20 Years of Observations from a Water Enthusiast

have seen significant change. This group of 250,000 families
impact important biological processes and iconic keystone specollectively own and steward 15,000 kilometres and 50,000
cies, like Canada’s rare lake trout.
These cumulative changes are happening at a rate that chalhectares of ecologically important real estate along Ontario’s
lenges our ability to adapt. As water lovers and water managers,
lakes and rivers. They also have a front-row seat to the changes
we need to recognize that the baselines are shifting; we need to
afoot in our freshwaters.
Our seasons are shifting. If you
are a winter sports enthusiast, or
if you need to manage stormwater
flows and flooding hazards, you
Whether you are a watershed manager, a municipal planner, or
know that in our lifetime, winter
an engineer responsible for water infrastructure, you know the
has become shorter and wetter.
We now regularly experience
past is becoming a poor example to follow for success in the
flood and drought in the same
future. These cumulative changes are happening at a rate that
year. When trying to plan for adequate water supplies for drinking,
challenges our ability to adapt.
irrigation, recreation, or industry,
it matters when and how the
water shows up.
Stormier conditions and
build (or rebuild) our communities to be more resilient to future
a warmer atmosphere are also warming our freshwaters.
fluctuations and reduce our footprint overall. We need to scope
According to research by Dr. John Smol (Queen’s University),
and deliver infrastructure to consider higher highs and lower
Dr. Sapna Sharma (York University), and others, warming lakes
lows, while taking advantage of nature’s incredible ability to store
in the Northern Hemisphere, including our precious Great
and clean our water.
Lakes, is resulting in many chemical and physical changes to
Our fresh waters are tremendously resilient even in the face of
our natural water systems. These changes include increases to
historical neglect or even abuse. But now, we have the opporsalinity levels and higher incidence of algae blooms, including
tunity to build on our tremendous attachment and reliance on
toxic cyanobacteria.
freshwater to overcome complacency and embrace a future that,
We know that these blooms can hamper the ability to provide
while different, is still water-rich and capable of sustaining us.
safe drinking water, impact human and animal health, reduce
This is a challenge for society as a whole, and an opportunity to
recreational opportunities, and decrease property values.
build on the lessons of the past to build a healthy, watery future
Warmer water leads to higher evaporation rates, lower water
for Canada.
levels, and lower dissolved oxygen levels in water. These changes
SUBSCRIBE TO THE EMAGAZINE FOR
FREE AND NEVER MISS ANOTHER ISSUE OF
You asked for it, and we heard you. Water Canada is excited to
unveil a brand new interactive eMagazine option that:
Is easy to share; no download necessary
Links to related articles
Enables immediate engagement with advertisers
Includes video and other rich media
Cloud-based – access your issue anywhere
SUBSCRIBE HERE: WaterCanada.net/subscribe
WAT E R C A N A D A . N E T
WATER C AN ADA • M ARCH/APRIL 2024
35

Paperturn flipbook