Lake Erie Action Plan Status of Actions

Introduction

The Canada-Ontario Lake Erie Action Plan (LEAP) is Canada and Ontario’s domestic action plan for reducing phosphorus loadings to Lake Erie, with the ultimate goal of decreasing the presence of harmful and nuisance algal blooms and zones of low oxygen (hypoxia) that threaten both the ecosystem and human health. This plan identifies actions to meet phosphorus load reduction targets committed to by Canada through the Canada-U.S. Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA), 2012, and by Canada and Ontario under the Canada-Ontario Great Lakes Agreement on Great Lakes Water Quality and Ecosystem Health (COA), 2021 including a 40 percent phosphorus load reduction from 2008 levels for the western and central basins of Lake Erie and selected tributaries.

In addition, the LEAP also helps Ontario meet its commitments to reduce phosphorus loads under the Great Lakes Protection Act, 2015 and the Western Basin of Lake Erie Collaborative Agreement between Ontario, Ohio and Michigan.

The LEAP was released in 2018, and includes 128 actions organized into five overarching categories of actions:

Reduce phosphorus loadings (on-the-ground actions to reduce phosphorus loadings from sources and tributaries);
Ensure effective policies, programs and legislation (actions to enhance, strengthen, and build on regulatory and policy tools);
Improve the knowledge base (science, monitoring, and research actions);
Educate and build awareness (actions to enhance communication and awareness, and share data);
Strengthen leadership and co-ordination (actions to enhance co-ordination among partners and strengthen existing groups and governance structures).

The LEAP Status of Actions highlights progress to date for each LEAP action, its status, implementation partner(s) involved and links to more information on the action including partner programs, projects, and findings.

This is the first release of this living document, and summarizes progress under the first cycle of the LEAP from 2018-2022, as well as recent updates from 2023 where available. The Status of Actions will be updated on an ongoing basis and will incorporate any new and revised actions under the LEAP.

Implementation partners

The LEAP is focused on collaborative efforts to achieve phosphorus loading reductions to Lake Erie from Canadian sources. Since the LEAP was published in 2018, there have been over 30 partners supporting the implementation of the LEAP with progress across 128 LEAP actions in the first adaptive management cycle (2018 – 2022). The LEAP is comprised of provincial and federal ministries, agricultural organizations, Indigenous communities, non-governmental organizations, conservation authorities and municipalities including:

Canada

Canada Water Agency
Environment and Climate Change Canada
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Ontario

Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
Ministry of Natural Resources
Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Agribusiness

Indigenous communities and organizations

Aamjiwnaang First Nation
Bkejwanong Territory
Caldwell First Nation
Chiefs of Ontario
Chippewas of the Thames First Nation
Eelunaapeewi Lahkeewiit (Delaware Nation)
Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation
Munsee-Delaware Nation
Oneida Nation of the Thames
Six Nations of the Grand River
Métis Nation of Ontario

Municipalities

City of London
Municipality of Leamington

Conservation Authorities

Conservation Ontario
Essex Region Conservation Authority
Grand River Conservation Authority
Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority
Upper Thames River Conservation Authority
St. Clair Region Conservation Authority
Kettle Creek Conservation Authority
Catfish Creek Conservation Authority
Long Point Region Conservation Authority

Agricultural organizations

Fertilizer Canada
Grain Farmers of Ontario
Land Improvement Contractors of Ontario
Ontario Agri-Business Association
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers
Ontario Pork

Non-government organizations

Alternative Land Use Services (ALUS)
Ducks Unlimited Canada
Nature Conservancy of Canada

Lake Erie Status of Actions

The LEAP Status of Actions summarizes progress under each action in the LEAP and additional links are included to provide more detailed information on the project or program implemented in support of the LEAP. Readers are encouraged to consult these additional resources.

Status definitions:

Completed
- the action has been completed
Underway
- the action is underway and is on track to be completed
Ongoing
- the action represents a program or project with no fixed end date, such as some monitoring programs, collaborations, reporting, or other similar initiatives
Not started
- the action has not been started but is still expected to be underway in the future
- this may apply to actions contingent on funding or other resources

Lake Erie

Filters

Toggle Action filters visibility

Action

A (Reduce phosphorus loadings)
B (Ensure effective policies, programs, and legislation)
C (Improve the knowledge base)
D (Educate and build awareness)
E (Strengthen leadership and coordination)

Toggle Status filters visibility

Status

Completed
Underway
Ongoing
Not started

Results

A.1.01

Description

Canada and Ontario will continue to collaborate with landowners, municipalities, conservation authorities, Indigenous communities, and others on a co-ordinated approach to watershed planning for reducing phosphorus loadings.

Status: Completed

Summary

Canada and Ontario collaborated with and/or provided funding to support planning processes for reducing phosphorus loadings to the Thames River, Sydenham River, Grand River, and Essex Region watersheds. Technical experts provide advice to inform priorities and set policies.

More information
A.1.02

Description

Canada and Ontario will continue to work with conservation authorities, municipalities and other partners to promote implementation of existing watershed plans focused on reducing phosphorus loadings in the Lake Erie basin and develop new ones as required.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

Canada and Ontario collaborated with and/or provided funding to implement watershed plans and actions for reducing phosphorus loadings to the Thames River, Sydenham River, Grand River, and Essex Region watersheds. Conservation authorities, municipalities, and other partners support science, promotion, demonstration, and adoption of best management practices, and measuring progress towards phosphorus reduction goals.

More information
A.1.03

Description

Canada, with Ontario's support, will continue to work with conservation authorities and other partners to identify phosphorus sources and develop phosphorus reduction management strategies and plans for selected tributaries/regions in the Lake Erie watershed, including the Sydenham River, Thames River, Kettle Creek, Catfish Creek and the Grand River.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

Canada and Ontario collaborated with and/or provided funding to develop phosphorus reduction strategies and plans for reducing phosphorus loadings to the Thames River, Sydenham River, Grand River, and Essex Region watersheds. Conservation authorities are implementing these strategies in their watersheds and focusing on key phosphorus sources in agricultural and urban areas based on new information.

More information
A.1.04

Description

Canada and Ontario will continue working with Indigenous communities in the Lake Erie watershed to support efforts to identify phosphorus sources and develop appropriate phosphorus reduction strategies for these communities.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

Canada, Ontario, and conservation authorities continue to engage Indigenous communities in LEAP implementation activities, including the Thames River (Deshkan Ziibi) Shared Waters Approach, supporting First Nations Youth stewardship programs, and the development of agricultural land management plans.

More information
- Antler River Guardians From the 4 Directions - Thames River Clearwater Revival
A.1.05

Description

Canada, with Ontario's support, is leading the implementation of the binational nearshore assessment and management framework for Lake Erie.

Status: Completed

Summary

Canada most recently updated the Lake Erie Canadian Nearshore Assessment in 2023, with support from Ontario. It will be posted online in the near future. Canada also provided support to the Niagara Coastal Community Collaborative for shoreline assessments of Cladophora.

More information
A.1.06

Description

Canada and Ontario will focus phosphorus reduction efforts within Lake Erie's eastern basin on the Grand River watershed.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

The Grand River Conservation Authority, through support from Canada and Ontario, developed and continue to implement initiatives including the Grand River Water Management Plan, the Upper Nith Watershed phosphorus reduction program, the Profitability Mapping Program, and the Watershed-wide Wastewater Optimization Program.

More information
A.1.07

Description

Canada and Ontario will explore the development of initiatives that support the implementation of local actions within high-risk areas for phosphorus loadings in the western and central basins of Lake Erie, including the Thames River watershed and Leamington tributaries.

Status: Underway

Summary

Canada and Ontario supported BMP demonstration and phosphorus reduction initiatives in specific subwatersheds in the Thames River watershed, including projects in the Upper Medway and Kettle Creek. Ontario supported Low Impact Development(LID) projects in the Thames River watershed, and monitoring in Leamington tributaries.

More information
A.1.08

Description

Canada and Ontario will continue to support the conservation and restoration of Ontario's wetlands through programs such as the Ontario Eastern Habitat Joint Venture, the Habitat Stewardship Program and the National Wetland Conservation Fund.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

Canada supported partners in the rehabilitation of 17 wetlands over four years in the Lake Erie basin through the Habitat Stewardship Fund.Ontario supported Ducks Unlimited Canada by protecting over 170 hectares of wetland and 195 hectares of upland habitat, and enhancing over 28 hectares of wetlands and 338 hectares of associated upland habitat in the Lake Erie watershed through the Eastern Habitat Joint Venture. In 2020, Ontario introduced the Wetlands Conservation Partner Program, providing funding over 5 years to restore and enhance wetlands in priority areas in Ontario, and support municipalities with stormwater management. Canada and Ontario continue to support these wetland conservation initiatives.

More information
A.1.09

Description

Nature Conservancy of Canada will conduct a review of Lake Erie planning documents to guide its conservation efforts in the Lake Erie watershed.

Status: Completed

Summary

The Nature Conservancy of Canada completed this review and has used it to support continued implementation of restoration projects in the Lake Erie watershed, specifically in the Essex Forest and Wetlands, Southern Norfolk Sand Plan, and Western Lake Erie Island Natural Areas.

More information
- NCC: Where We Work - Ontario - (natureconservancy.ca)
A.2.01

Description

Canada and Ontario will continue to promote eligible investments for the reduction of excess phosphorus from sources, such as municipal wastewater treatment systems or municipal stormwater effluent, under applicable infrastructure and other funding programs.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

Canada continues to work with partners to identify eligible investments. Ontario continues to work on funding programs where possible to support eligible investments for Lake Erie priorities.

