Lake Ontario Waterkeeper (LOW) is a
Toronto-based
environmental justiceadvocacy group founded in 2001, with
Lake Ontario, the
Great Lakes Basin, and allied waterways at heart. It is a licensed member of the
New York–based
Waterkeeper Alliance,[1] and a registered Canadian charity. Lake Ontario Waterkeeper was founded by environmental lawyer Mark Mattson, and Krystyn Tully. In November 2017, Lake Ontario Waterkeeper, Fraser Riverkeeper, North Saskatchewan Riverkeeper and its digital platforms were all consolidated under the name “Swim Drink Fish”. [2][3][4][5]
Actions and initiatives
In Summer of 2001 LOW triggered a $250 Million Federal Government remediation plan at
Port Granby near
Port Hope, Ontario. The dump, was established by
Eldorado Mining and Refining Limited (and now managed by
Cameco Corp.).[6] In 2005 LOW campaigned the City of
Kingston, Ontario to disclose timely data about repeated sewage discharges into Lake Ontario.[7] In 2006 LOW produced "Heart of A Lake" concert tour to several cities in
Ontario, Canadablending activism with art.[8] Starting in 2006 LOW started a campaign opposing the burning of tires by Lafarge operations in
Bath, Ontario.[9] In 2007 LOW compelled the City of
Toronto to disclose specific reasons why beaches are closed, and used the legal system to force the City to take responsibility.[3] Citing a "little-known provincial environmental guideline called F-5 that says municipalities must ensure that beaches are clean enough for swimming 95 per cent of the time." This builds on a 2006 LOW report "Investigating Municipal Beaches: Lessons from Bluffer's Park" which cited some beaches were closed to swimming 42 per cent of the time.[10]
In 2009, the organization launched Swim Drink Fish Music, an online music club which features rare and exclusive tracks by Canadian musicians.