Phosphorus levels in the offshore waters of the Great Lakes

The Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators (CESI) program provides data and information to track Canada's performance on key environmental sustainability issues. The Phosphorus levels in the offshore waters of the Great Lakes indicator reports total phosphorus levels in the offshore waters of the 4 Canadian Great Lakes. A lake's phosphorus status is determined by comparing spring total phosphorus levels to its water quality objectives and the health of the lake's food web. Failure to meet a water quality objective for phosphorus suggests a greater risk to the health of the lake ecosystems. Information is provided to Canadians in a number of formats including: static and interactive maps, charts and graphs, HTML and CSV data tables and downloadable reports. See the supplementary documentation for data sources and details on how those data were collected and how the indicator was calculated.

Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators: https://www.canada.ca/environmental-indicators

Supplemental Information

Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators - Home page:

https://www.canada.ca/environmental-indicators

Supporting Projects: Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators (CESI)

Data and Resources

Additional Info

Field Value
Last Updated April 17, 2026, 18:30 (UTC)
Created April 17, 2026, 18:30 (UTC)
contact_email Indicateurs-indicators@ec.gc.ca
contact_person {}
criticality_level []
data_dictionary []
geographic_scope ["0"]
open_canada_collection primary
open_canada_date_published 2025-01-10 00:00:00
open_canada_keywords {"en": ["Environmental indicators", "Water quality", "environmental indicators", "water", "water quality", "Great Lakes", "regional ecosystems", "phosphorus", "offshore waters", "water quality objectives", "status", "trends", "nutrients"], "fr": ["Indicateur environnemental", "Qualité de l'eau", "indicateurs environnementaux", "indicateur environnemental", "eau", "qualité de l'eau", "Grands Lacs", "écosystèmes régionaux", "phosphore", "eaux au large des côtes", "objectifs de qualité de l'eau", "état", "tendances", "éléments nutritifs"]}
open_canada_subject ["nature_and_environment"]
sensitivity_level unrestricted
title_fr Concentrations de phosphore dans les eaux au large des côtes des Grands Lacs
update_frequency as_needed