More information
- Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund
- Improving Monitoring and Public Reporting of Sewage Overflows and Bypasses Program
A.2.02

Description

Ontario will work with municipal partners to establish by 2020 a legal effluent discharge limit (in Environmental Compliance Approvals) of 0.5 milligrams per litre of total phosphorus for all municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in the Lake Erie basin that have an average daily flow capacity of 3.78 million litres or more (see Action B1.8).

Status: Underway

Summary

Ontario continues to undertake analysis to meet this commitment.
A.2.03

Description

Ontario will, where feasible, work with municipal partners toward reducing loadings through: a) upgrades, including incorporation of innovative technologies and other modifications, to secondary WWTPs that have an average daily flow capacity of 3.78 million litres or more in the Lake Erie basin, with an objective of approaching the phosphorus effluent concentrations achievable through a tertiary level of treatment; b) improvements to wastewater treatment and collection infrastructure to reduce combined sewer overflows and bypasses; c) improvements to stormwater management systems (including facility rehabilitation and incorporation of green infrastructure and innovative treatment technologies).

Status: Underway

Summary

Ontario is working with municipal partners to reduce loadings where feasible, including prioritizing provincial-federal infrastructure spending in the Lake Erie basin, providing support for wastewater treatment plant optimization, and approving proponent-driving LID projects where appropriate. Annual phosphorus loadings from municipal wastewater treatment plants in the Lake Erie basin have decreased by 55,000 kg between 2008 to 2022. Ontario has also invested over $9.5 million to help 19 municipalities increase transparency around monitoring and public reporting of sewage overflows and bypasses from municipal wastewater systems into Ontario's lakes and rivers. See also A.2.04 regarding wastewater treatment plant optimization.

More information
- Improving Monitoring and Public Reporting of Sewage Overflows and Bypasses Program - Government of Ontario
- Watershed-Wide Wastewater Optimization Program - Grand River Conservation Authority
A.2.04

Description

Ontario will continue to collaborate with municipal partners to promote and encourage optimization of wastewater treatment as a way for municipalities to improve treatment plant performance (including lower phosphorus discharges) and achieve operational efficiencies.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

Ontario provided support to Sarnia, Oxford County, and Leamington to optimize wastewater treatment operations including reducing phosphorus discharges. Ontario is providing support to the Grand River Watershed - wide Wastewater Optimization Program(See A.2.05 for further details).

More information
- Watershed-wide Wastewater Optimization Program - Grand River Conservation Authority
A.2.05

Description

Ontario will continue to support area-wide optimization programs for municipal WWTPs to reduce phosphorus loads, with Lake Erie as the priority geography for this effort.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

Ontario organized meetings with municipal wastewater practitioners to increase the uptake of wastewater treatment plant optimization. Ontario is also providing $435,000 in funding to support the Grand River Conservation Authority Watershed - wide Wastewater Optimization Program.This is a program in the Grand River watershed that works collaboratively with municipal wastewater treatment plant owners and operators to improve the performance of plants, including reducing phosphorus discharges.

More information
- Watershed-wide Wastewater Optimization Program - Grand River Conservation Authority
A.2.06

Description

Ontario will work with developers, municipalities, conservation authorities and others to promote and support the use of green infrastructure and LID systems for stormwater management, including clarifying and enhancing policies as well as developing green standards. Ontario's draft stormwater LID guidance manual is aimed at helping proponents implement LID and green infrastructure and is expected to be available in 2018.

Status: Underway

Summary

In January 2022, Ontario posted for a 90-day public consultation period a draft Low Impact Development Stormwater Management Guidance Manual. Ontario is providing support to the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority(UTRCA) for implementation of LID projects, training, education and outreach in the Thames River Watershed.

More information
- Low Impact Development Stormwater Management Guidance Manual - Environmental Registry of Ontario
- Low Impact Development (LID) - Upper Thames River Conservation Authority
A.2.07

Description

The Municipality of Leamington, located in the priority area of the Leamington tributaries, will work with partners to explore opportunities to reduce phosphorus loadings through upgrades to their wastewater collection system to service commercial facilities (including greenhouse operations) and residential properties currently serviced by septic systems.

Status: Underway

Summary

The Municipality of Leamington completed the Point Pelee Drive/Bevel Line sanitary sewer project in 2018 which included the installation of 6.7 km of new sanitary and storm sewers to collect raw sewage from properties that were previously on failing septic systems along the shore of Lake Erie. Preliminary assessments for additional projects including the Northeast Trunk sanitary sewer, and the Seacliff Drive West sanitary sewer are completed, with implementation contingent on funding.

More information
- Sanitary Sewer Projects and Studies – Municipality of Leamington
A.2.08

Description

The City of London will undertake a pilot project using new technologies as an alternative to conventional tertiary treatment with the objective of achieving effluent quality of 0.1 milligrams per litre. Upon successful completion of the pilot project, the City of London will then develop a plan to rollout phosphorus reduction technologies to their five major treatment plants.

Status: Completed

Summary

The City of London conducted pilot studies related to enhanced effluent quality in 2017, but while the results were promising, challenges were identified for large-scale implementation. The City of London is now planning for enhanced treatment technologies to be incorporated into planned upgrades in the next 5 - 10 years and 15 - 20 years.A long - term strategy for all City wastewater facilities has been developed into the Wastewater Treatment Operations Master Plan. The City of London has also identified additional near - term strategies for phosphorus reduction at plants and pumping stations, including the creation of flow equalization facilities and wet weather treatment for overflow and bypass reduction.

More information
- Wastewater Treatment Operations Master Plan – City of London
A.2.09

Description

The City of London will accelerate plans to separate combined sewers, including the design and construction of necessary stormwater outlets, with the target of separating 80 per cent (17 kilometres) of its combined sewer system by 2025.

Status: Underway

Summary

Since 2017, the City of London has undertaken reconstruction projects to complete the separation of 8.1 km (47.6% of 17 km) of combined sewer. The City has plans for the separation of an additional 4.2 km of combined sewer by 2025.

More information
- Combined Sewers – City of London
- Combined Sewer Separation Program – 2020-2023 Business Plan (Page 3) - City of London
A.2.10

Description

The City of London will circulate for agency and public review by the end of June 2018 an implementation plan that provides the scope and timing for managing the highest priority sanitary sewer overflows as identified in its pollution prevention and control plan. To support implementation, the City will facilitate a proof-of-concept, in-field pilot project of high-rate treatment technologies with the support of industry (Trojan Technologies) and academic (Western University) partners, and will continue its private property weeping tile disconnection program.

Status: Underway

Summary

The City of London's Pollution Prevention and Control Plan was completed at the end of 2018. An update was recommended for every 5 years to track the status and success of the recommendations and to determine the impacts on the existing system. The next update for the Plan will be 2023. The City of London also currently supports research space at the Greenway WWTP where various technologies have been tested that have the potential to provide high - rate treatment to sanitary sewer overflows. Pilot weeping tile disconnection programs on private property are underway, with educational outreach and a streamlined application process to support participation.

More information
- Pollution Prevention and Control Plan – City of London
A.2.11

Description

The City of London will incorporate LID and adaptive environmental management principles into the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change's Dingman Creek subwatershed area-wide Environmental Compliance Approval pilot project. The City will also implement a program to maximize the treatment and infiltration of stormwater using LID technologies in built-out areas in co-ordination with its linear infrastructure renewal program.

Status: Completed

Summary

The City of London's Stage 1 environmental assessment for the Dingman Creek subwatershed identified LID source controls as the preferred stormwater strategy. Stage 2 (now underway) will update flood risk, identify possible mitigation measures, and recommend a subwatershed-wide monitoring program that will include examining nutrient loadings. Since 2016, the City of London has installed 87 LID features in built - out areas as part of 21 infrastructure renewal projects, and 45 LIDs in new development areas.The City continues to review each infrastructure renewal project for LIDs and stormwater water quality improvement opportunities.

More information
- Dingman Creek Environmental Assessment – City of London
A.2.12

Description

The City of London will expand its current monitoring program to prioritize the retrofitting of stormwater ponds and will develop a stormwater pond retrofit program to improve operational performance and legacy phosphorus removal. To support this program, the City will evaluate the need to develop a stormwater sediment handling facility with the goal of repurposing stormwater pond sediment and appropriately managing the legacy phosphorus contained within it.

Status: Completed

Summary

The City of London continues to implement a stormwater management facility program, which incorporates monitoring for sediment accumulation and legacy phosphorus concentrations. Through this monitoring, the City of London is able to rate the performance of each facility, prioritize full rehabilitation projects, and initiate rehabilitation projects to enhance and maximize the facility's peak performance.In addition, property owners are provided recommendations on how they can contribute to improving water quality in stormwater management facilities(ponds) and natural watercourses. In 2018 and 2019, the City of London hired a hydrogeology consultant to conduct sediment sampling for legacy phosphorus.Through this work, recommendations were developed to remove dissolved phosphorus through the treatment of stormwater.Some recommendations have been incorporated into new capital construction projects.

More information
- Understanding Stormwater in London - Brochure
A.3.01

Description

Canada and Ontario will continue to leverage existing funding initiatives (e.g., Species at Risk Farm Incentive Program) to support the implementation of agricultural BMPs and environmental investments in targeted regions of the Lake Erie basin.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

Canada supported projects through a number of existing programs, including cost-share programs, which were in place before the LEAP, including the Habitat Stewardship Fund, National Wetland Conservation Fund, and the EcoAction Community Funding Program. Ontario supported projects under the Species at Risk Farm Incentive Program. In 2021, Ontario launched the Great Lakes Local Action Fund(GLLAF) to support community projects that benefit local communities and help protect and improve the health of the Great Lakes.Funding support has been provided for many projects to monitor or reduce phosphorus loads, including a project by ALUS to reduce agriculture runoff flowing into Lake Erie and efforts by Norfolk County to monitor phosphorus loadings from the Simcoe wastewater treatment plant that discharges into Lynn River and on to Lake Erie. Canada and Ontario continue to support other agricultural BMP and environmental funding programs on an ongoing basis, including the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

More information
A.3.02

Description

Canada will create an application-based funding program in 2018 that provides $4.4 million over four years in financial support for projects demonstrating effectiveness of BMPs and/or innovative approaches to reducing phosphorus loads to Lake Erie.

