South Nation RiverEastern Ontario’s South Nation Watershed is a highly productive agricultural region of the province. However, in some cases, nutrient and bacterial contamination of the South Nation River and its tributaries has been linked to agricultural activities. Understanding the origins of these pollutants is critical to determining the agricultural management practices required to improve water quality in the watershed.

Water quality in the South Nation Watershed is reduced in many areas, while agricultural and urban
pressures continue to increase. Problems include direct cattle access to creeks and brooks, and manure runoff from fields which can lead to fecal contamination of water resources.

In addition, uncontrolled tile drainage outlets can contribute high levels of nutrients (nitrogen in particular) to streams and municipal drains. Specific research in this watershed has shown that such tile drains enable nutrients, chemicals, and bacteria to move quickly into surface water.

Adapted from Greencover Canada's: Watershed Evaluation of Beneficial Management Practices - South Nation Watershed