The LRCA has annually monitors the water quality of the beach waters at Hazelwood Lake Conservation Area and Mission Island Marsh Conservation Area for Escherichea coli (E. coli).

Water samples are collected and submitted to the Ministry of Health Laboratory for analysis under the Thunder Bay District Health Unit’s Bathing Beach Program. In addition, field testing is conducted using a hand held multi-parameter meter for pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, total dissolved solids and conductivity. All results are compared to Provincial Water Quality Objective guidelines. Beach advisories are posted, if warranted, with signs provided by the Thunder Bay District Health Unit indicating waters to be unsafe for bathing.  Advisories or beach closures will be posted on the LRCA’s website and social media platforms and signage will be displayed at the site.

The LRCA is taking progressive steps to further understand and analyze cyanobacteria within the conservation areas and the Lakehead Watershed.   Sampling has been undertaken using Algal Toxin Test Strips, to ascertain the absence or presence of cyanobacteria at Hazelwood Lake, Mission Island Marsh, Hurkett Cove, and Silver Harbour Conservation Areas. Baseline data is collected to determine the dominant genus of algae and characterize the trends within the water bodies throughout the year.  Any suspected blooms are reported to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation, and Parks (MECP) and the Thunder Bay District Health Unit (TBDHU).  Beach advisories are posted, if warranted, with signs provided by the Thunder Bay District Health Unit indicating waters to be unsafe for bathing. Advisories or beach closures will be posted on the LRCA’s website and social media platforms and signage will be displayed at the site.

The Provincial Groundwater Monitoring Network (PGMN) is a partnership program with the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) to monitor groundwater conditions. The Provincial Groundwater Monitoring Network measures long term changes to water quality and levels. The LRCA has participated in the program since 2005.

Wells are currently installed in the Municipality of Oliver Paipoonge (Kakabeka and Murillo fire halls), Municipality of Shuniah (Loon Lake and Birch Beach), Township of Dorion (MNR Fish Culture Station), City of Thunder Bay (Jackpine Community Centre) and LRCA owned property at Hazelwood Lake and Wishart Forest. In addition, a new well was installed in 2011 at the Neebing River Gauge site in the City of Thunder Bay as part of the Canada-Ontario Agreement Climate Change Integrated Monitoring program.

The PGMN program collects hourly groundwater level information and water quality information annually from each well. The MECP compares the water quality data to the Ontario Drinking Water Standards and notifies the Conservation Authority of any exceedances. The Conservation Authority is then responsible to notify the owner and the Municipality of the observed exceedance. The Health Unit is responsible for any health related notifications to residents near the sampling location.

In partnership with Environment Canada remote telemetry gauges have been established on the following watercourses to assist the flood forecasting and warning program: Neebing River, Upper Neebing River, McIntyre River, McVicar Creek, Current River, Whitefish River, North Current River, Slate River and Corbett Creek. The gauges measure stream level and flow as well as collect precipitation data during spring, summer and fall.

Streamflow statistics and real time data can be obtained from the Water Survey of Canada Website

The LRCA also collects year round precipitation data with a Geonor precipitation gauge at the Authority office. Manual precipitation gauges that collect data during the spring, summer and fall are also maintained at the office, staff residences and at various locations by local volunteers.

The Authority is also a member of the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS) which is a non-profit community based, network of volunteers who take daily measurements of rain, hail and snow in their backyards. All collected data is available on-line at www.cocorahs.org/canada. If a member of the public is interested in joining the network, LRCA staff can assist with obtaining a rain gauge and registration