Envirothon 2009

Spook Creek Area

Presented By:Jakob, Will, Jamie, Meghan, and Teresa

Importance of WetlandsImportance of Wetlands

The importance of Wetland areas are significant. Their primary importance is Filtration.

The Wetland area in Whitehorse: filtered out much of the silt and

mud found in Spook Creek was an excellent home for a range

of flora and fauna

The importance of Wetland areas are significant. Their primary importance is Filtration.

The Wetland area in Whitehorse: filtered out much of the silt and

mud found in Spook Creek was an excellent home for a range

of flora and fauna

Complications Associated with Removal of WetlandComplications Associated with Removal of Wetland

Removal of an established ecosystemInvitation for invasive exotic plant

speciesEnvironment for invertebrates is

changedThere is now upkeep of the area

Rock damsHeat TapeRemoval of SiltMaintenance of Culverts

Removal of an established ecosystemInvitation for invasive exotic plant

speciesEnvironment for invertebrates is

changedThere is now upkeep of the area

Rock damsHeat TapeRemoval of SiltMaintenance of Culverts

Human Impacts on the Environment

Human Impacts on the Environment

Often just start with “little” disturbances

These “little” disturbances will often then become the “norm” as far as city planning goes…

When good policy is not adhered to, all of these “little” disturbances can add up!

Often just start with “little” disturbances

These “little” disturbances will often then become the “norm” as far as city planning goes…

When good policy is not adhered to, all of these “little” disturbances can add up!

ImpactsImpacts

Human impacts in the Spook Creek/Baxter’s Gulch area have come in two major forms

Human impacts in the Spook Creek/Baxter’s Gulch area have come in two major forms

PavingPaving

Hydrocarbons

Hydrocarbons

PavingPaving

The Paving of the Wetland area led to a biological “Blank Slate”

The Paving destroyed a previously established habitat

This allowed for invasive exotics to take control

This also altered the environment for the Invertebrates

The Paving of the Wetland area led to a biological “Blank Slate”

The Paving destroyed a previously established habitat

This allowed for invasive exotics to take control

This also altered the environment for the Invertebrates

HydrocarbonsHydrocarbons

Came from the Whitehorse Tank Farm, up slope and across the highway

Site is contaminated with Hydrocarbons

Site has been remediated to a depth of 3m

Contamination is down to the depth of 30m, and as much as .57m thick

Came from the Whitehorse Tank Farm, up slope and across the highway

Site is contaminated with Hydrocarbons

Site has been remediated to a depth of 3m

Contamination is down to the depth of 30m, and as much as .57m thick

Invasive Exotic PlantsInvasive Exotic Plants

Upper Transect Line (Alaska Highway):Crested Wheat Grass: 287 PlantsSmooth Brome: 93 Plants

Smooth Brome on left Crested Wheat Grass on right

Upper Transect Line (Alaska Highway):Crested Wheat Grass: 287 PlantsSmooth Brome: 93 Plants

Smooth Brome on left Crested Wheat Grass on right

Invasive Exotic PlantsInvasive Exotic Plants

Middle Transect Line (Parking Area):Crested Wheat Grass: 67Smooth Brome: 23

Middle Transect Line (Parking Area):Crested Wheat Grass: 67Smooth Brome: 23

Invasive Exotic PlantsInvasive Exotic Plants

Lower Transect Line (Earls):Crested Wheat Grass: 39Smooth Brome: 39

Lower Transect Line (Earls):Crested Wheat Grass: 39Smooth Brome: 39

Water Turbidity Water Turbidity

Upstream: 115 (maximum volume of Turbidity Tube)

Mid Valley: 41 Two Mile Hill: 3Yukon River: 4

Upstream: 115 (maximum volume of Turbidity Tube)

Mid Valley: 41 Two Mile Hill: 3Yukon River: 4

Invertebrate DiversityInvertebrate Diversity

Upstream InvertebratesUpstream Invertebrates

Trichoptera: 2Coleoptera: 1Plecoptera: 13Hydrachnidia: 1Ephemeroptera: 4Diptera: 1

Trichoptera: 2Coleoptera: 1Plecoptera: 13Hydrachnidia: 1Ephemeroptera: 4Diptera: 1

Spook Creek Waterway Analysis

Trichoptera

Coleoptera

Plecoptera

Hydracnidia

Ephemeroptera

Diptera

Midstream InvertebratesMidstream Invertebrates

Due to a lack of findings, the Midstream station was removed before we had a chance to conduct a survey.

