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Looking upstream : a 5-year review of Alberta’s monitoring, evaluation, and reporting (MER) plan for lotic systems

Description

This report provides a summary of activities conducted between 2016 and 2021 under A five-year provincial water quality monitoring, evaluation and reporting plan for lotic systems. An overview of... More ≫

Description

This report provides a summary of activities conducted between 2016 and 2021 under A five-year provincial water quality monitoring, evaluation and reporting plan for lotic systems. An overview of this first river water quality monitoring, evaluation and reporting plan is provided, along with an evaluation of key metrics of the program, including sampling details, parameters monitored, and quality assurance/quality control efforts. The report presents summary findings and identifies ongoing gaps related to MER plan scientific questions. Key issues and improvements are recommended for consideration in the development of the next MER plan.

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A five-year provincial water quality monitoring, evaluation and reporting plan for lotic systems

Description

This document outlines the key scientific questions, approaches, and deliverables for a five-year provincial water quality monitoring, evaluation and reporting plan for lotic systems (rivers and... More ≫

Description

This document outlines the key scientific questions, approaches, and deliverables for a five-year provincial water quality monitoring, evaluation and reporting plan for lotic systems (rivers and streams) across Alberta. The goal of this plan is to provide a scientific foundation for understanding how various natural and anthropogenic stressors are potentially impacting water quality within Alberta’s rivers and streams.

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Riparian assessment validation for North Saskatchewan Region Lakes

Description

This report documents the assessment of the performance of the GIS-based method used to evaluate the intactness of riparian habitats along the shorelines of Pigeon, Gull, Sylvan, and Buffalo lakes... More ≫

Description

This report documents the assessment of the performance of the GIS-based method used to evaluate the intactness of riparian habitats along the shorelines of Pigeon, Gull, Sylvan, and Buffalo lakes and their associated tributaries. Both desktop and field validation methods were used and the ability of the GIS assessment approach to capture relative differences in intactness locally and regionally was tested. Overall the method proved to be reliable for assessing and comparing the intactness of riparian management areas across large geographical areas.

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Riparian assessment for North Saskatchewan Region lakes

Description

The report documents the GIS-based method developed to assess the current condition of riparian habitats along the shorelines of Pigeon, Buffalo, Gull, and Sylvan lakes and their associated... More ≫

Description

The report documents the GIS-based method developed to assess the current condition of riparian habitats along the shorelines of Pigeon, Buffalo, Gull, and Sylvan lakes and their associated tributaries. The results of the riparian and land cover assessment are summarized and visualized, including a summary of habitat change within riparian management areas through time. Includes documentation of the GIS modelling and analysis methods including recommendations for minimum data standards and validation procedures.

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Flows required to protect water quality in the Little Bow River and Mosquito Creek

Description

To assist the development of plans for the Highwood and Little Bow River watersheds, the Science and Standards Division, Alberta Environment was asked to examine the relationship between flow and... More ≫

Description

To assist the development of plans for the Highwood and Little Bow River watersheds, the Science and Standards Division, Alberta Environment was asked to examine the relationship between flow and water quality in the Little Bow River and Mosquito Creek. This report presents an evaluation of the effects of flow on water quality. Equations were developed to predict the relationship between flow and dissolved oxygen in the Little Bow River, and the relationship between flow and total suspended solids in Mosquito Creek. These equations were used to estimate flows that should ensure suitable water quality.

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Initial dilution zone and limited use zone concepts for receiving streams

Description

This report describes methods of analysis, benefits, limitations, and criteria associated with implementing an initial dilution zone (IDZ) for reducing possible impacts of effluents discharged to... More ≫

Description

This report describes methods of analysis, benefits, limitations, and criteria associated with implementing an initial dilution zone (IDZ) for reducing possible impacts of effluents discharged to Alberta streams and identifies effluent discharge methods capable of producing an IDZ. This report is an extension of the Technical Manual on Procedures and Methods for Evaluating Water Quality Changes in Receiving Streams.

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