Water quality modeling has been one of the pillars of the management process, serving as an “information integrator” that brings together scientists, managers, and other stakeholders to assess the degree of our understanding of the system being managed and the knowledge gaps we seek to answer through monitoring and research. Ensemble models can elevate the strengths of individual water quality models and create opportunities for communication among research groups and decision makers. Here, we outline an ongoing multi-model approach for the Bay of Quinte, Ontario, Canada, which has been supporting the water quality management in the area in the last ten years. We summarize the key results from more than a dozen of research projects in that region and propose a coherent approach to integrate the information provided by them in a modeling and monitoring framework. This framework specifies questions, methods, and data requirements relevant to each of its components, and the way they complement each other. This experience can provide a blueprint for adaptive water quality management worldwide.