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Potential for biodegradation of sub-littoral residual oil by naturally occurring microorganisms following the Lake Wabamun train derailment

Description

On August 3rd, 2005, 46 Canadian National Railway Company rail cars derailed approximately 65 km west of Edmonton, Alberta. Approximately 712,000 L of Bunker C heavy fuel oil and 88,000 L of... More ≫

Description

On August 3rd, 2005, 46 Canadian National Railway Company rail cars derailed approximately 65 km west of Edmonton, Alberta. Approximately 712,000 L of Bunker C heavy fuel oil and 88,000 L of Imperial Pole Treating Oil were released from the ruptured cars. The oils saturated the adjacent ground, flowed on the surface, and entered the lake waters on the north shore of Lake Wabamun. A variety of scientific support surveys or activities were initiated by Alberta Environment and Environment Canada as a result of the spill, including a study to investigate the potential ability of Lake Wabamun sediment microorganisms to biodegrade spilled Bunker C oil. This report describes results of this study.

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Wabamun Lake oil spill August 2005 : data report for water and sediment quality in the pelagic area of the lake (August 4-5 to September 15, 2005)

Description

This report provides a summary of the chemical data (extractable and volatile priority pollutants, PAH, and trace metals) collected from water and sediments in the pelagic zone of the lake on the... More ≫

Description

This report provides a summary of the chemical data (extractable and volatile priority pollutants, PAH, and trace metals) collected from water and sediments in the pelagic zone of the lake on the days and weeks following the spill.

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Lake Wabamun : a review of scientific studies and environmental impacts

Description

The review uses a combination of historical records, paleoecological investigations and contemporary scientific studies to deduce the current condition of Wabamun Lake and how it has changed in... More ≫

Description

The review uses a combination of historical records, paleoecological investigations and contemporary scientific studies to deduce the current condition of Wabamun Lake and how it has changed in the 20th Century. It makes recommendations for managing future human activity in the lake and its watershed, in order to protect the ecological integrity of the lake.

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Toxicity assessment of Wabamun Lake sediments

Description

In 2002 Alberta Environment initiated several studies on Wabamun Lake in response to public concerns about murky water near the TransAlta Utilities Corporation ash lagoon outfall and to follow-up... More ≫

Description

In 2002 Alberta Environment initiated several studies on Wabamun Lake in response to public concerns about murky water near the TransAlta Utilities Corporation ash lagoon outfall and to follow-up on incidences of fish mortality. Elevated metal levels were found in the water and sediments near the ash lagoon outfall, but the cause of fish mortality was unrelated to these metal levels. The objective of this study was to determine if the sediments contained substances toxic to aquatic life forms.

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Spatial variability of water quality in Wabamun Lake (July 2002) data report

Description

The objective of the sampling program initiated by AENV in July 2002 was to scope out the degree of spatial variability in Wabamun Lake water quality. Eight other lakes were also sampled to allow... More ≫

Description

The objective of the sampling program initiated by AENV in July 2002 was to scope out the degree of spatial variability in Wabamun Lake water quality. Eight other lakes were also sampled to allow comparisons of the intra- and inter-lake variability in water quality. This document provides a compilation of the data and highlights the major findings

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Wabamun Lake water quality 1982 to 2001

Description

This report outlines how in the early 1980s, Alberta Environment established a formal water quality monitoring program at Wabamun Lake. The program was designed to determine long-term patterns in... More ≫

Description

This report outlines how in the early 1980s, Alberta Environment established a formal water quality monitoring program at Wabamun Lake. The program was designed to determine long-term patterns in the overall water quality of the lake. It was not designed to evaluate the effects of specific activities (e.g., point and non-point source inputs) in the watershed.

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Benthic invertebrate assessment in Wabamun Lake, November 2002

Description

Two TransAlta Utilities Corporation power generating plants are located on the shores of Wabamun Lake. The plants use a local supply of coal which is strip mined within the watershed. The Wabamun... More ≫

Description

Two TransAlta Utilities Corporation power generating plants are located on the shores of Wabamun Lake. The plants use a local supply of coal which is strip mined within the watershed. The Wabamun Power Plant is located on the north shore near the village of Wabamun and the Sundance Power Plant on the opposite south shore. There are three major point source discharges to Wabamun Lake through canals including a thermal discharge and mine drainage discharge from the Wabamun Plant on the north shore and a water discharge from the Wabamun Lake Water Treatment Plant on the south shore. Of the three major point source discharges to Wabamun Lake, the influence of the thermal effluent on aquatic vegetation and invertebrate fauna has been documented, however, the effects from the two other sources on local invertebrate fauna have not been documented.

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A survey of metals and trace organic compounds in sediments from Wabamun Lake and other Alberta lakes

Description

In 2002 Alberta Environment (AENV) initiated several studies (including this one) in response to complaints about murky water in the lake near the TransAlta Utilities Corporation (TAU) ash lagoon... More ≫

Description

In 2002 Alberta Environment (AENV) initiated several studies (including this one) in response to complaints about murky water in the lake near the TransAlta Utilities Corporation (TAU) ash lagoon outfall and in support of an investigation on fish mortality. The specific objectives of this study were to document surficial sediment quality of Wabamun Lake with respect to metals and trace organics and to compare results with those from other lakes.

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An overview of recent studies on Wabamun Lake

Description

To learn more about sediment and water quality in Wabamun Lake and how it compares to other area lakes, Alberta Environment started several comprehensive studies of the lake in the summer of 2002,... More ≫

Description

To learn more about sediment and water quality in Wabamun Lake and how it compares to other area lakes, Alberta Environment started several comprehensive studies of the lake in the summer of 2002, including assessments of differences in water quality across the lake, metals and trace organic contaminants in sediments, the significance of sediment quality to aquatic biota and the occurrence of disinfection by-products from the Wabamun Lake Water Treatment Plant. Additionally, a report summarizing the 20-year history of water quality of Wabamun Lake hasbeen compiled to provide a historical perspective on water quality of the lake.

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Lake Wabamun water quality and sediment survey : preliminary report

Description

The 2002 Lake Wabamun water quality and sediment surveys were initiated based on public concerns regarding murky water in Lake Wabamun. The surveys were conducted between March and June 2002.... More ≫

Description

The 2002 Lake Wabamun water quality and sediment surveys were initiated based on public concerns regarding murky water in Lake Wabamun. The surveys were conducted between March and June 2002. During that time period, Alberta Environment obtained a number of samples of drinking water, lake water and sediment samples from various locations across Lake Wabamun and TransAlta effluent. Preliminary findings and next steps are presented in this report, while Alberta Environment conducts further sampling to determine how typical water and sediment samples taken so far compare to the rest of the lake and other lakes in Alberta.

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