Status: Completed

Summary

From 2018-2022, Canada provided $4.4 million in funding for 12 projects under the Great Lakes Protection Initiative. These projects reduced an estimated 17,775 kg of phosphorus from the Lake Erie basin. In 2023, Canada announced the ten - year Great Lakes Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative, which will support further projects with a focus on precision conservation efforts in high priority areas, as well as projects that develop innovative practices and address identified knowledge gaps.

More information
- Great Lakes Protection Initiative - Full list of projects funded under the Toxic and Nuisance Algae stream (2018-2022) - Government of Canada
- Great Lakes Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative - Government of Canada (2023)
A.3.03

Description

Canada and Ontario will pursue, under the next federal–provincial Canadian Agricultural Partnership, initiatives that support a multi-BMP, whole-farm approach to achieve phosphorus runoff reduction from farmland in the western and central basins.

Status: Completed

Summary

From 2018-2023, Canada and Ontario funded the Lake Erie Agriculture Demonstrating Sustainability (LEADS) program, through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP). LEADS supported more than 1,100 farmer-led projects that reduced the risk of soil loss from more than 200,000 acres through implementation of BMPs, including 38,500 acres of cover crops planted. CAP funding supported the Environmental Farm Plan (EFP), an education and risk assessment program that supported farmers to develop site-specific action plans for their farms. In 2023, CAP funding was renewed as the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (SCAP). For more information on SCAP, please see action A.3.01. In addition, 22 sector - led projects under the Ontario Place to Grow program were completed between 2018 - 2021.

More information
A.3.04

Description

Canada and Ontario will ensure public land is managed to minimize phosphorus losses.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

Canada continues to maintain natural cover in national parks and National Wildlife Areas, and minimizes disturbance from projects on federal lands as directed under the Impact Assessment Act. AAFC applies the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 to projects it supports on research station property and an environmental due diligence approach to any AAFC projects occurring on federal land. Ontario continues to manage protected areas and Crown lands, with the majority of provincial parks and public lands in the Lake Erie basin under natural cover.Ontario also continues to pursue restoration of former agricultural land on public lands.

More information
A.3.05

Description

Canada and Ontario will encourage dam owners to explore managing dams to reduce phosphorus outputs (without compromising aquatic invasive species management or hydroelectric power generation).

Status: Not started

Summary

Canada and Ontario will continue to plan for engagement with dam owners where opportunities to reduce phosphorus loads exist.
A.3.06

Description

Ontario will continue to work with greenhouse growers to encourage nutrient recycling and reduce phosphorus levels in discharges to watercourses that flow into Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair, with a priority on the Leamington area and Thames River. Actions include education and awareness, innovation, monitoring, cost-shared investments, and regulatory compliance and enforcement.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

Ontario is working collaboratively with the Ontario Greenhouse Alliance, Flowers Canada (Ontario) and the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers. Between 2018 and 2020, about $4.5 million was provided to fund approved projects with environmental stewardship outcomes or co-benefits under the Greenhouse Competitiveness and Innovation Initiative. Between 2018 and 2022, OMAFA also supported multiple greenhouse research projects with a total funding surpassing $1 million.Ontario is also proposing to facilitate stormwater sampling and reporting for the greenhouse sector.

More information
A.3.07

Description

Ontario will work with the Lake Erie community to carry out measures to restore native habitats (including wetlands and riparian habitat), focusing efforts in priority watersheds where phosphorus loadings are high and natural cover is low.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

Ontario is providing approximately $31 million in capital funding over five years for wetland restoration and enhancement projects through the Wetlands Conservation Partner Program (WCPP) to restore and enhance wetlands that could result in phosphorus loading reductions. Within the Lake Erie watershed, the WCPP has funded about 156 wetland projects to restore and enhance over 2,600 acres of wetlands. In addition, Ontario continues to evaluate habitat suitability for native migratory fish species in priority watersheds including the Thames, Sydenham and Grand Rivers and Big Otter Creek.

More information
- Wetlands Conservation Partner Program - Government of Ontario
A.3.08

Description

Ontario will encourage stewardship activities on private lands that support phosphorus reduction in Lake Erie by providing incentives for landowners through programs such as the Conservation Land Tax Incentive Program and the 50 Million Tree Program.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

Ontario continues to support the Conservation Land Tax Incentive Program and the Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program which provides incentives for landowners to encourage natural heritage and biodiversity protection and forest stewardship on private lands in Ontario.

More information
A.3.09

Description

Ontario, with Canada's support, will work with the agriculture sector to harmonize and streamline planning tools (e.g., Environmental Farm Plans, Farmland Health Check-Up, nutrient management planning, soil management BMPs, evaluation and monitoring tools) to support an integrated, whole-farm approach to environmental sustainability.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

Ontario, with support from the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (2018 to 2023), modernized its planning tools available through AgriSuite, including decision support tools for crop nutrients, organic amendments, fertilizer and the Phosphorus Loss Assessment Tool for Ontario (PLATO). The Farmland Health Check - Up has provided farmers with the opportunities to work with Certified Crop Advisors and professional agrologists at no charge. The Canada - Ontario Environmental Farm Plan program supported over 2,100 farmers in the Lake Erie basin from 2018 - 2021 through identifying actions to improve and reduce risks.

More information
A.3.10

Description

4R Ontario will lead the implementation of a voluntary 4R Nutrient Stewardship program based on the internationally-recognized 4R Nutrient Stewardship system. The program will promote the adoption of nutrient management in Ontario to help farmers reduce nutrient losses into the environment and improve productivity through efficient nutrient application.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

From 2018-2023, the Lake Erie 4R Nutrient Stewardship Certification Program, led by partners including Fertilizer Canada and the Ontario Agri Business Association, along with the Grain Farmers of Ontario, Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario and Ontario Federation of Agriculture, and supported by Ontario, certified over 2,500 farms and 384,000 hectares of farmland in the Lake Erie basin. Fertilizer Canada also supports this action through the Fertilizer Use Survey, which assists in understanding the current state of fertilizer management in crop production and how growers use and make decisions about fertilizer applications.

More information
A.3.11

Description

The Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers will continue its work through the Ontario Greenhouse Environmental Strategy working group to support compliance efforts by providing educational material and templates to assist the greenhouse sector in adhering to regulatory requirements and to explore options for monitoring, research and remediation of priority subwatersheds.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

The Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers continues to implement activities through the Ontario Greenhouse Environmental Strategy. Ontario continues to work collaboratively with the greenhouse sector while improving guidance to support compliance efforts, including creating simple, clear sampling and reporting requirements.
A.3.12

Description

The Ontario Cover Crops Steering Committee, led by Grain Farmers of Ontario, will implement the Ontario Cover Crops Strategy to encourage widespread adoption of cover crops on farms in Ontario.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

The Ontario Cover Crop Steering Committee meets yearly to share organizational updates pertaining to the 4 pillars of the Ontario Cover Crop Action Plan: Research, Policy and Programs, Communications and Champions, which pertain to cover crops. The committee works together to amplify each other's work and to make suggestions for further action within the committee. In 2020, the Cover Crop Feedback Project was developed to provide information to key audiences, and was supported by input from over 700 farmers from across the province.

More information
- Ontario Cover Crop Action Plan - Grain Farmers of Ontario
- Midwest Cover Crop Tool - Grain Farmers of Ontario
A.3.13

Description

The Ontario Federation of Agriculture will work within the Thames River Phosphorus Reduction Collaborative partnership and with Grow Ontario Together — a coalition of vested commodity organizations — to promote a suite of effective land management and drainage solutions for agriculture to reduce phosphorus loss and improve water quality in the Thames River. The federation will continue to support other relevant initiatives such as the Ontario Cover Crops Strategy, the Timing Matters initiative and 4R Nutrient Stewardship.

Status: Completed

Summary

The Ontario Federation of Agriculture, through support from Canada, Ontario, and partners, led the Thames River Phosphorus Reduction Collaborative from 2018-2022. This initiative funded five projects which developed and tested innovative technologies for intercepting and removing phosphorus from agricultural runoff. These projects reduced an estimated 2,000 kg of phosphorus from 2018-2022.

More information
- Thames River Phosphorus Reduction Collaborative – Ontario Federation of Agriculture
A.3.14

Description

ALUS will use marginal, environmentally sensitive and inaccessible parcels of land to mitigate and reduce phosphorus loading into Lake Erie and the Thames River by prioritizing sites with active erosion occurring and that are situated along a watercourse or wetland.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

ALUS Canada implemented a total of 2,139 acres of projects on marginal, environmentally sensitive and inaccessible land on priority sites between 2019 - 2023 to reduce phosphorus loading into the Thames River and Lake Erie. ALUS continues to implement projects as of 2023, including working with farmers and ranchers to leverage their skills to use marginal lands as nature - based reservoirs for agricultural runoff.

More information
A.3.15

Description

Conservation authorities, as the second largest land owner next to the Province, will manage their lands to minimize phosphorus losses.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

Conservation authorities continue to manage their lands in the Lake Erie basin through implementation of water and phosphorus management plans, as well as conservation area management plans and strategies. Multiple restoration projects have been implemented on conservation lands, with over 6,000 hectares of natural heritage features restored since 2018.

