Pristine Lakes and Rivers

Work with partners on water quality and ecosystem health ¹

• Using landscape–level considerations, assess influences of forest management and other disturbances on forest and aquatic biodiversity and ecosystem services with academic, provincial and industry partners. This will be supported by:
  • Developing and testing effective and cost-efficient biophysical sustainability indicators
  • Refining remote sensing and enhanced forest inventory tools to assess critical terrestrial and aquatic habitats

By supporting governments, industry and non-governmental organizations for multiple purposes, including developing forest management practices and policies, that consider impacts on aquatic biodiversity and ecosystem services, contribute to maintain the health of lakes and rivers.

Starting point: 100 advisory boards and committees

Participation of the Canadian Forest Service on advisory boards or committees involving the sharing of knowledge on forest ecosystems to governments, industry and nongovernmental organizations

Target: Participation on advisory boards and committees stays within 10% of starting point

2.3.1  Forest Ecosystems Science and Application

• Conduct research to better understand the risk potential (i.e. remobilization) of metals in lake and river ecosystems in a changing climate

By developing scientific evidence to understand the threat of climate change on environmental effects of metals and mines, contribute to maintain the health of lakes and rivers.

Scientific evidence (e.g. publications, reports) used for environmental policy/guidance development.

Target: 3 by 2023

2.2.2 Green Mining

• Develop space-based technologies (e.g. remote sensing) and modelling forecasting methods that will allow a quantitative evaluation of groundwater resources.

• Complete the National Hydro Network by creating and maintaining seamless transboundary watersheds and sub-watershed data that can be jointly used by agencies on both sides of the Canada/US border.

By collaboratively developing and providing space-based technologies and modelling forecasting methods, contribute to a better understanding of groundwater resources.

Starting point: to be set in 2018-2019

Development of space-based technologies.

Completion of the National Hydro Network

Target: Under development in parallel with indicators for other departmental reporting requirements.

3.2.1 Essential Geographic Information

Better understand lake and river ecosystems ¹

• Map the regional aquifer system of Southern-Ontario to assess the contribution of groundwater resources to the Great Lakes system and thus support water resources management

By providing information and tool, contribute to improved sustainable land-use decision-making and groundwater management essential for rural drinking water and ecosystem health.

Number of citations from public and/or private sector organizations incorporating NRCan's groundwater geoscience information and tools into their products (e.g. aquifer maps and data, methods and approaches, plans and reports)

Target: 5 per year

2.3.2 Groundwater Geoscience

• Develop international groundwater resource data management standards to improve datasets interoperability

By providing information and tool, contribute to improved sustainable land-use decision-making and groundwater management essential for rural drinking water and ecosystem health.

Number of citations from public and/or private sector organizations incorporating NRCan's groundwater geoscience information and tools into their products (e.g., aquifer maps and data, methods and approaches, plans and reports)

Target: 5 per year

2.3.2 Groundwater Geoscience

• Conduct research projects to evaluate the role of modifying factors on fate and effect of metals associated with regulated mining discharge into lake and river ecosystems in Canada

By providing scientific evidence, contribute to improved regulations and decreased environmental effects of metals and mines on lakes and rivers.

Scientific evidence (e.g. publications, reports) used for policy/guidance development

Target: 3 by 2023

2.2.2 Green Mining

Use legislation and regulations to protect lake and river ecosystems ¹

• Provide scientific evidence to improve the environmental relevance of Metal and Mining Effluent Regulations (MMERs)

By providing scientific evidence, contribute to improved regulations and decreased impacts of metal and mining effluent on the environment, particularly lakes and rivers.

Scientific evidence (e.g. publications, reports) used for policy/regulation development.

CanmetMINING will also provide scientific advice to regulators (Environment and Climate Change Canada) in the development of MMERs

Target: 3 by 2023

2.2.2 Green Mining

• Develop method to assess the aquatic hazard classification of metals and metal compounds

By developing innovative methods to understand metal fate, contribute to better regulation of environmental impacts, particularly for lakes and rivers.

Scientific evidence (e.g. publications, reports) used for both domestic and international regulation development

Target: 3 by 2023

2.2.2 Green Mining