The Water Survey of Canada Stream and Lake Gauging Network

Transcription

1 The Water Survey of Canada Stream and Lake Gauging Network Past and Future Hydroclimatic Variability: Applications to Water Resource Management in the Prairie Provinces

2 The Water Survey of Canada Stream and Lake Gauging Network Overview: Describe The Canadian Hydrometric Monitoring Program Historical Context of the Hydrometric Network Demonstrate Extent of the National Network in terms of spatial distribution, period of record and data type Provide some examples of long term record. Address the difference between measurements and derivations

3 Evolution of the Hydrometric Network in Canada Why create a hydrometric network? 1. Risk Assessment for Economic Value and 2. Risk Assessement for Safety and Security of life and property First records of stage were to reduce the risks to water borne transportation First records of stream flow were for demonstration of economic vitality: Secure water supply: Domestic uses, Agriculture (irrigation), Power generation, Transportation,

4 Evolution of the Hydrometric Network in Canada Why maintain a hydrometric network? 1. Risk Assessment for Economic Value and 2. Safety and Security Current records of streamflow continue to have economic basis: Secure water supply Planning and Apportionment of water uses: irrigation, power, transportation, municipal, industrial, flood protection, drought mitigation, habitat protection/evolution Security from Flood and Drought Address Climate issues: stability/change

5 Historical Context General Report on Irrigation and Canadian Irrigation Surveys " In previous general reports it has been pointed out that one of the greatest obstacles in the way of irrigation development was ignorance of the results to be obtained thereby, and an unfortunate opinion, which was popularly held, that the lack of rainfall which had caused a failure of crops during the past years, was an exceptional condition and that the expected cycle of with attendant good crops of hay and grain.

6 Historical Context General Report on Irrigation and Canadian Irrigation Surveys Now, however, the possibilities from irrigation are better understood owing to the many object lessons which irrigated crops have furnished throughout the country, and the existing climatic conditions and uncertainty of sufficient rainfall during any year to mature crops are appreciated even by those who have been skeptical of the necessity for irrigation. Without doubt the reports on the subject which have been issued from this office have assisted in bringing about this change of sentiment; but much of it is due to the unfortunate experience of those settlers who have persisted in thinking that crops could be raised without the artificial application of water"

7 Historical Context As our predecessor noted in the 1896 report referenced above the measurement and reporting of surface water availability was fundamental to good farm practice and by extension the economy of the territories as a whole. However, data was either insufficient or insufficiently understood, or improperly acted upon. The 1896 report suggests that decision makers relied then more on responding to demonstrated hardship then to putting in place systems to mitigate that hardship in the first place.

8 Present Day Hydrometric Network The co-managed Hydrometric Monitoring program the was established in 1975 order-in-council signing the agreement between the Government of Canada represented by the Minister of the Environment and the various provincial governments, a specific agreement is independently signed for each jurisdiction. Other partners such as Manitoba Hydro participate as well, either by data contribution or by financial or other in kind support.

9 Present Day Hydrometric Network The 1975 Agreement provides this context for the purpose of: securing co-ordinated and standardized basic data; to facilitate resource planning and management in general and the design and implementation of projects related to navigation, hydro-electric development, irrigation, drainage, flood control, recreation, domestic and industrial water supply and other purposes;

10 Present Day Hydrometric Network Federal Objectives of the Hydrometric network Federal Priorities: Statutory Obligations. These include international and inter-provincial boundary stations which are operated to monitor apportionment agreements. Reference Hydrometric Basin Network (RHBN). These stations are used for climate change detection, and monitor runoff from basins characterized by either pristine or stable hydrologic conditions. Only active stations with at least 20 years of record are included in the RHBN. Environment Canada Science. These stations are operated to fulfill Environment Canada s need for hydrometric monitoring as base information for scientific studies including climate change detection, detection and reduction of toxics in the environment, biodiversity, environmental impact assessments and other topics. Other Government Departments Special Activities

