The Turkey Lakes Watershed (TLW) Study was established in 1979 by several federal government departments (Natural Resources Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, and Fisheries and Oceans Canada) to study the impacts of acid rain on aquatic and forest ecosystems but has since expanded to include other research on toxic contaminants, forest harvesting, habitat modification, and climate change. The TLW is a mixed hardwood forest with a 10.5 km squared area in the Canada Shield that drains into Lake Superior, and has been the focus of many interdisciplinary, whole-ecosystem studies on environmental issues. Benthic invertebrates, or insects found at the bottom of waterbodies, can be key indicators of stream health and play important roles in nutrient cycling and the food chain. In 1995, a project within the TLW aimed to evaluate how stream ecosystems respond to tree harvesting, which involved long-term surveys of benthic invertebrate communities pre- and post-harvest. Three stream catchments (c31, c33, c34) were harvested at different intensities in the summer of 1997 and were compared to multiple undisturbed catchments. Alongside the invertebrate data, corresponding stream habitat surveys, streamside litterfall traps, leaf decomposition, deposition of stream particulate matter, and standing sediment bedload data was collected during the same period. The data was collected from 1995-2009 by researchers at the Canadian Forest Service (Great Lakes Forestry Centre). This dataset is a rare and valuable resource because there are very few existing long-term datasets of benthic invertebrates from the same locations, and because this dataset is integrated with other biological and chemical datasets within the broader TLW database stored at the Open Government data repository. For an overview of other types of data available from the TLW, see https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.14109, and for a complete list of publications that have been produced from data collected at this site, see https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/turkey-lakes-watershed-study/publications.html.

This dataset contains annual mean stream water flow/discharge data derived from daily means for headwater streams draining forested hillslopes measured at stream catchments C31, C32, C33, C34, C35, C37, C38, C39, C42, C46, C47, C49, and C50 in the Turkey Lakes Watershed, approximately 60 km northwest of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada. This data set is recorded as annual mean flow by calendar year (January-December in litres per second), annual mean flow by water year (October to September in litres per second), and annual number of zero flow days by water year. Daily mean flows that were used to derive this data set were recorded from 1981-2012 by the Great Lakes Forestry Centre, and are reported for 1981-2011 due to some inaccuracies throughout the 2012 data. Hydrological gauging stations employ "flow-control" 120 degree V-notch weirs (catchments 31, 33, 34, 37, 39, 42, 46, and 47), 90 degree V-notch weirs (catchments 32, 35, and 49), and 60 degrees V-notch weirs (catchment 38) to facilitate monitoring of stream discharge. Water "stage" or depth within the structure (e.g. in the pool behind the weir notch) is automatically and continuously recorded by chart recorders (Leupold & Stevens A-71 SE Water Level Recorder) from 1981-2003. Capacitance rods (Trutrack WT-HR 1000) installed in stilling wells replaced the chart recorders over the period of 2002 to 2003 and were used until 2012. The capacitance rods logged data at 1 hour intervals for the majority of their use and then averaged to a daily rate. Manual stage measurements have been taken intermittently when synoptic water chemistry samples were taken throughout the years. Stage data are then converted to a continuous record of flow using the relationship between stage and discharge measurements.

The Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators (CESI) program provides data and information to track Canada's performance on key environmental sustainability issues. The Greenhouse gas emissions from large facilities indicator reports total greenhouse gas emissions from the largest greenhouse gas emitters in Canada for the 2023 reporting year. The Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program ensures that the greenhouse gas emissions from Canada's largest emitters are tracked and reported. This mandatory reporting contributes to the development, implementation and evaluation of climate change and energy policies and strategies in Canada. Greenhouse gas emissions data reported through the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program are used to inform the development of estimates of greenhouse gas emissions in Canada in the National Inventory Report, and to support regulatory initiatives. Information is provided to Canadians in a number of formats including: static and interactive maps, charts and graphs, HTML and CSV data tables and downloadable reports. See the supplementary documentation for the data sources and details on how the data were collected and how the indicator was calculated. Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators: https://www.canada.ca/environmental-indicators

