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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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Chlorophyll-A filtration standard operating procedure

Description

This document describes the procedures, methods, and practices used by Alberta Environment and Parks Resource Stewardship Division personnel when filtering water samples for analysis of... More ≫

Description

This document describes the procedures, methods, and practices used by Alberta Environment and Parks Resource Stewardship Division personnel when filtering water samples for analysis of chlorophyll-a (chl-a) in phytoplankton after surface water sampling events. The procedures in this document are to be followed when filtering samples in the workplace laboratory or in the field. This document is a revised version of a previous procedure found in Section 2.7 of the Aquatic Ecosystems Field Sampling Protocols (Alberta Environment, 2006).

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Summary of enhanced monitoring of the Lower Athabasca River, 2018

Description

Summarizes work completed for the Lower Athabasca River enhanced monitoring program in 2018. Data that has been generated from this program to date includes surface water quality, sediment... More ≫

Description

Summarizes work completed for the Lower Athabasca River enhanced monitoring program in 2018. Data that has been generated from this program to date includes surface water quality, sediment quality, fish health endpoints, and fish communities. These data are provided in appendices at the end of this report.

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A study design for enhanced environmental monitoring of the Lower Athabasca River

Description

Presents an enhanced sampling design for deployment in the Lower Athabasca River. It represents one component of work to describe baseline environmental conditions in the Lower Athabasca River... More ≫

Description

Presents an enhanced sampling design for deployment in the Lower Athabasca River. It represents one component of work to describe baseline environmental conditions in the Lower Athabasca River prior to the potential release of coke slurry-treated oil sands process affected water (OSPW). The document describes sampling locations and sampling frequency to establish a comprehensive description of baseline environmental conditions in surface water chemistry, benthic sediments, benthic algae, benthic macroinvertebrates, and small-bodied fish.

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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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