Lake Partner Program

The Lake Partner Program is Ontario’s volunteer-based, water-quality monitoring program. The program began in 1996 in partnership with the Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associations (FOCA) and the Lake of the Woods District Property Owners' Association (LOWDPOA). Since 2002, the Ontario Ministry of the Environment has coordinated this lake monitoring program from the Dorset Environmental Science Centre (DESC). Each year, more than 800 volunteers monitor total phosphorus and water clarity in over 600 inland lakes. Volunteers collect lake water samples and return them, postage paid, to DESC. Total phosphorus analyses are performed in the DESC Water Chemistry Laboratory. The resulting data are used by members of the public, partner agencies, government and academic researchers and private consultants to assess and report on water quality in lakes across Ontario. This total phosphorus and water clarity data are published each January on the provincial Lake Partner Program webpage.

Lake Partner Program volunteers collect total phosphorus samples and make monthly water clarity observations on their lakes during the summer months. By measuring total phosphorus and water clarity, it is possible to detect long-term changes in the water quality of individual lakes that may be due to impacts of shoreline development, climate change and other stresses.

Phosphorus is measured because it is the element that limits algal growth in the majority of Ontario lakes. Generally, more phosphorus means more algal growth. The number of total phosphorus samples taken each year by volunteers depends on whether or not the lake is on the Canadian Shield. For lakes located “on” the Canadian Shield, total phosphorus samples are collected in May (during the spring-turnover period) and Secchi disc water clarity measurements are taken at least once every two weeks throughout the summer. For lakes located “off” the Canadian Shield, one sample is collected each month from May to October and water clarity readings are made at least once every two weeks. For more information, you can download our volunteer sampling instructions.

Each year, the province sends volunteer “Lake Stewards” kits that contains the materials necessary to conduct water clarity measurements and take water samples. The samples are returned, postage paid, to DESC for analysis. For more information or to find out how you can become a volunteer Lake Steward with the Lake Partner Program, please visit the Lake Partner Program webpage, fill out this online registration form, or contact the Lake Partner Program directly (contact information below).

The Lake Partner Program continues to foster community interest and coordinate participation in inland lakes water quality monitoring through formal partnerships with the Federation of Ontario Cottagers' Associations (FOCA) and the Lake of the Woods District Property Owners' Association (LOWDPOA) and by working with organizations such as the Lakeland Alliance, the East Algoma Water Stewardship Council, and the Haliburton-Muskoka Children's Water Festival.

Additional Resources

Online registration form

Lake Total Phosphorus Data (2002-2010)

Lake Secchi Depth Data (Annual Averages)

Lake Total Phosphorus Data (pre-2002)

Volunteer Sampling Instructions
Guide to Interpreting Lake Partner Data