Long-term freshwater quality data from federal and federal-provincial sampling sites throughout Canada's aquatic ecosystems are included in this dataset. Measurements regularly include physical-chemical parameters such as temperature, pH, alkalinity, major ions, nutrients and metals. Collection includes data from active sites, as well as historical sites that have a period of record suitable for trend analysis. Sampling frequencies vary according to monitoring objectives. The number of sites in the network varies slightly from year-to-year, as sites are adjusted according to a risk-based adaptive management framework. The Great Lakes are sampled on a rotation basis and not all sites are sampled every year. Data are collected to meet federal commitments related to transboundary watersheds (rivers and lakes crossing international, inter-provincial and territorial borders) or under authorities such as the Department of the Environment Act, the Canada Water Act, the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy, or to meet Canada's commitments under the 1969 Master Agreement on Apportionment.

This resource documents a dataset of epifauna occurrences collected in 2021 during The Knowledge and Ecosystem-Based Approach in Baffin Bay (KEBABB) program developed by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) in collaboration with university partners. The overall objective of KEBABB is to characterize the variability and trends in physical, chemical, and biological oceanographic conditions and food webs supporting fisheries in the connected ecosystems of western Baffin Bay and Lancaster Sound. In 2021, DFO expanded the KEBABB program to Barrow Strait (KEBABS-Knowledge and Ecosystem-Based Approach in Barrow Strait), a key productive area of the Tallurutiup Imanga National Marine Conservation Area. The study took place in the Eastern Canadian Arctic (mainly in Baffin Bay, Davis Strait and Barrow Strait). Sampling is done along transects at fixed stations in the study area. Catches are collected with a 1.5 m Agassiz trawl (5 mm mesh net) for 3 minutes bottom-contact time at a target speed of 1.5 knots and with a 3 m benthic beam trawl (6.4 mm mesh net) for 15 minutes bottom-contact time at a target speed of 3 knots. A total of 16 stations were sampled for epifauna in 2021 between 85-850 m depth. Epibenthic invertebrates are identified to the lowest possible taxonomic level and photographed. All unknown specimens are frozen. In the lab, the identifications are validated or refined with the photos and the frozen specimens. The data are presented in Darwin Core and are separated in two files: The “Activité_épifaune_KEBABB_epifauna_event_en” file which contains information about missions, stations and deployments, which are presented under a hierarchical activity structure. The “Occurrence_épifaune_KEBABB_epifauna_en” file that contains the taxonomic occurrences. Further details on sampling can be found in the following report: Pućko, M., Charette, J., Tremblay P., Brulotte S., St-Denis B., Ciastek S., Hedges, K., Kuzyk, Z., Roy V., and Michel, C. 2022. An ecosystem-based approach in the eastern Arctic: KEBABB/S (Knowledge and Ecosystem-Based Approach in Baffin Bay/Barrow Strait) 2021 expedition report. Can. Manuscr. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 3250: viii + 58 p. https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2022/mpo-dfo/Fs97-4-3250-eng.pdf USE LIMITATION: To ensure scientific integrity and appropriate use of the data, we would encourage you to contact the data custodian.

PURPOSE: Support age-structured population stock assessments and research on fish growth. DESCRIPTION: Fish otoliths are collected from scientific surveys, fisheries observers on fishing vessels and from scientific sampling of commercial fisheries. The otoliths collected are placed in paper envelopes, recorded and held in a climate-controlled storage facility. Age determination is performed yearly on available samples. Digital images of each pair of otoliths collected are captured when possible. The information made available through this metadata record is the summary of otoliths present in the collection at the Gulf Fisheries Centre in Moncton, NB, Canada. The number of otoliths available from different sources by year and month is provided for the following stocks: - Atlantic Cod NAFO Divisions 4T / 4VN (Nov. to Apr.) - White Hake NAFO Division 4T - American Plaice NAFO Division 4T - Winter Flounder NAFO Division 4T - Yellowtail Flounder NAFO Division 4T - Witch Flounder NAFO Divisions 4RST - Skate species NAFO Division 4T There is additional information of observed sex, length, weight and age information of fish specimens made by trained Fisheries and Oceans Canada technicians that can be made available upon request. PARAMETERS COLLECTED: length (biological), age (biological) NOTES ON QUALITY CONTROL: Reference collections for certain species exist and are used to train technicians and to calibrate the age readings obtained by the fisheries technicians that use the otoliths for age estimation. Digital images of the otoliths that are part of the reference collection are available and used for calibration and training purposes. The otolith images are also authoritatively annotated by fisheries technicians. PHYSICAL SAMPLE DETAILS: Fish otoliths, skate vertebrae SAMPLING METHODS: Marine fish otoliths are obtained from fish specimens collected during research surveys and during scientific sampling of commercial fisheries. The sagittal otoliths are removed from sampled specimens, recorded, placed in a protective medium and held in a climate-controlled storage facility. Digital images of each pair of otoliths collected are captured when possible. USE LIMITATION: To ensure scientific integrity and appropriate use of the data, we would encourage you to contact the data custodian.

