Resource Library

TRCA’s Environmental Monitoring & Data Management team communicates the results of their long-term scientific data collection in reports and plans.

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Annual Reports

Environmental Monitoring and Data Management: Program Highlights 2018
Environmental Monitoring and Data Management: Program Highlights 2017
Environmental Monitoring and Data Management: Program Highlights 2016
Environmental Monitoring and Reporting Program Highlights, 2015
Watershed Monitoring and Reporting Progress Report, 2014
Watershed Monitoring and Reporting Progress Report, 2013
Watershed Monitoring and Reporting Progress Report, 2012
Regional Watershed Monitoring Program Progress Report, 2011
Regional Watershed Monitoring Program Progress Report, 2010
Regional Watershed Monitoring Program Progress Report, 2009
Regional Watershed Monitoring Program Progress Report, 2008
Regional Watershed Monitoring Program Review, 2001-2008
 
Tick Surveillance and Lyme Disease Prevention Summary, 2012 

SURFACE WATER QUALITY

Spatial Patterns (2016-2020) and Temporal Trends (1966-2020) in Stream Water Quality across TRCA’s Jurisdiction, 2021
Regional Watershed Monitoring Program: Surface Water Quality Summary Spatial Trends Update, 2011-2015
Regional Watershed Monitoring Program: Surface Water Quality Summary Temporal Trends Update, 2011-2015
 
Regional Watershed Monitoring Program: Surface Water Quality Summary, 2020
Regional Watershed Monitoring Program: Surface Water Quality Summary, 2019
Regional Watershed Monitoring Program: Surface Water Quality Summary, 2018
Regional Watershed Monitoring Program: Surface Water Quality Summary, 2017
Regional Watershed Monitoring Program: Surface Water Quality Summary, 2016
Regional Watershed Monitoring Program: Surface Water Quality Summary, 2013
Regional Watershed Monitoring Program: Surface Water Quality Summary, 2012
Regional Watershed Monitoring Program: Surface Water Quality Summary, 2011
Regional Watershed Monitoring Program: Surface Water Quality Summary, 2010
Regional Watershed Monitoring Program: Surface Water Quality Summary, 2009
Regional Watershed Monitoring Program: Surface Water Quality Summary 2006-2010

AQUATIC HABITAT AND COMMUNITIES

Aquatic Insects (Streams)

Regional Watershed Monitoring Program: Benthic Macroinvertebrate Summary 2001-2008

Fish Habitat & Communities

Regional Watershed Monitoring Program: Fish Community Summary, 2001-2009 
 
Evaluating the effectiveness of aquatic habitat restoration implemented using the Toronto Aquatic Habitat Restoration Strategy, 2020
Toronto Waterfront Aquatic Habitat Restoration Strategy (TWAHRS), 2003
 
Fish Communities of the Toronto and Region Waterfront: Summary and Assessment 1989-2016
Fish Communities of the Toronto Waterfront, 1989-2005

Fluvial Geomorphology

Bankfull Characteristics and Erosion Thresholds for TRCA Regional Monitoring Program Detailed Sites, 2003
Regional Monitoring Program Fluvial Geomorphology Component: Etobicoke Creek, Mimico Creek and Humber River Watersheds, 2001
Regional Monitoring Program Fluvial Geomorphology Component: Don River, Rouge River and Highland Creek Watersheds, 2003
Valley Segments, Etobicoke, Mimico and Humber Watersheds, 2001 
Valley Segments, Don, Rouge, and Highland Watersheds, 2002 
Valley Segments, Carruthers, Petticoat and Duffins Watersheds, 2003 

West Nile Virus Larval Mosquito Surveillance

West Nile Virus Vector Mosquito Monitoring Report, 2022
West Nile Virus Vector Mosquito Monitoring Report, 2021
West Nile Virus Vector Mosquito Monitoring Report, 2019
West Nile Virus Vector Mosquito Monitoring Report, 2018
West Nile Virus Vector Mosquito Monitoring Report, 2017
West Nile Virus Vector Mosquito Monitoring Report, 2016
West Nile Virus Vector Mosquito Monitoring Report, 2015
West Nile Virus Vector Mosquito Monitoring Report, 2014
The Effect of Water Quality and Aquatic Vegetation on West Nile Virus Vector Larval Abundance, 2011

