Peace Project Water Use Plan. Monitoring Program Terms of Reference. GMSMON-18 Williston Dust Control Monitoring

Transcription

1 Monitoring Program Terms of Reference GMSMON-18 Williston Dust Control Monitoring April 2, 2008

2 Terms of Reference for the Peace Project Water Use Plan Williston Dust Control Monitoring 1.0 MONITORING PROGRAM RATIONALE 1.1 Background This Terms of Reference (ToR) describes the GMSMON#18 Williston (WLL) Dust Control Monitoring project ( Dust Monitoring ). This project was proposed by the Committee for the Peace Project Water Use Plan (WUP) in the Committee Report dated December This monitoring program will assess the effectiveness of the dust control trials (conducted pursuant to ToR for GMSWORKS#21 WLL Dust Control Trials (the Dust Control Trials )) as well as other dust mitigation efforts carried out by BC Hydro and the First Nations (FNs) in the Finlay Reach drawdown zone of Williston Reservoir (Figure 1-1, Figure 1-2). Since creation of the Williston Reservoir following construction of the WAC Bennett Dam, winds have picked up fine particles of silts and clays ( dust ) from the exposed drawdown zone of the Finlay Reach of the reservoir. This aerial movement of particulates is of concern to residents and users of the area, particularly the Tsay Keh Dene (TKD) and Kwadacha First Nations (KFN). The village of Tsay Keh, a community of approximately 200 people, is located at the northern tip of Williston Reservoir; Kwadacha is located approximately 100 km north of the village (Figure 1-1). The large variation between full and low pool on Williston Reservoir, coupled with the reservoir topography, exposes up to 31,000 ha of drawdown zone (between elevations 672 m and 656 m) in the Finlay and upper Parsnip arms. Not all of this area is dust source beach; approximately 20,000 ha may contribute to aeolian dust erosion in extreme years, and an estimated 5,000 ha typically contributes the majority of the dust. The annual low elevation of the reservoir typically occurs in April and the majority of the beaches are flooded again by June. Some very high elevation beaches are flooded only in very high-pool years. The beaches are exposed to wind erosion for between two weeks and three months each year. This period of beach exposure to wind varies depending upon water levels, the reservoir recharge rate, and ice coverage of beaches. The beaches are composed of sand, silt, and clay in different proportions depending upon the beach. The beach soils are replenished each year as sediment carried into the reservoir settles out. The soils are very loose and have few nutrients, restricting plant growth. The short growing season (late May until flooded by the rising water) and cool temperatures typical of this northern high latitude also limits vegetation. Aeolian erosion of the beaches and consequent transport of suspended particulates was recognized as a WUP issue by the Peace WUP Committee (the Committee ) and two physical works projects, together with this monitoring program, were recommended by the Committee. Additional data about this issue have become available since the Committee Report was issued in BC Hydro Page 2

3 In 2007, BC Hydro, together with the TKD, contracted six outside experts in wind erosion and related issues to examine the emission of dust from Williston Reservoir and to propose a plan for mitigating those emissions. Those experts provided the Proposed Dust Mitigation Implementation Plan for Williston Reservoir, dated June 20, 2007 (the Experts Report ). That report recommended a strategy based upon tillage of dust source beaches, supplemented by irrigation and wetland/vegetation-use where appropriate. The Experts Report also recommended a regional air monitoring protocol to meet the WUP Committee s dust control audit proposal that formed the basis of this project. The experts have hypothesised that little dust comes directly from the reservoir banks but the results of the Dust Monitoring, the experts work in the field as part of the Williston Dust Mitigation Program, of which this project is a part (including the Dust Control Trials), and the subsequent long-term planning for the Williston Dust Mitigation Program, may suggest that specific work on dust emissions from those banks should be investigated. 1.2 First Nations Involvement This ToR was developed through a joint planning process between BC Hydro and TKD following consultation with the team of wind erosion experts. Once developed, the ToR underwent internal review by BC Hydro and Tsay Keh Dene First Nation. An external review process followed the internal review providing First Nations (FNs), stakeholders, and government agencies including Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and Ministry of Environment with an opportunity to comment on this document. Implementation of this project provides an opportunity for FNs to build capacity and knowledge related to dust monitoring methodologies. It is anticipated that the FNs will be actively involved by providing personnel and local knowledge, as well as learning about the project. To facilitate transfer of knowledge, effort will be made to include FNs personnel in all aspects of the project. At a minimum, it is expected that the FNs personnel will engage in all duties typical of a field assistant in projects of this nature. Costs associated with FNs labour are a component of the overall project costs. BC Hydro Page 3