More information
A.3.16

Description

Conservation authorities will continue to provide on-farm technical assistance and administer and deliver financial assistance programs for landowners to implement soil erosion control and best management practices related to the reduction of soil and nutrient loss.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

Conservation authorities continue to support land operators through technical support and financial assistance to implement best management practices through numerous programs and in collaboration with many partners. From 2018-2022, over 300 projects were implemented through Conservation authority-led programs.

More information
A.3.17

Description

Ducks Unlimited Canada, in partnership with the Ministry of Natural Resources, will implement a wetland restoration initiative in the Lake Erie basin to support conservation efforts with landowners and local organizations that help reduce phosphorus loads entering Lake Erie.

Status: Completed

Summary

Ducks Unlimited Canada, in partnership with Ontario and Canada, created 75 new wetlands and restored 17 existing wetlands in the Lake Erie watershed through the Lake Erie Wetland Restoration Initiative in 2018. In addition, Ducks Unlimited Canada, through support from Ontario and Canada, completed a total of 326 wetland projects from 2018-2022 in the Lake Erie basin, over a total of approximately 900 acres. These projects are reducing an estimated 3,641 kg of phosphorus per year.

More information
A.3.18

Description

Nature Conservancy of Canada will continue to strategically conserve and restore lands in the Essex Forests and Wetlands, Southern Norfolk Sand Plain and Western Lake Erie Island natural areas that will contribute to reducing non-point sources of phosphorus.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

The Nature Conservancy of Canada continued to conserve and restore lands in these natural areas, including a 100 acre property in the headwaters of the Cedar Creek watershed.

More information
A.3.19

Description

Nature Conservancy of Canada will participate with and support partners to undertake initiatives that are actively seeking solutions to Lake Erie's water problems.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

The Nature Conservancy of Canada participated in several programs and initiatives, including the Long Point Phragmites Action Alliance, and partnerships with Canada in the Long Point and Big Creek National Wildlife Areas.

More information
- Long Point Phragmites Action Alliance
A.3.20

Description

Nature Conservancy of Canada will continue to work with partners to conserve and restore significant Lake Erie coastal wetlands to improve ecosystem health and resiliency.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

The Nature Conservancy of Canada continues to implement restoration activities in the Western Lake Erie Islands, Southern Norfolk Sand Plain, and Essex Forests and Wetlands Natural Area, including the restoration of 70 acres of wetland habitat and 86 acres of upland habitat.

More information
B.1.01

Description

Canada and Ontario will, in collaboration with the United States, reassess in 2020 the viability of setting science-based numeric targets for the eastern basin.

Status: Completed

Summary

The GLWQA Nutrients Annex Subcommittee established the eastern basin task team, co-led by the U.S. and Canada, with participation from Ontario in 2020. The task team recommended that scientific consensus does not support the development of targets for the eastern basin of Lake Erie at this time.

More information
- December 2020 Great Lakes Executive Committee Meeting Summary - Nutrient Section (Page 3-4) - Binational.net
B.1.02

Description

Canada will continue to work on revisions to the Feeds Regulations that would remove minimum nutrient levels for livestock feeds (including phosphorus). These revisions are anticipated to be enacted in 2018 and will enable the industry to be more flexible and decrease levels of phosphorus in feeds where it makes sense to do so. The revised regulations will likely result in a corresponding reduction in phosphorus content of manure.

Status: Underway

Summary

In June 2021, Canada proposed changes to the Feeds Regulations made under the federal Feeds Act that included removal of minimum requirements for nutrients, including phosphorus in livestock feeds. This will enable the industry to decrease levels of phosphorus in feeds where it makes sense to do so.

More information
- Feed regulatory modernization - Government of Canada
B.1.03

Description

Ontario will engage with key sectors as it considers further restrictions on the application of nutrients during the non-growing season with a focus on conditions when there is higher risk of nutrient loss, such as when the ground is frozen or snow covered.

Status: Underway

Summary

OMAFA worked collaboratively with the agricultural sector on voluntary actions including the Timing Matters peer-to-peer advisory committee. From 2017 to 2020 the Timing Matters peer - to - peer advisory committee followed up with select producers who were observed spreading during the non - growing season to collect information on why the spreading was occurring and to educate on alternatives.

More information
B.1.04

Description

Ontario's General Regulation under the Nutrient Management Act requires farms to have an approved nutrient management strategy when they submit applications for building permits for any buildings or structures that are used to house farm animals or to store manure on the land of the farm. Between January 1, 2005 and January 1, 2018 approximately 5000 nutrient management strategies were approved where an application for a building permit was made.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

OMAFA continues to review and approve nutrient management strategies to ensure manure is being managed on farms in accordance with the General Regulation (Ontario Regulation 267/03). As of January 2022, there were approximately 7,100 farms with nutrient management strategies.

More information
- Ontario Regulation 267/03 - Government of Ontario
- Nutrient Management - Government of Ontario
B.1.05

Description

Ontario will, in 2018, release and begin the implementation of a long-term Agricultural Soil Health and Conservation Strategy, developed in collaboration with stakeholders, to support agricultural soil management practices that provide economic, environmental and social benefits to Ontario.

Status: Completed

Summary

In April 2018, Ontario released the New Horizons: Ontario's Agricultural Soil and Conservation Strategy to help sustain and enhance soil health and productivity for economic, environmental and societal needs, which includes water quality. Identification of priorities and implementation of the strategy is supported by the Soil Action Group, launched in January 2020. Examples of Soil Strategy projects include the Ontario Soil Network, which trains and supports farmers to be soil stewardship leaders in their community, and the development of a Soil Health Mobile Technology Suite, which allows soil health experts to demonstrate the impacts of soil compaction on soil health, and inform decision making. In 2023, Ontario committed $9.5 Million over the next three years to improve soil data mapping, evaluation and monitoring to support key commitments in the Strategy, specifically soil mapping and information and build of a soil information IT system.

More information
B.1.06

Description

Ontario will, in 2018, begin a review of the Province's approach to rural stormwater and agricultural drainage management using an integrated watershed approach. This will include an examination of the interactions between runoff from rural lands and roads, outlet drainage from agricultural lands, and municipal drains with the objective of identifying opportunities to improve the sustainable management of water.

Status: Underway

Summary

Ontario is undertaking preliminary analysis of opportunities to address this issue through potential new stormwater policy. In addition, Ontario has supported projects that identify opportunities to implement green infrastructure into rural stormwater and agricultural drainage systems to help improve water quality and increase resilience to climate change. Changes to the Ontario Drainage Act in 2021 have streamlined approval processes to allow for expanded options for individual property owners to implement small projects, which can include green infrastructure to improve water quality.

More information
- Duties of the landowner under the Drainage Act - Government of Ontario
B.1.07

Description

Ontario will, as part of the hauled sewage policy and program review, develop and post for public comment a draft policy framework for managing hauled sewage in the province.

Status: Completed

Summary

Ontario sought comments from the public, stakeholders, and partners on a review of the hauled sewage policy and program. Ontario will consider the comments received in future policy proposals, if developed, and consult with the public. There are ongoing efforts to improve the delivery of the hauled sewage permissions program such as providing more clarity regarding environmental compliance approval submission requirements.
B.1.08

Description

Ontario will work with partners to update provincial policies for Lake Erie by 2019 to provide the basis for establishing a legal effluent discharge limit (in Environmental Compliance Approvals) of 0.5 milligrams per litre of total phosphorus for all municipal WWTPs in the Lake Erie basin that have an average daily flow capacity of 3.78 million litres or more.

Status: Underway

Summary

Ontario continues to undertake analysis to meet this commitment. Also, Ontario continues to work with municipalities to optimize wastewater treatment plants (See A.2.02 and A.2.05).
B.1.09

Description

Ontario will update existing wastewater policies (i.e., F-series guidelines and procedures) and develop stormwater management policies and supporting guidance (e.g., LID and green infrastructure) by 2021 to enhance environmental protection, including reduction of nutrient loadings.

Status: Underway

Summary

In January 2022, Ontario posted for a 90-day public consultation period a Municipal Wastewater and Stormwater Management in Ontario Discussion Paper on ideas to improve the management of municipal wastewater and stormwater in Ontario. Ontario will consider this public input in potential future development of policy proposals related to the topics of the Discussion Paper, such as new policies, policy updates and regulations for further public consultation.

More information
- Municipal Wastewater and Stormwater Management in Ontario Discussion Paper - Environmental Registry of Ontario
- Low Impact Development Stormwater Management Guidance Manual - Environmental Registry of Ontario
B.1.10

Description

Ontario will provide updated guidance related to stormwater management and planning, to support the implementation of policies in the Provincial Policy Statement (2014).

Status: Not started

Summary

The 2020 Provincial Policy Statement includes references to stormwater infrastructure planning, which will be considered by Ontario in the development of future stormwater policies and best practices.

More information
- Provincial Planning Statement (2024) – Government of Ontario
B.1.11

Description

Ontario will, through the implementation of a Wetland Conservation Strategy for Ontario, improve wetland conservation to achieve a net gain in wetland area and function to sustain biodiversity and to provide ecosystem services, including improved water quality.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

Ontario's Wetland Conservation Strategy has been archived. Ontario continues to work towards improving wetland conservation through collaboration with partners, such as the Eastern Habitat Joint Venture to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, and through the Wetlands Conservation Partner Program.

More information
B.1.12

Description

Ontario will, where feasible, streamline processes for environmental assessment and approvals related to wastewater and stormwater projects with a phosphorus reduction component within the Lake Erie basin.

Status: Underway

Summary

In 2024, Ontario proposed changes to the environmental assessment requirements for municipal projects. If implemented as proposed, the environmental assessment process for more complex stormwater and wastewater projects will be streamlined.