Due to a lack of findings, the Midstream station was removed before we had a chance to conduct a survey.

Downstream InvertebratesDownstream Invertebrates

Nematoda: 42 Plecoptera: 12 Turbellaria: 1 Coleoptera: 1 Trichoptera: 2 Diptera: 24 Ephemeroptera: 27

Nematoda: 42 Plecoptera: 12 Turbellaria: 1 Coleoptera: 1 Trichoptera: 2 Diptera: 24 Ephemeroptera: 27

Nematoda

Plecoptera

Turbellaria

Coleopotera

Trichoptera

Diptera

Ephemeroptera

Spook Creek Waterway AnalysisDownstream Invertebrate Orders/Phyla

Spook Creek Waterway AnalysisDownstream Invertebrate Orders/Phyla

Invertebrates ConclusionInvertebrates Conclusion

Indicators of Low Quality Water:NematodaTurbellariaDiptera

Indicators of Low Quality Water:NematodaTurbellariaDiptera

Invertebrate AnalysisInvertebrate Analysis

Ephemeroptera live under rocks or in and around decaying vegetation, neither of which exist in any large degree upstream.

Ephemeroptera live under rocks or in and around decaying vegetation, neither of which exist in any large degree upstream.

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressorare needed to see this picture.

Invertebrate Analysis Continued

Invertebrate Analysis Continued

Trichoptera: species rich assemblages are an indicator of high quality water

Since neither upstream or downstream did not contain rich assemblages of this species we cannot assume that this is higher quality water throughout the creek

Trichoptera: species rich assemblages are an indicator of high quality water

Since neither upstream or downstream did not contain rich assemblages of this species we cannot assume that this is higher quality water throughout the creekQuickTime™ and a

TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressorare needed to see this picture.

Plecoptera: Females lay hundreds to thousands of eggs which lay dormant for 2-3 weeks in the water

It is probable that the eggs have drifted downstream and hatched in the lower areas

Many plecopterans hunt other aquatic arthropods

Plecoptera: Females lay hundreds to thousands of eggs which lay dormant for 2-3 weeks in the water

It is probable that the eggs have drifted downstream and hatched in the lower areas

Many plecopterans hunt other aquatic arthropods

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressorare needed to see this picture.

Conclusions on our Invertebrate AnalysisConclusions on our

Invertebrate AnalysisThe water found at the mouth of

the creek is of lower quality than that found at the top

The invertebrates found in both areas support this conclusion with the few explainable exceptions

The water found at the mouth of the creek is of lower quality than that found at the top

The invertebrates found in both areas support this conclusion with the few explainable exceptions

Recreational PotentialRecreational Potential

One of the challenges was to investigate the potential of a bike path

Though feasible this is not advisable based on the following evidence:Hilly terrainNarrow established pathSharp changes in elevationExtensive work required to clear numerous

treesIt would cause increased human activity and

disruption of the environment

One of the challenges was to investigate the potential of a bike path

Though feasible this is not advisable based on the following evidence:Hilly terrainNarrow established pathSharp changes in elevationExtensive work required to clear numerous

treesIt would cause increased human activity and

disruption of the environment

Possible RemediationPossible Remediation

According to the survey submitted to Environment Yukon, possible remediation suggestions include:Establishing vegetation to promote natural

filtrationConducting long term studies of both runoff

water into the creek and the creek water itself

Construct sediment basins so as to lower the turbidity of the water

According to the survey submitted to Environment Yukon, possible remediation suggestions include:Establishing vegetation to promote natural

filtrationConducting long term studies of both runoff

water into the creek and the creek water itself

Construct sediment basins so as to lower the turbidity of the water

Our Thoughts On Remediation

Our Thoughts On Remediation

Large litter clean-ups as sponsored by the city in their waste removal projects

The use of Bio mesh to help filter the water

Study of possible ways to rid the contaminated area of Hydrocarbons

Large litter clean-ups as sponsored by the city in their waste removal projects

The use of Bio mesh to help filter the water

Study of possible ways to rid the contaminated area of Hydrocarbons