Otonabee Conservation releases 2023 Watershed Report Card along with 36 Conservation Authorities as part of Provincial Watershed Checkup
The latest set of Conservation Authority Watershed Report Cards are being released today across the province. The 2023 Otonabee Conservation Report indicates that the state of natural resources in the local watershed region, including surface water quality and forest cover, continue to be graded as excellent to fair.
Using data from local and provincial monitoring programs and standardized indicators, Conservation Authorities monitor and report on four resource categories: surface water quality, forest conditions, groundwater quality, and wetland cover. Otonabee Conservation’s 2023 Watershed Report Card also includes information on climate change and public health and tips for residents to help protect and enhance the health of the watershed environment.
“Local surface water resources received grades ranging from A to C indicating excellent to fair water quality; forest conditions resulted in grades from A to C suggesting excellent to poor. Groundwater quality and wetland cover have both remained consistent,” stated Meredith Carter, Manager of Watershed Management Programs for Otonabee Conservation, “We will continue to work with our municipal and community partners and watershed residents to enhance the health of our watershed, through stewardship activities and behavioural changes.”
“March 22 is World Water Day and one of the reasons we celebrate it is to bring attention to how important it is to protect our natural resources. We rely on surface and groundwater sources for drinking water, forests and wetlands for habitat and natural infrastructure, all of which support healthy communities.”
Meredith Carter | Manager, Watershed Management Program, Otonabee Conservation
Conservation Authorities across Ontario work in partnership with local, provincial, and federal governments, other agencies, landowners, and residents to plan and deliver watershed management programs that strive to keep Ontario’s watersheds healthy. Watershed Report Cards can be used to target specific actions that can address issues and improve conditions.
Otonabee Conservation’s 2023 Watershed Report Card is available at otonabeeconservation.com. To find more information about Watershed Report Cards across the province visit watershedcheckup.ca.
For more information contact:
Janette Loveys Smith | CAO Secretary-Treasurer
Otonabee Conservation
jsmith@otonabeeconservation.com | 705-745-5791 Ext. 222