Water Monitoring Newsletter

June 12, 2024

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Hello {First Name},


I hope you have been enjoying your spring.


We currently have 3 water kits in circulation. We are waiting on a resupply of chemicals, so a few of the kits have chemicals that are expired. We will be keeping an eye out for any erroneous measurements to ensure that the tests are functioning properly. If you notice any odd measurements, please make note of it on your monitoring form and mention which kit you were using (the name is written on the side of the carrying bag).


Thanks to everyone who has made monitoring visits so far this spring. Thanks for braving the bugs in the name of science and conservation!


Read through this newsletter for your water-related news for this month.



Cheers,

Aiesha

Aiesha Aggarwal

Conservation Analyst at The Couchiching Conservancy


I am your water monitoring program coordinator. If you want to arrange water kit pickup or have any questions, please to not hesitate to get in touch.


aiesha@couchconservancy.ca 705-326-1620

Paper Monitoring Form
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April 2024 Newsletter
Landscape Manual
Become a Member

New water volunteer training completed!

Thank you to everyone who came out for the new water volunteer training on May 10th!

Foamy waters - natural or not?

Foamy water at Scout Valley on May 15, 2024.The brownish colouration, upstream wetland, and decomposing leaves point to this being natural foam. Photographed by Shirley.

Natural

Sources: plant decomposition releases oils that create bubbles in turbulent and wavy waters


What to look for: windy weather, or turbulent water, plant decomposition. The foam is light and not shiny. May have a brownish tint.


Pollution

Sources: industry (paper production, textile and oil industries), fire fighting


What to look for: factories nearby, foam is a shiny, bright white and may be slimy.

Read more about foamy water 

April showers bring high waters

Photos: Water volunteers, Meghan and Allan, monitoring during high water levels. Photographed by Thomas and Melanie.

After a winter with very little snow, some of our long-term monitoring teams noticed high water levels in April and May.

This is likely due to multiple heavy rainfalls in April. At Taylor Nature Reserve, a potential breach in a beaver damn upstream could have caused a sudden increase in water levels.

View precipitation data

Water Quality Spotlight: Nitrates

What is Nitrate?

  • A major source of nitrogen for aquatic algae and plants
  • Sources: fertilizer, human and animal wastes, disturbed soils, industrial pollution


Why measure?

  • Excessive levels can cause excessive algal/plant growth
  • Unpolluted waters generally have levels below 1 ppm. Levels above 10 ppm are considered unsafe for drinking water

Photo: elevated nitrates measured at Grant Wetland, March 2022.

What to do if you find wildlife on the road

Injured mammals and birds:

Shades of Hope Wildlife Refuge

List of other wildlife rehabilitators


Help turtles cross the road:

Watch these video to learn...

How to help turtles cross the road

How to help a snapping turtle


Injured turtles:

Ontario Turtle Conservation Center: 705-741-5000.

Scales Nature Parks Reptile Hotline 705-955-4284.


Nesting, dead, or unsafe-to-stop-for turtles:

TEXT Turtle Guardians 705-854-2888 with the location/photo of turtle

You are receiving this email because you are a water monitor with The Couchiching Conservancy. Please let us know if things have changed and you can no longer volunteer, or do not wish to receive these emails. 

Protecting nature for future generations

We operate on the territory of the Anishnaabeg

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Image sources: Nitrate Ion - By Ben Mills - Own work, Public Domain. Blanding''s Turtle photographed by Alysha Henry.