11 Present Day Hydrometric Network Federal Objectives of the Hydrometric network Provincial Priorities: Vary and are set by the various jurisdictions Alberta Example: Albertans identified three goals for the Water for Life Strategy : a safe, secure drinking water supply healthy aquatic ecosystems reliable, quality water supplies for a sustainable economy

12 Network Extent, Duration Reasoning behind adding/cancelling WSC stations. Political Pressure major partners are government organizations polictial pressure we are a large organization Economic pressure This is not to say Budget Pressure the federal budget is a mechanism of How work is achieved, and should not be misconstrued as an instrument of government policy. For example, if the number of gauging locations was limited by the budget alone WSC could through technological advancement increase the number of sites it operates. However, this is not the case. Economic pressures are demonstrations that the Canadian/Provincial economy may benefit from improved/increased hydrometric monitoring. These decisions are established more by policy and less by cost.

13 2051 Active sites in 2006

14 1002 Continuous Natural Flow Sites in 2006

15 514 Continuous Natural Flow Site in 2006 with 20 years contiguous

16 41 Continuous Natural Flow Sites in 2006 with 50 years contiguous

17 3 Sites with data prior to y = 68911x - 1E+08 R 2 = Niagra R. At Queenston Accumulating Annual Totals St. Mary R at Sault Ste. Marie y = 25393x - 5E+07 R 2 = Winnipeg R. bl Lake of the Woods Outlet y = x - 1E+07 R 2 = Year of Record Niagara R at Queenston St. Mary's River Sault Ste Marie Winnipeg River below Lake of the Woods Outlet

18 3 Sites with data prior to 1890 Monthly Hydrograph for period of Record Mean Monthly Flowrate (m3/s) y = -7E-05x R 2 = -3E-07 y = x R 2 = 3E-06 y = x R 2 = y = x R 2 = y = x R 2 = 3E-06 y = x R 2 = Year of Record St. Mary's River at Sault Ste. Marie Niagara River at Queenston Winnipeg River below Lake of the Woods Outlet

19 Long Term Data in Saskatchewan Basin May to October Record Mean flow rate km km km km km Year of Record NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AT EDMONTON NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AT PRINCE ALBERT SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AT THE PAS SOUTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AT MEDICINE HAT SOUTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AT SASKATOON

20 Long Term Data in Saskatchewan Basin Annual Record Mean flow rate Year of Record NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AT EDMONTON NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AT PRINCE ALBERT SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AT THE PAS SOUTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AT MEDICINE HAT SOUTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AT SASKATOON

21 Winter Flow Changes Comparsion of Winter Flow as Fraction of Total flow 70% 60% Ratio of Winter flow to Annual Flow 50% 40% 30% 20% NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AT EDMONTON SOUTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AT MEDICINE HAT NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AT PRINCE ALBERT SOUTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AT SASKATOON SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AT THE PAS 10% 0% Year of Record (water year Nov-Oct)

22 Winter Flow Changes Comparsion of Winter Flow as Fraction of Total flow 70% 60% NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AT EDMONTON Ratio of Winter flow to Annual Flow 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% SOUTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AT MEDICINE HAT NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AT PRINCE ALBERT SOUTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AT SASKATOON SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AT THE PAS 10 per. Mov. Avg. (SOUTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AT SASKATOON) 10 per. Mov. Avg. (SOUTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AT MEDICINE HAT) 10 per. Mov. Avg. (SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AT THE PAS) 10 per. Mov. Avg. (NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AT EDMONTON) 0% Year of Record (water year Nov-Oct)

23 Long Term Data in Saskatchewan Basin Annual Record Mean flow rate Year of Record NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AT EDMONTON NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AT PRINCE ALBERT SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AT THE PAS SOUTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AT MEDICINE HAT SOUTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AT SASKATOON

24 Long Term Data in Saskatchewan Basin Annual Record Mean flow rate Year of Record NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AT EDMONTON NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AT PRINCE ALBERT SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AT THE PAS SOUTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AT MEDICINE HAT SOUTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AT SASKATOON

