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Bow River phosphorus management plan

Description

Heightened nutrient levels in the Bow River downstream of Calgary have long been a concern. In the 1970s and 1980s, high nutrient levels resulted in excessive aquatic plant growth resulting in low... More ≫

Description

Heightened nutrient levels in the Bow River downstream of Calgary have long been a concern. In the 1970s and 1980s, high nutrient levels resulted in excessive aquatic plant growth resulting in low dissolved oxygen and occasional fish mortality. An interim policy on effluent limits was released by Alberta Environment in 2008. This policy required that a regional nutrient load reduction plan be developed for reaches at risk of exceeding water quality guidelines. At the same time the Government of Alberta was transitioning to an environmental management approach that addresses the cumulative effects of resource management decisions and considers the environmental, economic and social implications of development for an entire region. In 2011, Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development (ESRD) invited contributing parties in the affected reach of the Bow River to initiate a voluntary, collaborative process to address phosphorus loadings, not just from point sources such as...

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Bow River Phosphorus Management Plan : water quality modeling scenarios

Description

Eight scenarios were run with the Bow River Water Quality Model (BRWQM) to support the Bow River Phosphorus Management Plan (PMP). The scenarios predicted close to 10% increase in the instream... More ≫

Description

Eight scenarios were run with the Bow River Water Quality Model (BRWQM) to support the Bow River Phosphorus Management Plan (PMP). The scenarios predicted close to 10% increase in the instream Total Phosphorus (TP) concentration above Highwood River using the loading projected by 2039. The Dissolved Oxygen (DO) was above the chronic guideline of 6.5 mg/L in all the scenarios; however, in some instances the DO was below 8.3 mg/L in May and June. The acute guideline showed two critical locations: 10 km downstream from Bonnybrook and 10 km downstream from Strathmore wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). The frequency of compliance was at or below 99.91% in these two locations for the scenarios that used the forecasted TP loading by 2039.

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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...

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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.

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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...

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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...

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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.

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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.

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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.

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A preliminary assessment of the impact of the Cold Lake/Grand Centre regional sewage treatment system on the Beaver River

Description

The effluent of the Cold Lake/Grand Centre regional sewage lagoon appears to have a minor impact on the quality of the Beaver River. The concentrations of nutrient parameters increased slightly in... More ≫

Description

The effluent of the Cold Lake/Grand Centre regional sewage lagoon appears to have a minor impact on the quality of the Beaver River. The concentrations of nutrient parameters increased slightly in the river downstream of the effluent discharge. Total phosphorus increased from 0.080 mg/L at Beaver crossing to 0.090 mg/L at the border and then steadily declined to 0.040 mg/L at Highway 26 in Saskatchewan. Dissolved phosphorus increased from 0.032 mg/L at Beaver Crossing to 0.051 mg/L at the border and then declined to 0.008 mg/L at Highway 26. Conductivity also increased downstream of the discharge, however, the low conductivity of the effluent itself did not suggest a cause and effect relationship. The numbers of total and fecal coliforms did not increase downstream of the effluent and did not appear to be influenced by the lagoon discharge. These small changes occurred under extremely low flow conditions in the Beaver River. During flows more typical of November, the available...

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