6.0 Annual Monitoring Report - Water Management · 6.0 Annual Monitoring Report - Water Management...

6.0 Annual Monitoring Report

- Water Management -

1

Highlights from the Annual Monitoring Report

Agenda Items:

• 6.1 Middle Quinsam Lake (MQL) Sulphate Levels

• 6.2 Current Long Lake Sulphate Levels, Treatment System & Seep

Monitoring

• 6.3 Historic Long Lake Sulphate Levels

• 6.4 Long Lake Manganese

• 6.5 Long Lake Entry (LLE) Water Quality & Follow-up from Lorax Report

• 6.6 No Name Lake Historical Data Review (conductivity, sulphate, pH)

– discussion on use as a reference lake

• 6.7 7SSD and 7S Reporting and Discharge Periods

• 6.8 Lower Wetland Outlet (LWO) Exceedances

• 6.9 Lower Quinsam Lake Iron Exceedances and Thermocline

Relationship

• 6.10 Iron River Baseline Study and Mitigation Activities

2

3

2016 ETRC Stakeholder Meeting North Water Management

2005 & 2015 Google Earth Image of Quinsam Watershed

4

5

Quinsam Watershed Including Upper Quinsam Lake 2015

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

400

50

100

150

200

250

300

Apr-

02

Apr-

03

Apr-

04

Apr-

05

Apr-

06

Apr-

07

Apr-

08

Apr-

09

Apr-

10

Apr-

11

Apr-

12

Apr-

13

Apr-

14

Apr-

15

Apr-

16

WA

DIS

CH

AR

GE

m3/s

DIS

SO

LV

ED

SU

LP

HA

TE

(m

g/L

)

WA Q MQL 1M MQL 4M MQL 9M MQL 1M from Bottom WQG

6

Middle Quinsam Lake (MQL) and Long Lake have rapid flushing rates. The estimated mean residence time for

MQL water is approximately 17 days; for Long Lake it is approximately 34 days (MoE. 1989).

Sulphate levels have declined since Summer 2014 with a much lower range of concentrations observed between

depths even during periods of thermal stratification.

Agenda Item 6.1: Middle Quinsam Lake Sulphate Levels vs Inflow (2002 to 2016)

0

20

40

60

800

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50O

ct-

12

Jan-1

3

Apr-

13

Jul-1

3

Oct-

13

Jan-1

4

Apr-

14

Jul-1

4

Oct-

14

Jan-1

5

Apr-

15

Jul-1

5

Oct-

15

Jan-1

6

Apr-

16

Jul-1

6

Oct-

16

DA

ILY

PR

EC

IPIT

AT

ION

(mm

)

FL

OW

(m

3/s

)

FLOW VS PRECIPITATION Middle Quinsam Lake Inflow

Flow Daily Precipitation (mm)

7

Quinsam River flows have been regulated since 1957. A diversion dam upstream from Middle Quinsam

Lake diverts roughly 72% of the flow of the Quinsam River into the Campbell River system via Gooseneck

Lake. Approximately 70% of the annual discharge from the Quinsam watershed occurs during the winter

months of November through March.

MoE 1989 report states that a comparison of predicted effluent discharge volumes and receiving water flows

into Middle Quinsam Lake indicates that effluent dilution ratios will normally range from 8:1 to 38:1. However,

dilution ratios considerably lower than 8:1 could occur if BC Hydro were to release relatively low flows at the

Quinsam diversion during a period of high discharge from the mine (MoE. 1989).

