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Rationalizing and optimizing the water quality monitoring network in the oil sands

Description

This report describes the outcomes of a workshop held Nov. 28-30, 2016 in Edmonton to review, rationalize and optimize water quality monitoring conducted under the Joint Oil Sands Monitoring... More ≫

Description

This report describes the outcomes of a workshop held Nov. 28-30, 2016 in Edmonton to review, rationalize and optimize water quality monitoring conducted under the Joint Oil Sands Monitoring Program. The workshop participants included representatives from Alberta Environment and Parks and Environment and Climate Change Canada. The workshop outcomes include a number of recommended changes to monitoring network design.

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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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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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Measurement of exposure to emissions from sour, solution gas flares, using biomonitoring methods

Description

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are one of the substances formed during incomplete combustion of organic fuels. In Alberta, oil and gas flares are a source of PAHs, which may lead to the... More ≫

Description

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are one of the substances formed during incomplete combustion of organic fuels. In Alberta, oil and gas flares are a source of PAHs, which may lead to the exposure of surrounding vegetation. Two methods can be used to determine exposure: ambient air quality monitoring near the vegetation in the vicinity of a flare, or the vegetation itself. This project was designed to investigate the use of biomonitoring methods to measure the exposure of vegetation to the emissions from sour gas flares.

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