The Turkey Lakes Watershed (TLW) Study was initiated in 1980 by Environment Canada, Natural Resources Canada and Fisheries and Oceans Canada to evaluate anthropogenic perturbation of Canadian Shield ecosystems. Originally, the Study focused on the aquatic and terrestrial effects of acid rain, but now it includes research into the effects of other anthropogenic pollutants (e.g. toxic contaminants) and ecological perturbations (e.g. forest harvesting, climate change and fish habitat modification).
Supplemental Information
Intensive monitoring of meteorology, atmospheric deposition, hydrology and water chemistry within the TLW has permitted determination of water, ion, and nutrient budgets for both its terrestrial and aquatic components. The data permit detection of ecosystem trends and inference of cause. The health and status of both the terrestrial and aquatic biological communities (species distributions, production, standing stocks, etc.) have been determined also. Specific hydrological research questions such as the definition of water pathways during snowmelt have been considered. Hydrological, chemical and biological models have been developed and validated using TLW data and these have been used to simulate watershed responses at other locations. The basin has also acted as a base for related regional studies (e.g. water chemistry surveys, water bird population and distribution studies), and research is now branching to include evaluation of the effects of other airborne pollutants (e.g. metals and toxic organic contaminants), other system-level perturbations (e.g. UV-b and climate change), and specific landscape manipulations (e.g. forest harvesting and aquatic habitat alteration).
For more information visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/turkey-lakes-watershed-study.html
The Climate Change and Air Pollution (CCAP) program was established in 2016 to identify the severity and extent of adverse impacts of current and future air emissions on aquatic ecosystems to support regulatory actions and policy development. The program includes a number of components, including identifying, monitoring and defining air quality and greenhouse gas (GHG) concerns; improving our understanding of the short- and long-term effects of atmospheric pollutants on the environment; developing a plan to combat climate change; and monitoring and reducing both domestic and transboundary emissions of GHGs. The program is also responsible for identifying and studying emerging issues including multipollutant impacts, major urban sources, and effects of increasing heat on air pollutant formation, among others.
On-going cooperation and support with the Provinces and Territories, international governments and organizations and academia are vital to deliver these priorities to Canadians.
Supporting Projects: Climate Change and Air Pollution (CCAP)