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

Sulp

hat

e, d

isso

lve

d (

mg/

L)

2-North Sulphate

PDSR

PDS

WD

WC

WB

Sulphate Concentrations in the North End

8

9

2016 ETRC Stakeholder Meeting

South Water Management - reference drawing

• Sulphate concentrations declined at depth through the 2015-16 monitoring period and remained under WQG

• Levels at depth have increased in the Spring and Summer 2016 5 in 30 monitoring events with 3 exceedances

above WQG: Spring 2016 ( 9m 133 mg/L & 1m from bottom 134 mg/L) & Summer 2016 (1m from bottom 128

mg/L)

Agenda Item 6.2: Current Long Lake Sulphate Levels, Treatment

System & Seep Monitoring

10

Long Lake Water Quality

Aggregate loading from mine related point source discharges have cyclical profiles with higher loads correlating

with discharge quantities and seasonal weather patterns. Discharge quantities from October through May were

higher during 2015-16 than 2014-15 which may have had an affect on sulphate concentrations found within

Long Lake.

11

Long Lake Seep Passive Treatment System

Sulphate reductions observed in the BCR effluent vary from 150 – 250 mg/L in the winter months to

upwards of ~ 300 mg/L or greater in the summer months. Sulphate reduction efficiency has declined

marginally as the system ages.

12


Carbon Addition

• Golder associates determined that

treatment system reduction efficiency was

limited by organic carbon and its addition

may promote sulphate reduction

• Bench scale testing was designed and

implemented in 2014 using simulated

BCR cells

• Results from bench scale testing

completed in 2014 indicated molasses

was best suited as a carbon source

• In May 2016, an injection site was built to

inject molasses into full scale system

• An expanded monitoring regime was

implemented in the treatment system to

evaluate the effectiveness of molasses

addition

13


• A comparison of monthly sulphate reductions throughout the treatment system year over year. It is

observed that reduction efficiency has declined as the system ages prior to the injection of molasses

• Overall sulphate reduction through the treatment system since the molasses addition began in May,

2016 has shown a modest improvement (10 to 15 percent) over previous year’s performance . The

molasses addition system will continue to be evaluated through different seasons and temperatures

14

0

100

200

300

400

500

600Ja

nu

ary

Feb

ruar

y

Mar

ch

Ap

ril

May

Jun

e

July

Au

gust

Sep

tem

be

r

Oct

ob

er

No

vem

be

r

De

cem

ber

Sulp

hat

e R

ed

uct

ion

(m

g/L)

System Sulphate Reduction By Month

Full System

2013

2014

2015

2016

Molasses Injection Commenced

Agenda Item 6.3:

Historic Long Lake Sulphate Levels

0

40

80

120

160

200

240

280D

ec-

81

May

-83

Ap

r-8

4

Ap

r-8

5

Ap

r-8

6

Ap

r-8

7

Ap

r-8

8

Ap

r-8

9

Ap

r-9

0

Ap

r-9

1

Ap

r-9

2

Ap

r-9

3

Ap

r-9

4

Ap

r-9

4

Ap

r-9

5

Ap

r-9

6

Ap

r-9

7

Ap

r-9

8

Ap

r-9

9

Ap

r-0

0

Ap

r-0

1

Ap

r-0

2

Ap

r-0

3

Ap

r-0

4

Ap

r-0

5

Ap

r-0

6

Ap

r-0

7

Ap

r-0

8

Ap

r-0

9

De

c-0

9

SULP

HA

TE

(mg/

L)

9 Meters Bottom

Op

en

pit

s

1, 2

& 3

So

uth

pro

du

cti

on

sta

rt m

id-1

99

1

2S

Un

de

rgro

un

d p

rod

uc

tio

n s

tart

Mid

-1

99

3

Op

en

pit

pro

du

cti

on

ce

as

ed

Ma

y 1

99

4

4S

UG

pro

du

cti

on

sta

rt F

eb

. 1

99

6

2S

UG

pro

du

cti

on

ce

as

ed

-O

ct

19

96

4S

UG

pro

du

cti

on

ce

as

ed

M

ay 1

99

9

IEC: Nov./Dec.,1981 (DL = 5.0)

Norecol: Feb/83 to Oct/84

(DL = 1.0 - 2.0)

Historic (1981-2010) Long Lake Sulphate Levels

Small quantities were mined from 4S

in 2003, 2004 & 2005.

