What's New NY conservation officials cite cleaner waterways The Associated Press (2/4) New York conservation officials want to remove dozens of waterways from the list of those considered "impaired" by pollution, citing measures to reduce stormwater and agricultural runoff, sewage discharges and smokestack pollution.
Warm weather making ice too thin to fish Watertown Daily Times (1/28) After an unusually warm January, most of the ice on the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario has melted, leaving many popular ice-fishing spots with only thin layers of ice.
Big Pipe centre of Pickering meeting News Durham Region (1/27) The Ontario provincial government is currently reviewing the environmental assessment on plans to expand the pipe that takes sewage from York Region to a Pickering water treatment plant before going into Lake Ontario.
Opposition against Galloo Island Wind Farm grows News 10 Now Syracuse (1/23) The Opposition is growing, and growing quickly against the idea of wind farms in the communities along Lake Ontario. More than 100 people met Saturday morning to discuss the proposed Galloo Island wind farm and the transmission line that would carry the power.
MNR vessels being built in Wheatley The Chatham Daily News (1/22) Work continues on $4.35-million contract for two new vessels for the Ministry of Natural Resources. The vessels will handle fisheries' assessment and ecosystem monitoring on Lake Huron and Lake Ontario.
Giant green dream covers city, Burlington The Hamilton Spectator (1/11) The next four weeks are critical to the fate of an ambitious plan for a huge Hamilton-Burlington park system. The Cootes to Escarpment vision covers more than 3,000 hectares along 10 kilometres of the Niagara Escarpment and down to Cootes Paradise marsh at the west end of Lake Ontario.
Overview
Lake Ontario is similar to Lake Erie in length and breadth (193 miles by 53 miles). Yet with its greater average depth (approximately 283 feet), Lake Ontario holds almost four times the volume (395 cubic miles) and has a retention time of about 6 years. The drainage basin covers parts of Ontario and New York, and a small portion of Pennsylvania. Major urban industrial centers, such as Hamilton and Toronto, are located on its shore. The U.S. shore is less urbanized and is not intensively farmed.
References: Great Lakes Atlas, Environment Canada and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1995
General Resources Bathymetry Map Ohio State University and NOAA, Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) The Great Lakes Forecasting System provides physical data about the lake, including this bathymetry map.
Fish of Lake Ontario University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute Color illustrations or photographs, size, coloring and other information about many Lake Ontario fish species.
Great Lakes Surface Environmental Analysis NOAA, Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) A map using NOAA satellite data to show recent water temperatures of the Great Lakes.
Historical Data - Lake Ontario U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Detroit District The Army Corps provides current and historic data on the Great Lakes, including yearly water levels from 1918, monthly storm probability, outflows and precipitation.
Lake Ontario Nowcast Map Products Ohio State University and NOAA, Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) The Great Lakes Forecasting System provides maps depicting near real time conditions for several variables.
Silver Waters of Lake Ontario Their goal is to raise awareness of, and appreciation for, Lake Ontario through writing, sailing instruction, nature study, and other means.
Surface Water Temperature University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute Color illustrations or photographs, size, coloring and other information about many Lake Ontario fish species.
Programs Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority The Authority's mandate is to establish and undertake programs to promote the conservation, restoration, development and management of natural resources in partnership with local Municipalities and the Province.
Great Lakes Research Consortium The Great Lakes Research Consortium consists of 16 colleges and universities in New York State and nine affiliated schools in Ontario. GLRC programs help to promote collaborative research on the Great Lakes.
Lakewide Management Plan for Lake Ontario U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO) The Lake Ontario LaMP will serve as a plan of action to restore and protect Lake Ontario. It will provide a way to better coordinate the work of the agencies involved and others working to improve the Lake Ontario ecosystem.
New York Sea Grant Focuses the talents of university scientists and extension specialists on research in the areas of fisheries, coastal environmental quality and processes, invasive species, non-point source pollution and seafood safety.
Research Fisheries Research in Lake Ontario U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Great Lakes Science Center Including distribution, abundance and biology of fish populations.
Lake Ontario Biocomplexity Project This National Science Foundation-sponsored initiative focuses on the physical, biological, and human interactions shaping the ecosystems of freshwater bays and lagoons.
Tourism The Great Lakes Circle Tour Ride along on the 6,500-mile Great Lakes Circle Tour: a scenic, international road system connecting the five Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River! For new visitors to the region, this online travel guide offers informational maps, road routes and estimated mileages, and links to major cities, camping and recreation areas, and natural attractions.
Lake Ontario Waterfront Trail Waterfront Regeneration Trust Stretching 218 miles (350 km) along the shore of Lake Ontario, the Waterfront Trail integrates ecological health, economic vitality and a sense of community.