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Fraser River Action Plan 3rd Research Workshop MacDonald: First, Ken Hall’s point on water hydrology is very important. The public must be aware that we’re losing our river. This had to do with channeling rivers, changing permeability, diverting flow through galvanized pipes (Zn source). There is a natural hydrology and these activities are changing/detracting from it. We have to take steps to protect stream systems. Second, there seems to be lots of PAH measurements being made. I think we need complete suite of PAH measurements, including the parent PAHs (which are usually otherwise put together & added up by EPA toxicity approach). This kind of information is crucial to understand sources and fate of PAHs. Third, what about silver? It is an excellent tracer for sewage. Bendell-Young: From Farrell’s study, we know anti-sapstain toxicity to sturgeon is in the parts per billion range. Can we regulate at these low levels; and if not, is industry going to start generating other antisapstains to replace what’s taken off the market? If this happens, we’ll just be doing endless toxicity studies rather than pushing towards drying wood by kiln? Is this a realistic direction we’re heading in? Mah: In the case of pentachlorophenol, it took 9 years to take it off the market. Farrell: TCMTB was taken off in a shorter time.... Mah: ...because of health reasons, not environmental effects... Farrell: I disagree, there was a definite undercurrent of environmental effects. Besides, regardless of species, there is a common mechanism of action on respiratory membranes. In response to Leah (Bendell-Young), let’s get off the treadmill by moving away from BAT — it’s not the answer. We need to question what we want, what is acceptable for new technology in the long term. Data Gaps/Recommendations • A number of urban runoff projects lack local loading data and how water quality conditions change over storm events. • No data for biologically active P (SRP) for point sources. • Nutrient data for tributaries limited to infrequent TP samples (with exception of Nechako and Thompson R.). • Mandate P/N monitoring as requisite in license issue/renewal for point sources (mills and STPs). • Possible role of sediments in modulating toxicity of anti-sapstain chemicals. • Need to establish relevance of testing sturgeon larvae versus other species, i.e., are sturgeon larvae even exposed to the chemicals? • Stream benthos ordination and cluster analyses data gaps. • Fish, benthos and mesocosm experimental data consolidated for a publication. • In order for stream ecosystems data to be useful as baseline reference, need further studies estimating the degree of variation attributable to several different contaminant sources. • Compare experimental data with field community structure of lower Fraser streams to test predictions that biological patterns may be based on type of environmental perturbation, or channel/catchment characteristics. • Water quality data needs to be interpreted within the context of toxicity to organisms over both shortterm (brief rainfall) and long-term (flushing out of watersheds) weather events. • An integrated summary report (air, biota, and urban runoff) is recommended for management decisions. • Successful runoff management requires strong working partnerships between different levels of government. • Management strategies to remove suspended solids in stormwater will help to control contaminants in urban streams. Page 316
Fraser River Action Plan 3rd Research Workshop General Conclusions • Impact of agriculture on stream water quality: – excess of nutrients a major problem. Session 4: Agricultural Issues Chair: H. Schreier – stocking density far exceeds absorption capacity of the soils. – at certain times of the year, dissolved O2 depression problematic. – ammonia toxicity found in several agricultural streams. – Sumas R: impact of agriculture intensification on water quality is leading to extensive stream deterioration in the fall in areas where river is fed by rainwater inputs; in areas of river where groundwater inputs dominate, contamination is highest in August when groundwater inputs are greatest. – high nitrate values (above health standards) particularly for unconfined groundwater aquifers. – eutrophication: excess P is building up everywhere. When there are stormwater runoffs, sediments get into streams and this leads to eutrophication. – in terms of metals, agriculture contributes Zn, and some Cu — pig operations use these as dietary supplements, and as prophylactics. – pesticides do have effect on bird life — but limited studies have been done. • Implications and approaches useful to management: Discussion – pest management practices. – EPS - an index of manure management for farmers. – continued efforts to improve on farming practices, but no real solutions. Farmers are fixed in tradition and do not realize they have intensified their practices; need to convince farmers of the value of BMPs. – community involvement in setting objectives and monitoring efforts. – simulation modeling to forecast into the future. Vadas: The citizen monitoring programs need to be tested. Some of the organisms are too small. Schreier: The whole area of citizen participation is difficult. Johnstone: How can we start to feed the results to the community before all the papers are completed? How can we do this on an ongoing basis? Is this a reasonable expectation? Schreier: Initially, communities were not interested. But a constant feed of information to them helps. In Langley, they are now working with the community management. Langley is setting bylaws based on these studies. Hall: Cooperation with Burnaby is now building; both with stormwater management and flood control. Chambers: What are typical P, N application rates in the area? Page 317
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PROCEEDINGS 3rd RESEARCH WORKSHOP F
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TABLE OF CONTENTS Participants ....
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Development of a Citizen’s Monito
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SESSION 1 PULP MILL EFFLUENT ISSUES
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SESSION 4 AGRICULTURAL ISSUES
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SESSION 5 BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS
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