More information
- Proposed changes to environmental approvals for municipal sewage collection works - Environmental Registry of Ontario
B.2.01

Description

Ontario will, with Canada's support, make publicly available in 2018 a digital elevation model of the Lake Erie watershed (based on LiDAR technology) to assist all members of the Lake Erie community in making evidence-based decisions (e.g., flood mapping, areas of soil erosion risk identification, precision agriculture) to ensure healthy lands and waters.

Status: Completed

Summary

In 2019, LiDAR data products for the Lake Erie watershed were posted to the Ontario GeoHub. The data is being used by municipal, provincial & federal governments, non-government organizations, academia, conservation authorities and consulting firms for applications that include flood risk mapping, emergency management planning and soil erosion risk identification.

More information
- Ontario Digital Terrain Model (Lidar-Derived) – Ontario GeoHub
- Ontario Elevation Mapping Program - Ontario GeoHub
B.2.02

Description

Ontario will work with municipalities to encourage the use (e.g., LID guidance) and development (e.g., bylaws) of decision-making tools that help reduce phosphorus through management of urban stormwater at the source.

Status: Underway

Summary

Ontario provided support to the Sustainable Technologies Evaluation Program/conservation authorities to develop tools such as: a WIKI to improve awareness and knowledge of recommended Best Management Practices (BMPs) for Low Impact Development (LID) facilities. Ontario developed a municipal stormwater / LID toolkit and maintenance tool, and training provided to over 500 municipal inspectors and asset managers across Ontario.See also A.2.06 and A.1.07.

More information
- Low Impact Development Stormwater Management Planning and Design Guide - Sustainable Technologies Evaluation Program
B.2.03

Description

Conservation authorities will continue to support analysis and reporting of information and data for decision making, including optimizing rural BMPs to improve water quality and using advanced GIS technologies and approaches to target locations for improved soil and nutrient management.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

Conservation authorities in the Lake Erie basin have continued to support analysis and reporting for decision-making. In 2020, the Grand River Conservation Authority undertook a project to engage producers in the evaluation of profitability mapping as a decision support tool for adoption and placement of BMPs to reduce phosphorus and soil loss continues. The Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority is supporting subwatershed SWAT model development and agricultural BMP verification research, and providing financial incentives for BMP implementation through the McGregor and Jeannettes Creek Phosphorus Reduction Program(2018 - 2022). Essex Region Conservation Authority maintains a Demonstration Farm to test and highlight rural BMPs.

More information
C.1.01

Description

Canada, with support from Ontario and conservation authorities, will use monitoring and modelling to provide annual assessments of phosphorus loads entering Lake Erie from Canadian sources.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

Canada, with ongoing support from Ontario and conservation authorities, publishes annual assessments of phosphorus loads to Lake Erie.

More information
- Canadian Lake Erie Nutrient Load Estimates – Government of Canada
C.1.02

Description

Conservation authorities will continue to work with other stakeholders and Canada and Ontario at the watershed, subwatershed and catchment levels to conduct research, monitoring and modelling activities on an annual basis to improve scientific efforts toward phosphorus reduction.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

Conservation authorities have continued to both lead and support monitoring, research, and modelling activities in Lake Erie watersheds, including water quality monitoring, BMP effectiveness studies, and inputs to nutrient and water quality models.

More information
C.1.03

Description

Canada, starting in 2016 and in collaboration with partners, will develop a decision-making tool to improve and standardize the calculation of phosphorus loads to Lake Erie and the other Great Lakes to inform decision making.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

Canada, with the support of Ontario, developed the Erie Loading Tool which is used to estimate phosphorus loads from Canadian Lake Erie watersheds. CanSWAT models have been for selected Lake Erie watersheds.

More information
- Provincial (Stream) Water Quality Monitoring Network - Dataset - Government of Ontario
- Phosphorus loading to Lake Erie - Government of Canada
C.1.04

Description

Canada, Ontario and conservation authorities began in 2017 to implement a nested watershed monitoring approach in the Thames River to model and track nutrient dynamics and changes over time.

Status: Completed

Summary

Canada and Ontario collaborated with and/or provided funding to conservation authorities for modelling of the Thames River Watershed to support the implementation of an integrated and nested multi-partner monitoring network. Analysis of water quality monitoring started in late 2018.

More information
- Water Quality Assessment in the Thames River Watershed – Phosphorus Loadings – Upper Thames River Conservation Authority
C.1.05

Description

Canada will monitor and assess the temporal trends and spatial distributions of nutrient concentrations in the offshore waters of Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

Canada, with the support of Ontario and conservation authority data, continues to monitor long-term nutrient concentrations in Lake Erie, and Ontario continues to monitor water quality in Lake St. Clair to assess changes over time and space to inform adaptive management. Estimates of annual loads from main Canadian tributaries are provided annually to the Annex 4 Sub-committee of GLWQA and posted on Canada's Open Data portal.

More information
- Great Lakes Water Quality Monitoring and Surveillance Data – Government of Canada
- Lake St Clair Water Quality - Government of Ontario
C.1.06

Description

Canada will monitor and assess the temporal trends and spatial distributions of nutrient concentrations and nuisance algae (Cladophora) biomass in the nearshore areas of Lake Erie's eastern basin.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

Canada, with support from Ontario, has monitored benthic conditions for the north shore of Lake Erie's eastern basin from 2012-2019 and reported on data in 2022. Nearshore monitoring of sentinel sites resumed in 2022 to improve benthic data quality and collection.

More information
- Nearshore Nuisance Benthic Algae Data – Government of Canada
C.1.07

Description

Canada will develop and apply remote sensing tools to detect and forecast harmful algal blooms in Lake Erie.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

Canada is developing satellite image processing routines for European Space Agency's sentinel-3 satellite to continue near-real-time and annual bloom reporting and ongoing spatial and temporal trend analysis of bloom conditions.

More information
- Interactive algal bloom monitoring tool - Government of Canada
- Lake Erie Satellite-derived Annual Algal Bloom Indices – Government of Canada
C.1.08

Description

Canada will collect and co-ordinate hydraulic and hydrologic data, including maintaining Canada's role on the Canada–U.S. Coordinating Committee on Great Lakes Basin Hydraulic and Hydrologic Data, to ensure accurate flow information is available to calculate seasonal and annual phosphorus loads.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

Canada continues to collect and co-ordinate hydraulic and hydrologic data to ensure accurate flow information is available to calculate seasonal and annual phosphorus loadings.

More information
- Hydraulic and Hydrologic Data - Canada–U.S. Coordinating Committee on Great Lakes Basin
C.1.09

Description

Conservation authorities will collect, maintain, compile and share hydraulic and hydrologic data in partnership with Canada and Ontario, for example, through the Water Survey of Canada Hydrometric Monitoring Network Agreement.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

Conservation authorities, in partnership with Canada and Ontario, have continued to collect, maintain, compile and share hydraulic and hydrologic data in Lake Erie watersheds with varying levels of progress. Notably, UTRCA data from hydrologic stations is publicly available.

More information
C.1.10

Description

Ontario, with support from Conservation Ontario and conservation authorities, will continue long-term monitoring programs in the watershed including the Provincial Water Quality Monitoring Network and the Provincial Groundwater Monitoring Network.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

Ontario, with support from Conservation Ontario and conservation authorities, continues to implement long-term monitoring programs in the watershed including the Provincial Water Quality Monitoring Network and Provincial Groundwater Monitoring Network.

More information
C.1.11

Description

Ontario will continue to implement the long-term Great Lakes water intake and nearshore monitoring programs.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

Ontario continues to implement long-term monitoring programs by sampling at Great Lakes Intakes and Great Lakes Nearshore Monitoring stations in Lake Erie.

More information
- Water Chemistry (Great Lakes Nearshore Areas) - Dataset - Government of Ontario
C.1.12

Description

Canada and Ontario will deploy real-time monitoring systems in Lake Erie to monitor temperature, dissolved oxygen and algal pigments to enable tracking of hypoxia and lake stratification.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

Canada and Ontario continue to deploy real-time monitoring buoys each year to monitor temperature, dissolved oxygen and algal pigments to enable tracking of hypoxia and lake stratification. Pandemic restrictions paused ECCC deployment and system operation in 2020 and 2021. Further buoy deployment is anticipated in the next one to two years.

More information
- Great Lakes Observing System
C.1.13

Description

Canada will continue to produce an annual national field-scale crop inventory map using remotely-sensed imagery.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

Canada continues to produce the National Annual Crop Inventory, including the Ontario portion of the map which contains field-scale crop inventory data for the Canadian Lake Erie watershed.

More information
- National Annual Crop Inventory – Government of Canada
C.1.14

Description

Canada, with support from its partners, will continue to develop, improve and apply Soil and Water Assessment Tool models for the Grand and Thames rivers to identify and provide advice to partners on strategies for optimizing BMPs.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

Canada, with support from its partners, has developed CanSWAT models for the Thames River, Sydenham River, and Grand River watersheds, and all three models are being updated with recent data. AAFC provides resources for this through Actions C 1.13, 1.15, 4.03, and 4.05.
C.1.15

Description

Canada, with support from Ontario and other partners, will continue to improve models and tools at two scales for risk of phosphorus loss: the soil-landscape scale (Indicator of Risk of Water Contamination by Phosphorus [IROWC-P]) and the field scale (P-Index).

Status: Ongoing

Summary

Canada, in collaboration with Ontario and other partners, has updated the Indicator of the Risk of Water Contamination by Phosphorus (IROWC-P) tool and P-Index, and incorporated the Phosphorus Loss Assessment Tool for Ontario (PLATO) into provincial tools at the field scale (AgriSuite) and will continue to apply models at the soil-landscape and field scales.

