Designing an urban stream monitoring network to estimate phosphorus loads from non-point sources

Session: 55. - Solutions for Lake Ontario: Addressing the Human Footprint on Regional Water Quality

Pradeep Goel, ON Ministry of Environment, [email protected]
Jennifer Winter, Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Env. Monitoring & Reporting Branch, [email protected]

Abstract

Many researchers, policy makers, and program managers feel that improved non-point phosphorus loading estimates from urban areas in the Lake Erie and Lake Ontario basin would be helpful in developing and implementing effective strategies to reduce phosphorus loads. The existing water quality and quantity monitoring programs in Ontario are generally not aimed to estimate phosphorus loads and to assess the impact of stormwater management practices in urban areas.  A limited number of site specific studies have been done by researchers and field agencies to further understand non-point phosphorus management in urban areas.  The Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change has recently begun to explore options for the development of a routine surface water monitoring program focused on urban areas. The first phase of the project was to assess the relative magnitude of non-point phosphorus loads from urban areas and to identify priority watersheds for monitoring using a ranking system. The second phase focused on assessment of existing monitoring programs, and prepared initial estimates of the resources required to establish the monitoring program. The presentation will provide an overview of the approach being used and update on the status of work.

1. Keyword
monitoring

2. Keyword
urban watersheds

3. Keyword
phosphorus

4. Additional Keyword
Non point source