Fact Sheets

Available Fact Sheets

Invasive Species

About Source Water Protection

You can learn more about Source Water Protection by downloading the following Fact Sheets from ourwatershed.ca

Know Your Drinking Water
Understanding the Source Protection Planning Process
Program Overview
About Assessment Reports
What are Threats
Calculating Threats
Water Budgets
Guide for Municipal Councils

For more information visit our Source Water Protection page.

Foam on the Waters of Severn Sound

Foam on the open waters of Severn Sound or in local streams is caused by natural phenomena unless it has a perfume smell typical of many synthetic soaps and detergents.

For more information visit our Moss Animals page.

Are Mayflies "Bugging" Your Waterfront?

The invasion of the burrowing mayflies – the long-tailed insects plaguing the waterfront homes and businesses of Severn Sound – is a sure sign of summer.

For more information visit our Mayflies page.

Weird Water Critters - Water Brains

If you have been snorkelling around your shoreline, you may have noticed a strange mass attached to dock structures or fallen tree branches. That mass is actually a colony of moss animals

For more information visit our Foam On The Water page.

Swimmer's Itch

Itchy skin?
Been wading or swimming at the beach?
You may be suffering from swimmer’s itch, a basically harmless but irritating allergic reaction caused by tiny aquatic worms who have mistaken you for a duck.

For more information visit our Swimmer’s Itch page.

Floating Pollen in Severn Sound

Every year, during May and June, the SSEA office receives inquiries about a yellow scum, floating in sheltered areas of Severn Sound and near by lakes.

For more information visit our Floating Pollen page.

All About Algae

The SSEA monitors algae in Severn Sound and the inland lakes in the surrounding watershed through our open water monitoring program.

Shoreline residents and lake users can take action to reduce and prevent algae blooms by implementing shoreline stewardship practices.

Shoreline observers are also encouraged to submit observations of excess algae growth through our citizen science Shorewatch program.

Observers can use the ID guide below to help identify the type of algae bloom they are seeing and to access further resources, including our video on Algae in the Severn Sound Area.