4 Figure 1-1: Place Names in Peace Water Use Plan Finlay Reach BC Hydro Page 4

5 Figure 1-2: Finlay Reach Beaches BC Hydro Page 5

6 1.3 Management Questions The key management question is: What is the impact of dust mitigation treatments on aeolian dust emission from the Finlay Reach of Williston Reservoir? The Committee did not identify a specific management question to be addressed for this project. However, the Dust Control Monitoring Program has been designed to provide data to measure the effectiveness of the mitigation measures (including Dust Control Trials) in the Finlay Reach. As recommended by the Committee, trial and control sites will be used to assess the impact of dust mitigation treatments as baseline data is unavailable. 1.4 Management Study Hypothesis No specific hypothesis was recommended by the WUP Committee, however the primary hypothesis 1 being tested by this study is: H 1 : Dust mitigation measures carried out pursuant to the BC Hydro/FNs Williston Dust Mitigation Program (including measures carried out as part of the Dust Control Trials) significantly reduce the emission of wind-blown dust from the Williston Reservoir drawdown zone in the Finlay Reach. 1.5 Key Water Use Decision Affected The results of this project will provide input into both adaptive management of dust mitigation in Williston Reservoir and future water use decisions respecting dust control. 2.0 MONITORING PROGRAM PROPOSAL 2.1 Objective and Scope The objectives of the monitoring program is to address the management question identified in Section 1.2 by collecting the data necessary to draw inferences and to test the hypothesis outlined in Section 1.3. In addition, the monitoring program will: 1) Provide long-term data on airborne particulate matter concentrations in the upper Finlay Reach airshed; and 2) Evaluate the effectiveness of dust mitigation treatments in the Finlay Reach drawdown zone of Williston Reservoir. Six instrument packages consisting of air quality monitors and meteorological instruments will be installed in selected sites commencing in April Equipment will be provided by BC Hydro (purchased in advance of receiving Leave to Commence due to long lead times). Measurements will be taken between early 1 For clarity, the hypotheses are stated as the alternate hypotheses. Analyses will test the null hypotheses of no effect or difference. BC Hydro Page 6

7 spring and full pool each year commencing 2008 and terminating 2017 (10 years). Instrumentation will be installed and removed annually. 2.2 Approach Instrumentation will be installed at selected beach sites and one non-beach control site each year over the 10-year project (or for so long as dust mitigation measures are carried out in the Finlay Reach of Williston Reservoir, but for at least the three years of the Dust Control Trials). Data will be downloaded at regular intervals. An annual report will summarize daily air quality measurements and draw conclusions on the effectiveness of the mitigation measures. Equipment has been acquired in advance of this ToR due to long lead times for procurement and testing. For at least the first three years of this project, equipment maintenance and calibration will be provided by the University of Guelph. 2.3 Methods Task 1: Project Coordination Project coordination will involve the general administrative and technical oversight of the project. This task will include but not be limited to: 1) budget management, 2) study team management, 3) logistic coordination, 4) technical oversight of field and analysis components, 5) annual maintenance and calibration of the instruments, and 6) reporting. Data may also be useful to other projects so it will be made available to other investigators within the WUP projects if appropriate Task 2: Installation and Downloading of Data Instrumentation will be installed at sites selected as appropriate by Dr. Bill Nickling or his substitute. Currently proposed sites include Omineca Flats, Corless Bay, Tsay Keh, Van Somer Point, and Middle Creek South beaches, as well as one non-beach control site. Instruments will be downloaded at all sites on a weekly basis. Instrumentation at each site will include: single RM Young wind anemometer (speed and direction), data logger (CR 1000), partisol dictomus sampler (+2025 model) with 10 μm and 2.5 μm cuts. One 24-hour composite sample will be measured each day with filter retrieval done daily. These will be powered by a solar array, wind generator, and batteries. Rainfall, temperature, and relative humidity will also be measured hourly. Instrumentation will be installed as early as practicable each spring at relatively high locations on each beach and will be removed before the site is flooded by the rising reservoir (being the end of the dust season) Task 3: Maintenance of Equipment For at least the first three years of the project, equipment will be shipped to the University of Guelph at the end of each season for maintenance and calibration. Thereafter equipment will be subject to appropriate annual maintenance and calibration for the remainder of the life of this project. BC Hydro Page 7

8 Maintenance and calibration of all equipment will be performed according to manufacturer specifications. Records will be kept to track maintenance and calibration activities Task 4: Data Analysis All data will be entered into an appropriate database (Microsoft Excel or Access). Statistical analysis will entail assessing spatial and temporal variation in air quality along study sites within the Finlay Reach Task 5: Reporting Project reporting will consist of a series of annual data reports and a single final report at the conclusion of the monitoring program. Reporting will include: a) an executive summary of the project; b) description of field locations and map identifying sites; c) methods used to collect and analyze the data; d) data collected, presented in tabular and graphical form; e) results of analyses; f) an assessment of the findings as they relate to the management question and hypothesis; g) description of maintenance activities for equipment; and h) any recommendations towards future monitoring (if any) needed. A report will be provided in hard-copy and as Microsoft Word and Adobe Acrobat (*.pdf) format. The required maps and figures will included as embedded objects in the report. All maps and figures will also be provided in their native format as separate files. Raw data will be submitted in a Microsoft Excel or Access database. 2.4 Interpretation of Results The observations from the project will assist in the adaptive management of dust mitigation strategies in the Finlay Reach, both the related Dust Control Trials and other non-wup dust mitigation measures. 2.5 Schedule Instrumentation has been purchased in advance of Leave to Commence for this project because of the long lead times for procurement and equipment setup and calibration. Instruments will be installed at study sites annually beginning in 2008, during the 10-year monitoring program, in early spring with downloading and maintenance of equipment occurring every week. Instruments will be removed from study sites annually once the reservoir rises sufficiently to inundate the majority of the dust beaches. Monitoring is scheduled to occur annually over the life of the study. Equipment will be calibrated and maintained over the study period on an annual basis, initially by the University of Guelph. BC Hydro Page 8

9 2.6 Budget The estimated cost for the monitoring program in Year 1 is $642,192 (Table 3-1). The preliminary estimated total costs of the project for the remaining nine years is $2,702,929 (Table 3-2). Costs following Year 1 are uncertain and subject to change based on the results of this monitoring program and WLL Dust Control Trials. Assuming estimates are accurate, the total cost of the program over 10-year period is $3,345,121 (including 2% inflation). Table 3-1: Estimated Cost of the Dust Control Monitoring Program in Year 1 Total $642,192 Table 3-2: Preliminary Estimated Annual Cost of the Dust Control Monitoring Program following Year 1 Sub-total $2,444,929 Inflation 2% $258,000 Total $2,702,929 BC Hydro Page 9