The Multi?Watershed Nutrient Study: Background, Context and Session Introduction
Session: 42. - Multi-Watershed Nutrient Study: Establishing a Monitoring Network in Agricultural Regions
Mohamed Mohamed, Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, [email protected]
Grace Arabian, Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, [email protected]
Laura Benakoun, Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, [email protected]
Chris Parsons, University of Waterloo, [email protected]
Madeline Rosamond, University of Waterloo, [email protected]
Derek Smith, [email protected]
Ryan Sorichetti, Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, [email protected]
Janis Thomas, Ont. Ministry of Environment & Climate Change, [email protected]
Christopher Wellen, Ryerson University, [email protected]
Abstract
A key response to the eutrophication of the Laurentian Great Lakes (LGL) in the 1960’s and 70’s was an extensive evaluation of the influence of land use on nutrient export in the LGL basin. These studies by the Pollution from Land Use Reference Group (PLUARG) included an examination of the relationship between land use, land management, and nutrient export in agricultural regions of Ontario, and were done through the intensive monitoring and study of several representative sentinel watersheds across the province. Renewed concern regarding eutrophication of the LGL has resulted in a need to understand the influence of agricultural activity on nutrient export in a modern context of changing farming practices and a changing climate. The Multi?Watershed Nutrient Study (MWNS) is a recently-established provincial network to assess agricultural non?point source nutrient export to inform key bi?national and provincial commitments. In this presentation, we describe the goals and motivation of the MWNS and introduce the ensuing presentations describing various aspects of the study.
1. Keyword
nutrients
2. Keyword
tributaries
3. Keyword
eutrophication
4. Additional Keyword
agriculture
5. Additional Keyword
land use