DataStream Data Informs Assessment of Freshwater Health

October 30, 2020

One watershed that was data deficient in 2017 but where there is now enough data to provide a score of Good is the Lower Mackenzie Watershed. These data gaps were filled thanks to the work community-based monitoring groups who uploaded their data to Mackenzie DataStream. 

The success in obtaining a water quality score in this [Lower Mackenzie] watershed is due almost entirely to community-based monitoring group members gathering critical information about the health of their shared waters and to Mackenzie DataStream, an open access database.
WWF-Canada (2020)1

One of the many CBWM organizations that DataStream works with is Water Rangers, a non-profit organization connecting people to their local waterways through citizen science. After the 2017 WWF Watershed Report identified that 100 out of 167 Canadian sub watersheds were data deficient for water quality Water Rangers developed a project to help fill this gap, working with local communities and WWF to build capacity for water quality testing.

The community based water-monitoring project saw individuals and groups from across Canada testing waterways using a simple citizen science toolkit and successfully built water-quality testing capacity in data-deficient sub watersheds, with the resulting data published on DataStream.

Better data supports better decisions and collaborations and system integrations, including between DataStream and Water Rangers, allow data deficiencies to be addressed – giving us a fuller understanding of watershed health across Canada.

Such integrations made it easy and efficient for WWF to access water quality data, saving a significant amount of outreach and data formatting time when compiling the Watershed Reports – a testament to the power of integrated systems, open data and accessible data in harmonized formats.

The Watershed Reports emphasize the value of open data – a key principle guiding DataStream’s work - and the value that Atlantic DataStream brought to the assessment of the Maritime Coastal Watershed, noting data “is more accessible to communities, scientists and decision-makers and will play a critical role in filling data gaps and advancing evidence-based decision-making that ensures waters remain healthy for generations to come.”

The report’s recommendations set out actions to help give us a clear understanding of watershed health and include increasing support for community-based monitoring. Noting the incredible impact of groups including DataStream partners Atlantic Water Network and the Lake Winnipeg Foundation WWF states “CBWM data must be recognized as relevant and of sufficient quality to inform decisions”.

Additional recommendations that align with DataStream’s work include respecting data standards and notably, investing in large-scale and standardized models and data hubs. 

The emergence of standardized data hubs and open databases since 2017 has had positive impacts on the Watershed Reports assessment process. Having as much data as possible for a given region in a single source makes large-scale assessments easier and less time-consuming. By allowing multiple data sources, like The Gordon Foundation’s DataStream, these data hubs also lead to more democratic and accessible water management.
WWF-Canada (2020)1

Although there is still much work to be done to fully understand the health of our watersheds, the Watershed Reports demonstrate the need for consistent water monitoring and coordinated water data management across Canada, and the central role of community based water monitoring, citizen science, and open data in addressing freshwater challenges. 

1Source: WWF-Canada. 2020. 2020 Watershed Reports: A national reassessment of Canada’s freshwater. Paquette C. Hemphill L. Merante A. Hendriks E. World Wildlife Fund Canada. Toronto, Canada.

Long stretch of shoreline with evergreen trees lined up along the shore and a reflection of the trees in the water.

National Water Quality Guidelines on DataStream

DataStream’s visualization tool enables users to apply national water quality guidelines to datasets. Some key guidelines used by DataStream include the Canadian Water Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Aquatic Life,  which are national standards set by the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME). These guidelines provide recommended ranges for some of the physical, chemical and biological characteristics that are commonly monitored in rivers, lakes, and oceans.

Keep ReadingNational Water Quality Guidelines on DataStream  
Grand Beach (Photo from June 2019) Credit: M. Campbell

CBM in Action: Lake Winnipeg Foundation

April is Citizen Science Month - a great opportunity to celebrate water monitors from communities across Canada.

Keep ReadingCBM in Action: Lake Winnipeg Foundation  
Screenshot of Lake Winnipeg DataStream with various monitoring sites

CBM In Action: Lake Winnipeg Community-Based Monitoring Network

The Lake Winnipeg Community-Based Monitoring Network (LWCBMN) was launched in fall 2015. Supported by the  Lake Winnipeg Foundation  ’s Science Advisory Council, this growing network engages citizen volunteers to collect water samples across Manitoba using scientifically vetted protocols. Samples are then analyzed in a lab to measure phosphorus concentration and calculate the amount of phosphorus being exported off the landscape.

Keep ReadingCBM In Action: Lake Winnipeg Community-Based Monitoring Network