TERRESTRIAL HABITAT AND COMMUNITIES

Dog-strangling vine – Cynanchum rossicum (Kleopow) Borhidi: A review of Distribution, Ecology and Control of this Invasive Exotic Plant, 2008
Region of Peel Road Ecology Case Study: Gore Road (Patterson Side Road to Hwy 9) Baseline Monitoring Results, 2014

Biological Inventories & Assessments

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Long-Term Monitoring Program

Terrestrial Long-term Monitoring Plot Program: Spatial Patterns and Temporal Trends in Terrestrial Biodiversity, 2011-2020
Long Term Monitoring Program: Regional Baseline Report, 2012
Long Term Monitoring Program: Spatial and Temporal Trends, 2008-14
Duffin Heights: Terrestrial Monitoring Baseline Conditions, 2013
The Meadoway: Vegetation, Bird, and Butterfly Monitoring 2016, 2018-2023
The Meadoway: Vegetation, Bird, and Butterfly Monitoring 2016, 2018-2020
Mimico Creek: Forest Plot Monitoring, 2020
Oak Ridges Corridor Conservation Reserve: Changes in Natural Heritage Conditions 2008-2018
Oak Ridges Moraine Corridor Park Road and Trail Ecology: Baseline Monitoring Results, 2016
Oak Ridges Moraine Corridor Park: Changes in Natural Heritage Conditions, 2008-15
Oak Ridges Moraine Corridor Park: Terrestrial Monitoring Baseline Conditions, 2010

Terrestrial Volunteer Monitoring Program

Terrestrial Volunteer Monitoring Program Manual, 2014
 
Biodiversity Quality in the Toronto Region, 2003-2016
Terrestrial Biodiversity in the Toronto Region 2003-2012: A Decade of Monitoring Under the Terrestrial Volunteer Monitoring Program
 
Terrestrial Volunteer Monitoring Program Review, 2015
Terrestrial Volunteer Monitoring Program Monitoring Results, 2002-2007
Terrestrial Volunteer Monitoring Program Progress Report, 2006
 
Severity of Invasion By Invasive Plant Indicators at Terrestrial Volunteer Monitoring Program Sites, 2009 – 2011

Regional Scores & Ranks

Fauna Scores and Ranks, 2021
Flora Scores and Ranks, 2021
Vegetation Community Scores and Ranks, 2022
 
Local Occurrence Score and Local Rank Update: Terrestrial Fauna and Flora Species, and Vegetation Communities, 2017
Local Occurrence Score and Local Rank Update: Terrestrial Fauna and Flora Species, and Vegetation Communities, 2016

