This report relies on four data sets sourced from the Ontario Lake Partner Program (LPP) via the Ontario Data Catalog. The LPP conducts annual assessments of water quality in inland lakes throughout Ontario, with data collected by volunteers following standardized provincial protocols. Specifically, the data sets cover total phosphorus, calcium, chloride concentration, and water clarity for numerous inland lakes, predominantly situated in the Precambrian Shield region. Each data set includes geographical coordinates, site descriptions, collection dates, and metrics pertaining to the water quality.
This report aims to address the following research question:
How has the water quality of Ontario’s inland lakes changed from 2015 to 2022, as measured by total phosphorus and water clarity? What does this suggest about the productivity of Ontario’s inland lakes?
