Watershed researchers receive $600,000 from CWN

Funds to launch innovative user-led environmental monitoring program

BRACEBRIDGE, ON, December 16, 2011 - The Canadian Water Network (CWN), in collaboration with the Muskoka River Watershed Monitoring and Management Consortium, has recently announced the funding of a major watershed-based research proposal to study the cumulative impact of multiple stressor on lake water quality.

The proposal titled “Managing the cumulative effects in the Muskoka River Watershed: Monitoring, research and predictive modeling,” led by Dr. Catherine Eimers, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geography at Trent University, will receive $600,000 from CWN over three years.

Dr. Eimers’ research team responded to the call for proposals to develop best practices for a collaborative monitoring program aimed at early detection of cumulative effects and predictive models to manage multiple stressors at small and large scales.

The Muskoka proposal was one of only 4 proposals nation-wide that received funding. Based on concerns raised by local lake ratepayer associations about the changes they were seeing in their lake water quality, the District of Muskoka and the Dorset Environmental Science Centre collaborated in developing the research proposal.

Eimers’ team, involving 14 primary researchers across seven universities and institutions, will build a conceptual model, develop physical, biological and chemical indicators and assessment criteria, design a comprehensive monitoring program and predictive models for cumulative effects. The project will focus on eutrophication and the effect that changes in water quality will have on aquatic organisms and algae.

“This is a great opportunity for Muskoka” said John Klinck, Chair of the District of Muskoka. Klinck goes on to state that “The project will attract additional research dollars, employ 15 highly qualified young scientists, and support the growth of our local knowledge-based economy”.

Lori-Lynn Giaschi-Pacini noted that “the steering committee is a model of cooperation from across the watershed. Chaired by the District of Muskoka other Steering Committee members include three technical people from the Muskoka Watershed Council, one representative from a major lake association, and one consultant who will volunteer their time.”

“Usually, it’s the researcher who calls the shots — what water issues to study, what questions should be asked, what data should be collected,” said Dr. Kelly Munkittrick, CWN Scientific Director. “Through our watershed research consortium we have turned that process upside down by asking watershed managers what they need to know to better manage the effects of cumulative stressors in their watersheds and insisting that research programs be designed in a way that could directly support those decision needs.”

Keeping the public and local lake associations informed as the research progresses is important to the research team. Eimers has undertaken to hold an annual public conference, in differing locations across Muskoka, where three or four researchers will present their findings to the public. These meetings will provide lake associations and members of the public with updates on research and monitoring results in their watershed, and an opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback to the researchers.

The research will begin in April 2012 with the first public conference to be held in 2013.

For more information contact:
Judi Brouse
Director of Watershed Programs
11 - B Taylor Road
Bracebridge, Ontario
P1L 1T8
Ph: 705-645-7393 X 202
FX: 705-645-7888
Email: jbrouse@muskokaheritage.org