Canadian Great Lakes Nearshore Assessment, Detailed Methodology

Executive Summary

The Great Lakes nearshore is a key priority for restoration and protection. These waters provide a source of drinking water for most communities within the basin, are the area where most human recreation occurs, and provide a critical ecological link between watersheds and the open waters of the Great Lakes.

While efforts to restore and protect the Great Lakes have been largely successful over the last 50 years, water quality and ecosystem health in many nearshore areas continue to be degraded due to a variety of human-, climate- and invasive species-induced stressors.

The Canada-U.S. Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement includes a commitment to develop an integrated nearshore framework in the Great Lakes that provides an overall assessment of the state of the nearshore waters. Nearshore assessments provide the basis for determining factors and cumulative effects that are causing stress or threatening nearshore areas of high ecological value.

The Detailed Methodology is intended for any organization or individual with an interest in the overall assessment of nearshore waters. It is meant to compliment each of the Canadian nearshore assessment results reports by describing the data and methodology required to conduct the assessment. The report contains four categories for the overall assessment of nearshore waters: coastal processes, contaminants in water and sediment, nuisance and harmful algae, and human use.

The information and source material upon which the assessment was made is outlined. This includes a summary of the methodology and datasets integrated into the overall assessment, any significant decision points and recommendations for future improvements. This report has been written for a technical audience with the intention that, if desired, the assessment could be updated re-run with alternative thresholds or measures.