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Lake Simcoe is located North of Toronto in Ontario, Canada and is a premier destination for tourists generating $200 million in revenue annually. Lake Simcoe is the 4th largest lake in Ontario with a surface area of 722 square kilometers and a watershed of 2900 square kilometers. Lake Simcoe has been negatively impacted by anthropogenic activity since the 1930's. In 2007, the Lake Simcoe Cleanup Fund was created to address increased phosphorus inputs, reproductive failure of the cold water fishery, nuisance aquatic plant growth and invasive species.Here we present nutrient and sediment data that was collected to inform decisions pertaining to the restoration of Lake Simcoe.

Natural cover includes areas that have been mapped as woodlands (including plantations and hedgerows), wetlands and other rare vegetative cover communities. Data here represent areas outlined in the Lake Simcoe Protection Plan Policy 6.48 (June 2011). Instructions for downloading this dataset: * select the link below and scroll down the metadata record page until you find Transfer Options in the Distribution Information section * select the link beside the Data for download label * you must provide your name, organization and email address in order to access the dataset. This product requires the use of GIS software.

The Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators (CESI) program provides data and information to track Canada's performance on key environmental sustainability issues. The Reducing phosphorus loads to Lake Simcoe and south-eastern Georgian Bay indicator reports the contribution projects funded by the Lake Simcoe Clean-Up Fund (April 2007 to March 2012) and Lake Simcoe / South-eastern Georgian Bay Clean-Up Fund (April 2012 to March 2017) are making toward reducing the amount of phosphorus reaching the water bodies from their watersheds. Changing how land is managed in the watershed helps to reduce the amount of phosphorus from rural and urban sources reaching Lake Simcoe and south-eastern Georgian Bay and to restore the lakes' health. This indicator is used to provide information about the state of the Lake Simcoe and south-eastern Georgian Bay basin and Canadian environment.

This data set includes information on sampling locations, water chemistry and chlorophyll collected at 18 locations in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River and 4 locations in Lake Simcoe.

The Lake Simcoe lake monitoring program provides measurements of chemical and physical water quality limits such as total phosphorus, nitrogen, chlorophyll a, pH, alkalinity, conductivity, dissolved organic and inorganic carbon, silica, other ions, water transparency, temperature and dissolved oxygen. Samples are collected biweekly during the spring, summer and fall. *[pH]: potential of hydrogen

Off shore waters of Georgian Bay rarely experience excessive nutrient concentrations however, small embayments such as Honey Harbour, North and South Bay have experienced oxygen depletion, increased total phosphorus, a decrease in water clarity and the presence of filamentous attached algae. Low water levels in southern Georgian Bay along with temperature and hydrologic changes represent additional water quality and aquatic habitat management challenges.To address these issues the Government of Canada initiated the Lake Simcoe / South-eastern Georgian Bay Clean-Up Fund. The Fund supports various projects to improve conditions and supports science efforts to advance understanding of these conditions. Here we present water quality and physical data to investigate the causes and consequences of oxygen depletion and characterize phosphorus.

The coast of South-Eastern Georgian Bay has numerous bays and inlets. This area is an important resource for drinking water, recreation and fish habitat. While offshore water quality of Georgian Bay is not impaired, nearshore embayments and inlets, in some instances, have been reported to experience water quality degradation. Concerns include excess nutrients, increased frequency of cyanobacteria blooms and hypoxia.

Conservation Authority Administrative Areas are lands under the jurisdiction of a Conservation Authority. Instructions for downloading this dataset: * select the link below and scroll down the metadata record page until you find Transfer Options in the Distribution Information section * select the link beside the Data for download label * you must provide your name, organization and email address in order to access the dataset. This product requires the use of GIS software. *[GIS]: geographic information system

Waterbody types include: * Lake * River * Canal * Reservoir * Kettle lake * Pond * Beaver Pond * Ocean Instructions for downloading this dataset: * select the link below and scroll down the metadata record page until you find Transfer Options in the Distribution Information section, * select the link beside the Data for download label, * you must provide your name, organization and email address in order to access the dataset This product requires the use of GIS software. *[GIS]: geographic information system

A spot height identifies the elevation (z value) above sea level of natural and man-made geographic features. It includes: * spot heights * vertical control points * water level/lake elevations Instructions for downloading this dataset: * select the link below and scroll down the metadata record page until you find Transfer Options in the Distribution Information section * select the link beside the Data for download label * you must provide your name, organization and email address in order to access the dataset This product requires the use of GIS software. *[GIS]: geographic information system