1.
2011 Water Quality
Monitoring Program and
Results
April 12, 2012
Quaaout Lodge
Ken Ashley, Gabi Matscha

2. Water Quality Monitoring – Improvements with
SLIPP
Monitoring under SLIPP – 1st Year
– Monitoring conducted
– Monitoring Results
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3. Water Quality Monitoring – Improvements with SLIPP
Before SLIPP With SLIPP
Several agencies (5) and local Coordinated water quality monitoring in the
governments (5) monitored water quality in Shuswap Lake all serving the same
Shuswap Watershed independently and objectives.
with different objectives.
No data sharing. Data sharing and integrated reporting.
Many small independent or non-published Goal to create one data base.
reports.
Monitoring duplication between agencies. Sampling programs coordinated and
streamlined.
Insufficient sampling due to limited funds Sampling programs include objectives for
within each agency. more than one agency. Shared funds
ensure sufficient sampling.
Studies provided information on specific Monitoring information of all projects will
issues and areas.
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provide a picture of overall water quality
health.

4. Water Quality Monitoring – Improvements with SLIPP
Involved in Water Quality Program:
• Department of Fisheries and Oceans,
• Environment Canada (Federal/Provincial Program)
• Ministry of Environment (Thompson, Okanagan),
• BC Parks,
• Ministry of Forest, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
• Interior Health Authority,
• Columbia Shuswap Regional District,
• North Okanagan Regional District,
• Adams Lake Indian Band?
• City of Salmon Arm,
• District of Sicamous,
• Various Small Purveyors on Shuswap and Mara Lake,
• Shuswap Water Action Team Society,
• Swansea Point Community Association,
• Lower Shuswap Stewardship Society,
• Many volunteers
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5. Monitoring under SLIPP – 1st Year
Monitoring Objectives in 2011 Agency involved
• Overall Nutrient Conditions in All Arms of Shuswap Lake, • DFO, MoE
Little Shuswap Lk, Mara Lk, Mable Lk, Sugar Lk.
• Investigation of factors potentially influencing large algae • MoE
blooms on Mara/Shuswap Lakes.
• Identification of near shore Water Quality: • IHA, Small Purveyors, BC
- Near Drinking water Intakes Parks, CSRD, City of
- Near septic seepages Salmon Arm, District of
- Near beaches Sicamous
• Groundwater monitoring to identify septic seepage • CSRD, MFLNRO
routes and impacts
• Identification of nutrient availability (nutrient seepage or • SWAT, Swansea Pt.
runoff) near shore using attached algae study Comm. Assotiation, MoE
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6. Monitoring under SLIPP – 1st Year
Monitoring Objectives in 2011 Agency involved
• Monitor effects of sewage treatment plant discharges • City of Salmon Arm, MoE,
(Salmon Arm, Sicamous). District of Sicamous
• Monitor effects of septic tank conditions in Canoe Creek. • City of Salmon Arm
• Monitor effects of greywater discharge on Nielson Beach • MoE
• Characterize boat greywater to help model effects on • Waterways, MoE
Lake Water Quality.
• Identify nutrient and contaminant loadings from • MoE
tributaries.
• Identify stream sections and tributaries with highest • MoE, NORD, Env.
nutrient loads within the Shuswap River system. Canada, Lower Shuswap
Stewardship Society
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7. Monitoring under SLIPP – 1st Year
Other Achievements
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8. Monitoring under SLIPP – 1st Year - Results
Shuswap Lk W of Sorrento Total Nitrogen (mg/L)
0.450
0.400
0.350
0.300
0.250
0.200
0.150
0.100
0.050
0.000
2002-09-01 2004-01-14 2005-05-28 2006-10-10 2008-02-22 2009-07-06 2010-11-18 2012-04-01 2013-08-14
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9. Monitoring under SLIPP – 1st Year - Results
Shuswap Lk W of Sorrento Nitrate + Nitrite (mg/L)
0.16
0.14
0.12
0.1
0.08
0.06
0.04
0.02
0
2002-09-01 2004-01-14 2005-05-28 2006-10-10 2008-02-22 2009-07-06 2010-11-18 2012-04-01 2013-08-14
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10. Monitoring under SLIPP – 1st Year - Results
Shuswap Lk W of Sorrento Total Organic Nitrogen (mg/L)
0.350
0.300
0.250
0.200
0.150
0.100
0.050
0.000
2002-09-01 2004-01-14 2005-05-28 2006-10-10 2008-02-22 2009-07-06 2010-11-18 2012-04-01 2013-08-14
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11. Monitoring under SLIPP – 1st Year - Results
Shuswap Lk W of Sorrento Total Phosphorus (mg/L)
0.04
0.035
0.03
0.025
0.02
0.015
0.01
0.005
0
2002-09-01 2004-01-14 2005-05-28 2006-10-10 2008-02-22 2009-07-06 2010-11-18 2012-04-01 2013-08-14
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12. Monitoring under SLIPP – 1st Year - Results
• Similar Trends near Marble Point and at Sandy Point
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13. Monitoring under SLIPP – 1st Year - Results
Shuswap Lk at Sandy Pt Dissolved Phosphorus (mg/L)
0.025
0.02
0.015
0.01
0.005
0
2004-01-14 2005-05-28 2006-10-10 2008-02-22 2009-07-06 2010-11-18 2012-04-01 2013-08-14
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14. Monitoring under SLIPP – 1st Year - Results
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15. Monitoring under SLIPP – 1st Year - Results
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16. Monitoring under SLIPP – 1st Year - Results
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17. Monitoring under SLIPP – 1st Year - Results
Summary
• Generally Increased organic Nitrogen in Main, Sicamous and Salmon
Arm in 2011 compared to historic data (2003-2008)
• Slight increase of phosphorus at Sandy Point in Salmon Arm from
historic data (2003-2006). Increase was already observed in 2008.
• Large tributaries contribute significantly higher nutrient loadings than
smaller streams (even nutrient poor streams such as Adams and
Seymour).
• Shuswap River provided the highest Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Organic
Carbon Loading into Shuswap River System during Mar-Apr (Low-Land-
Runoff) and June-July (High-Elevation Snow Melt).
• Salmon River Nitrogen and Organic Carbon Loadings are similar to
Adams, but Phosphorus loadings similar to Shuswap River during peak
flows.
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