The Water Library is a new cooperative venture between scientists and organizations to understand what water-based information and knowledge is available in Canada. The cooperative has gathered around the concern for data and knowledge "vulnerability"; the loss of these systems of knowledge and of essential information needed to ensure a baseline for understanding changes to come. We have therefore launched surveys/questionnaires to help estimate these resources and their vulnerabilities.
Eventually, this cooperative hopes to ensure essential water-based data is stored and available for important cumulative assessments, and to benchmark the resource for future generations.
What is water-based data and Knowledge?
- Information and knowledge is in many forms and is also shared uniquely. There is inherent and essential value in both Indigenous Knowledge, local knowledge, and Western Science. Indigenous Ways of Knowing and Sharing cannot be "captured" within the scope of these investigations at this time, however, the surveys may serve to illustrate and point to this substance.
- Data is used to refer to databases, datasets, observations, stories, and we are interested in the format/current state of these data.
- Empirical data can be in the form of hardcopy files, digital files such as CSV and compatible files or geospatial files.
- At this time the Water Library is only seeking "in-situ" related information: the physical and chemical characteristics of aquatic systems, and of bioindicator species such as benthics and fishes.
Please help us understand the types of water related data and Knowledge available by completing the survey in the portal below.
You will be prompted to enter information about any of the following:
- Lakes
- Rivers and Streams
- Wetlands
- Groundwater
The survey can take between 5 minutes and 20 minutes depending on the information you have.
Thank you for your time!
The Need to Chronicle and Collect Our Information and Knowledge
The climate is changing faster than we can chart impacts
Nibi, water is the source of all life and caring for water is a collective responsibility
~ Elder Dorothy McCue-Taylor
We need to have a baseline for comparison; a collective memory that is accessible for future generations
The Water Library is an effort of cooperating members:
Stephen Elgie (Kisters); Silvia D'Amelio (Trout Unlimited); Mike Lavender (Kisters); Gary Pritchard (4 Directions Conservation); Joanna Eyquem (U. Waterloo); Jaclyn Cockburn (U. Guelph); Jeff Hirvonen (Geoprocess); Don Cowan (U.Waterloo); Stephen Murphy (U.Waterloo); Simon Courtenay (U.Waterloo); Leora Berman (The Land Between); DJ Baird (UNB)