All Resources

Looking back and moving forward : three years of working well : pilot program report 2008-2011

Description

Over the past three years, the Working Well pilot program has delivered community-based workshops, information resources and community outreach to private water well owners. These program elements... More ≫

Description

Over the past three years, the Working Well pilot program has delivered community-based workshops, information resources and community outreach to private water well owners. These program elements have ranged in audience reach and scale, some in local communities (workshops) and others being province-wide (information resources).

Tags

Muskeg River watershed management framework second annual report

Description

In 2008, Alberta Environment adopted a management framework for the Muskeg River watershed. The management framework defines criteria for evaluation of water quantity and water quality in the... More ≫

Description

In 2008, Alberta Environment adopted a management framework for the Muskeg River watershed. The management framework defines criteria for evaluation of water quantity and water quality in the Muskeg River watershed. Observed conditions are compared against scientifically established limits that have been developed specifically for the Muskeg River Watershed. These limits are based on data collected within the watershed, as well as more broad information on streamflow, water quality and requirements of the aquatic ecosystem. One of the key recommendations of the management framework was the development of an integrated monitoring program for the Muskeg River watershed to coordinate offlease monitoring activities that are currently conducted by individual companies and Alberta Environment. The main purpose of the integrated monitoring plan is to support the recommendations of the management framework which specify targets and limits for water quality and water quantity. This report...

Tags

Cyanobacterial ("blue-green algae") toxicity

Description

Cyanobacteria produce several types of toxins, the most common being liver toxins. Nerve toxins are more rare, but can cause periodic loss of wildlife. Some cyanobacteria case skin irritation. In... More ≫

Description

Cyanobacteria produce several types of toxins, the most common being liver toxins. Nerve toxins are more rare, but can cause periodic loss of wildlife. Some cyanobacteria case skin irritation. In Alberta, numerous cases of animal poisonings have occurred and reports of human illness linked to cyanobacteria also exist.

Tags

Temperature and dissolved oxygen in the Oldman River following construction of the Oldman River Dam

Description

The intent of this report is to summarise and interpret water temperature and dissolved oxygen data that have been collected at sites along the Oldman River during the summer months of 1991-2001,... More ≫

Description

The intent of this report is to summarise and interpret water temperature and dissolved oxygen data that have been collected at sites along the Oldman River during the summer months of 1991-2001, following the construction of the Oldman River Dam. The effects of the impoundment of the Oldman River on water temperature and dissolved oxygen in the 327 km from the Oldman River Dam to the confluence of the Oldman and Bow rivers are assessed. Predictions made prior to the impoundment of the Oldman River are evaluated and compared with post impoundment records. As well, the pre-impoundment implementation of the WQRRS model is examined as the basis for the establishment of current minimum flows.

Tags

Analysis of water quality conditions and trends for the long-term river network : Oldman River, 1966-2005

Description

The purpose of this report was to provide both a general summary of water quality conditions in the Oldman River and to subject the extensive long-term dataset to a thorough series of trend... More ≫

Description

The purpose of this report was to provide both a general summary of water quality conditions in the Oldman River and to subject the extensive long-term dataset to a thorough series of trend assessments. Although monitoring on the Oldman River has frequently addressed a host of trace organic contaminants, including pesticides, pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and numerous other compounds, most of these data are insufficient for statistical evaluation of trends. Hence, analysed data are largely restricted to conventional water quality variables, including such things as ions, nutrients, bacteria, and metals. Results of trend assessment on these data suggest that a number of variables have undergone significant changes over the years. Despite ongoing expansion of livestock operations, irrigation activities, and human population in the Oldman River basin, all but one significant trend detected at the two sites after 1987 are decreasing and largely indicative of improving water...

Tags

Water quality study of Waiparous Creek, Fallentimber Creek and Ghost River : final report

Description

Increased use of the Ghost-Waiparous basin for random camping and off-highway vehicles (OHVs) has raised concerns among stakeholders that these activities are affecting water quality in the Ghost,... More ≫

Description

Increased use of the Ghost-Waiparous basin for random camping and off-highway vehicles (OHVs) has raised concerns among stakeholders that these activities are affecting water quality in the Ghost, Waiparous and Fallentimber Rivers. In order to address these concerns, Alberta Environment has retained Clearwater Environmental Consultants Inc. to conduct a water quality study on the Ghost-Waiparous River Basin with the following goals: 1. To determine baseline water quality conditions in the Ghost Waiparous River Basin; 2. To determine the potential impacts of off-highway vehicle use and random camping in the Ghost River basin and other potentially affected basins (e.g., Fallen Timber Creek); 3. To determine whether there is a significant deterioration in downstream water quality in the Bow River related to OHV activities. Recognizing that a cause-and-effect linkage between OHV usage and water quality in the Ghost-Waiparous Basin is difficult to prove conclusively, this report takes a...

Tags

Fish diet analysis McLeod and Smoky River Drainages

Description

The primary objective of the study was to provide a summary of the diet data and any major patterns in the diet of fish from waterbodies within the study area. The analysis included the three diet... More ≫

Description

The primary objective of the study was to provide a summary of the diet data and any major patterns in the diet of fish from waterbodies within the study area. The analysis included the three diet content methods used (frequency of occurrence, percent composition by count, and percent composition by weight; see Section2.1 for details) and presentation of temporal (years and where appropriate months) and spatial patterns for the fish species among the river systems.

Tags

Assessment of the potential for water quality improvement in Pine Lake

Description

In 1989, a study was initiated to determine the present condition of Pine Lake, to identify nutrient sources and to assess possibilities of reducing nutrient input so that lake water quality would improve. More ≫

Description

In 1989, a study was initiated to determine the present condition of Pine Lake, to identify nutrient sources and to assess possibilities of reducing nutrient input so that lake water quality would improve.

Tags

Water quality of the Peace River in Alberta

Description

The purpose of this report is to provide a comprehensive description of water quality conditions in the Peace River.

Tags

The Influence of coal mining activity on the water quality of the Lovett River

Description

This report describes the water quality and benthic invertebrate communities in the Lovett River upstream and downstream of the Coal Valley mine, owned by Luscar Ltd. and Alberta Energy Corp. and... More ≫

Description

This report describes the water quality and benthic invertebrate communities in the Lovett River upstream and downstream of the Coal Valley mine, owned by Luscar Ltd. and Alberta Energy Corp. and operated by Luscar Sterco (1977) Ltd. The evaluations are based on field investigations conducted in 1984 for the former Water Quality Control Branch, Pollution Control Division, Alberta Environment.

Tags