2017 Water Quality Reports

The MLA Water Quality Report presents data collected at 193 locations during the summer of 2017 and compares it to data collected from 2002 to 2016. Based on our analysis of the long term data acquired to date, the water quality at most of the sampling locations remains good to excellent.

The 2017 MLA program started in mid-May, concluded in late August and generally involved testing each location four times – May, June, July and August –over the summer. Our volunteers sampled temperature, water clarity (Secchi depth), Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC), nutrients (Total Phosphorus) and bacteria (E.Coli and total coliforms). Volunteers did the laboratory work for the bacteria tests while DOC and nutrient samples were sent to labs for testing. Overall there were 117 Secchi depth tests, 818 Phosphorus tests (409 duplicates), 282 E.Coli tests and 58 DOC tests.

If you're interested in assisting for the 2018 Water Quality Initiative monitoring program, here are some of the ways you can participate:

• Help to prepare equipment for the 2018 monitoring season
• Collect samples
• Coordinate a group of volunteers as a `Team Leader`
• Contribute to coordinated and strategic efforts within the ‘Focus Areas’ to maintain good water quality
• Become part of the program organizing committee, helping with volunteer outreach, communications and other environmental issues

You can contact the MLA office at 705-765-5723 or admin@mla.on.ca if you are interested in volunteering in the program, if you would like to get involved in any of these additional ways, or if you have any questions or concerns.

Read 2017 WQ Report

Please click on the links below to access the reports: