In February 2021, two online surveys were compiled seperately and summarized for both Stakeholder/Community Partners and for the Public. Each survey provided valuable information on varying demographic information, program knowledge, understanding of gaps and what types of monitoring they felt would be valuable moving forward. This information helped to guide the direction of the strategy.
Environmental Monitoring Strategy
Kawartha Conservation’s Environmental Monitoring Strategy is a forward-looking, 10-year roadmap (2022-2032) designed to guide the organization’s environmental monitoring efforts and investments. Aligned with our corporate strategic plan, this strategy ensures the ongoing health of the watershed, enhances data-driven decision-making, and fosters collaboration with community partners, municipalities, and First Nations. By providing accurate, real-time data, the strategy supports evidence-based policy development, watershed health, and sustainable management practices.
Developed through an extensive review of current programs and input from a diverse range of stakeholders, the strategy emphasizes innovation, efficiency, and accessibility. It outlines key objectives such as integrating advanced technology, expanding monitoring networks to fill data gaps, and providing transparent, open data for the community. These initiatives aim to address pressing environmental challenges, including climate change, water quality, and land use changes.
This strategy is a vital tool in Kawartha Conservation’s mission to protect natural resources, support local economies, and ensure the resilience of the Kawartha watershed for future generations. By investing in robust monitoring programs, we are committed to enhancing watershed sustainability and empowering communities with the knowledge to make informed environmental decisions.
Read the
2022 - 2032 Environmental Monitoring Strategy
Goal:
To provide a cost-effective environmental monitoring network that facilitates evidence-based decision making, and that provides accessible, real-time science and data to our community, while aligning with our strategic goals and that of our municipal partners.
Objectives:
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Develop a baseline of data to support our climate change strategy and strategies of our partners.
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Reduce long term costs of our monitoring network with effective upfront investment.
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Maximize the use of technology to enable remote data management and reduce staff resources.
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Consolidate the number of sites we monitor where possible, identifying if we require new locations or opportunities to streamline existing site locations.
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Provide up to date and where possible, live information and data to our customers through our website and partner platforms.
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To utilize standardized protocols across organizations when available across our network to provide consistency in field methods and data collection.
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Develop our connection and use of stakeholder data and information by sharing and collaborating.
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Exploring sustainable ways to work with partners to provide long term monitoring networks.
Our Customers:
Background
To help assist in the development of the strategy, and to provide guidance throughout the process a strategic guidance group was initiated;
- 13 member working group consisting of external community groups and organizations.
- City of Kawartha Lakes
- Durham Region
- Township of Scugog
- Scugog Island First Nations
- Parks Canada
- Trent University
- Fleming College
- Kawartha Haliburton Pineridge District Health Unit
- Scugog Lake Stewards
- Community Partner/LMP Community Advisory Panel - Vice Chair
- Kawartha Staff
- Terms of reference was established.
A 46 page comprehensive review of each current environmental monitoring program was conducted that included the following for each;
- SWOT Analysis (Strength, Weakness, Opportunities, Threats)
- Feature Benefit Value Analysis
- Program Resource Analysis
To fully understand the complexity of each current program additional questions relating to strategic plan/policy, financial investment, data collection, technology and reporting were asked.
Below highlights some of our findings;
1. Current programs are driven by various levels of policies.
- Internal (7)
- Federal (8)
- Provincial (11)
- Regional/Local (>3)
2. 8 of 10 programs require upfront investment costs.
3. 50% ofprograms experience data gaps across our watershed.
4. 50% of programs have technology in place to enable remote data management
5. Majority of our programs report every 5 years
Draft Environmental Monitoring Strategy
Contact Us
Kawartha Conservation
277 Kenrei Road
Lindsay, ON K9V 4R1
Tel: 705.328.2271
Fax: 705.328.2286
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