Lake Partner

FOCA has partnered for many years with the Ministry of the Environment on volunteer water-quality monitoring programs.

The goal of the Lake Partner Program is to better understand and protect the quality of Ontario's inland lakes by involving citizens in a volunteer-based water quality monitoring program.

The Lake Partner Program is a province-wide, volunteer-based, water-quality monitoring program. Volunteers collect total phosphorus samples and make monthly water clarity observations on their lakes. This information will allow the early detection of changes in the nutrient status and/or the water clarity of the lake due to the impacts of shoreline development, climate change and other stresses.

Volunteer involvement requires the collection of one water sample for total phosphorus in May for lakes on the Canadian Shield and one sample each month (May-Oct) for lakes that are off the shield. These samples are returned postage paid to the Dorset Environmental Science Centre for analysis. In addition, volunteers are asked to make a minimum of 6 (monthly) water clarity observations using a Secchi disk. These observations are mailed to Dorset at the end of the summer.

For more information email the FOCA office at programs@foca.on.ca or contact the Ministry of the Environment, Lake Partner Program at:

Dorset Environmental Science Centre
P.O. Box 39
1026 Bellwood Acres Rd.
Dorset, ON
P0A 1E0

Tel (Toll Free - Ontario Only):
1-800-470-8322

Tel (Outside Ontario):
1-705-766-1294

Fax: 705-766-2254
E-mail: lakepartner@ene.gov.on.ca

or visit their website at http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/envision/water/lake_partner/ 

About the Dorset Environmental Science Centre (DESC)

The DESC began its scientific activities in 1975. Since then, the centre has grown in size and scope and investigates a wide variety of water issues. The study area is comprised of a collection of lake basins in south-central Ontario that have varying amounts of cottage development. The centre’s primary focus is on integrated environmental monitoring, experimentation and data recording. 
DESC is the home of the Lake Partner Program.