15

MoE: 1986 (9m, 1.8, 12m, 2.4)

• Hypolimnetic oxygen depletion occurs in Long, Middle Quinsam and Quinsam Lakes at the end of the

growing season prior to destratification. Rapid flushing during fall and winter probably prevents phosphorus

released during this brief anoxic period from contributing to summer algal production (MoE. 1989).

• Historical dissolved oxygen (DO) vs total manganese reported at 1 metre from bottom samples since 2005

display an inverse relationship with DO and Mn-T. When DO levels decrease Mn-T concentrations increase

which is most prominent during summer and fall when DO levels decline below 3 mg/L. There was one Oct

1, 1993 1MB sample reported as 5.15 mg/L, Total Iron was 3.37 mg/L, Dissolved Oxygen 5.57 mg/L.

• Factors for elevated Mn-T could be attributed to equipment used for determining the depth.

Agenda Item 6.4: Long Lake Manganese (Includes Fall 5 in 30 Sampling)

16

0.00

1.00

2.00

3.00

4.00

5.00

6.000.00

1.00

2.00

3.00

4.00

5.00

6.00

7.00

8.00

9.00

10.00

Jan

-00

Jul-

00

Jan

-01

Jul-

01

Jan

-02

Jul-

02

Jan

-03

Jul-

03

Jan

-04

Jul-

04

Jan

-05

Jul-

05

Jan

-06

Jul-

06

Jan

-07

Jul-

07

Jan

-08

Jul-

08

Jan

-09

Jul-

09

Jan

-10

Jul-

10

Jan

-11

Jul-

11

Jan

-12

Jul-

12

Jan

-13

Jul-

13

Jan

-14

Jul-

14

Jan

-15

Jul-

15

Jan

-16

Jul-

16

Total M

angan

ese

(mg/L) D

isso

lve

d O

xyge

n (

mg/

L)

DO vs Mn-T - Long Lake 1 Metre From Bottom

Mn-T DO

0.00

1.00

2.00

3.00

4.00

5.00

6.000.00

1.00

2.00

3.00

4.00

5.00

6.00

7.00

8.00

9.00

10.00

Jan

-00

Jul-

00

Jan

-01

Jul-

01

Jan

-02

Jul-

02

Jan

-03

Jul-

03

Jan

-04

Jul-

04

Jan

-05

Jul-

05

Jan

-06

Jul-

06

Jan

-07

Jul-

07

Jan

-08

Jul-

08

Jan

-09

Jul-

09

Jan

-10

Jul-

10

Jan

-11

Jul-

11

Jan

-12

Jul-

12

Jan

-13

Jul-

13

Jan

-14

Jul-

14

Jan

-15

Jul-

15

Jan

-16

Jul-

16

Total M

angan

ese

(mg/L) D

isso

lve

d O

xyge

n (

mg/

L)

DO vs Mn-T - Long Lake 1 Metre From Bottom

Mn-T DO

• Hypolimnetic oxygen depletion occurs in Long, Middle Quinsam and Quinsam Lakes at the end of the

growing season prior to destratification. Rapid flushing during fall and winter probably prevents phosphorus

released during this brief anoxic period from contributing to summer algal production (MoE. 1989).

• Historical dissolved oxygen (DO) vs total manganese reported at 1 metre from bottom samples since 2005

display an inverse relationship with DO and Mn-T. When DO levels decrease Mn-T concentrations increase

which is most prominent during summer and fall when DO levels decline below 3 mg/L. There was one Oct 1,

1993 1MB sample reported as 5.15 mg/L, Total Iron was 3.37 mg/L, Dissolved Oxygen 5.57 mg/L.

• Factors for elevated Mn-T could be attributed to equipment used for determining the depth.

Long Lake Manganese (Not Including Fall 5 in 30)

17

18

Agenda Item 6.5

Long Lake Entry (LLE) Water Quality & Follow-up from Lorax Report

19

Dissolved Sulphate (2009-2016): 4S-lower, LLE and LLE-IZD

20

Dissolved Sulphate (2009-2016): 4S-lower and LLE

21

“Conduct a water quality sampling survey during low flow periods to take water

samples from any observed surface water discharges to the LLE Pond.”