With the changing climate conditions, marine traffic along Canada’s coastal regions has increased over the past couple of decades and the need to improve our state of preparedness for oil-spill-related emergencies is critical. Baseline coastal information, such as shoreline form, substrate, and vegetation type, is required for prioritizing operations, coordinating onsite spill response activities (i.e. Shoreline Cleanup Assessment Technique [SCAT]), and providing information for wildlife and ecosystem management. Between 2010 and 2016, georeferenced high-definition videography and photos were collected for various study sites along the north coast of Canada. The study areas include Beaufort Sea, Mackenzie Delta channels and Banks Island in the western Canadian Arctic and James Bay, Hudson Bay, Nunavik, Resolute Bay, Victoria Strait, Baffin Island and Coronation Gulf in the eastern Canadian Arctic. Data was collected during ice-free and low tide conditions (where applicable) between July and September. Low-altitude helicopter surveys were conducted at each study site to capture video of the shoreline characteristics. In addition to acquiring videography, ground-based observations were recorded in several locations for validation. Shoreline segmentation was then carried out by manual interpretation of the oblique videography and the photos aided by ancillary data. This involved splitting and classifying the shoreline vectors based on homogeneity of the upper intertidal zone. Detailed geomorphological information (i.e. shoreline type, substrate, slope, height, accessibility etc.) describing the upper intertidal, lower intertidal, supratidal and backshore zones was extracted from the video and entered into a geospatial database using a customized data collection form. In addition, biological characteristics like biobands, water features, fauna, human use etc. observed along the coast were recorded. The data was also validated through ground observations (when available) and a second interpreter QA (quality analysis) was performed on each dataset (excluding Nunavik) to ensure high quality and consistency. The final dataset contains segments ranging in length from 150 metres to 2500 metres. In total, from 2010 to 2016, within the 8 study sites, about 16,800 km of shoreline were segmented.

PURPOSE: Trawl survey data used primarily for assessing the status of snow crab stocks in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence. DESCRIPTION: Tow, catch, and biological information for snow crab and other species caught during the annual snow crab research vessel trawl survey in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence. Currently, the survey uses a stratified random design that divides the area into 355 square grids, each measuring 12.7 km by 12.7 km. The survey area spans the majority of snow crab habitat in the southern Gulf, at depths ranging from 20 to 200 fathoms. Sampling stations are trawled during civil twilight hours using a Bigouden Nephrops bottom trawl net. The vessel operates at a target speed of 2 knots for a duration of 5 minutes, maintaining a warp-to-depth ratio of 3:1, with a maximum warp length of 575 fathoms. PARAMETERS COLLECTED: Snow crab: sex, carapace width, height of male crab claw, shell condition, gonad colour, egg colour, eggs remaining, and missing legs. Other species: counts, and weights Other: GPS coordinates; swept area; depth; temperature; CTD profile; NOTES ON QUALITY CONTROL: Data are checked for irregularities and errors. SAMPLING METHODS: Survey catches are sorted by species or taxonomic groups and measured directly on board. All snow crab are measured, while select fish species are measured only for a subset of survey stations. USE LIMITATION: To ensure scientific integrity and appropriate use of the data, we would encourage you to contact the data custodian.

