfield Conservation is offering the program at two conservation areas in 2022.

Learn more:
The 2022 program at Morrison Dam Conservation Area (MDCA) east of Exeter takes place on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. There is a four-week session in at MDCA in October (October 4, 11, 18, and 25). This follows a four-week session that is underway in September.

The 2022 program at Rock Glen Conservation Area (RGCA) in Arkona takes place on Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. The September four-week session at RGCA takes place October 7, 14, 21, and 28. A September session is currently underway.

For this and other educational experiences for families and community groups please visit this web page:
Visit abca.ca to learn more.

Location

71108 Morrison Line,
RR 3 Exeter, ON
N0M 1S5

Hours

We encourage you to schedule ahead for appointments.

Our hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.

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