The Snow Network for Ontario Wildlife (SNOW) dataset is maintained to monitor snow and winter conditions in Ontario.
Measurements are taken at a series of snow courses throughout the province. At each snow course, snow depth is measured at 10 measurement stations. Other parameters may also be measured.
Regional Operations Division district staff collect data. In some cases, data are collected by staff in the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks, federal government staff or volunteers.
The data inform the management of wildlife species, including:
- deer
- moose
- wild turkey
- elk
- wolves
- coyotes
The SNOW data are used by resource managers, scientists and program staff to support other Ministry of Natural Resources programs, decision making and research, including:
- research conducted in the Wildlife Research and Monitoring Section
- deer harvest quota setting
- flight conditions for the Moose Aerial Inventory program
- the Chronic Wasting Disease risk model
- improving the success of wildlife reintroduction programs
- flood and dam management in collaboration with the Surface Water Monitoring Centre
The SNOW program is administered by the Science and Research Branch, in collaboration with the Regional Operations Division.
Each field in the dataset is explained in the Snow Data Dictionary. Please read this document carefully before using the data, as some data are estimated, incomplete or of variable quality.
Snow course locations associated with the Snow Network for Ontario Wildlife data are available at the Ontario GeoHub:
https://geohub.lio.gov.on.ca/datasets/lio::snow-survey-measurement-locations/about
The Surface Water Monitoring Centre also collects data related to snow and flood conditions. Data for that network can be accessed separately:
https://geohub.lio.gov.on.ca/datasets/mnrf::ontario-snow-survey-location-and-data/about
