4RWaters

Using Community-Based Science and Remote Sensing Data in Lake Ontario 

 

THE NEED 

The Great Lakes holds over 20% of the world’s freshwater. While conditions have improved since the 1972 Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, warming temperatures, urban development, legacy pollution, and agricultural runoff – among other issues – continue to threaten the health of this critical freshwater system. 

Further progress on Great Lakes water quality requires bold local leadership and an informed and engaged citizenry. 

New technologies can enhance scientific knowledge to guide policy and investment decisions. The 4R Waters program proposes to leverage satellite remote sensing and community-based science data to that aim. 

 

THE PROGRAM 

4R Waters applies four “R”s to improve the water quality of the Great Lakes 

4R Waters emphasizes OUR inherent shared responsibility to steward the greatest freshwater resource on Earth. 

 

PARTNERS 

In 2025, the Cities Initiative was awarded a grant from the Canada Water Agency’s Great Lakes Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative to pilot the 4R Waters project in the Niagara Region of the Lake Ontario Basin.

Partners on the grant-funded pilot, Using Community Based Science and Remote Sensing in Lake Ontario, include: 

 

CURRENT OPPORTUNITY 

The 4R Waters Niagara Pilot will launch in early 2026 with opportunities to engage in community-based science in the 2027 field season.

Remote sensing data will be publicly available on this site by early 2027.

The project runs through March 2029. 

 

GET INVOLVED 

Sign Up to receive program updates.

Please direct program inquiries to Phillipe.Murphy-Rheaume@glslcities.org

We would like to acknowledge the support of the Canada Water Agency, which funded this project.