Surface Water Loading and 4-South Mine Seepage

22

Dissolved Sulphate at Surface Water Discharges into LLE

23

Dissolved Iron at Surface Water Discharges into LLE

24

Remobilization from Sediments

“Conduct a water quality survey in LLE during periods of low flow and high iron

concentrations to evaluate redox conditions in the wetland pond.” and,

“Conduct laboratory tests to evaluate the speciation of iron in LLE and 4S-

lower.”

LLE-L1 LLE-L2

LLE Culvert Inlet

25

LLE-L1 LLE-L2

Depth Surface 30cm 60cm 90cm Bottom

+15cm Surface 30cm 60cm 90cm

Bottom

+15cm

Field Parameters

Temperature 20.71 20.53 20.52 20.86 20.63 20.46

Conductivity 1501 1618 2159 1643 1836 2502

pH 7.27 6.71 6.50 6.78 6.36 6.28

DO 11.51 4.97 0.97 11.14 10.42 0.70

ORP 88.1 -18.1 -65.7 81.6 51.7 -87.9

Iron Concentration

Total Iron 0.317 68.9 0.333 42.4

Dissolved Iron 0.062 49.6 0.197 45.8

The anoxic (depleted dissolved oxygen) conditions at depth indicate that sediments in the wetland

could be a source of iron (ferric iron in the substrate reducing to the ferrous state and mobilizing into

the water column).

LLE Water Quality Survey Results

26

Tests to evaluate the speciation of iron in LLE pond and 4S-lower:

• Samples (oxic water) have been taken at 4S-lower and LLE discharge

for both metal analysis and analysis using diffusive gel (DGT)

samplers (which separates species according to their lability)

• The labile fraction mainly represents inorganic metal species

• The non-labile fractions represents organically bound metal

species

The 1989 Ambient Water Quality Assessment and Objectives For Middle Quinsam

Lake Sub-basin, Campbell River Area states ”Water quality throughout the Quinsam

watershed is characterized as soft, exceptionally clear and oligotrophic. There is a

tendency for pH to become slightly acid (6.0 - 7.0), presumably during periods of rain

or snowfall. The water has a low concentration of dissolved substances and little

buffering capacity to stabilize pH. Median pH is 7.1.”

Point Sources:

Mining activities have been influencing the groundwater and surface waters in the

surrounding area for over 30 years.

2013-2015, clear cut logging has occurred on the south-west side of the lake with the

potential to increase nutrient/sediment loading as this area supports one of the main

tributaries to the Lake.

Agenda Item 6.6: No-Name Lake Historical Data Review

27

No Name Lake Outlet and South Area Mining Historical Data Review

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

DIS

SO

LV

ED

SU

LP

HA

TE

(m

g/L

)

NNO SULPHATE 1983-2015

1, 2 & 3 South Pits – Developed as open pit mid 1991. Open pit changed to underground late 1993

Open Pit 1 South was backfilled with overburden material and reclaimed in 1993.

Open Pits 2 & 3 were partially backfilled in 1993.

1994 open pit ceased 3 South Pit was used for the collection of all mine/surface water.

Production from the 2 South underground mine 1993 to Oct. 1996.

Oct 1, 1998 – Jul 1999, 4 South CCR disposed of sub-aqueously in 3 South Pit.

2 South underground portals backfilled in 1997.

1-South

Open Pit

4-South U/G 3-

South

Open

Pit

2-South Open

Pit & U/G

4-South U/G

(periodic)

5-South U/G

7-South U/G

28

Aug. 2, 2003

0

20

40

60

80

100

120Jan-8

3

Jan-8

4

Jan-8

5

Jan-8

6

Jan-8

7

Jan-8

8

Jan-8

9

Jan-9

0

Jan-9

1

Jan-9

2

Jan-9

3

Jan-9

4

Jan-9

5

Jan-9

6

Jan-9

7

Jan-9

8

Jan-9

9

Jan-0

0

Jan-0

1

Jan-0

2

Jan-0

3

Jan-0

4

Jan-0

5

Jan-0

6

Jan-0

7

Jan-0

8

Jan-0

9

Jan-1

0

Jan-1

1

Jan-1

2

Jan-1

3

Jan-1

4

Jan-1

5

Jan-1

6

CO

ND

UC

TIV

ITY

(µ

s/c

m)

FIELD CONDUCTIVITY NO NAME LAKE OUTLET

29

Nov. 2, 2002

Does not correlate with high sulphate

result.

