Hamilton Harbour was designated as one of 43 Areas of Concern in accordance with Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA). Ten out of eleven Beneficial Use Impairments were identified by the Remedial Action Plan (RAP). The RAP is an ongoing collaborative effort implemented by federal, provincial, and local governments as well as industry and public partners. There are 3 key stages of the RAP: Stage 1 is a detailed description of the environmental problem; Stage 2 identifies remedial actions and options; Stage 3 is the final document providing evidence that the beneficial uses have been restored and the AOC can be “delisted”.
Hamilton Harbour is an approximately 2200 ha embayment connected to the west end of Lake Ontario by a 836 m ship canal. It has a mean depth of 13 m and maximum depth of 24 m. Significant nutrient loadings from three wastewater treatment plants, combined sewer overflows, agriculture, and industry have contributed to severe water quality impairments in Hamilton Harbour. Presented here are various datasets generated to measure the ecological response of the Remediation efforts since 1987.
For additional information and data please visit: https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/82927831-131a-433e-af26-745b9930cd65
Supplemental Information
Funding for this study was provided in part by the Government of Canada’s Great Lakes Action Plan (GLAP) and in support to Hamilton Harbour Area of Concern. .
In 1987 under the revised Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, 43 areas of concern (AOC), 12 of which are located in Canada, were identified as having severely impaired beneficial uses and water quality. As funded by the Great Lakes Action Plan, a Remedial Action Plan was formed for each area of concern bringing together experts from government, industry, municipalities and environmental non-government organizations to address these impacts. Today over 900 restoration projects have been successfully completed by Environment and Climate Change Canada and partners including Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrades, fish and wildlife habitat restoration, and water quality improvements. Today Wheatley Harbour (Lake Erie), Collingwood Harbour and Severn Sound (Georgian Bay) have been de-listed as an area of concern. Spanish Harbour and Jackfish Bay (Lake Superior) are now areas in recovery. Today scientific monitoring and research is continuing in the remaining AOCs to measure response of remedial efforts.
For more information please visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/great-lakes-protection/areas-concern.html