SCIENTIFIC PAPERS & JOURNAL ARTICLES

Veilleux, M. & Midwood, J. & Lapointe, N.W.R. & Portiss, R. & Wells, M. & Doka, S. & Cooke, S. 2018. Assessing occupancy of freshwater fishes in urban boat slips of Toronto Harbour. Aquatic Ecosystem Health & Management: 21: 1-21.
Hlevca, B. & Wells, M. & Cruz Font, L. & Doka, S. & Portiss, R. & St. John, M. & Cooke, S. 2018. Water circulation in Toronto Harbour. Aquatic Ecosystem Health & Management: 21: 1-21.
Hoyle, J.A. & Boston, C. & Chu, C. & Yuille, M. & Portiss, R. & Randall, R.G. 2018. Fish community indices of ecosystem health: How does Toronto Harbour compare to other Lake Ontario nearshore areas? Aquatic Ecosystem Health & Management. 21: 1-23.
McKenzie, T., L. Normand, N. Iwanycki, G. Miller and P. Prior. 2018. Assessing the utility of a novel terrestrial biodiversity quality indicator with 10 years of monitoring data. Ecological Indicators: 85: 422-431.
Midwood, J.D., L.F.G. Guowsky, B. Hlevca, R. Portiss, M.G. Wells, S.E. Doka and S.J. Cooke. 2017. Tracking bowfin with acoustic telemetry: Insight into the ecology of a living fossil.  Ecology of Freshwater Fish: 27(1): 225-236.
Peat, T. & Gutowsky, L. & Doka, S. & Midwood, J. & Lapointe, N.W.R. & Hlevca, B. & Wells, M. & Portiss, R. & Cooke, S.  2016. Comparative thermal biology and depth distribution of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) and northern pike (Esox lucius) in an urban harbour of the laurentian great lakes. Canadian Journal of Zoology: 94: 767-776
Rous, A.M., Midwood, J.D., Gutowsky, L.F. et al. 2016. Telemetry-Determined Habitat Use Informs Multi-Species Habitat Management in an Urban Harbour. Environmental Management: 8(5): pp. 1-11.
Wallace A.M. and R.G. Biastoch  2016. Detecting changes in the benthic invertebrate community in response to increasing chloride in streams in Toronto, Canada. Freshwater Science 35(1):  pp. 353–363.
Walsh, C.J., D.B. Booth, M.J. Burns, T.D. Fletcher, R.L. Hale, L.N. Hoang, G. Livingston,  M.A. Rippy, A.H. Roy, M. Scoggins, and A.M. Wallace. 2016.  Principles for urban stormwater management to protect stream ecosystems. Freshwater Science 35(1):  pp. 398–411.
Hlevca, B., S.J. Cooke, J.D. Midwood, S.E. Doka, R. Portiss, and M.G. Wells.  2015. Characterisation of water temperature variability within a harbour connected to a large lake.  Journal of Great Lakes Research 41(4): 1010-1023.
Mohan, L.M. Tracking Fish in Toronto Harbour. Ontario Nature Summer 2015.
Mohan, L.M. Rusty Crayfish is Here to Stay.  Ontario Nature Fall 2015.
Veilleux, M. & Midwood, J. & Rous, A.M. & Doka, S. & Lapointe, N.W.R. & Weir, A. & Portiss, R. & Wells, M. & Cooke, S. 2014. Spatial Ecology of Fish in Toronto Harbour in Response to Aquatic Habitat Enhancement.
Rous, A. & Veilleux, M. & Lapointe, N. & Midwood, J. & Portiss, R. & Sciscione, T. & Wells, M. & Doka, S. & Cooke, S. 2014. Multispecies Use of Restored Habitat in Toronto Harbour.
Midwood, J. & Veilleux, M. & Rous, A. & Portiss, R. & Doka, S. & Wells, M. & Cooke, S. (2014). Bowfin Acoustic Telemetry: Insight into the Behaviour of a Living Fossil.
Wallace, A.M. 2013. Diagnosis: Stream Sickness. How urban stream syndrome causes natural waterways to function more like sewers – and what can be done to fix it. Water Canada November/December 2013.
Wallace, A.M., M.V. Croft-White, and J. Moryk. 2013. Are Toronto’s Streams sick? A look at the fish and benthic invertebrate communities in the Toronto region in relation to the urban stream syndrome. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 185: 7857-7875. (Abstract Only)
Heydon, P.A., G.C. Miller, and M.J. Oldham. 2011. Hairy St. John’s-wort (Hypericum hirsutum L.) in the Toronto area, new to North America. Canadian Field-Naturalist 125(3): 248-251.
Kricsfalusy V. & Miller G.C. 2010. Community ecology and invasion of natural vegetation by Cynanchum rossicum (Asclepiadaceae) in the Toronto region, Canada. – Thaiszia – Journal of Botany 20: 53-70.
Jones, F.C., D. Featherstone, S. Jarvie, M. Nicol, I. Ockenden, and A.M. Wallace.  2009. Mixed-wood plains ecozone status and trends report: benthic invertebrates.  Mixedwood Plains Ecozone Status and Trends Assessment – With an Emphasis on Ontario. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.
Kricsfalusy V. & Miller G.C. 2008. Invasion and distribution of Cynanchum rossicum (Asclepiadaceae) in the Toronto region, Canada, with remarks on its taxonomy. – Thaiszia – Journal of Botany 18: 21-36.
Borisko, J., B. Kilgour, L.W. Stanfield and F.C. Jones. 2007. An evaluation of rapid bioassessment protocols for stream benthic invertebrates in Southern Ontario, Canada. Water Quality Research Journal of Canada 42(3): 184-193.

METHODOLOGIES

Forest Vegetation Monitoring Protocol, 2016
Forest Bird Monitoring Protocol, 2016
Meadow Bird Monitoring Protocol, 2016 
Plethodontid Monitoring Protocol, 2016
Wetland Vegetation Monitoring Protocol, 2016
Wetland Bird Monitoring Protocol, 2016
Wetland Amphibian Monitoring Protocol, 2016
Scoring and Ranking TRCA’s Vegetation Communities, Flora, and Fauna Species, 2017