Measurements of conductivity values at NNL and NNO are low indicating limited mine related impact;

however, further investigation is warranted to support this assumption.

5

5.5

6

6.5

7

7.5

8

8.5

9

pH

NNO Historical pH (1983-2015)

Transition from pH-L to pH-F

6.3

6.4

6.5

6.6

6.7

6.8

6.9

7

7.1

7.2

7.3

7.4

pH

No Name Lake Historical pH (1983 - 1984)

Station C:NNL1

Station C:NNL3

StationC:NNL8

Station C:NNL9

NNL(MaximumDepth)

No Name Lake Historical Data Review

As observed pH values have dropped below WQG of 6.5 on a several occasions during fall and winter. This graph

displays the transition from laboratory pH to field pH after January 2013. The figure on the right depicts historical pH

values obtained from baseline monitoring performed by Environment Canada on June 21, 1983 and Quinsam Coal

baseline study 1984. Quinsam collected six samples during May and July, 1984. These results indicate one sampling

event (July 12, 1984) resulted in a lower pH (6.4) at maximum depth (unknown). The historical pH values ranged from

6.4 to 7.3. 30

No Name Lake Historical Data Review

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

DIS

SO

LV

ED

SU

LP

HA

TE

(m

g/L

)

NNO SULPHATE 1983-2015

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

DIS

SO

LV

ED

SU

LP

HA

TE

(m

g/L

)

NO NAME LAKE SULPHATE (June 2012 to Nov. 2015)

NNL 1m NNL 4m NNL 9m NNL 1m from Bottom

WQG-Max: 128 mg/L

A review of historical data suggests that there were occasions when this lake’s water quality was mine

impacted. This is observed in historical sulphate concentrations recorded for No Name Lake Outlet

(NNO) as well as a sampling event at No Name Lake during 2012 where sulphate concentrations

reached 17.6 mg/L at depth. 31

32


7-South Water Management

- reference drawing

• There were no permit limit exceedances for any metals at 7SSD during

2015-16

• Discharge from 7SSD occurred intermittently for 43 days this monitoring

year (21 days in April & December - March for 22 days)

• The targeted 8:1 dilution ratio was achieved at all times

• No discharge has occurred since March 11, 2016 until Oct. 7th, 2016

from 7SSD. With 5 days of discharge occurring this quarter, 2016.

• Water quality at 7S compared to the model also displays excellent water

quality as all results are below the expected values, with the expectation

of Arsenic at 7SSD during times of zero discharge.

• This indicates that during 2015-16 monitoring year QCC had a

negligible impact on water quality at 7S and in turn the Lower Wetland

Outlet. 33

Agenda Item 6.7: 7-South Water Management

7SSD WQ (2015-16 Averages)

Parameter

Expected Case

(mg/L)

Worst Case

(mg/L)

Actual

(mg/L) Result

Fluoride 0.122-0.134 0.150-0.161 N/A

Sulphate 56-71 139.3-180.5 35.3 Below Expected

Aluminum 0.040-0.041 0.110-0.113 0.0147 Below Expected

Arsenic 0.001 0.002 0.00225

Above Worst

Case

Boron 0.069-0.082 0.152-0.186 0.03 Expected

Cadmium 0.000012-0.00013 0.000037-0.00004 0.0000049 Below Expected

Cobalt 0.00015-0.00017 0.00161-0.00211 0.00025

In-between

Copper 0.004 0.006 0.00093 Below Expected

Iron 0.034 0.130-0.133 0.0184 Below Expected

Manganese 0.016-0.017 0.054-0.066 0.0382 In-between

Nickel 0.001 0.003-0.004 0.0007 Below Expected

Selenium 0.00193-0.00194 0.00612-0.00632 0.00008

Below Expected

Zinc 0.003 0.006 0.0031

In-between

*When calculating averages, 0.5 of the method detection limit values were used.

