Lake Water Quality ManagementLake Water Quality Management

in Alberta in AlbertaPresented at the Lake Management WorkshopPresented at the Lake Management Workshop

June 19, 2013 June 19, 2013 David Trew, P. Biol.David Trew, P. Biol.

North Saskatchewan Watershed North Saskatchewan Watershed Alliance (NSWA)Alliance (NSWA)

A multi-stakeholder, non-profit A multi-stakeholder, non-profit society (inc. 2000)society (inc. 2000)

Appointed Appointed WPACWPAC by GOA in by GOA in 20052005

Members: organizations and Members: organizations and individualsindividuals

~5 FTE staff ~5 FTE staff 2011-12 Budget: $460K cash 2011-12 Budget: $460K cash

and $375K in-kind supportand $375K in-kind support Offices and IT provided by City Offices and IT provided by City

of Edmontonof Edmonton Facebook, Twitter, WebsiteFacebook, Twitter, Website

•

Watershed Planning and Advisory CouncilsWatershed Planning and Advisory Councils

ElevenEleven WPACsWPACs have been have been appointed by GOAappointed by GOA

WPACs collaborate regularlyWPACs collaborate regularly WPAC role under WPAC role under Water for LifeWater for Life: :

State of Watershed ReportsState of Watershed ReportsWatershed Management PlansWatershed Management Plans Contribute knowledge, support Contribute knowledge, support

watershed management work watershed management work by municipalities and local by municipalities and local watershed stewardship groupswatershed stewardship groups

Milk River Watershed Council

Lesser Slave Lake Watershed Council

Beaver River Watershed Alliance

North Saskatchewan Watershed Alliance

Battle River Watershed Alliance

Red Deer Watershed Alliance

Bow River Basin Council

Oldman Watershed Council

Mighty Peace Watershed Alliance

Athabasca Watershed

Council

SEAWA

NSWA Publications NSWA Publications North Saskatchewan North Saskatchewan

River Guide (2002)River Guide (2002) Community Watershed Community Watershed

Stewardship Toolkit Stewardship Toolkit (2002)(2002)

Canadian Heritage Canadian Heritage Rivers Program (2005)Rivers Program (2005)

State of the Watershed State of the Watershed Report (2005)Report (2005)

Municipal Resource Municipal Resource Guide (2006)Guide (2006)

15 technical reports 15 technical reports (2007-10)(2007-10)

8 planning reports 8 planning reports (2011-12) (2011-12)

Major features:1.2 million people20 counties2 hydro-electric reservoirs3 coal fired plantsLarge petrochemical sectorLarge agriculture sectorForestry Oil and gas exploration12 water sub-basins37 recreational lakes

Central Alberta LakesCentral Alberta Lakes Geology, land useGeology, land use Few high quality Few high quality

lakeslakes Many are shallow Many are shallow

and naturally and naturally “green”“green”

125+ years 125+ years human impactshuman impacts

Poorly flushedPoorly flushed High retention of High retention of

phosphorus phosphorus

PressuresPressures

Population growthPopulation growth Lakeshore Lakeshore

development development Watershed impacts Watershed impacts

(agriculture, forestry, (agriculture, forestry, oil/gas development, oil/gas development, residential) residential)

Climate change Climate change effectseffects

Value of our LakesValue of our Lakes

Key recreational Key recreational destinationsdestinations

Provincial ParksProvincial Parks Real estate Real estate

investmentinvestment Fishing, boating, Fishing, boating,

recreationrecreation Value of lakes in Value of lakes in

the recreational the recreational economy? economy?

EGS?EGS?

International Lake ScienceInternational Lake Science

>100 years of World and Canadian >100 years of World and Canadian scientific research on lakesscientific research on lakes

Vollenweider (1968):Vollenweider (1968): “Scientific “Scientific fundamentals of the eutrophication of fundamentals of the eutrophication of lakes and flowing waters”. OECD, Parislakes and flowing waters”. OECD, Paris

Key role of phosphorus management in Key role of phosphorus management in the protection of lake water qualitythe protection of lake water quality

The Vollenweider phosphorus The Vollenweider phosphorus model (1969)model (1969)

[TP] = TP Concentration [TP] = TP Concentration

L = Annual P-LoadingL = Annual P-Loading z = Mean depthz = Mean depth ρρww = Flushing rate = Flushing rate

σσ = Sed. Coeff = Sed. Coeff

[TP] = L

z (σ + ρω)

The 1970s The 1970s phosphorus phosphorus

modeling modeling procedure procedure

DEPTH

FLUSHING RATE

P-RETENTION

SALINITY

TURBIDITY

N:P RATIOS

P- LOADINGS

P- CONCENTRATIONS

ALGAL CONCENTRATIONS

Example:Example:Phosphorus control Phosphorus control

in the NSRin the NSR

Reservoir Operations

Brazeau Hydro Plant - 1965Brazeau Hydro Plant - 1965

Bighorn Hydro Plant - 1972Bighorn Hydro Plant - 1972

Impact of Reservoirs on DischargeImpact of Reservoirs on Discharge

1.15 mg/L 0.761 mg/L0.552 mg/L0.405 mg/L

Central Alberta LakesCentral Alberta Lakes

““Catch anything today?Catch anything today?” ”

““See you at the beach?”See you at the beach?”