25 Long Term Data in Saskatchewan Basin Annual Record Annual Record Mean flow rate 8000 Mean flow rate Year of Record Year of Record NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AT EDMONTON SOUTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AT MEDICINE HAT NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AT EDMONTON SOUTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AT MEDICINE HAT NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AT PRINCE ALBERT SOUTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AT SASKATOON NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AT PRINCE ALBERT SOUTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AT SASKATOON SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AT THE PAS SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AT THE PAS

26 Other Considerations for Data Veracity on the Canadian Prairies Discharges are derivations not measurements Accuracy of the Stage Discharge Relationship Frequency of Direct Discharge Measurements

27 Example 1: Bow at Banff

28 Rating Curve: Bow River At Banff Bow at Banff -Rating Table Stage (m) Discharge (m3/s)

29 Rating Curve: Bow River At Banff Bow at Banff -Rating Table Stage (m) Discharge (m3/s)

30 Open Water Measurements: Bow River At Banff Shift Magnitude Vs. Stage Magnitude 20.0% 15.0% 10.0% Shift Magnitude (%) 5.0% 0.0% -5.0% -10.0% -15.0% -20.0% Stage Magnitude (m)

31 Open Water Measurements: Bow River At Banff 15.0% BOW RIVER AT BANFF-CABLEWAY-05BB001 % SHIFT VS. DATE OF MEASUREMENTS FOR SHIFT TABLE % TABLE 14 % SHIFT 5.0% 0.0% -5.0% -10.0% -15.0% January 1, 1975 June 23, 1980 December 14, 1985 June 6, 1991 November 26, 1996 May 19, 2002 DATE OF MEASUREMENTS

32 Example 2: Assiniboine River at Kamsack, Sk.

33 Example 2: Assiniboine River at Kamsack, Sk.

34 Example 2: Assiniboine River at Kamsack, Sk.

35 Example 2: Assiniboine River at Kamsack, Sk.

36 Example 2:. Assiniboine River at Kamsack, Saskatchewan - 05MD002 Mean Daily Discharge Distribution - Percent Less Than Discharge m³/s Max instantaneous: 489 m3/s Max mean daily 484 m3/s 90% < 15 cms 80% < 4.7 cms 75% < 2.8 cms 2.73% = zero, not included. Average Mean Daily for Period = 6.81 m3/s % 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Percent Less Than

37 Example 2: Assiniboine River at Kamsack, Sk. Stage Shift as a Function of Time Example % 0.00% % Shift Percent Curve % % % % % 9 shifts applied during the period Mar 2 - Mar 9, 2000 Years of Record in Annalysis: 8 Total Number of Shifts Applied: 406 Average number of shifts/year: Average shift magnitude: m Median Shift Magnitude: m Maximum Shift Value: m Minimum Shift Value: m 11/03/1997 0:00 24/07/1998 0:00 06/12/1999 0:00 19/04/2001 0:00 01/09/2002 0:00 14/01/2004 0:00 28/05/2005 0:00 Time

38 Example 2: Assiniboine River at Kamsack, Sk. Hydrograph 1997 to Daily Discharge (m3/s) /01/ /05/ /09/ /02/ /06/ /11/2003 Date

39 Example 2: Assiniboine River at Kamsack, Sk. Hydrograph 1997 to Daily Discharge (m3/s) /01/ /05/ /09/ /02/ /06/ /11/2003 Date -1.2

40 Example 2: Assiniboine River at Kamsack, Sk Hydrograph 1997 to Daily Discharge (m3/s) /01/ /05/ /09/ /02/ /06/ /11/2003 Date -1.2

41 Frequency of Measurements Stage is sampled at intervals that range from 5 to 15 minutes Stage is logged at intervals ranging from 5 minutes to 60 minutes. Stage and Discharge values on the prairies are generally verified monthly.

42 Summary The Hydrometric Program in Canada is cost-shared by Federal, Provincial, and private sector partners. The present network was developed more for water management means than for an understanding of hydrologic change. The relationship between stage and discharge for prairie streams has a high degree of uncertainty at low flows. Periodic and frequent determinations of the relationship are required to generate accurate results.