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Synthesis report of the enhanced monitoring program on the Lower Athabasca River 2019-2020

Description

This document summarizes work completed for the Lower Athabasca River enhanced monitoring program for the 2019-2020 fiscal year. Data that has been generated from this program to date includes... More ≫

Description

This document summarizes work completed for the Lower Athabasca River enhanced monitoring program for the 2019-2020 fiscal year. Data that has been generated from this program to date includes surface water quality, sediment quality, fish health endpoints, and fish communities.

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Assessments of groundwater influence on selected river systems in the oil sands region of Alberta

Description

Reports on two studies developed to address science needs and gaps related to groundwater-surface water interactions on tributaries of the Lower Athabasca River and proximate to tailings ponds.... More ≫

Description

Reports on two studies developed to address science needs and gaps related to groundwater-surface water interactions on tributaries of the Lower Athabasca River and proximate to tailings ponds. The studies address to sub-themes of the groundwater theme identified in the Joint Canada-Alberta Oil Sands Monitoring program regarding water quality of the Lower Athabasca River, namely: What is the relative importance and contribution of groundwater quality and quantity to surface waters? and: Is there groundwater seepage from tailings ponds and/or other oil sands industrial operations entering the surface water system?

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Surface water quality of the Athabasca, Peace and Slave rivers and riverine waterbodies within the Peace-Athabasca delta

Description

This study investigates key issues identified in the Joint Canada-Alberta Oil Sands Monitoring program regarding water quality of the Lower Athabasca River mainstem and the downstream... More ≫

Description

This study investigates key issues identified in the Joint Canada-Alberta Oil Sands Monitoring program regarding water quality of the Lower Athabasca River mainstem and the downstream Peace-Athabasca delta, specifically: the current state of water quality; the distribution of contaminants in surface water; and whether substances added to the rivers by natural and man-made discharges are likely to cause deterioration of water quality.

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Assessing ecosystem health in benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages of the Athabasca River main stem, tributaries and Peace-Athabasca delta

Description

Results from the Joint Oil Sands Monitoring plan presented here address the need to develop a comprehensive and robust invertebrate biomonitoring program for oil sands development in the lower... More ≫

Description

Results from the Joint Oil Sands Monitoring plan presented here address the need to develop a comprehensive and robust invertebrate biomonitoring program for oil sands development in the lower Athabasca River and area. Benthic macroinvertebrate biomonitoring was conducted along the main stem of the lower Athabasca River, its primary tributaries and in the Peace-Athabasca delta to assess spatial and temporal change in ecological condition within these aquatic habitats. The study focused on macroinvertebrates because they are relatively sedentary, can be sensitive to multiple stressors, are critical components of fish habitat, and are the most common group used for aquatic bioassessments globally.

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Regional hydro-climatic and sediment modelling

Description

Reports on the development of an integrated modelling framework established and implemented from April 2012 to March 2015, to provide a comprehensive understanding of hydrology, hydraulics,... More ≫

Description

Reports on the development of an integrated modelling framework established and implemented from April 2012 to March 2015, to provide a comprehensive understanding of hydrology, hydraulics, sediments, and contaminants within the Athabasca River and to inform current and future monitoring efforts. The broad objective of this part of the Joint Oil Sands Monitoring plan was to provide critical knowledge on and improved predictive modelling capability for water availability and sediment/contaminant transport in the lower Athabasca River.

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Aquatic ecosystem health assessment of the Athabasca River mainstem and tributaries using fish health and fish and invertebrate toxicological testing

Description

Results from the Joint Oil Sands Monitoring plan presented here address the need to develop a comprehensive and robust biomonitoring program for fish and toxicity in fish and invertebrates. Fish... More ≫

Description

Results from the Joint Oil Sands Monitoring plan presented here address the need to develop a comprehensive and robust biomonitoring program for fish and toxicity in fish and invertebrates. Fish health monitoring was conducted along the mainstem of the lower Athabasca River and its primary tributaries to assess spatial and temporal change in ecological condition within these aquatic habitats.

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Surface water quality of Lower Athabasca River tributaries

Description

This study investigates key issues identified in the Joint Canada-Alberta Oil Sands Monitoring program regarding water quality of tributaries to the lower Athabasca River, specifically: the... More ≫

Description

This study investigates key issues identified in the Joint Canada-Alberta Oil Sands Monitoring program regarding water quality of tributaries to the lower Athabasca River, specifically: the current state of water quality; the distribution of contaminants; whether the presence of toxic substances is increasing or decreasing, and their rate of change' and whether substances added to the rivers by natural and man-made discharges are likely to cause deterioration of water quality.

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