When the Grand River Conservation Authority needed effective documentation, they trusted our expertise

The Grand River Conservation Authority protects the water and natural resources of 39 municipalities along the 300 kilometre-long Grand River in southwestern Ontario. The organization created the Grand River Simulation Model to understand how changes to their watershed might affect the quality of the water in their rivers. Their model is flexible enough that it can be used for other watersheds, not just the one that the Grand River belongs to. But to adapt the Grand River Simulation Model to other watersheds, you first need to understand the model by reading the documentation.

The Grand River Simulation Model had been updated and improved a number of times as the Grand River Conservation Authority expanded their understanding of watersheds and the habitats they create. The Grand River Conservation Authority was already working with Stantec on another project, so they asked us to revise the model’s documentation to allow more scientists and engineers to benefit from the insight their model provides.

We created a new user manual and technical guidance document that serves as resources for adapting the model to a watershed’s unique characteristics and running simulations. The documentation allowed more researchers to benefit from the insight of the Grand River Simulation Model faster and more effectively. Now, the complex model that helps the Grand River Conservation Authority understand their water system is more approachable and accessible.