Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority

Durham Region Coastal Wetland Monitoring Project - Monitoring Activities

Both physical features and biological communities are being monitored through the Durham Region Coastal Wetlands project. The physical condition of the wetlands, land uses surrounding wetlands and in the watersheds that feed the wetlands are known to affect biological communities in Great Lakes coastal wetlands. Alternatively, many biological communities can serve as indicators to provide insight into the general health of a wetland.

Photo: S. Pernanen

Physical Features

Water Quality	Measure various water quality parameters including turbidity (clarity of water), conductivity, nitrogen, phosphorus
Water Levels	For wetlands that can be cut off from Lake Ontario due to the formation of a barrier beach, measure water levels throughout the vegetation growing season (May to October)
Sediment Quality	Collect recently deposited sediments to analyze for various contaminants including pesticides, metals, PCBs and PAHs
Bathymetry	Map wetland basin topography to reveal contours
Watershed Vegetation	Ecological Land Classification to Community Series level summarized for each wetland’s watershed
Land-use Change in Adjacent Uplands	Compare current land use in 1000-meter zone around wetland with that expected according to municipal and regional Official Plans; obtain percentages of change for each land use category
Land-use Change in Watershed	In conjunction with Watershed Management Plans, compare current land usage with that expected in the future according to municipal and regional Official Plans Sediment and Nutrient Loading Computer modelling incorporating a Digital Elevation Model (DEM); to be completed when technology available

Biological Communities

Birds	Survey marsh breeding bird communities using the Marsh Monitoring Program methodology
Amphibians	Survey amphibian communities using the Marsh Monitoring Program methodology
Fish	Survey wetland fish community using electrofishing boat (link to electrofishing boat photo)
Macroinvertebrates	Sample wetland macroinvertebrates by sweep-netting through water column
Wetland Vegetation	Use Ecological Land Classification to define vegetation communities at each wetland and surrounding 500 metres
Submerged Plants	Sample submerged aquatic vegetation using 20 randomly-placed quadrats
Identifying Key Habitats	Identify and track over time habitats associated with species at risk (i.e. endangered, threatened or of special concern)

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