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Synthesis of recent knowledge on water quality, sediment quality and non-fish biota in the North Saskatchewan River with special emphasis on the Industrial Heartland-Capital Region Water Management Framework reach

Description

The main objective of this report is to provide a succinct overview of the technical studies conducted in support of the Water Management Framework for the Industrial Heartland-Capital Region... More ≫

Description

The main objective of this report is to provide a succinct overview of the technical studies conducted in support of the Water Management Framework for the Industrial Heartland-Capital Region (IH-CR). The IH-CR supports a population of over one million people and a large segment of Alberta’s resource processing heavy industry, and the region is expected to continue to experience industrial and population growth. Unless this growth is managed carefully, cumulative impacts on the river from point and non-point source loading of contaminants could lead to the deterioration of water quality and aquatic ecosystem health. The Water Management Framework for the IH-CR focuses on the management of current and future municipal and industrial impacts.

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Alberta Environment cyanotoxin program status report

Description

Alberta’s nutrient-rich lakes and reservoirs often experience blooms of cyanobacteria (a.k.a. blue-green algae) during summer and early fall. Common species of cyanobacteria can produce potent... More ≫

Description

Alberta’s nutrient-rich lakes and reservoirs often experience blooms of cyanobacteria (a.k.a. blue-green algae) during summer and early fall. Common species of cyanobacteria can produce potent liver and/or nerve toxins. Cyanotoxin monitoring was incorporated into Alberta’s Integrated Lake and Reservoir Monitoring Program in 2005 with the goal of determining the prevalence of MCYST in Alberta. In addition, we investigate the occurrence of multiple MCYST analogues, a potent neurotoxin anatoxin-a (ATX-a), and a potentially toxic amino acid, β-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) recently reported to be produced by cyanobacteria.

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North Saskatchewan River water quality model : Alberta Environment technical report

Description

This report documents the configuration, calibration and validation of the river water quality model for the mainstem of the NSR from Devon to the Alberta-Saskatchewan Border. The model represents... More ≫

Description

This report documents the configuration, calibration and validation of the river water quality model for the mainstem of the NSR from Devon to the Alberta-Saskatchewan Border. The model represents hydrodynamics, water temperature, dissolved oxygen, organic carbon, nutrients, algal interactions and other parameters influenced by tributaries, municipal wastewater treatment plants, industrial facilities, combined with sewer overflows and storm water. The model calibration period was from January 2000 through March 2008.

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Potential for gas migration due to coalbed methane development

Description

Coalbed gas (CBG) effectively consists of methane with minor amounts of ethane and propane, but no hydrogen sulphide (H2S). Recognition of CBG as an increasingly important energy resource has led... More ≫

Description

Coalbed gas (CBG) effectively consists of methane with minor amounts of ethane and propane, but no hydrogen sulphide (H2S). Recognition of CBG as an increasingly important energy resource has led to rapid expansion of exploration activity. Rapid development started in the 1980s in the western United States of America (USA), and has spread over the last six years to the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin (WCSB). Increased production activities have brought increased awareness of environmental issues surrounding CBG development. In particular, reports of negative experiences associated with early CBG development in the USA have raised stakeholder concerns in Canada. Alberta CBG development has largely avoided the water resources issues experienced in the USA from CBG exploitation for two reasons. The major CBG resource plays in Canada to date have been in ‘dry’ coals, while ‘wet’ CBG coals developed in the USA required dewatering in order to recover the gas. Secondly, the rapid...

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Analysis of water quality conditions and trends for the long-term river network : Athabasca River, 1960-2007

Description

Since the early 1950s, large rivers throughout the Province of Alberta have been subjected to regular monthly sampling for a broad suite of water quality parameters. Althought water quality... More ≫

Description

Since the early 1950s, large rivers throughout the Province of Alberta have been subjected to regular monthly sampling for a broad suite of water quality parameters. Althought water quality monitoring on the Athabasca River began as early as 1955 for some variables, regular sampling for most parameters was not implemented until at least 1960. Initially, sampling efforts were limited to a single station at the Town of Athabasca. In 1977, a second site was established at Old Fort, 200 km downstream of Ft. McMurray. Two additional sampling stations, situated upstream of both Hinton and Fort McMurray, were added in 1999 and 2002 respectively. The purpose of this report is to provide both a general overview of water quality conditions in the Athabasca River, in the form of summary statistics and time series graphs for all four sites, and more in-depth statistical trend analyses on long-term data for the Athabasca and Old Fort monitoring stations.

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Pilot study to evaluate the practicality of aquatic ecosystem monitoring in small agricultural streams in Alberta

Description

The intent of this pilot study on Rose and Strawberry creeks and the Blindman River was to scope out the feasibility of adding sediment and non-fish biota to the AESA water quality monitoring and... More ≫

Description

The intent of this pilot study on Rose and Strawberry creeks and the Blindman River was to scope out the feasibility of adding sediment and non-fish biota to the AESA water quality monitoring and to make a preliminary evaluation of the data. Collection of field data, invertebrate samples (kick nets), epilithic algae and sediment quality sampling in the three streams was practical. Benthic invertebrate and epilithic algal communities were diverse and abundant and offer good potential for future monitoring, along with water and sediment chemistry. Defining reference conditions ecoregionally would be important in future aquatic ecosystem health monitoring and data interpretation.

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Review of benthic invertebrates and epilithic algae at long-term monitoring sites in the Bow River

Description

The report evaluates longitudinal trends in benthic invertebrate and epilithic algal communities sampled from long-term river network sites on the Bow River in 2006. It also compares long-term... More ≫

Description

The report evaluates longitudinal trends in benthic invertebrate and epilithic algal communities sampled from long-term river network sites on the Bow River in 2006. It also compares long-term trends in historical (1983-1992) and 2006 data. Responses to nutrient enrichment are clearly visible below Calgary: invertebrates and algae thrive in fast flowing (erosional) areas, but in slow flowing (depositional) areas lower diversities indicate stress. At Cochrane invertebrates and algae are impacted by strong diurnal fluctuations in river discharge resulting from hydro-electric dam operation.

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Overview of fish contaminant monitoring programs in jurisdictions and summary of Alberta studies : final report

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This report includes an overview of major fish contaminant monitoring programs in Canada and U.S.A., and a summary of available fish contaminant surveys or monitoring studies from Alberta.

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Summary report on the initial assessment of ecological health of aquatic ecosystems in Alberta : water quality, sediment quality and non-fish biota

Description

This is a technical summary of a provincial-scale initial assessment of aquatic ecosystem health. It is based on water and sediment quality and non-fish biota information for major rivers, a... More ≫

Description

This is a technical summary of a provincial-scale initial assessment of aquatic ecosystem health. It is based on water and sediment quality and non-fish biota information for major rivers, a selection of tributaries and streams in Alberta. It provides an overview of current knowledge for major basins, an initial assessment of aquatic ecosystem health based on published information, and it identifies gaps and provides recommendations for future more comprehensive monitoring.

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A summary of paleolimnological studies conducted in Alberta

Description

Paleolimnology is the study of lake development through analysis of physical, chemical and biological information stored in aquatic sediments. Paleolimnology has multiple applications, lake... More ≫

Description

Paleolimnology is the study of lake development through analysis of physical, chemical and biological information stored in aquatic sediments. Paleolimnology has multiple applications, lake management being one of them. The main objective of this report was to produce a summary of paleolimnological studies completed in Alberta.

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