Swim Drink Fish Blog
Read the latest updates and news releases about community science, water monitoring, Artists for Water, and more.
This is my Watermark. What’s yours?
Started by Lake Ontario Waterkeeper in 2015, the Watermark Project aims to collect and archive one water story from every Canadian to demonstrate why swimmable, drinkable, fishable, water matters. Starting today, you can easily share your story at watermarkproject.ca. Lake Ontario Waterkeeper Vice President, Krystyn Tully discusses the Watermark Project and shares her Watermark.
7 fun things you can do around (or in) Lake Ontario this winter
Lake Ontario's watershed delivers year round. With frigid temperatures also come unique opportunities. Here is a list of 7 winter-fun activities you can find around the lake.
What can we expect from Environmental Assessments?
The nuclear industry has capitalized on the climate change media attention by touting its virtues; placing itself at the heart of the “clean, green energy” discussion. Now that’s not to say that nuclear power isn’t a realistic, viable option. But when you’re making a decision that affects millions of people and has potentially irreversible effects on the environment, you need more than a catchy PR slogan. You need all the facts out in the open; you need a complete and transparent assessment process.
2015 Case Review: Where do we stand at the end of the year?
With 2015 drawing to a close, what better time to look back at the events most affecting the lake? We looked at our newsletters, case summaries, and web traffic this year and compiled a list of the issues that caught your attention in 2015. Grab a coffee and enjoy the recap!
Bring back the Eel: A review of the American eel’s life history and conservation status
We're in love with the American Eel – it's the quintessential Lake Ontario fish! The species once made up half of the lake's biomass but man-made barriers, overfishing, and pollution took their numbers down to the point where they're now nearly absent. As the year winds down, here is an ode to the fish we work so hard to protect and hope to one day see again in abundance.
Lake Ontario’s Best and Worst Beaches in 2015
In 2015, which Lake Ontario beaches did well? And which ones didn't?
Swim Drink Fish shopping tips for the holidays
Believe it or not, the annual shopping scramble has begun! While you’re jumping from store to store, it’s quite easy to forget the little things that make a big difference to our waterways. So here are 4 quick swim drink fish reminders to help you while you’re out and about this holiday season.
MEDIA ADVISORY: Lake Ontario beaches improved in 2015, new Swim Guide report shows
Lake Ontario beach water quality met government standards 73% of the time in 2015, says a new report from Swim Guide (www.theswimguide.org). This is an improvement over 2014, when water quality met standards only 60% of the summer.
Yay! Water quality reporting on Lake Ontario improved in 2015
The results of the 2015 Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Beach Report are in and the results for Lake Ontario are promising.
MEDIA ADVISORY: Public interest groups in court to appeal plan to refurbish aging nuclear reactors
Public interest groups are in the Federal Court of Appeal today to ensure that human health and environmental risks are carefully considered in a plan to refurbish four aging nuclear reactors at the Darlington site on the shores of Lake Ontario. This comes on the heels of the Toronto Executive Committee’s passing of a motion calling for a review of nuclear emergency plans.