More information
C.1.16

Description

Nature Conservancy of Canada will investigate opportunities to measure and model the water quality and quantity benefits of its land acquisition and restoration work.

Status: Completed

Summary

Nature Conservancy of Canada estimated phosphorus reduction and water retention before and after restoration projects in the Southern Norfolk Sand Plain Natural Area.

More information
- Southern Norfolk Sand Plain Natural Area - Nature Conservancy of Canada
C.1.17

Description

The City of London will co-ordinate its water quality monitoring with the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority to aid river improvement efforts and studies.

Status: Completed

Summary

In 2018, the City of London initiated an annual monitoring and reporting program with the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority that is focused on the Dingman Creek subwatershed. An annual report is included and trends are reviewed every five years. This program seeks to improve the phosphorus sampling dataset in the Thames River.
C.2.01

Description

Ontario will continue a multi-watershed nutrient study to assess the interaction between agricultural land use and nutrient loadings in streams in the Great Lakes basin.

Status: Completed

Summary

Ontario has completed the field component of the Multi-Watershed Nutrient Study. Data and information generated from the project continues to be analyzed and reported on to assess the interaction between agricultural land use and nutrient loadings in streams in the Great Lakes basin.

More information
- Ontario's Great Lakes Strategy: Second progress report - Government of Ontario (scroll to or search for "Multi-Watershed Nutrient Study")
C.2.02

Description

Ontario will support and conduct research on the use of sensor-based technology for monitoring phosphorus and associated parameters.

Status: Underway

Summary

Ontario continues to modernize the sensors, platforms and monitoring techniques used to track water quality changes and algal blooms. Sensor-based technology is currently used to monitor phosphorus and associated parameters (turbidity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, conductivity) in Lake Erie and its watersheds. A project with Toronto Metropolitan University to use sensors to estimate nutrient loadings is complete.

More information
C.2.03

Description

Canada and Ontario will conduct research to improve the understanding of factors contributing to toxic and nuisance algae growth and their impacts on water quality and ecosystem health.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

Canada and Ontario conducted surveys of nitrogen and phosphorus in Lake Erie, Lake St. Clair, and the Thames River to assess their roles in contributing to potential changes in toxin levels and plankton community and their impacts in water quality and ecosystem health. See C 2.04 for more on analysis and reporting on Lake St. Clair harmful algal blooms.

More information
- "Nitrification in the water column of Lake Erie: Seasonal patterns, community dynamics, and competition with cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms" (Hoffman et al., 2023) – Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management
- "The Lake Erie HABs Grab: A binational collaboration to characterize the western basin cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms at an unprecedented high-resolution spatial scale" (Chaffin et al., 2021) – Harmful Algae
C.2.04

Description

Ontario, with support from Canada, will undertake a monitoring and research project to better understand the sources and types of phosphorus that are contributing to nearshore algal blooms in Lake St. Clair.

Status: Completed

Summary

Ontario, with support from Canada, conducted four years of monitoring (2016-2019) in Lake St. Clair to better understand the sources and types of phosphorus contributing to nearshore blooms.
C.2.05

Description

Canada, with Ontario's support, will lead research and monitoring to improve understanding of invasive mussels and their influence on phosphorus dynamics and Cladophora growth in the eastern basin of Lake Erie.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

Canada, with support from Ontario, gathered data from sentinel sites in eastern Lake Erie to model Cladophora growth and biomass accumulation at local and lake-wide scales, which will inform future understanding of links between phosphorus, light, and mussels in the eastern basin.

More information
- "Factors affecting Cladophora growth in the eastern basin of Lake Erie: Analysis of a monitoring dataset (2012–2019)" (McCusker et al., 2023) - Journal of Great Lakes Research
- Nearshore Nuisance Benthic Algae Data - Government of Canada
C.2.06

Description

Ontario will work with the Lake Erie community to conserve and manage aquatic habitat and the fish community to maintain fish population health and resiliency.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

Ontario continues to manage the Lake Erie and Lake St.Clair fisheries and aquatic ecosystem though the Provincial Fisheries Management Zone 19 council and binationally, guided by the Fish Community Objectives and Environmental Priorities of the Lake Erie Committee of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission.

More information
- Provincial Fisheries Management Zone 19 - Government of Ontario
- Lake Erie Committee of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission – Scroll to "Fish Community Objectives for Lake Erie (2020)" and "Lake Erie Committee Environmental Priorities (2019)" under Publications and Products
C.2.07

Description

Ontario will lead research on the bioaccumulation of the algal toxin microcystin in fish tissue to better understand its impact on human health.

Status: Completed

Summary

Ontario completed and published this study in 2023, concluding that microcystin poses little human health risk but is suggested to be a pervasive toxic stressor for fish. Ontario will continue to support project partners as needed.

More information
- "Lake Erie fish safe to eat yet afflicted by algal hepatotoxins" (Shahmohamadloo et al., 2023) - Science of the Total Environment
C.2.08

Description

Canada will investigate how land use changes in small Lake Erie tributaries are affecting instream water quality conditions, including the role of episodic wastewater releases and factors that have an impact on the effectiveness of agricultural BMPs.

Status: Completed

Summary

Canada conducted research on the effectiveness of agricultural BMPs in reducing the quantity of nutrients leaving agricultural lands to adjacent streams. Monitoring for this study was conducted at three sub-watersheds near London, Ontario.
C.2.09

Description

Canada, in collaboration with partners, will investigate how nutrients other than phosphorus, particularly nitrogen, may contribute to harmful algal bloom development and toxicity.

Status: Underway

Summary

Canada has gathered data in Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair to assess the role of nitrogen in controlling harmful algal bloom development and toxicity in the nearshore and western basin of Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair. A review paper is currently being prepared.
C.2.10

Description

Canada, in collaboration with partners, will investigate the potential role that internal loading and nutrient exchanges may have on the recovery of Lake Erie as external loads are reduced.

Status: Underway

Summary

Canada, in collaboration with the University of Toronto, is assessing anoxia and the interbasin transfers and internal loading of phosphorus in Lake Erie. A new sediment diagenesis module is being implemented in the lake model.
C.2.11

Description

Canada will develop and apply next generation physical limnology and ecological models, including integrated watershed-lake models, for Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair to improve understanding of the causal factors affecting the development of algal blooms and hypoxia, and how phosphorus reductions from tributaries will affect those factors.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

Canada has developed 3D models of Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair, with an integrated Thames River model, to assess nearshore water quality, loadings to the western basin, and intrusion of hypoxic waters. A model of the Grand River is coupled to the Lake Erie model to develop nearshore ecosystem response to tributary loading. Publications are underway.
C.2.12

Description

Canada will improve and apply the Cladophora growth model to determine the relationship between Cladophora growth and phosphorus loadings.

Status: Completed

Summary

Canada, in collaboration with the University of Western Australia, developed a 3D lake ecosystem model with dreissenid mussel and Cladophora modules to develop eastern basin Cladophora growth due to tributary nutrient inputs. This model is improving understanding of local and lake scale sources of phosphorus and controls on dreissenid mussel phosphorus recycling in the eastern basin nearshore.

More information
- Factors affecting Cladophora growth in the eastern basin of Lake Erie: Analysis of a monitoring dataset (2012–2019) - Journal of Great Lakes Research
C.3.01

Description

Canada, starting in 2017 and with support from conservation authorities, will run watershed simulation models under different climate change scenarios to understand how phosphorus loss from the land may change.

Status: Underway

Summary

Canada has carried out preliminary simulations, with more detailed analysis underway. In another study, in collaboration with McGill University, a regional climate model is implemented with all Great Lakes included, and a paper has been published.

More information
- Heavy Lake-Effect Snowfall Changes and Mechanisms for the Laurentian Great Lakes Region - Atmosphere
C.3.02

Description

Canada will deploy long-term climate buoys in the Great Lakes to determine the influence of climate change on the Great Lakes, including nutrient loading and in-lake conditions. Data sets will be made publicly available.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

Canada deployed climate buoys and evaporation towers in Lake Erie between 2017 to 2019 to determine the influence of climate change on the lake, including nutrient loading and in-lake conditions. Pandemic restrictions paused ECCC deployment and system operation in 2020 and 2021. A limited number of buoys and land-based stations are currently deployed, and evaporation monitoring at Long Point is ongoing.

More information
- Great Lakes - Lake Erie and Lake Ontario - Government of Canada
C.3.03

Description

Canada, starting in 2017, will investigate the exchange of nutrients between groundwater and surface water in the Thames River watershed to better understand the relationship between seasonal and year-to-year nutrient fluxes, land use and climate variations.

Status: Underway

Summary

Canada, in collaboration with partners, is investigating the delivery of nutrients and other wastewater contaminants to agricultural streams of septic systems in the Thames River. Impacts of different ages of septic systems and geology under both base flow and event flow conditions, across different seasons, on the dominant pathway(s) of septic input reaching the stream are being addressed.
C.3.04

Description

Ontario will take climate change into account in all of its research and monitoring efforts relating to Lake Erie. Ontario will also encourage municipalities to apply to the Municipal GHG Challenge Fund to support eligible projects that make significant contri butions to reducing greenhouse gas(GHG) emissions and phosphorus loads.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

Ontario is considering climate change in research monitoring efforts relating to Lake Erie, e.g., better capturing precipitation events throughout the year; and understanding year-to-year variability (e.g., wet and dry years/high and low water levels) and how it might impact phosphorus loadings and algae growth. Ontario continues to encourage municipalities to make contributions to reducing GHG emissions and phosphorus loads. Ontario supported a study to enhance the Chatham - Kent Shoreline Management Plan(SMP) to help advance the knowledge base on climate change.

