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Alberta Environment and Protected Areas Indigenous Lake monitoring program evaluation report

Description

The Indigenous Lake Monitoring Program (ILMP) was developed in response to Indigenous communities’ concerns about the quality of lakes of local importance as well as the Community-Based Monitoring... More ≫

Description

The Indigenous Lake Monitoring Program (ILMP) was developed in response to Indigenous communities’ concerns about the quality of lakes of local importance as well as the Community-Based Monitoring & Knowledge teams’ mandate to explore opportunities to work together with Indigenous communities to advance environmental stewardship. The ILMP aims to support and enable stewardship and management of Alberta’s lakes based on the best available Indigenous and scientific knowledge. From 2016-21, staff from CBM&K, Watershed Sciences and Watershed Monitoring units within the Airshed & Watershed Stewardship Branch worked with community technicians from four First Nations (Bigstone Cree Nation, Cold Lake First Nations, Whitefish Lake First Nation, Dene Tha' First Nation) to collect and report on water chemistry, physical measurements, and biological samples on seven lakes in Northern Alberta. The ILMP Evaluation Report summarizes the findings of an independent evaluation of the ILMP...

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Engagement summary : Upper Athabasca Region surface water quality management framework

Description

Surface water quality management frameworks are a key component of Alberta's cumulative effects management system. These frameworks are designed to monitor, evaluate and proactively manage the... More ≫

Description

Surface water quality management frameworks are a key component of Alberta's cumulative effects management system. These frameworks are designed to monitor, evaluate and proactively manage the cumulative effects of human activity on ambient surface water quality in Alberta's major rivers. This report provides a summary of the feedback received during engagement processes undertaken to support the development of the Upper Athabasca Region Surface Water Quality Management Framework.

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Using denitrifying bioreactors as a beneficial management practice for agricultural drainage waters in Alberta

Description

A collaborative project (2019 - 2021) was completed to address the lack of Alberta-specific information on the use of denitrifying bioreactors to reduce nutrient export from agricultural... More ≫

Description

A collaborative project (2019 - 2021) was completed to address the lack of Alberta-specific information on the use of denitrifying bioreactors to reduce nutrient export from agricultural sub-surface drainage to sensitive aquatic ecosystems. This information is important to agricultural producers as they make water and crop management decisions.

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2013 flood recovery monitoring program : water quality report - ambient surface water

Description

In response to 2013 flood events in southern Alberta, Environment and Sustainable Resource Development implemented enhanced water quality monitoring programs for both ambient (raw) water in... More ≫

Description

In response to 2013 flood events in southern Alberta, Environment and Sustainable Resource Development implemented enhanced water quality monitoring programs for both ambient (raw) water in rivers, streams and reservoirs, and treated drinking water. This brief summary describes the ambient water quality moniroting conducted during the period July 2 to 12, 2013.

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Lead and drinking water from lead service lines

Description

This guidance package provides information on safe levels of lead in drinking water, how to test lead levels, and actions that should be taken by water utility companies, residents, Alberta Health... More ≫

Description

This guidance package provides information on safe levels of lead in drinking water, how to test lead levels, and actions that should be taken by water utility companies, residents, Alberta Health Services, and healthcare providers when the amount of lead in drinking water is found to be at unsafe levels.

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Potential for gas migration due to coalbed methane development

Description

Coalbed gas (CBG) effectively consists of methane with minor amounts of ethane and propane, but no hydrogen sulphide (H2S). Recognition of CBG as an increasingly important energy resource has led... More ≫

Description

Coalbed gas (CBG) effectively consists of methane with minor amounts of ethane and propane, but no hydrogen sulphide (H2S). Recognition of CBG as an increasingly important energy resource has led to rapid expansion of exploration activity. Rapid development started in the 1980s in the western United States of America (USA), and has spread over the last six years to the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin (WCSB). Increased production activities have brought increased awareness of environmental issues surrounding CBG development. In particular, reports of negative experiences associated with early CBG development in the USA have raised stakeholder concerns in Canada. Alberta CBG development has largely avoided the water resources issues experienced in the USA from CBG exploitation for two reasons. The major CBG resource plays in Canada to date have been in ‘dry’ coals, while ‘wet’ CBG coals developed in the USA required dewatering in order to recover the gas. Secondly, the rapid...

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Aquatic environment impact ratings a method for evaluating SSRB flow scenarios : Red Deer River case study

Description

The report is organized into two parts. Part one contains brief technical summaries of methods used to establish instream flow needs determinations in the South Saskatchewan river basin that... More ≫

Description

The report is organized into two parts. Part one contains brief technical summaries of methods used to establish instream flow needs determinations in the South Saskatchewan river basin that provide for full protection of the aquatic environment. The purpose of summarizing these techniques within the following document is to provide a basis for the methodology used to evaluate impacts from alternative flow management scenarios. The second part of this document then explains the impact ratings methodology and demonstrates its application using example flow management scenarios applied to seven reaches of the Red Deer River.

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Operator consortium report : Vermilion River County

Description

Earth tech (Canada) Inc. was retained by Alberta Environment to complete a study of the operating conditions at several water treatment plants within the County of Vermilion River. As well,... More ≫

Description

Earth tech (Canada) Inc. was retained by Alberta Environment to complete a study of the operating conditions at several water treatment plants within the County of Vermilion River. As well, several models were developed that could be used to provide regional or intermunicipal cooperation for the operation and maintenance of drinking water supply systems. The study includes a series of recommendations and two memoranda of understanding that will assist in the development of an operator consortium.

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Instream flow needs determinations for the South Saskatchewan River Basin, Alberta, Canada

Description

Describes the results of the work of a technical team struck to develop instream flow needs (IFN) determinations for all mainstem reaches in the South Saskatchewan River Basin. The team developed... More ≫

Description

Describes the results of the work of a technical team struck to develop instream flow needs (IFN) determinations for all mainstem reaches in the South Saskatchewan River Basin. The team developed an integrated aquatic ecosystem IFN based on fish habitat, water quality, riparian vegetation, and channel maintenance. The integrated IFN determination is presented in a format suitable for input to the SSRB WMP water-balancing model, the Water Resource Management Model.

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Evaluation of the water quality impacts of the Nose Creek deflection structures

Description

Alberta Environment installed deflection structures in the Bow River immediately downstream from Nose Creek in the spring of 2001. This report summarizes data collected in the monitoring program... More ≫

Description

Alberta Environment installed deflection structures in the Bow River immediately downstream from Nose Creek in the spring of 2001. This report summarizes data collected in the monitoring program and evaluates whether the deflection structures caused any impact in water quality.

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