AgriculturalLand = ?

Forested Land = ?

Rain/Dust/Snow = ?

Internal Load = ?

Shoreline Sewage = ?

Urban Runoff = ?

Phosphorus Control (?)Phosphorus Control (?)

The Baptiste Lake Study The Baptiste Lake Study 1976-791976-79

Crisis at lake: too Crisis at lake: too much development much development already? already?

GOA needed a lake GOA needed a lake model to predict model to predict effects of developmenteffects of development

Intensive study of lake Intensive study of lake and watershed nutrient and watershed nutrient sources sources

Baptiste Lake Study ResultsBaptiste Lake Study Results

Developed sampling Developed sampling and lab methods and lab methods

Described annual lake Described annual lake phosphorus cyclephosphorus cycle

Measured phosphorus Measured phosphorus loadings from loadings from agricultural and agricultural and forested streamsforested streams

Observed high Observed high phosphorus near phosphorus near bottom sedimentsbottom sediments

Tributary LocationsTributary LocationsN

EW

S

ML

K

F

E

AB

C

D

H

I

J

N

La

ke

Ba

ptis

te

At h

ab

as

ca

Ri v

er

GX

O

AgriculturalLand = 800 kg

Forest Land = 1500 kg

Rain/Dust/Snow = 279 kg

Internal Load = 1000+ kg

Shoreline Sewage(315 kg)

Urban Runoff = 500 kg

Baptiste: Phosphorus Sources Baptiste: Phosphorus Sources

Slide showing Slide showing sediment cores?sediment cores?

0

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.06

0.07

0.08

0.09

0.11

-Ma

y-8

2

21

-Ma

y-8

2

10

-Ju

n-8

2

30

-Ju

n-8

2

20

-Ju

l-82

9-A

ug

-82

29

-Au

g-8

2

18

-Se

p-8

2

8-O

ct-8

2

28

-Oct

-82

Sample Date

Ph

osp

ho

rus F

racti

on

s (

mg

/L)

Total Phosphorus

Total DissolvedPhosphorus

Soluble ReactivePhosphorus

Comparison of Seasonal Phosphorus Concentrations in Tucker Lake, 1982

Tucker Lake P-Budget 1982

Surface Runoff594.1 kgAtmospheric Deposition40.6 kgInternal Loading920 kg

3%

59%

38%

Surface Runoff594.1 kg

Atmospheric Deposition40.6 kg

Internal Loading920 kg

Tucker Lake P-budget, May 10-October 27, 1982

Total Load = 1554.7 kg

Wabamun Lake P-Budget 1981

Surface Runoff (Streams) 1804 kgDiffuse Runoff 1262 kgAsh Lagoon 239 kgAtmospheric Deposition 2034 kgCottages (Sewage) 75 kgGroundwater 364 kgInternal Loading 12000 kg

2.0%0.4%

1.3%

7.1%

10.1%

11.4%

67.5%

Surface Runoff (Streams) 1804 kg

Diffuse Runoff 1262 kg

Ash Lagoon 239 kg

Atmospheric Deposition 2034 kg

Cottages (Sewage) 75 kg

Groundwater 364 kg

Internal Loading 12000 kg

Wabamun Lake P-budget, March 4, 1981 to March 3, 1982

Total Load = 17778 kg

Pine Lake PhosphorusBudget, 1992

32.9%

3.2%

3.1%

60.8%

Streams(665 kg)

Diffuse Runoff Areas(64 kg)

AtmosphericDeposition (62 kg)

Net Internal Loading(1228 kg)

(Includes theoreticalsewage loading of118 kg)

Calculated Loadingof Phosphorusfrom Sewage

Lac Ste. Anne and Lake IsleLac Ste. Anne and Lake Isle

Twp 55

Twp 54

Twp 53

Rge 3Rge 4Rge 5

Rge 6Rge 7

Diffuse Runoff Area

Tributary

AnneAnneAnneAnneAnneAnneAnneAnneAnne

LacLacLacLacLacLacLacLacLac

SteSteSteSteSteSteSteSteSte

LakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLake

BirchBirchBirchBirchBirchBirchBirchBirchBirch

IsleIsleIsleIsleIsleIsleIsleIsleIsle

LakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLake

Isle Lake - Lac Ste Anne Basin

Lac Ste. Anne P-Budget 1997

Surface Runoff 8234 kgAtmospheric Deposition 469 kgCottages (Sewage) 700 kgNet Internal Load 14000 kg