More information
- Municipal GHG Challenge Fund - Government of Ontario
- Adapting to the future storm and ice regime in the Great Lakes - Government of Canada
C.3.05

Description

Ontario will develop and implement initiatives that encourage soil health management practices which reduce net greenhouse gas emissions and reduce agricultural soil erosion.

Status: Completed

Summary

Ontario developed the modernized AgriSuite, which includes a new greenhouse gas (GHG) decision support tool to assist farmers in identifying the sources of GHG emissions at a farm level, encourage adoption of best practices, and help quantify GHG emission reduction opportunities of farms.

More information
- Greenhouse Gas Decision Support Tool - Government of Ontario (in Agri-Suite)
C.4.01

Description

Ontario will continue to leverage government research programs and initiatives (e.g., New Directions; Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness –University of Guelph partnership) to fund needed research and new technologies to test and improve agricultural BMPs for phosphorus reduction.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

OMAFA supported research and innovation through the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance and Agri-Food Research Initiative, including projects in the Lake Erie basin. These projects focused on developing knowledge and technology to reduce nutrient loss from fields and improve soil health, ultimately enhancing water quality in streams and groundwater.

More information
- Agricultural research and innovation - Government of Ontario
C.4.02

Description

Canada and Ontario, in partnership with others, will continue to research the effectiveness of BMPs in reducing phosphorus losses from agricultural land during typical and extreme weather events.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

Canada and Ontario continue to support research into BMP effectiveness through the federal Living Lab initiative, and the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership-supported ONFARM program. Both programs include key partnerships with working farmers, researchers, and agricultural and environmental organizations.

More information
- Living Lab Ontario – Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association
- On-Farm Applied Research and Monitoring (ONFARM) – Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association
C.4.03

Description

Canada will continue to identify the capacity and progress of different agricultural production systems in implementing activities that reduce the risk of nutrient loss.

Status: Completed

Summary

Canada completed data collection and reporting for this initiative. Datasets will be reported as needed.
C.4.04

Description

Canada will continue to develop and assess methods for evaluating sustainable phosphorus levels in soils.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

AAFC conducted four trials looking at sustainable phosphorus levels in soils. Results identified thresholds at which additional fertilizer did not improve crop yield (corn, soybean, and wheat) and increased risk of phosphorus loss.

More information
- Modeling phosphorus losses to subsurface drainage under tillage and compost management - Soil and Tillage Research (abstract only)
C.4.05

Description

Canada and Ontario, in partnership with others, will continue to conduct research to improve modelling capability to quantify phosphorus reductions from BMPs at a landscape scale.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

Canada and Ontario continue to conduct and support research and modelling into BMP effectiveness, including studies on manure management, legacy phosphorus, soil phosphorus loss modelling, tillage and soil cover innovations, and application of process-based models to simulate different BMP scenarios.

More information
- Living Lab Ontario - Government of Canada
- Modelling tillage and manure application on soil phosphorus loss under climate change - Nutrient cycling in agroecosystems
C.4.06

Description

Canada and Ontario, in partnership with others, will investigate current (baseline) and future adoption of BMPs within the Lake Erie basin and selected subwatersheds to inform monitoring efforts and action plan progress.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

Canada and Ontario continue to support adaptive management efforts and projects which track adoption of BMPs to target future outreach efforts, including provincial support for the UTRCA to develop methodologies to determine baselines for cover crop adoption.
C.4.07

Description

Ontario will investigate the social, economic and environmental determinants affecting BMP adoption.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

Ontario supported a project led by the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) to review cost share programming from 2008-2018 in order to identify adoption trends in the Lake Erie watershed, as well as a project to investigate and overcome barriers to adoption of cover crops and soil testing.

More information
- Lake Erie Retrospective Analysis - Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association
C.4.08

Description

Ontario will support studies that improve understanding of the correlation between phosphorus load reduction and high uptake of LID/green infrastructure.

Status: Underway

Summary

Ontario supported a project led by Western University identifying the sources of phosphorus in an urbanized watershed in the Lake Erie basin, and evaluating the effectiveness of bioretention systems.

More information
- Performance of Bioretention System for Removing Phosphorus from Urban Stormwater - Western University
C.4.09

Description

Canada and Ontario will work with partners to measure the effectiveness of wetlands and other natural heritage features in reducing phosphorus through overland flow into watercourses.

Status: Completed

Summary

Canada and Ontario led a working group with LEAP implementation partners to review and recommend preferred methodologies for estimating phosphorus load reduction potential for agricultural BMPs, wetlands, and other natural heritage features. Ducks Unlimited Canada completed a project which monitored and estimated phosphorus load reductions from small wetlands in the Lake Erie basin.

More information
- The Power of Small Wetlands for Clean Water - Ducks Unlimited Canada
C.4.10

Description

Canada and Ontario will evaluate the feasibility of using economic instruments to achieve phosphorus reductions.

Status: Completed

Summary

Canada evaluated the economic costs of algal blooms in Lake Erie and conducted a public opinion survey on willingness to pay for improvements to water quality in Lakes Erie and Ontario. Ontario amended the Ontario Water Resources Act in 2017 to provide the authority to create regulations governing water quality trading in prescribed areas.

More information
- Mapping Phosphorus Flows in the Ontario Economy: Exploring Nutrient Recovery and Reuse Opportunities in a Provincial Context – Pollution Probe
- Ontario Water Resources Act - Government of Canada
C.4.11

Description

Canada and Ontario will work with partners to explore opportunities to adopt innovative technologies that encourage phosphorus recovery and reuse.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

Canada supported and continues to support projects through the Great Lakes Protection Initiative which test innovative technologies to reduce and recycle phosphorus. Ontario continues to explore and support opportunities through research and stewardship programming.

More information
- Great Lakes Protection Initiative - Government of Canada
- Mapping Phosphorus Flows in the Ontario Economy: Exploring Nutrient Recovery and Reuse Opportunities in a Provincial Context – Pollution Probe
C.4.12

Description

Conservation authorities will continue to leverage their expertise and initiatives at the watershed, subwatershed and local levels to research, innovate and evaluate technologies for improved agricultural BMPs, LIDs and natural green infrastructure. This is in addition to research that aims to understand the social, economic and environmental determinants affecting BMP adoption.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

Conservation authorities supported, and continue to support, a variety of projects, workshops, and research initiatives in their watersheds which evaluate innovative technologies in agricultural and urban areas.

More information
- Thames River Phosphorus Reduction Collaborative – Phosphorus Filter Tank Project - Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority (Under "Reports and Newsletters", see 2018 LTVCA Annual Report(page 13), 2018 LTVCA Annual Report Summary(page 2), and 2018 LTVCA Annual Report Presentation(slides 29 - 30))
- Kingsville Leamington Nutrient Project – Essex Region Conservation Authority
D.1.01

Description

Canada and Ontario will develop a digital marketing campaign that includes social media to build awareness of the need for actions to reduce phosphorus in the Lake Erie basin.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

Canada continues to share information on the Great Lakes with regular posts about Lake Erie nutrients from 2018-2022. Ontario hosts social media content as appropriate, and is considering future plans around digital marketing. LEAP updates are also posted on Canada.ca and Ontario.ca websites.

More information
- 2019 Annual LEAP Update – Government of Ontario
- Canada-Ontario Environmental Farm Plan - Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association
D.1.02

Description

Canada and Ontario, in partnership with others, will support the development and implementation of tools, techniques and programming to enhance communication, education and awareness of the phosphorus issue in the Lake Erie watershed, and the practices available for effective management.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

Canada and Ontario have developed and supported a wide variety of online and printed materials, presentations, and other outreach events to share information and update stakeholders on phosphorus issues in Lake Erie.

More information
- Engagement Opportunities Happening Now – Binational.net
D.1.03

Description

Ontario will continue to work with partners to connect teachers, students and school boards with opportunities to use Lake Erie and its watersheds as a context for teaching and learning.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

Ontario engaged students and youth on Lake Erie issues through the Western Lake Erie Student Summit, and Huron-Erie Corridor Virtual Field Trip.

More information
D.1.04

Description

Ontario will work with the agriculture sector and partners to communicate best practices through educational materials, events, technology demonstrations, peer-to-peer learning opportunities and demonstration farms that foster the adoption of BMPs (such as responsible nutrient management including soil testing, crop rotation, erosion control structures, and natural and built green infrastructure) and lead to a reduction of phosphorus loss to the environment.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

Ontario continues to work with the agricultural sectors, and has invested in environmental stewardship activities through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, Great Lakes funding, webinars, and support for resources developed by colleges and agricultural organizations.

More information
D.1.05

Description

Ontario, in partnership with the agriculture industry, will continue to develop and deliver information and tools to increase cover crop use in the non-growing season to improve soil health and reduce field runoff.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

OMAFA continues to work collaboratively with the sector on the implementation of the Ontario Cover Crops Strategy to encourage the widespread adoption of cover crops to protect and improve soil health

More information
- Ontario Cover Crop Action Plan [PDF] - Grain Farmers of Ontario
- Cover crops: adaptation and use of cover crops - Government of Ontario
D.1.06

Description

Ontario's livestock and poultry sector will lead the establishment of a peer-to-peer advisory committee to provide education and awareness to producers about the risks of nutrient application on frozen or snow covered ground, with the goal being to effect behavioural change and reduce risk of nutrient loss to the environment.

Status: Completed

Summary

From 2018-2020, Farm and Food Care Ontario, with support from Canada, Ontario, and the agricultural sector, led Timing Matters, a peer-to-peer education and communication program which focused on reducing nutrient application during the winter in order to minimize runoff from farms. In total, the program reached more than 300 farmers and nutrient management specialists.