7S WQ (2015-16 Averages)

Parameter

Expected Case

(mg/L)

Worst Case

(mg/L)

Actual

(mg/L) Result

Fluoride N/A N/A N/A

Sulphate 6.49-7.80 15.4-17.8 4.3 Below Expected

Aluminum 0.043 0.055-0.056 0.03960 Below Expected

Arsenic 0.0002 0.0003 0.00015 Below Expected

Boron 0.052-0.063 0.061-0.063 0.02700 Below Expected

Cadmium 0.000010 0.000013 0.000004 Below Expected

Cobalt

0.00046-

0.00047

0.00062-

0.00065 0.00025 Below Expected

Copper 0.001 0.001 0.00055 Below Expected

Iron 0.020-0.021 0.030-0.031 0.00980 Below Expected

Manganese 0.0026-0.003 0.007 0.00050 Below Expected

Nickel 0.001 0.001 0.0005 Below Expected

Selenium

0.00028-

0.00030

0.00070-

0.00075 0.00006 Below Expected

Zinc 0.005 0.005 0.00250 Below Expected

*When calculating averages, 0.5 of the method detection limit values were used.

Expected and Worst Case Predicted Water Quality Model

34

35

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

1000.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0

Apr-

14

Ma

y-1

4

Jun-1

4

Jul-1

4

Aug-1

4

Sep-1

4

Oct-

14

No

v-1

4

De

c-1

4

Jan-1

5

Feb

-15

Ma

r-1

5

Apr-

15

Ma

y-1

5

Jun-1

5

Jul-1

5

Aug-1

5

Sep-1

5

Oct-

15

No

v-1

5

De

c-1

5

Jan-1

6

Feb

-16

Ma

r-1

6

Apr-

16

Ma

y-1

6

Jun-1

6

Jul-1

6

Aug-1

6

Sep-1

6

Oct-

16

No

v-1

6

DA

ILY

PR

EC

IPIT

AT

ION

(mm

) D

ISC

AH

RG

E (

L/s

) DAILY AVERAGE DISCHARGE VS PRECIPITATION

7SSD

Daily Precipitation (mm) Discharge (L/s)

36

0.00

0.75

1.50

2.25

3.00

3.75

4.500.00

0.05

0.10

0.15

0.20

0.25

0.30

Ap

r-1

3

Jun

-13

Au

g-1

3

Oct

-13

De

c-1

3

Feb

-14

Ap

r-1

4

Jun

-14

Au

g-1

4

Oct

-14

De

c-1

4

Feb

-15

Ap

r-1

5

Jun

-15

Au

g-1

5

Oct

-15

De

c-1

5

Feb

-16

Ap

r-1

6

Jun

-16

Au

g-1

6

Oct

-16

7SSD

Disch

arge (L/s) A

l-D

(m

g/L

) 7-South Area [Al-D] vs Discharge

7SSD Q 7SSD Al-D 7S Al-D LWO Al-D WQG-Max

37

0.00

1.50

3.00

4.500.000

0.002

0.004

0.006

0.008

0.010

0.012

Ap

r-1

3

Jun

-13

Au

g-1

3

Oct

-13

De

c-1

3

Feb

-14

Ap

r-1

4

Jun

-14

Au

g-1

4

Oct

-14

De

c-1

4

Feb

-15

Ap

r-1

5

Jun

-15

Au

g-1

5

Oct

-15

De

c-1

5

Feb

-16

Ap

r-1

6

Jun

-16

Au

g-1

6

Oct

-16

7SSD

Disch

arge (L/s)