3.0%

2.0%

35.2%

59.8%

Surface Runoff 8234 kg

Atmospheric Deposition 469 kg

Cottages (Sewage) 700 kg

Net Internal Load 14000 kg

Isle Lake P-budget, March 1 to October 31, 1997

Total Load = 23403 kg

Lac Ste. Anne P-Budget 1997

Surface Runoff 11854 kgFrom Lake Isle 5732 kgAtmospheric Deposition 1068 kgCottages (Sewage) 1272 kgNet Internal Load 22110 kg

3.0%

28.2%

13.6%

2.5%

52.6%

Surface Runoff 11854 kg

From Lake Isle 5732 kg

Atmospheric Deposition 1068 kg

Cottages (Sewage) 1272 kg

Net Internal Load 22110 kg

Lac Ste. Anne P-budget, March 1 to October 31, 1997

Total Load = 42036 kg

Gull Lake P-budget 2000 Gull Lake P-budget 2000

10.8%

33.3%

48.0%

4.1%3.8%

Forest

Agricultural/Cleared

Precipitation/Dustfall

Internal Load(bottom sediments)Blindman Diversion

TOTAL LOAD = 16,245 kg(Preliminary Estimates)

2000

Range of Daily Net Internal Loading Ratesfor 28 Shallow Alberta Lakes

-5

0

5

10

15

20

25C

rimso

n

Dill

ber

ry

Buf

falo

Gu

ll

Syl

van

McL

eod

Eas

t

Pig

eon

Pin

e

Wab

amun

Wiz

ard

Iose

gun

Elk

wat

er

Mur

iel

Moo

se

Long

Moo

nshi

ne

Bon

nie

Bat

tle

Ste

ele

Sa

ndy

Sou

th

Tuc

ker

Ste

. Ann

e

Sa

ndy

Nor

th

Buc

k

Isle

Stu

rgeo

n

Sm

oke

Sas

kato

on

Lake Name

Ne

t R

ate

of

Inte

rnal

To

tal P

ho

sph

oru

s L

oad

ing

(m

g/m

2/d

)

-5

0

5

10

15

20

25

Maximum

75th Percentile

Median

25th Percentile

Minimum

Watershed Stream StudiesWatershed Stream Studies

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

1.4

Hay

nes

Creek

Baptis

te (

AENV)

CAESA

Baptis

te (U

of A

)

Wab

amun

(AEN

V)

CAESA

CAESA

Baptis

te (U

of A

)

Wab

amun

(AEN

V)

Baptis

te (A

ENV)

Two

Cre

ek (U

of A

)

An

nu

al

Flo

w-W

eig

hte

d M

ea

n T

P (

mg

/L)

Agricutural Streams Forested Streams

Phosphorus in Alberta Lakes Phosphorus in Alberta Lakes

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

Gre

gg

Jarv

is

Tra

vers

Dill

berr

y

Tou

chw

ood

New

ell

Crim

son

Syl

van

Spr

uce

Cou

lee

McL

eod

Beau

vais

Gre

goi

re

Pol

ice

Out

post

Ree

sor

Cha

in L

ake

s

Nor

th B

uck

Pig

eon

Waba

mun

Gar

ner

Elk

wat

er

Moo

se

Gul

l

Lon

g

Buf

falo

Mai

n B

ay

Thu

nder

Buf

falo

Sec

onda

ry

Stu

rgeo

n M

ain

Ste

ele

La B

iche

Win

aga

mi

Moo

nshi

ne

Miq

uel

on

Car

dina

l

LAKE NAME

TO

TA

L P

HO

SP

HO

RU

S (

mg

/m3 )

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

Oligotrophic(Low Productivity)

(<10 mg/m3)

Mesotrophic(Moderate Productivity)

(10-35 mg/m3)

Eutrophic(High Productivity)

(35-100 mg/m3)

Hypereutrophic(Very High Productivity)

(>100 mg/m3)

Alberta Lake Studies Alberta Lake Studies

Large number of GOA reports and academic Large number of GOA reports and academic journal publications: limnology of Alberta lakes journal publications: limnology of Alberta lakes

Lakes with nutrient data: Lakes with nutrient data: 438438 Lakes with “time series” nutrient data versus Lakes with “time series” nutrient data versus

single samples: single samples: 169 169 Lakes currently monitored: Lakes currently monitored: 5757 Lakes with watershed (diagnostic) studies: Lakes with watershed (diagnostic) studies: 6+6+ Lakes with watershed–based water quality Lakes with watershed–based water quality

“plans”: 1 (Pine)“plans”: 1 (Pine)

Summary Summary

Central Alberta rivers have improved since Central Alberta rivers have improved since 1980s - as a result of applied research and 1980s - as a result of applied research and strong pollution control regulationsstrong pollution control regulations

Lake water quality has not improved, and Lake water quality has not improved, and remains poor or threatened in many cases – remains poor or threatened in many cases – even though much applied research is even though much applied research is available available

Accountabilities for “lake management” need Accountabilities for “lake management” need to be resolvedto be resolved

Lake water quality plans must be integrated Lake water quality plans must be integrated into current land use planning.into current land use planning.

Thank YouThank You