Activity D: Monitoring and Scientific Studies

Monitoring activities associated with LSEMS are extremely important to provide scientists and resource managers with information to develop strategies and remedial action plans to address ecosystem health concerns. This information includes surveillance monitoring for the development of long-term trends so that management activities can be assessed to determine their effectiveness and adapted if necessary. Specific monitoring programs include: Open Lake, Tributary, and Fisheries. Performance monitoring and the development of "unit area loads" will also be conducted to provide data for predictive ecosystem health models. Water quality and quantity monitoring are primarily the responsibility of the MOE and the Authority while fisheries monitoring of the lake is the sole responsibility of the MNR. These activities will address issues 19 to 23 and will be on-going throughout the period of the Memorandum of Understanding (2001-2007).

ACTIVITY D: MONITORING AND SCIENTIFIC STUDIES
Objective: To detect seasonal and long-term trends in the chemical and biological indicators used to assess the health of the Lake Simcoe ecosystem; to assess the effectiveness of remedial measures; and the lake's responses to various activities occurring within the watershed.
ISSUES	ACTIONS	PARTNERS
19. Effects of Phosphorous Loading	Continue regular monitoring of the main lake stations for plankton, nutrients, temperature and dissolved oxygen levels	MOE, LSRCA
20. Trends in the Lake Simcoe Fish Community	Monitoring cold and warm water fishes in Lake Simcoe through index netting surveys.	MNR
21. Exotic Species Invasion	Quantify and analyze the invasion rates and plankton samples from all stations	MNR, MOE
22. Reproduction of Coldwater Fish	Conduct field surveys to identify factors limiting coldwater fish species recruitment	MNR, LSRCA
23. Alteration and Destruction of Littoral Zone Fish Habitat	Mapping of littoral zone features and habitat repeated at 10 year intervals	MNR, LSRCA
24. Nutrient Management Budget	Develop a nutrient management budget annually to assess the effectiveness and benefits associated with remedial measures	MOE, LSRCA, OMAF

Activity A: Basin Wide Ecosystem Planning
Activity B: Agriculture
Activity C: Urban
Activity D: Monitoring and Scientific Studies
Activity E: Public Awareness, Education and Community Action