The Raisin Region Conservation Authority received funding in 1990 from the Ministry of the Environment under the Provincial Rural teaches Program to address the problem of -surface water quality in the vicinity of shoreline beaches. The goal of the St. Lawrence Beaches study is to address the problem of surface water quality in the vicinity of shoreline beaches by identifying sources of contamination and developing and promoting remedial measures to maintain the recreational uses of beaches within the study area. The objective. of the first year of the Beaches Study was to establish a data base from which conclusions regarding water quality may be developed. To accomplish this, water was sampled to assist in the Identification of specific sources of contamination and their relative impacts on beaches. Furthermore, a thorough of existing information on beach closures, previous water sampling, land use activities and other related information was undertaken.