Situated in the Gwich’in settlement Area (GSA), the Rat River is inhabited by anadromous Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma malma) that are harvested by both Gwich’in and Inuvialuit beneficiaries. The harvest of Dolly Varden from the Rat River occurs during the summer at feeding areas along the coast (by the Inuvialuit) and during upstream migration in the Mackenzie Delta (by both Gwich’in and Inuvialuit). Dolly Varden stocks are co-managed under an Integrated Fisheries Management Plan (IFMP) whose signatories include Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), Gwich'in Renewable Resources Board, Fisheries Joint Management Committee, and Parks Canada Agency. The Rat River Working Group, the co-management body that makes recommendations for harvest levels for Dolly Varden stocks in the GSA, has supported research activities that facilitate implementation of the IFMP, including studies to monitor harvest levels and assess population status. Population studies (e.g., abundance estimates, biological and genetic sampling) and coastal harvest monitoring activities allow for a comprehensive assessment of this stock. The data are used to inform co-management partners on the status of Dolly Varden from the Rat River.

PURPOSE: As a part of a two-decade series of research, this study aims to provide a comprehensive synthesis of the effects of harvest and environmental change on fisheries in Great Bear Lake. The main objectives are to assess demographic traits and the current status of harvested species, with a focus on evaluating sustainable harvest levels of lake trout, a cold-adapted species with a relatively narrow thermal niche. As part of this research, trends in water quality and primary productivity are monitored to evaluate potential effects of change on fisheries. DESCRIPTION: Great Bear Lake, one of the largest lakes in North America, contains culturally and recreationally important fish species. Great Bear Lake is located in the sub-Arctic and Arctic Circle. As part of a two-decade series of research aimed to provide a comprehensive synthesis of the effects of harvest and environmental change on fisheries in Great Bear Lake, the main objectives of this study are to assess demographic traits and the current status of harvested species, with a focus on evaluating sustainable harvest levels of lake trout, a cold-adapted species with a relatively narrow thermal niche. As part of this research, trends in water quality and primary productivity are monitored to evaluate potential effects of change on fisheries. From 2012 to 2019, surface water temperature data was collected at depths of 0.1 to 1.0 meters using a Hydrolab Series 5 Data Sonde Multiparameter instrument through partnered community-led and community/Fisheries and Oceans Canada/university partners collaborative sampling. The project has strong community involvement, including youth through the Guardian Program, to facilitate capacity building and community leadership in the long-term monitoring of Great Bear Lake fisheries and the aquatic ecosystem. This data is an extension of baseline data sets on water quality on the lake. These data will contribute to a better understanding cumulative impacts of climate change on the functioning of large northern lake ecosystems and provide a benchmark for monitoring further change. This data will be important for developing effective strategies for maintaining community-led aquatic monitoring and managing natural resources, particularly fish, which are expected to be increasingly important to communities with declines in other country foods such as caribou. We acknowledge the data were collected in the Sahtú Settlement Area and are made publicly available with the agreement of the Délı̨nę Renewable Resources Council (Délı̨nę Ɂehdzo Got’ı̨nę (Renewable Resources Council)). Collaborators include: the Community of Délı̨nę partners (data collection), Délı̨nę Renewable Resource Council, University of Manitoba, University of Queens, University of British Columbia, University of Alberta, Environment and Climate Change Canada, and Great Lakes Fisheries Commission, Sahtú Renewable Resource Board. Community of Délı̨nę partners and field workers that participated in data collection include Daniel Baton, Morris Betsidea, Joey Dillion, Jade English, Stanley Ferdanan, Bruce Kenny, Elaine Kenny, Darren Kenny, Greg Kenny, Joseph Kenny, Rocky Kenny, Ted Mackienzo, George Menacho, Bobby Modeste, Gina Nyelle, Brent Taniton, Allison Tatti, Gerald Tutcho, Archie Vital, Barbara Yukon, Caroline Yukon, Chris Yukon, and Cyre Yukon. Funding and logistical support was provided by: Northwest Territories Cumulative Impact Monitoring, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Sahtú Renewable Resource Board, the Polar Continental Shelf Program, and Fisheries and Oceans Canada.