More information
- Manure Stewardship - Farm & Food Care Ontario
D.1.07

Description

Ontario will, by 2018, deliver enhanced drainage and erosion control education and training to increase awareness of causes of nutrient loading in runoff and how to manage drainage to reduce phosphorus loads.

Status: Completed

Summary

OMAFA provided, and continues to provide support for training for the drainage community, update technical guidance documents and advice for annual conferences for drainage contractors, professional engineers and superintendents, including phosphorus and water quality presentations. for Engineers Working Under the Drainage Act in Ontario, Publication 852 was completed and released in August 2018. A Guide for Drainage Superintendents working under the Drainage Act in Ontario, Publication 859 was completed and released in 2021.

More information
D.1.08

Description

Land Improvement Contractors of Ontario will continue to focus on proper drain installation to minimize phosphorus movement to the watercourse through its annual convention, newsletter articles and continuous training of those involved in drain installation to ensure phosphorus movement impacts remain a high priority.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

Land Improvement Contractors of Ontario continues to conduct outreach and engagement activities through meetings, newsletters, and training opportunities for the drainage industry and contractors.

More information
- Fact Sheets - Land Improvement Contractors of Ontario
- Drainage Conference - Land Improvement Contractors of Ontario
D.1.09

Description

Conservation authorities will continue to communicate best practices and engage Lake Erie residents through the delivery of school-based programs, conferences, workshops and tours, development of media posts and publications, and face-to-face interactions.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

Conservation authorities continue to conduct outreach and engagement activities in their watersheds through a wide variety of media releases, and virtual and in-person events.

More information
D.1.10

Description

Ontario, through the Premier's Award for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence, will continue to encourage the recognition of excellence, innovation and leadership in demonstrating environmental action at the farm level in the Lake Erie basin.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

Ontario continues to recognize agri-food innovations through the Excellence in Agriculture program. This program has included recognition for a farmer-led approach to address some of the most significant environmental and agricultural challenges.

More information
- Excellence in Agriculture program - Government of Ontario
D.1.11

Description

Ontario will facilitate an event, in 2018, that showcases the adoption of leading municipal approaches to integrated stormwater management.

Status: Completed

Summary

Ontario partnered with the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority to develop a stormwater management pond and low impact development performance inspection, monitoring and maintenance prioritization tool and guidance. Training sessions were delivered to municipal stormwater management staff from across Ontario.
D.2.01

Description

Canada and Ontario, along with their partners, will make relevant long-term data and information on Lake Erie public as it becomes available.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

Canada and Ontario continue to make Lake Erie data freely available to the public through the Canada Open Data Portal, and Ontario Data Catalogue.

More information
D.2.02

Description

Ontario will report on Lake Erie every three years under the Great Lakes Protection Act, 2015 and work with its partners to provide an annual update through its website.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

Ontario provided a 2019 LEAP update on Ontario.ca and is working with the LEAP Implementation Team to provide further updates. Ontario also provided updates on Lake Erie in the Second Progress Report of Ontario's Great Lakes Strategy, released May 2023.

More information
- Ontario's Great Lakes Strategy: Second progress report (2023) - Government of Ontario
D.2.03

Description

Ontario will encourage partners to make relevant information on Lake Erie accessible through various online platforms.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

Ontario and Canada continue to support and encourage information sharing. Information on partner programs, projects, and other initiatives can be found throughout this document.
D.2.04

Description

Conservation Ontario will continue to undertake a partnership with the Great Lakes Observing System to help enable conservation authorities to make their data discoverable and accessible.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

Conservation Ontario completed a project with the Great Lakes Observing System (GLOS) to make data from conservation authorities more visible. Conservation Ontario is participating in a Data and Information Area Strategy team to advance GLOS recommendations. Many conservation authorities also maintain their own open data portals.

More information
D.2.05

Description

Conservation authorities will continue to develop, maintain and share data management systems and services for use in various aspects of hydrologic, water budget and water quality analyses, groundwater monitoring, and climate change and other watershed studies.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

Conservations authorities continue to provide data through resources such as the Grand River Information Network, the Western Ontario Water Information System KISTERS Hub, and other data management platforms.

More information
E.1.01

Description

Canada and Ontario will continue to engage Indigenous communities to facilitate their participation and input in the development and implementation of this action plan. This will include consideration of traditional ecological knowledge from First Nations and Métis if offered. Youth engagement will be encouraged in particular.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

Canada and Ontario have engaged Indigenous communities through supporting their participation on the LEAP Implementation Team, and Lake Erie/Great Lakes governance, and support of specific projects, including watershed planning initiatives.

More information
E.1.02

Description

Canada and Ontario will continue to engage youth to seek their participation and input on the implementation of the action plan.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

Ontario continues to support First Nations Youth stewardship under the Thames River (Deshkan Ziibi) Shared Waters Approach to Water Quantity and Quality. For more information, please refer to actions A.1.03 and A.1.04.

More information
E.1.03

Description

Canada and Ontario will update the Great Lakes community on the progress of implementing the action plan through webinars, forums, meetings and other opportunities.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

With Ontario's support, Canada co-hosts an annual webinar with the U.S. on binational phosphorus reduction efforts in Lake Erie. Canada and Ontario provide updates to the Great Lakes Executive Committee, conferences, public meetings, and respond to correspondence and media inquiries as needed.

More information
- Great Lakes Executive Committee Meetings - Binational.net
- Binational Engagement - Binational.net
E.1.04

Description

Canada and Ontario will work with partners to co-ordinate research, monitoring and modelling activities to improve scientific efforts towards phosphorus reduction.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

Canada and Ontario continue to co-ordinate and support research, monitoring, and modelling activities to improve phosphorus reduction activities. This includes support for research to better understand links between loads from the landscape and receiving water bodies, as well as projects to better understand the role of legacy phosphorus and internal loading for Lake Erie. Canada, through the Great Lakes Protection Initiative, supported projects testing innovative technologies to reduce phosphorus loads. AAFC led the Living Labs Ontario initiative which supported several projects looking at soil and phosphorus loads.

More information
E.1.05

Description

Canada, with Ontario's support, will co-ordinate with the United States the implementation of nutrient-related commitments under the GLWQA.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

Canada, with Ontario's support, co-leads implementation of the GLWQA Nutrients Annex with the U.S. through regular meetings and development of initiatives, reports, and other products which meet GLWQA commitments.

More information
E.1.06

Description

Conservation authorities will continue to provide local watershed-level leadership in partnership with Canada, Ontario, municipalities and all stakeholders to address the phosphorus challenge in Lake Erie.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

Conservation authorities continue to lead and co-ordinate watershed and phosphorus reductions plans and projects in their watersheds, working with stakeholders and government at all levels to support phosphorus reduction efforts in Lake Erie.

More information
E.2.01

Description

Canada and Ontario will build on existing governance structures to ensure partner participation in the implementation of the action plan. Parties identified in the plan will work together to develop a workplan by February 2019 that establishes timelines for actions and expected phosphorus reductions (as applicable), identifies lead agencies and determines the investment required.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

This LEAP Status of Actions summarizes the workplan and demonstrates progress under LEAP actions between 2018 and 2022 and will continue to be updated on an ongoing basis.
E.2.02

Description

Canada and Ontario will assess and report on progress toward achieving phosphorus reduction targets and actions in 2023 and every five years thereafter.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

Canada and Ontario released a LEAP Evaluation and Update Report in 2024 which summarizes progress toward LEAP actions in support of phosphorus load reduction targets (2018 – 2022). This report indicates new priorities based on knowledge gained from the previous five years.
E.2.03

Description

Canada and Ontario will establish metrics to support a suite of performance measures to track the impacts of actions over time, including changes to phosphorus loadings. Actions will be adjusted as necessary based on an adaptive management framework.

Status: Ongoing

Summary

The LEAP Evaluation and Update Report includes updated performance measures to track impacts of actions. The LEAP adaptive management task team will continue to provide advice on changes to actions based on review and synthesis of new information.
E.2.04

Description

Canada and Ontario will work with U.S. federal and state agencies and other partners (e.g., through the GLWQA "Nutrients Annex" and the Great Lakes Commission's Blue Accounting ErieStat pilot project) to develop a binational information platform to track progress toward meeting the phosphorus reduction targets.

Status: Underway

Summary

Canada and Ontario work with U.S. and state agencies to contribute to the Blue Accounting platform, hosted by the Great Lakes Commission. This platform reports on progress toward binational phosphorus reduction targets and harmful algal blooms based on data provided by Canada, Ontario, and U.S. federal and state agencies.

More information
- ErieStat - Blue Accounting
- Open Data Portal - Blue Accounting

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Page details

2025-05-29

Lake Erie Action Plan Status of Actions

Introduction

Implementation partners

Canada

Ontario

Indigenous communities and organizations

Municipalities

Conservation Authorities

Agricultural organizations

Non-government organizations

Lake Erie Status of Actions

Status definitions:

Lake Erie

Filters

Results

Results

A.1.01

Description

Status: Completed

Summary

More information

A.1.02

Description

Status: Ongoing

Summary

More information

A.1.03

Description

Status: Ongoing

Summary

More information

A.1.04

Description

Status: Ongoing

Summary

More information

A.1.05

Description

Status: Completed

Summary

More information

A.1.06

Description

Status: Ongoing

Summary

More information

A.1.07

Description

Status: Underway

Summary

More information

A.1.08

Description

Status: Ongoing

Summary

More information

A.1.09

Description

Status: Completed

Summary

More information

A.2.01

Description

Status: Ongoing

Summary

More information

A.2.02

Description

Status: Underway

Summary

A.2.03

Description

Status: Underway

Summary

More information

A.2.04

Description

Status: Ongoing

Summary

More information