2011 Water Quality Monitoring Program and

Results

April 12, 2012 Quaaout Lodge

Ken Ashley, Gabi Matscha

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Water Quality Monitoring – Improvements with SLIPP

Monitoring under SLIPP – 1st Year – Monitoring conducted – Monitoring Results

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Water Quality Monitoring – Improvements with SLIPP

Before SLIPP With SLIPP

Several agencies (5) and local governments (5) monitored water quality in Shuswap Watershed independently and with different objectives.

Coordinated water quality monitoring in the Shuswap Lake all serving the same objectives.

No data sharing. Many small independent or non-published reports.

Data sharing and integrated reporting. Goal to create one data base.

Monitoring duplication between agencies. Insufficient sampling due to limited funds within each agency.

Sampling programs coordinated and streamlined. Sampling programs include objectives for more than one agency. Shared funds ensure sufficient sampling.

Studies provided information on specific issues and areas.

Monitoring information of all projects will provide a picture of overall water quality health.

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Involved in Water Quality Program: •  Department of Fisheries and Oceans, •  Environment Canada (Federal/Provincial Program) •  Ministry of Environment (Thompson, Okanagan), •  BC Parks, •  Ministry of Forest, Lands and Natural Resource Operations •  Interior Health Authority, •  Columbia Shuswap Regional District, •  North Okanagan Regional District, •  Adams Lake Indian Band? •  City of Salmon Arm, •  District of Sicamous, •  Various Small Purveyors on Shuswap and Mara Lake, •  Shuswap Water Action Team Society, •  Swansea Point Community Association, •  Lower Shuswap Stewardship Society, •  Many volunteers

Water Quality Monitoring – Improvements with SLIPP

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Monitoring under SLIPP – 1st Year

Monitoring Objectives in 2011 Agency involved

•  Overall Nutrient Conditions in All Arms of Shuswap Lake, Little Shuswap Lk, Mara Lk, Mable Lk, Sugar Lk.

•  Investigation of factors potentially influencing large algae blooms on Mara/Shuswap Lakes.

•  DFO, MoE

•  MoE

•  Identification of near shore Water Quality: - Near Drinking water Intakes - Near septic seepages - Near beaches

•  Groundwater monitoring to identify septic seepage routes and impacts

•  Identification of nutrient availability (nutrient seepage or runoff) near shore using attached algae study

•  IHA, Small Purveyors, BC Parks, CSRD, City of Salmon Arm, District of Sicamous

• CSRD, MFLNRO

•  SWAT, Swansea Pt. Comm. Assotiation, MoE

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Monitoring under SLIPP – 1st Year

Monitoring Objectives in 2011 Agency involved

•  Monitor effects of sewage treatment plant discharges (Salmon Arm, Sicamous).

•  Monitor effects of septic tank conditions in Canoe Creek.

•  Monitor effects of greywater discharge on Nielson Beach

•  Characterize boat greywater to help model effects on Lake Water Quality.

•  City of Salmon Arm, MoE, District of Sicamous

•  City of Salmon Arm

•  MoE

•  Waterways, MoE

•  Identify nutrient and contaminant loadings from tributaries.

•  Identify stream sections and tributaries with highest nutrient loads within the Shuswap River system.

•  MoE

•  MoE, NORD, Env. Canada, Lower Shuswap Stewardship Society

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Monitoring under SLIPP – 1st Year

Other Achievements

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Monitoring under SLIPP – 1st Year - Results

0.000

0.050

0.100

0.150

0.200

0.250

0.300

0.350

0.400

0.450

2002-09-01 2004-01-14 2005-05-28 2006-10-10 2008-02-22 2009-07-06 2010-11-18 2012-04-01 2013-08-14

Shuswap Lk W of Sorrento Total Nitrogen (mg/L)

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Monitoring under SLIPP – 1st Year - Results

0

0.02

0.04

0.06

0.08

0.1

0.12

0.14

0.16

2002-09-01 2004-01-14 2005-05-28 2006-10-10 2008-02-22 2009-07-06 2010-11-18 2012-04-01 2013-08-14

Shuswap Lk W of Sorrento Nitrate + Nitrite (mg/L)

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Monitoring under SLIPP – 1st Year - Results

0.000

0.050

0.100

0.150

0.200

0.250

0.300

0.350

2002-09-01 2004-01-14 2005-05-28 2006-10-10 2008-02-22 2009-07-06 2010-11-18 2012-04-01 2013-08-14

Shuswap Lk W of Sorrento Total Organic Nitrogen (mg/L)

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Monitoring under SLIPP – 1st Year - Results

0

0.005

0.01

0.015

0.02

0.025

0.03

0.035

0.04

2002-09-01 2004-01-14 2005-05-28 2006-10-10 2008-02-22 2009-07-06 2010-11-18 2012-04-01 2013-08-14

Shuswap Lk W of Sorrento Total Phosphorus (mg/L)

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Monitoring under SLIPP – 1st Year - Results

•  Similar Trends near Marble Point and at Sandy Point

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Monitoring under SLIPP – 1st Year - Results

0

0.005

0.01

0.015

0.02

0.025

2004-01-14 2005-05-28 2006-10-10 2008-02-22 2009-07-06 2010-11-18 2012-04-01 2013-08-14

Shuswap Lk at Sandy Pt Dissolved Phosphorus (mg/L)

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Monitoring under SLIPP – 1st Year - Results

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Monitoring under SLIPP – 1st Year - Results

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Monitoring under SLIPP – 1st Year - Results

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Monitoring under SLIPP – 1st Year - Results

Summary

•  Generally Increased organic Nitrogen in Main, Sicamous and Salmon Arm in 2011 compared to historic data (2003-2008)

•  Slight increase of phosphorus at Sandy Point in Salmon Arm from historic data (2003-2006). Increase was already observed in 2008.

•  Large tributaries contribute significantly higher nutrient loadings than smaller streams (even nutrient poor streams such as Adams and Seymour).

• Shuswap River provided the highest Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Organic Carbon Loading into Shuswap River System during Mar-Apr (Low-Land-Runoff) and June-July (High-Elevation Snow Melt).

•  Salmon River Nitrogen and Organic Carbon Loadings are similar to Adams, but Phosphorus loadings similar to Shuswap River during peak flows.