Sound research is essential to maintaining and improving the health of the Lower Trent watershed region. Understanding how our watershed functions as a natural system is critical to developing and delivering the best conservation program for the least cost.

Monitoring allows the Conservation Authority to obtain critical data on watershed systems. This data assists us in understanding the watershed features and how they function as a whole. Once we have an understanding of the features and functions of the watershed it is easier for the Conservation Authority to establish targets for protection and rehabilitation. Once targets are established we can evaluate different management actions, to ensure the appropriate approach is taken.

With the broad demand for information on the health of the environment and budgetary limitations, a comprehensive monitoring network is envisioned as a cooperative effort between agencies and organizations to collect, store, distribute and report on monitoring data that furthers the interests of the partners. Lower Trent Conservation has worked hard to expand or establish new partnerships with various government agencies in order to improve its water resources information base.