The modified Watershed Report Card 2023 provides a ‘CHECK UP’ on the surface water quality of the Lower Trent Conservation watershed region. The Report Card outlines the current state of the region’s lakes, rivers, and streams resources.
Conservation Authorities across Ontario have prepared similar reports using a standardized grading system prepared by Conservation Ontario.
Resource Categories
Watershed Report Cards measure and report on four resource categories: Surface Water Quality, Forest Conditions, Wetland Cover, and Groundwater Quality. These resource categories are used as they relate to two key Conservation Authority business functions: protecting and enhancing water quality, and preserving and managing natural areas.
- Forests – Forests are good indicators of ecosystem health since they are home to plants and wildlife and help improve air and water quality.
- Surface Water Quality – Chemical analysis and identification of aquatic bugs are good indicators of water quality and stream habitat.
- Groundwater – Groundwater provides a source of water in springs and wells and feeds headwater (cold water) (local) streams
- Wetlands – Wetlands are important for maintaining water quality and providing habitat for a variety of fish and wildlife.
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Watershed Health – What it Means for You
Ontario’s natural resources provide important ecological, economic and societal benefits and should be protected. Forests, water resources, wetlands, soils, plants and animals are all necessary to produce goods and services such as clean sustainable water supplies, clean air, food, fuel, energy and healthy green spaces.
The Watershed Report Card provides residents, municipalities, industries and organizations with ideas on what they can do to improve the ecosystem health of the region. Planting trees, maintaining septic systems, eliminating use of lawn and garden fertilizers and pesticides, and conserving water are simple actions that can have an impact on the region’s ecosystem health.
If we all work together, we can make a difference. Imagine if the 75,000 people living in our watershed region all made wise environmental choices! Improving the health of the watershed requires us to think and act in ways to balance environmental concerns with everyday life.
Check out our stewardship programs for suggestions on what you can do to improve our watershed!
