Managing Water Quality in the Columbia Basin: “the Lower Columbia River” Canadian Columbia River...
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Managing Water Quality Managing Water Quality in the Columbia Basin: in the Columbia Basin: “ “ the Lower Columbia the Lower Columbia River” River” Canadian Columbia River Forum Cranbrook, BC May 30, 2007
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Transcript of Managing Water Quality in the Columbia Basin: “the Lower Columbia River” Canadian Columbia River...
Managing Water Quality in Managing Water Quality in the Columbia Basin: the Columbia Basin:
““the Lower Columbia River”the Lower Columbia River”
Canadian Columbia River ForumCranbrook, BC
May 30, 2007
Columbia Columbia River BasinRiver Basin
• B.C. Environmental Management Act – Regulations: Municipal Sewage,
Contaminated Sites, Waste Discharge, Hazardous Waste, etc…
• B.C. Water Protection Act• Federal Fisheries Act• B.C. Environmental Assessment Act• Others…
Regulatory Framework Regulatory Framework
• Federal-Provincial Water Quality Monitoring Program
• Site specific water quality objectives
Environmental Monitoring Environmental Monitoring
• Partnerships and shared stewardship • Columbia River Integrated
Environmental Monitoring Program (CRIEMP)
• www.criemp.org
Shared Stewardship Shared Stewardship
Columbia Columbia River Basin: River Basin: “the Lower “the Lower Columbia Columbia
River”River”
Lower Columbia River:Lower Columbia River:Diverse Water UsesDiverse Water Uses
Water QualityWater Quality• Flow regulation • Industrial operations • Municipal wastewater• NPS• Climate change• Emerging issues
Water Quality: Water Quality: Flow Flow
RegulationRegulation
Water Quality: Water Quality: Flow RegulationFlow Regulation
Recent improvements: • TGP reduction
– verified by CRIEMP monitoring
• Water Use Planning (BC Hydro) –Required under Water Act
Water Quality: Water Quality: Zellstoff CelgarZellstoff Celgar
Water Quality: Water Quality: Zellstoff CelgarZellstoff Celgar
• Modernization project in early 90’s– significant decrease dioxins, furans and other chlorinated substances
• Environmental Effects Monitoring– Required under federal Fisheries Act
Water Quality:Water Quality: Teck Cominco Teck Cominco
MetalsMetals
• Upgrades: →phosphate plant closed
→slag discharge eliminated
→improvements to Stoney Creek
→KIVCET smelter
• Human health and ecological risk assessment
Water Quality:Water Quality:Teck Cominco Teck Cominco
Water Quality:Water Quality:Municipal Municipal
WastewaterWastewater
Water Quality:Water Quality:Municipal WastewaterMunicipal Wastewater
• City of Castlegar
–CRIEMP partnership
• Regional District of Kootenay Boundary
–Liquid Waste Management Planning
Transboundary Water QualityTransboundary Water Quality
• Lake Roosevelt Forum• Lake Roosevelt Water Quality Council• Transboundary Gas Group• Upper Columbia White Sturgeon Recovery Initiative
• Columbia River: a valuable resource• Protecting water quality:
– Regulatory tools
– Environmental monitoring
– Shared stewardship
• Significant improvements in water quality
• Emerging issues
SummarySummary
