Kristen Villebrun and Wendy Bush hoped they wouldn't have to pray for Chedoke Creek, but four years after they first raised alarm about the water's condition, they were part of an Indigenous full moon ceremony to do just that. About 50 people showed up near Princess Point on the dark and frigid Monday evening for the monthly ceremony, which was particularly special as it focused on Chedoke Creek. The body of water that runs into Cootes Paradise had about 24 billion litres of sewage and storm water runoff leak into it due to a gate being left open.
Got a favourite lake? Want to help protect it? Lakes in Canada are threatened by habitat loss, invasive species, pollution, and climate impacts like rising water temperatures. The National Lake Blitz is an annual citizen-science program that encourages the widespread monitoring of lakes using simple tools. Through monitoring, participants learn about the impacts affecting lake health and get inspired to protect them.
The salinity of freshwater ecosystems caused by road de-icing salts, agriculture fertilizers, mining operations and climate change is increasing worldwide and current water quality guidelines don’t do enough to address the issue, an international study led by Queen’s University and The University of Toledo has found. The research, conducted in collaboration with dozens of scientists across North America and Europe, shows significant damage is being done to freshwater lakes by salt concentrations that are below ranges government regulators have deemed safe and protective of freshwater organisms.
