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Status of surface water quality, South Saskatchewan Region, Alberta

Description

This report presents median and 90th percentile (peak) concentrations calculated from monthly water quality samples at Long-Term River Network stations across the South Saskatchewan River Basin.... More ≫

Description

This report presents median and 90th percentile (peak) concentrations calculated from monthly water quality samples at Long-Term River Network stations across the South Saskatchewan River Basin. The results of the report address whether there is a significant change in water quality parameters from historical concentrations, and whether there were any exceedances of limits as defined in the South Saskatchewan Region Surface Water Quality Management Framework. The data provided in this report fulfills the reporting requirements mandated by the Framework, which supports the South Saskatchewan Regional Plan. This publication informs appropriate management responses where necessary and provides reporting of ambient conditions to the Alberta public.

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Status of surface water quality, Lower Athabasca Region, Alberta

Description

This report was prepared to fulfill reporting requirements mandated by the Lower Athabasca Region Surface Water Quality Management Framework for the Lower Athabasca River, which supports the Lower... More ≫

Description

This report was prepared to fulfill reporting requirements mandated by the Lower Athabasca Region Surface Water Quality Management Framework for the Lower Athabasca River, which supports the Lower Athabasca Regional Plan. Each annual report communicates the status of surface water quality at the Athabasca River at Old Fort monitoring site for the calendar year indicated.

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Industrial heartland designated industrial zone water quality management program

Description

Establishes a clear and consistent wastewater and runoff management approach in the Industrial Heartland Designated Industrial Zone (IH-DIZ). The program outlines monitoring and reporting... More ≫

Description

Establishes a clear and consistent wastewater and runoff management approach in the Industrial Heartland Designated Industrial Zone (IH-DIZ). The program outlines monitoring and reporting requirements to be met by industrial facilities and identifies additional monitoring programs to be established within the IH-DIZ reach of the North Saskatchewan River. Data collected from the monitoring activities will be used to inform load-based management within the zone and will also help to verify the overall success of the program in achieving the environmental objective to maintain or improve water quality.

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Evaluation of quality control data from Alberta’s lotic water monitoring programs : 2016-2019

Description

This report investigates the bias and variability of data generated from the Long Term River Network (LTRN) and Tributary Monitoring Network (TMN) programs. In total, 323 field blank samples and... More ≫

Description

This report investigates the bias and variability of data generated from the Long Term River Network (LTRN) and Tributary Monitoring Network (TMN) programs. In total, 323 field blank samples and 318 duplicate samples were taken from nearly 100 stations across the province of Alberta. Data analyses relate these QC samples to 4,482 provincial LTRN and TMN environmental samples taken between January 2016 and December 2019. There was a wide range of potential contamination (i.e. bias) and variability evident in the parameters monitored in the TMN and LTRN programs. Data end-users should be cognizant of this potential bias and variability in data generated by the LTRN and TMN programs. Parameters with low environmental concentrations, elevated potential for extraneous contamination and/or high variability should be interpreted with caution.

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Investigation into the source and variability of salinity in the Milk River, Alberta : in response to the winter limit exceedances under the South Saskatchewan Region-Surface Water Quality Management Framework

Description

This report focuses on the technical results of an investigation initiated to understand the behavior of total dissolved solids and specific conductance in the Milk River, as a result of Surface... More ≫

Description

This report focuses on the technical results of an investigation initiated to understand the behavior of total dissolved solids and specific conductance in the Milk River, as a result of Surface Water Quality Framework (SWQMF) limit exceedances. The report includes a brief description of the SWQMF process, a summary of Milk River salinity exceedances, and objectives and results of the investigation. Data appendices are also included.

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The WaterSHED monitoring program (Water: Saskatchewan headwaters Edmonton and downstream) : technical progress report 2018-2019

Description

This is the first annual technical report from the multistakeholder WaterSHED water quality monitoring program of North Saskatchewan River Basin tributaries. The report includes an historical... More ≫

Description

This is the first annual technical report from the multistakeholder WaterSHED water quality monitoring program of North Saskatchewan River Basin tributaries. The report includes an historical background of the monitoring program, the technical approaches used to monitor water quality, quantity and ecosystem health of North Saskatchewan River Basin tributaries, and technical results (i.e., tables, graphs, maps) from the 2019 field season. It does not include an interpretation of results.

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Guide to Water Act authorizations required for excavations (dugouts, borrow pits and other types of pits/excavations) [2020]

Description

This document clarifies authorization and application requirements under the Water Act and the Water (Ministerial) Regulation where excavations into the ground are proposed. Typically, excavations... More ≫

Description

This document clarifies authorization and application requirements under the Water Act and the Water (Ministerial) Regulation where excavations into the ground are proposed. Typically, excavations into the ground that may trigger Water Act authorizations are dugouts, borrow pits, pits, or other pits/excavations. This guide does not address excavations that may be created for the purpose of drainage, flood control, erosion control, or channel realignment. Also not addressed by this guide is the issue of whether evaporative loss is considered a "diversion of water" under the Water Act.

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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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Ecotoxicity assessment of treated oil sands process-affected water (OSPW) : 2019 toxicity and mesocosms studies

Description

This technical report, compiled by Hatfield Consulting, describes the experimental design used to determine the toxicity of oil sands process-affected water (OSPWW) treated using Syncrude's... More ≫

Description

This technical report, compiled by Hatfield Consulting, describes the experimental design used to determine the toxicity of oil sands process-affected water (OSPWW) treated using Syncrude's coke-slurry treatment process. The three primary components of the study design are: chemical characterization of untreated and treated OSPW; toxicological testing of treated OSPW; and assessment of aquatic invertebrate community mesocosm responses to treated OSPW.

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Assessing toxicity of treated oil sands process-affected water : experimental study design

Description

Describes efforts being taken by provincial regulators (Alberta Environment and Parks and the Alberta Energy Regulator) to gather scientific information to inform future decisions around the... More ≫

Description

Describes efforts being taken by provincial regulators (Alberta Environment and Parks and the Alberta Energy Regulator) to gather scientific information to inform future decisions around the potential for the release of treated oil sands process water into the Lower Athabasca River.

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