This project is focused on improving community access to water quality information in Severn Sound and its watershed by promoting environmental education and awareness. This initiative builds on the success of SSEA’s 2025 pilot project that demonstrated strong public interest and the community’s eagerness to access and engage with water quality data.
The SSEA will engage the community by encouraging participation in monitoring and data exploration; educate through knowledge sharing; and empower residents to take an active role in environmental stewardship by using data to understand and protect their watershed.
SSEA will develop an interactive online dashboard featuring the most current water quality data collected and verified by the SSEA across the Severn Sound and its watershed. This dashboard will allow residents, researchers, and municipal staff to explore trends, alerts, and changes in water quality over time, making environmental data accessible, engaging, and actionable. Signs with QR codes will be installed at key monitoring sites, providing residents and visitors with direct access to information about current conditions and encouraging field-based learning.
Citizen science data from existing SSEA projects will be incorporated into the interactive dashboard and displayed alongside professional monitoring results, providing a comprehensive view of watershed health. Citizen scientists will have the opportunity to celebrate their contributions, seeing the water quality data they help collect displayed on the interactive dashboard. This recognition will build pride and a sense of ownership, while showing how water quality connects to overall environmental health and the interconnections within ecosystems. Through outreach via social media, and community partnerships, SSEA will engage residents of all ages and abilities, raising awareness of local water health, environmental stewardship, and the importance of protecting ecosystems.
The Severn Sound, together with its watershed, was once designated an Area of Concern, recognized as one of the most polluted watersheds in the Great Lakes region. Through extensive collaboration between the community and government, it was delisted in 2003; however, ongoing efforts are still needed to protect and restore its natural environment. Local ecosystems remain under pressure, and community involvement is essential to advocate for and support restoration initiatives. This project would benefit the community through education, engagement, and empowerment.
The watershed includes numerous waterbodies (e.g., lakes, rivers, streams) that support both ecosystems and the communities that rely on them for recreation, drinking water, and local livelihoods. Providing a user-friendly, educational and informational dashboard allows residents and visitors to access water quality information across the Severn Sound and its watershed, helping them understand current conditions and track trends over time. This comprehensive view empowers the community to learn about local water systems, recognize potential issues such as nutrient pollution or algal blooms, and engage in sustainable water management and stewardship.
By bridging the gap between science and education, the project provides an opportunity to connect the public with hands-on science and real-time water quality information, fostering informed stewardship and ongoing engagement in the health of the watershed.
support
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This is a great, simple, cost effective way to keep the Farlain Lake community informed about our water quality. It’s the reason most of us are here!
These types of projects are vital to increase public awareness and engagement leading to an enhanced Severn Sound watershed.
As a local resident, I fully support this project! Access to water quality data empowers our community to stay informed and protect our environment.
This work is hugely important for our lakes and we at Farlain Lake have seen how this benefits the heath of our lake. This project has my full support.
This project is key to supporting the critical environmental stewardship role needed by all lake community members to protect the lake against so many threats.
I am a steward of Farlain Lake and fully support this application. This work is incredibly important and I’ve seen the direct impact on the health of our lake.