Citizen Science

The Climate Change Action Program is a new monitoring project developed by Kawartha Conservation that aims to make a positive impact on the environment by monitoring precipitation within the Kawartha Lakes! 

Kawartha Conservation is looking for a number of volunteers located within the Kawartha Lakes. As a volunteer, you will be responsible for collecting precipitation in the form of rainfall from May to September on your own property. Volunteers will then submit their data onto a online community collaboration network for us to analyze and create a summary report on the trends and patters seen within our watershed. You will receive all the information and equipment needed to collected data, free of charge!

By joining the Climate Change Action Program, you’ll be part of a group of dedicated individuals who care about the changes in climate within the Kawartha Lakes. So sign up below today and become part of the solution to climate change!

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The Community Science Program is an exciting initiative by Kawartha Conservation that invites you to take an active role in protecting the lakes we cherish. This program focuses on nearshore water quality on waterbodies within Kawartha Lakes, including Balsam, Cameron, Sturgeon, Pigeon, and Lake Scugog (the north end of the lake).

As a Community Science Program volunteer, you will collect water samples which will be used to analyse E.coli, nitrates, total phosphorus, and chloride, while also recording important water quality parameters such as water temperature and conductivity.

Sampling takes place once a month from May to September, and participation is designed to fit into your routine seamlessly: just prepare your samples and leave them at your front door for Kawartha Conservation staff to pick up in the morning.

Volunteers are fully supported with all the training and equipment needed to participate. By joining, you’ll contribute to vital water quality research and help create a healthier future for our lakes. Your efforts will provide key insights into seasonal trends and help inform management decisions to protect our beautiful lakes.

This is your chance to get involved and make a meaningful impact. Sign up today and join a community of citizen scientists working together to preserve the beauty and health of our waters for generations to come.

For more information contact:

Nathan Rajevski 
Acting Watershed Resource Technician
nrajevski@kawarthaconservation.com
705-328-2271 ext. 235

Participating in the Kawartha Water Watch program includes collecting water samples from various locations across the Kawartha Conservation Area. This data is used to create our watershed reports.

Walleye Watch is a program developed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. Trained citizen scientists go out during the walleye spawning window and document fish presence throughout Lake Scugog.

Scugog Lake Stewards

The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks has partnered with the Federation of Cottagers Association to collect important water quality data on inland lakes from May to October of each year. This long term monitoring program has been ongoing since 2002.

Lake Partner Program Data

Ontario Nature is the leader in this citizen science based data collection program. The program welcomes birder skills of all levels to count as many different species, and individuals of those species, as possible over the course of a single day. The data is entered into a provincial database.