Lake Ontario

Early morning sample for e.coli with Elise from Lake Ontario Waterkeeper. Tested using Water Rangers' kit at 2nd site by blue rock. Fish head found on beach. Super windy. Storm clouds downtown. Highighest waves out there. And as a resilt, wet boots, and wet clothes. Buy all smiles. :)

On Thursday mornings, Lake Ontario Waterkeeper volunteers take five samples along Humber Bay West Park beach to test for ecoli. Photos include Ro O. conducting standardized sampling protocol using new twist packs instead of sample bottles. Also Ro and Korice using Water Rangers' testkit to test for other water quality parameters (at site 1 of 5), including a new dissolved oxygen test. After a little bit of drizzle early in the morning, the water was clear and calm. Unfortunately still some garbage washing up onto the beach, including many straws, cans, bottle caps, feminine hygiene applicators, plastic-coated copper wire, plastic bits, and a syringe. The Lake Ontario Waterkeeper test sheets include taking an inventory of the trash at a sampling site, as well as water conditions, and waterfront users (today we saw joggers, dog walkers, a kayer, and plenty of gulls).

Testing at Humber Bay Park West beach with Ro, a Lake Ontario Waterkeeper (LOW) volunteer who has been sampling for E. coli at this spot for a couple of seasons now. Five E. coli samples were taken by Ro, and he bikes the bottles downtown for LOW to test. Water Rangers mini testkit was used at site 3C this time.

Humber Bay Park West beach: clear water, low to no wind, small ripples on Lake Ontario, modest waves. Note blue-green algae alert at Humber Bay Park East (east of this test site). Teamed up with Ro from Lake Ontario Waterkeepers who took samples to test for E. coli. We also noted garbage/debris and other contextual data. Had fun! Thanks for today, Ro! Note to self to bring bag to pick up garbage bits next time. Also sandles, the waves sneak up on ya. ;)