Cu

-T (

mg

/L)

7-South Area [Cu-T] vs Discharge

7SSD Q 7SSD Cu-T 7S Cu-T LWO Cu-T WQG-Max

38

0.00

1.50

3.00

4.500.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

7.0

8.0

9.0

Ap

r-1

3

Jun

-13

Au

g-1

3

Oct

-13

De

c-1

3

Feb

-14

Ap

r-1

4

Jun

-14

Au

g-1

4

Oct

-14

De

c-1

4

Feb

-15

Ap

r-1

5

Jun

-15

Au

g-1

5

Oct

-15

De

c-1

5

Feb

-16

Ap

r-1

6

Jun

-16

Au

g-1

6

Oct

-16

7SSD

Disch

arge (L/s)

Fe-T

(m

g/L

) 7-South Area [Fe-T] vs Discharge

7SSD Q 7SSD Fe-T 7S Fe-T LWO Fe-T WQG-Max

39

0.00

0.75

1.50

2.25

3.00

3.75

4.500.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

Ap

r-1

3

Jun

-13

Au

g-1

3

Oct

-13

De

c-1

3

Feb

-14

Ap

r-1

4

Jun

-14

Au

g-1

4

Oct

-14

De

c-1

4

Feb

-15

Ap

r-1

5

Jun

-15

Au

g-1

5

Oct

-15

De

c-1

5

Feb

-16

Ap

r-1

6

Jun

-16

Au

g-1

6

Oct

-16

7SSD

Disch

arge (L/s)

Fe-D

(m

g/L

) 7-South Area [Fe-D] vs Discharge

7SSD Q 7SSD Fe-D 7S Fe-D LWO Fe-D WQG-Max

Agenda Item 6.8:

Lower Wetland Outlet (LWO) Exceedances

Parameter 5-in-30 (Oct./Nov., 2015) Water Quality Guidelines LWO Baseline

(June, 2011) Average Maximum Average Maximum

Al-T 0.219 0.352 - - 0.248

As-T 0.00062 0.00081 - 0.005 0.00178

Cu-T 0.00395 0.00530 0.002 0.007 0.0014

Al-D 0.184 0.276 0.05 0.1 0.101

Fe-D 0.277 0.471 - 0.35 2.52

40

• Water quality results are similar to baseline results from 2011.

• Wetland has limited to no flow during summer/ fall causing elevated metals to occur

• Sampling occurs three times per year (when water is present) on a 5 and 30 day

monitoring schedule

• Sampling location is situated behind a beaver dam

• Metals naturally accumulate in the sediment and are elevated at surface

Lower Wetland Outlet Sampling Location

Parameter Oct. 2016 Result (mg/L) WQG-Max

Dissolved Aluminum (Al) 0.157 0.1

Dissolved Copper (Cu) 0.00215

Total Copper (Cu) 0.00580 0.007

Dissolved Iron (Fe) 0.328 0.35

Total Iron (Fe) 0.635 1

41

42


Lower Quinsam Lake

- reference drawing

Agenda Item 6.9: Lower Quinsam Lake Iron Exceedances (and Thermocline

Relationship)

Lower Quinsam Lake Baseline Monitoring (Norecol: May, 1983 to July, 1984)

43

Lower Quinsam Lake Iron Exceedances (and Thermocline Relationship)

Lower Quinsam Lake Baseline Monitoring (Norecol: May, 1983 to July, 1984)

44


Lower Quinsam Lake (Bottom) 5-in-30 Monitoring: 2013 to 2016

45

Agenda Item 6.9:


Lower Quinsam Lake (Bottom) 5-in-30 Monitoring

Zone of rapid temperature decline

= Thermocline (or metalimnion)

[is a barrier to the mixing of surface

and bottom waters]

Bacterial decomposition

of organic matter consumes

oxygen.

46


• During summer months (warm weather and low precipitation) the dissolved oxygen

(DO) in the deep points in the lake is depleted to near zero concentrations (anoxic

conditions) due to inadequate mixing of atmospheric oxygen and decomposition of

organic matter.

