Surveillance Program:
Environment Canada conducts open lake cruises on the Great Lakes to assess transboundary pollution, and to fulfill Canada's obligations under the Canada-United States Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. Between 1968 and 1974, data collection was of a research nature and therefore study objectives changed with each year. Since then, the surveillance program has been standardized and rotates between the lakes (except Michigan), conducting multiple cruises for nutrients (Total Phosphorus, Nitrate-nitrite etc), major ions (Calcium, Magnesium, Chloride, Sulphate etc), organic contaminants (Organochlorines, Chlorobenzenes etc. -on selected cruises only), biological (chlorophyll a) and physical parameters (temperature, specific conductance etc.). The objectives of the program are to ensure compliance with water quality objectives, evaluate trends and identify emerging issues. All data are stored at Canada Centre for Inland Waters (CCIW), in the STAR database and can be retrieved upon request.
1. Lake Ontario:
- Typically 98 stations sampled.
- 116 surveillance cruises between 1974 and 2000.
- Sampled for nutrients, major ions, organic contaminants, physical and biological parameters.
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2. Lake Erie:
- Typically 53 stations sampled.
- 10 surveillance cruises between 1986 and 2000.
- Sampled for nutrients, major ions, organic contaminants, physical and biological parameters.
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3. Lake Huron and Georgian Bay:
- Typically 94 stations sampled on Lake Huron and 50 on Georgian Bay.
- 37 surveillance cruises on Lake Huron and 34 on Georgian Bay between 1974 and 2000.
- Sampled for nutrients, major ions, organic contaminants, physical and biological parameters.
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4. Lake Superior:
- Typically 94 stations sampled on Lake Superior.
- 19 surveillance cruises on Lake Superior between 1976 and 2000.
- Sampled for nutrients, major ions, organic contaminants, physical and biological parameters.
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