For the past several years, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority’s (TRCA) Watershed Planning and Ecosystem Science team have placed an Environmental Visual Communications student from Fleming College.
The student is responsible for capturing photo and video content over several weeks to highlight the important environmental monitoring and applied research work taking place in Toronto region.
As part of this placement, the student writes weekly blog posts about their experiences. In 2022, we were fortunate to have Jason Raposo join us for his six-week placement. You can read his weekly posts below!
The views and opinions expressed in these blog posts are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of TRCA.
Week One
West Nile Virus Larval Mosquito Surveillance
My first assignment with TRCA was to capture images of the West Nile virus surveillance work on TRCA properties. We searched a local pond at Eglinton Flats for mosquito larvae and brought them back to the laboratory for identification under the microscope.
West Nile virus is only present in certain species of mosquito. Knowing where these specific mosquitoes are breeding gives local public health units a chance to implement mitigation measures to prevent disease in our communities. LEARN MORE
Night Electrofishing
Late one evening, I met TRCA’s Aquatic Monitoring and Management team at Outer Harbour Marina and we set off for a night of boat electrofishing on Lake Ontario.
Just as the sun was setting, we started our surveys near East Point in Scarborough. We finished at Ontario Place in the wee hours of the morning.
The electrofishing boat sends an electrical current into the water through anodes that hang from the front of the boat like tentacles.
Stunned fish float to the surface in the glow of the boat’s LED lights and are scooped up in long-handled nets. They are held in an oxygenated holding tank until the team completes the survey. The team records the length and weight of all fish before returning them to the lake unharmed.
TRCA has been surveying fish communities along the Toronto waterfront for over three decades! LEARN MORE
Shooting at night on a boat lit only by high contrast task lighting brought its share of challenges. What a unique, memorable experience! My first week was off to a great start.
Inventorying Vegetation Communities at East Don Parklands
I met one of TRCA’s biologists in the East Don Parklands, where he mapped the boundaries of various plant communities in a Toronto-area ravine using the Ecological Land Classification for Southern Ontario.
As we hiked through the area, he noted the diversity and relative health of various plants we encountered. He collected soil samples from the forest floor and wetlands with a hand auger, and tested them on site for organic compounds, texture, and composition. LEARN MORE
After a few hours of work, the skies opened up and we had to scramble back up the ravine in a downpour. We were thoroughly drenched, but I was grateful for the opportunity to tag along on this adventure!
Week Two
Stream Electrofishing and Habitat Surveys
This week I had the chance to try on hip waders for the first time, as I tagged along with a stream electrofishing crew to document fish communities and habitat conditions in a tributary of the Humber River.
The four-person crew marched through the stream, expertly navigating fallen trees and other obstacles to net fish.
One member wears a backpack electrofishing unit, which puts a small electrical charge into the water to bring the fish to the surface. Collected fish are then sorted by species, measured for length and weight, and returned to the water unharmed.
Once fish surveys were complete, the team retraced their steps and documented the characteristics of the stream habitat. LEARN MORE
I am happy to report the waders kept me dry while I shadowed this incredible team!
Butterfly Surveys for The Meadoway
The Meadoway is a 16 km stretch of utility corridor that is being converted into a vibrant urban greenspace, linking the Don River with Rouge National Urban Park. TRCA is working here to restore meadow habitat for various species of birds and butterflies.
TRCA’s monitoring biologists bring a wealth of knowledge to the project by documenting the diversity of butterflies and birds that pass through the area in different seasons and stages of restoration.
We searched one section for signs of fluttering butterflies, pausing occasionally to note observations.
Benthos Monitoring
I headed to Duffins Creek with one of TRCA’s aquatic monitoring teams to document how they collect samples of organisms living in the sediment under the water.
They rustle up the organisms by kicking at the stream bottom, collecting organisms in a net and preserving them in a jar to be documented back at the office. LEARN MORE
Who knew that the small creatures living under the water could tell us so much about the health of our local streams!
Week Three
Urban Forestry Study
I met the Urban Forestry crew in a conservation area near Ajax.
This summer, TRCA has been collecting field data to support urban forest monitoring and management objectives for the Town of Ajax Urban Forest Study. This is an update to the first study completed in 2009.
During our outing, the crew identified, measured, and assessed the condition of over 60 trees! Along the way we spotted a cool stick bug and some ghost pipes, which I have never seen before.
By the fall, TRCA will have surveyed nearly 200 randomly distributed plots in Ajax to assess percentage ground cover, tree species, size, and health. The data will be used to quantify the distribution, structure, composition, and function of trees across the municipality.
Boat Electrofishing
Back out onto the lake to do boat electrofishing — but this time in daylight! We visited areas near my home in Scarborough, where the Bluffs provided a beautiful backdrop to the morning.
From the lake, the R.C. Harris filtration plant looms large. I’ve worked and played around these beaches and landmarks all of my life, but had never before seen them from this perspective.
Week Four
Invasive Carp Surveillance
TRCA diligently monitors Toronto regional waters for signs of invasive carp. Nets are laid out in various locations and the crew returns a day later to record any fish caught.
On this particular day we visited areas near Cherry Beach in the pouring rain. I am happy to report no invasive carp were found! LEARN MORE
The shooting conditions were challenging: working out of an open boat in the wet weather really tested the weather seal on my camera. The nets were set close enough to land that I could disembark and shoot from solid ground. I had to hold the camera in one hand and shield it from the rain with an umbrella.
The inclement weather added an interesting element, and these turned out to be some of my favourite photos from my placement.
Water Quality
I followed a water quality monitoring team down along the Don River to collect some samples.
Monitoring water chemistry, metals, and bacteria helps scientists understand the impacts of land use on the water quality of the streams that ultimately flow into Lake Ontario. LEARN MORE
Steps away from the Don Valley Parkway we entered Taylor Creek Park. It was a nice surprise to find this naturalized area close to a very urban stretch of the Don River — and a reminder to spend more time exploring the parks and waterways at our doorstep!