Ontario Surface Water Monitoring Programs

Transcription

1 Water Quality of Surface Water: Monitoring and Protection September 24, 2005 Julie Schulenburg Surface Water Specialist

2 Ontario Surface Water Monitoring Programs Provincial Water Quality Monitoring Program (PWQMN) Ontario Ministry of the Environment Ontario Benthos Biomonitoring Program (OBBN) Ontario Ministry of the Environment (MOE) Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Network (EMAN), National Water Research Institute (NWRI) 2

3 Purpose Provincial Water Quality Monitoring Network To document long-term trends To determine general location and causes of problems To measure the effectiveness of pollution control and watershed management programs e.g. Deloro Mine Clean Up 3

4 PWQMN QC = 29 sites Moira River Watershed (13) Salmon River Watershed (1) Napanee River Watershed (3) Prince Edward County (12) 4

5 PWQMN When? Generally 1x / month Spring to fall Moira River Watershed 8x / yr Salmon River Watershed 8x / yr Napanee River Watershed 8x /yr Prince Edward County 5x / yr 5

6 PWQMN What? Chloride, nutrients, suspended solids, trace metals and other general chemistry parameters Arsenic at selected sites in MRW How? Standardized sampling protocols Standardized laboratory analysis 6

7 Purpose To assess the health of streams and rivers What? Aquatic invertebrates Not just insects Indicators of water and habitat quality How? Ontario Benthos Biomonitoring Network Standardized sampling protocol In-House identification 7

8 Creeks and Rivers Involved Moira River Watershed (15): Skootamatta, Clare and Black Rivers, Parks, Palliser, Goose, Chrysal, Number Ten, and Potter Creeks Napanee Region Watershed (5): Napanee and Salmon Rivers, Fisher, Pennells, and Selby Creeks Prince Edward Region Watershed (6): Bloomfield, Consecon, Demorestville, Hillier, Hubbs, Sawguin, and Waupoos Creeks 8

9 OBBN When? 2x per year May and October Sampling Design Reference sites, fall 2003 to 2005 Test sites, 2006 to 9

10 Why Use Invertebrates? Easily identifiable Found in all types of water and habitats Reflects local conditions overtime Reflects varying water quality conditions 10

11 Aquatic earthworm (Photo Source: DESC) Leech Indicators of Poor Water Quality Midge larva Blackfly larva 11

12 (Photo Source: DESC) Damselfly nymph Sow bug Clam Indicators of Fair Water Quality Cranefly larva Scud Dragonfly nymph Crayfish 12

13 Mayfly nymph Caddisfly nymph Indicators of Good Water Dobsonfly nymph Quality Stonefly nymph (Photo Source: DESC) 13

14 OBBN Why? To determine the health of each stream Screening tool for further analysis & investigation Long-term monitoring to observe changes overtime, i.e. degradation or improvement in the water quality 14

15 Surface Water Protection Starts at Home

16 Surface Water Protection Keep your shoreline natural >30 m (100 ft) width of shoreline Native plants Aquatic and terrestrial plants Let logs lie Why? Reduce erosion Reduce flooding Improve water quality 16

17 Surface Water Protection Good Vegetated Buffer Strips Deep root systems Bank stabilizer Reduces stream velocity Traps sediment Reduces turbidity Provides shade Regulates water temperature Provides woody debris Food and habitat Fire wood 17

18 Surface Water Protection BONUS: Creates wildlife habitat Discourages Canadian Geese Removes > 50 % of chemical fertilizers and pesticides Removes > 60 % of some bacteria Reduces > 75 % of sediment (soil particles) Reduces noise Increases privacy *Increases property value* 18

19 Surface Water Protection Redirect runoff away from shoreline Replace solid surfaces with porous surfaces e.g. gravel, grass Install a rain barrel BONUS: Great for watering gardens 19

20 Surface Water Protection Mow it high and let it lie Cut grass at 8 cm (3 ) high to retain moisture Leave clippings as fertilizer BONUS: Reduce watering & fertilizing Manual Mower 20

21 Surface Water Protection Use environmentally safe products Baking soda & vinegar Simply Clean household products Maintain a healthy septic system Consult a local expert 21

22 Contacts Septic Systems s/ htm Local Health Unit Well & Septic Inspector: Sharbot Lake office Tel: (613) Cloyne office Tel: (613) Local Installer Ordering native plants Local nursery 22

23 Thank you 23