Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 242016 lake StewardS newSletter | 5 FOCa’s role in Broadscale Monitoring In 2008, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR; now MNRF) implemented Broadscale Monitoring (BsM)—a new approach to monitoring the fisheries resource in the province. It was decided to collect a basic set of data from a large number of lakes across the province on an ongoing basis, rather than collect more detailed information on fewer lakes on a less regular basis. Water chemistry was one type of information to be obtained. MNR approached the Ministry of the Environment (MOE; now MOECC) asking if they would do the analysis of the water samples. MOE agreed to do this work, recognizing the value of this extensive water chemistry project to both ministries’ programs. However, who would coordinate this work between the ministries? This is where FOCA’s role in this program arose. Since 2008, Chuck Brady has filled this role on behalf of FOCA, working 20 to 25 days each spring to ensure BsM water sampling and sample submission to the Dorset Environmental Science Centre (DESC) Lab run smoothly. Sampling is done soon after ice-out, before the lakes stratify into thermal layers. Chuck ensures that lists of lakes to be sampled and essential identifying information on these lakes are correct and available to both ministries. These identifiers are very important so that results from the analyses are compatible to the databases of either ministry. (You might be surprised how many Clear Lakes or Black Lakes or Trout Lakes there are in the province!) Chuck also makes sure that proper sampling protocols are followed by MNRF crews. This includes providing them with the required sampling equipment, making sure that strict sampling procedures are used, ensuring that samples are properly preserved and that samples are transported to the Dorset Lab within a very short timeframe. Once the samplesarriveatDorset,hecheckssamplesforintegrityand identification, creates submission forms and makes sure the samples are entered into the queue for analyses by MOECC scientists. At the end of each season, Chuck is also involved in reviewing yearly water chemistry results tables to make suretheyarecorrectintermsofdates,lakeidentificationand other physical attributes. The number of lakes sampled in this program has varied from a low of about 125 to a high of over 330. In the spring of 2016, there were 195 lake samples submitted, contributing significantly to the database at MOECC and our understanding of lake chemistry over time. For more about BsM, visit: https://foca.on.ca/ broad-scale-monitoring/ FREE and CLEAR of Carcinogens FREE and CLEAR of Carcinogens FREE and CLEAR of Carcinogens FREE and CLEAR of Carcinogens FREE and CLEAR of Carcinogens FREE and CLEAR of Carcinogens FREE and CLEAR of Carcinogens FREE and CLEAR of Carcinogens FREE and CLEAR of Carcinogens FREE and CLEAR of Carcinogens FREE and CLEAR of Carcinogens FREE and CLEAR of Carcinogens FREE and CLEAR of Carcinogens FREE and CLEAR of Carcinogens FREE and CLEAR of Carcinogens FREE and CLEAR of Carcinogens FREE and CLEAR of Carcinogens FREE and CLEAR of Carcinogens FREE and CLEAR of Carcinogens FREE and CLEAR of Carcinogens FREE and CLEAR of Carcinogens FREE and CLEAR of Carcinogens FREE and CLEAR of Carcinogens FREE and CLEAR of Carcinogens FREE and CLEAR of Carcinogens FREE and CLEAR of Carcinogens FREE and CLEAR of Carcinogens FREE and CLEAR of Carcinogens FREE and CLEAR of Carcinogens FREE and CLEAR of Carcinogens FREE and CLEAR of Carcinogens FREE and CLEAR of Carcinogens FREE and CLEAR of Carcinogens FREE and CLEAR of Carcinogens FOCA is encouraged by the ongoing work at the IISD Experimental Lakes Area (ELA) and their efforts to communicate important scientific information about our lakes. Through the ELA, research can be undertaken at the watershed/whole lake level, to test and validate impacts of decisions related to Canada’s freshwater ecosystems. Such watershed or ecosystem level testing can help us to understand complex and compounding effects on natural systems, their assimilative capacity, and which policies and approaches work best. The storytelling that results helps to inform all of us, and to help us make better management decisions. Other Science Players