Community Science
Become a community scientist and contribute to research and conservation efforts by documenting species that live near you! Plan a BioBlitz event, participate in species monitoring programs, or record and share wildlife observations in online databases.
- Become a Community Scientist handout by Watersheds Canada
- Become a Community Scientist poster by The Land Between
- Blog Posts (Community Science) by Watersheds Canada
- Citizen Science Programs in Ontario by Lake Links retrieved from Watersheds Canada
- Citizen Science in Action by Ottawa Riverkeeper
- Citizen Science for Educators by The Cornell Lab
- FOCA Guide to Citizen Science at the Lake by Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associations
BioBlitz
- Do a Bio-Blitz activity by Watersheds Canada
- Bioblitz Checklist of On-site Equipment, Supplies and Communications Tools by iNaturalist and Canadian Wildlife Federation
- Bioblitz-in-a-Box by Canadian Wildlife Federation
- Community Science Program by Invasive Species Centre
- Community-Based Monitoring Guide: Invasive Species Monitoring by Ottawa Riverkeeper
- EDDMapS (Early Detection – Distribution Mapping System) Invasive Species Mapping Handbook by Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health, The University of Georgia
- EDDMapS (Early Detection – Distribution Mapping System) Walk Through by Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health, The University of Georgia
- EDDMapS (Early Detection – Distribution Mapping System) Walk Through by Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health, The University of Georgia
- Invasive Species Awareness and Monitoring Program for Lakes Education in Ontario by Invasive Species Centre and Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associations
Fish
- Yellow Fish Popping Up in Portland as Sustainable Drainage Project Kicks Off by Rideau Valley Conservation Authority
- Yellow Fish Road Program Guide by Trout Unlimited Canada
Frogs
Turtles
Birds
- Backyard Bioblitz Program: Bird Protocol and Data Sheet by The Land Between
- Building Skills: The 4 Keys To Bird Identification by The Cornell Lab_s All About Birds
- Guide to the Common Birds of The Land Between by The Land Between
- Checklist of birds found in Ottawa, Ontario by eBird
- New to Birding: by Birds Canada
- Project FeederWatch: Common Feeder Birds poster by The Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Activity 4 – Talk to the Birds Nature Discovery Backpack
Drinking Water
- Source Water Protection by City of Ottawa
- Water Smart – Protecting Water from Source to Tap by City of Ottawa
- Threats to Our Drinking Water Sources by City of Ottawa
- Drinking Water in Ottawa and Perth by City of Ottawa and Heritage Perth
Road Salt
- Winter Solutions – Alternatives to Road Salt: Salt handling practices for protecting drinking water by City of Ottawa
- Inland Waters Biodiversity – What’s the Problem? by Convention on Biological Diversity
- Community-Based Monitoring Guide: Road Salt Monitoring and Data Sheet by Ottawa Riverkeeper
Shoreline Cleanup and Pollution
- Checklist for Solo and Small Team Shoreline Cleanup by Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup
- Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup poster
- Individual Data Card by Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup
- Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup waiver forms
- Site Coordinator Guide by Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup
- Guide to Solo Shoreline Cleanups (safely during COVID-19 pandemic) by Ottawa Riverkeeper
- Plastic Pollution in the Laurentian Great Lakes_ What we know and how we can act handout by Watersheds Canada and University of Toronto
- LittaTrap Case Studies by Enviropod
- LittaTrap Catch Basin Insert Product Sheet by Enviropod
- LittaTrap Operations Maintenance Guide by Enviropod
- LittaTrap Installation Manual by Enviropod
- LittaTrap Education Resource – Stormwater Pollution: Identify, evaluate and quantify the source of marine pollution by Enviropod
Ice Cover
Lakes, Rivers, Wetlands, & Streams
- City Stream Watch 2019 Summary Report by Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority, Rideau Valley Conservation Authority, and South Nation Conservation
- River Report by Ottawa Riverkeeper
- The Riverwatch Handbook: A field guide for Ottawa Riverkeeper’s Riverwatchers by Ottawa Riverkeeper
- Lake Partner Program Annual Data Cycle retrieved from Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associations
- Lake Partner Program Volunteer Registration Form retrieved from Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associations
- Calcium in Ontario’s Inland Lakes retrieved from Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associations
- Protecting Canada’s Wetlands by Nature Conservancy of Canada
- The Lake Partner Program by Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associations
- Tay River Subwatershed Report A report on the environmental health of the Tay Watershed by Rideau Valley Conservation Authority and Conservation Ontario
- Wetlands factsheet by Hinterland Who’s Who
- Wetlands by Canadian Wildlife Federation
- The Riparian Zone by Watersheds Canada
- Making a Splash Activity Book by 4-H Canada
Water Quality
- Water Edu-Kit Teacher’s Guide by Trout Unlimited Canada
- Water Edu-Kit Water Quality Data Sheet by Trout Unlimited Canada
- Activity #7 Water Quality Experiment – Nature Discovery Backpack
- Water Rangers Water Quality Test Kits Store Guide
- Water sampling and testing (inland lakes) and data sheet by Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
- Why Water Testing and How to Use the Freshwater Explorer Kit by Water Rangers
- Secchi Trends Across the Province by Rebecca Rossi, Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associations
- Community Monitoring: Taking action with Water Rangers handout by Watersheds Canada and Water Rangers
- 11 Activities Lake Groups and Their Members Can Participate in for a Healthy Lake by Love Your Lake
- Who Can I Reach Out to for Future Projects? handout by Watersheds Canada and Greening Sacred Spaces
- A Guide for Planning Community BioBlitz Events in Eastern Ontario by Community Stewardship Council of Lanark County and Watersheds Canada
- A Guide to Developing a ‘Green Team’ in Your Faith Community by Faith & the Common Good
- A Muslim’s Guide to Climate Change by Bahu Trust and Kamran Shezad
- Faith and the Environment Toolkit by Community Environment Alliance retrieved from Faith & the Common Good
- Activity #6 Follow In Their Footsteps – Nature Discovery Backpack
- Get Involved! Volunteer Programs and Participant Guide retrieved from Rideau Valley Conservation Authority
- How Can I Help – Nature Discovery Backpack
- iNaturalist brochure by iNaturalist and Canadian Wildlife Federation
- iNaturalist How to identify and add observations by iNaturalist and Canadian Wildlife Federation
- iNaturalist Photo Guide Tips, tricks, and guides to help get your sightings identified by BC Parks iNaturalist Project, BC Conservation Data Centre, Royal BC Museum, Scott Gilmore, and Andrew Simon
- Letter of the Faithful Image and Guide by For the Love of Creation
- Nature Discovery Backpack – A Checklist to Pack-Your-Own Adventure! by Watersheds Canada
- Start a Nature Discovery Backpack Lending Library with Your Faith Community! poster by Watersheds Canada and Greening Sacred Spaces
This collection of resources is a part of the Freshwater Stewardship Engagement Toolkit which was created for the Ottawa Faith Community Capacity Building Program. Watersheds Canada and Greening Sacred Spaces launched this program to provide faith communities in Ottawa and the surrounding area with the tools and resources their leaders and volunteers need to identify a freshwater stewardship need in their community. Six faith communities will lead greening projects using this information toolkit and microgrant program opportunity. Thank you to the Ottawa Community Foundation and TD Friends of the Environment Foundation for making this important project possible!
Learn more about the Ottawa Faith Community Capacity Building Program:
https://watersheds.ca/ofccb/