• During the period of summer anoxia a migration of iron occurs at the sediment-water

interface in the cooler bottom layer (hypolimnion).

• Ferric iron in the substrate reducing to the ferrous state and mobilizing into the water

column

47


48


49

Agenda Item 6.10

Iron River Baseline Study

50

51

Iron River Aluminum (dissolved) Concentration (mg/L)

Max. WQG = 0.10mg/L

Iron River Water Quality Monitoring Locations

52

Al (dissolved and total) values correlate positively with flow (high concentrations

during high flow), indicating association with Total Suspended Solids during high

flow conditions.

Iron River Aluminum (dissolved) Concentration (mg/L)

53

Iron River Arsenic (total) Concentration (mg/L)

Max. WQG = 0.005mg/L

54

As-T values correlate negatively with flow (high concentrations during low flow),

indicating association with groundwater (which, during low flow conditions, has a

greater relative contribution to stream flow) and/or a localized loading source.

Iron River Arsenic (total) Concentration (mg/L)

55


56

“242” Adit Area

- reference drawing

2016 ETRC Stakeholder

Meeting

“242”

Exploration

Adit

(reclaimed

in 2016)

Adit Sump

Iron River

Skarn

Deposit

Iron River

IRS1 Sump

Approximate

sedimentary

rock –

volcanic rock

boundary

57

242 Flooded Portal and Adit Water Quality 2014-2016

Site 242 Flooded Portal 242 Adit Sump

Pemit Limit

For Block

242

Date 2014-2016 2014-2016 2014-2016 2014-2016 2014-2016 2014-2016

Parameter Units Average Min Max Average Min Max

pH-F pH Units 7.13 6.46 7.95 7.352 6.77 7.76 6.0 -8.5

Cond-F uS/cm 341 202 680 244.8 148 308

H2S mg/L 0.013 0.005 0.036 - - -

SO4-D mg/L 63 53 77 58 55 62

Alk-T mg/L 75.0 44.7 90.9 45.3 11.1 61.7

Acidity 8.3 mg/L 3.38 0.5 9.32 1.815 0.5 3.84

Al-D mg/L 0.005 0.001 0.016 0.034 0.005 0.065 0.5

As-D mg/L 0.0010 0.0004 0.0025 0.0012 0.0004 0.0028

As-T mg/L 0.0345 0.0009 0.1480 0.0047 0.0031 0.0060

Cu-D mg/L 0.000289 0.0002 0.00099 0.000584 0.00022 0.00114 0.02

Fe-D mg/L 0.006 0.005 0.012 0.010 0.005 0.023 0.3

Pb-D mg/L 0.0002 0.0001 0.0002 0.0002 0.0002 0.0002 0.05

Zn-D mg/L 0.010 0.005 0.047 0.098 0.010 0.407 0.1

58

IRS1 Arsenic (total) Concentration (mg/L)

Conclusion

Water quality in the Middle Quinsam Sub-Basin remained consistent with previous years and is considered to be in

good condition.

The majority of parameters of concern were below Provincial guideline and objective levels indicating minimal health

risk to sensitive aquatic receptors.

Permit Limit Exceedances for 2015-16:

• 2 Total Suspended Solids (TSS) samples at Settling Pond 1 and 4 resulting in 30.5 mg/L and 26 mg/L,

respectively, QCC permitted for 25 mg/L.

• Annual Average Discharge from Settling Pond 4 resulted in 0.1018 m3/s, QCC is permitted for 0.08 m3/s

The levels recorded for TSS were not detectable at downstream monitoring stations and, therefore, not considered

detrimental to the receiving environment.

Quinsam Coal will continue to focus on site wide water management with a target of mitigating concentrations of

parameters of interest in the receiving environment.

To date, Quinsam has demonstrated that the existing mine related controls and features implemented have been

effective at reducing concentrations of certain parameters.

This trend is expected to persist and will be highlighted by future monitoring programs. 60

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