Tuesday, May 19, 2015
15:30 - 17:00

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15:30 - 15:45: / 103C BASELINE WATER QUALITY MONITORING IN AN AREA OF SHALE GAS DEVELOPMENT, HORN RIVER BASIN, BRITISH COLUMBIA

5/19/2015  |   15:30 - 15:45   |  103C

BASELINE WATER QUALITY MONITORING IN AN AREA OF SHALE GAS DEVELOPMENT, HORN RIVER BASIN, BRITISH COLUMBIA Shale gas exploration, development and extraction through hydraulic fracturing is occurring in the remote northeastern corner of British Columbia, Canada, in a geological formation known as the Horn River Basin. Since 2000, the number of gas wells in the area has increased exponentially. Very little water quality information exists for this region making potential impacts to water quality and aquatic ecosystem health from this rapidly expanding industry difficult to assess. This talk will describe a multi-year study which aims to establish baseline water quality and benthic macroinvertebrate community information. The assessment approaches used to develop a regional bioassessment model will also be discussed. The model is intended to serve as a benchmark from which stream condition can be measured as development proceeds. While model development focused on least impacted areas, several sites were chosen in areas of higher well density to investigate potential ecosystem health impacts from shale gas development in the Horn River Basin.

Sheena Pappas (Primary Presenter/Author), Environment Canada, sheena.pappas@ec.gc.ca;


Stephanie Strachan (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Environment and Climate CHange Canada, stephanie.strachan@ec.gc.ca;


Pat Shaw (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Environment Canada, pat.shaw@ec.gc.ca;


Lana Shrimpton (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Environment Canada, lana.shrimpton@ec.gc.ca;


15:45 - 16:00: / 103C CHANGES IN STREAM CONDITIONS DURING A MUNICIPAL WASTEWATER RELEASE AND ASSOCIATED EFFECTS ON STREAM METABOLISM

5/19/2015  |   15:45 - 16:00   |  103C

CHANGES IN STREAM CONDITIONS DURING A MUNICIPAL WASTEWATER RELEASE AND ASSOCIATED EFFECTS ON STREAM METABOLISM Rural communities often use wastewater lagoons to treat sewage, however, the effects of lagoons on chemical, physical and ecological conditions of receiving streams are not well described. The goals of this study were to: 1) compare physico-chemical conditions upstream and downstream of a lagoon outfall before, during and after a wastewater release; and 2) assess the association between physico-chemical changes and stream metabolism downstream of the lagoon outfall. Nutrients, flow, average stream depth, pH, conductivity, temperature and turbidity were measured daily upstream and downstream of a lagoon outfall in a small stream near Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Stream metabolism metrics (GPP, ER, NEM) were calculated daily using the open system, single station method at the downstream site. Results showed a significant difference in all parameters except temperature (p<0.05) between the downstream site during the release period and all other periods at both sites. We expect that increases in GPP during the discharge are associated with increases in nutrients and decreases in turbidity. This study will provide information to lagoon managers to help mitigate the impacts of wastewater on downstream ecosystems.

Chris Chesworth (Primary Presenter/Author), The University of Western Ontario, chesworthchris@gmail.com;


Joseph M. Culp (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Environment Canada & Canadian Rivers Institute, Department of Biology, University of New Brunwsick, P.O. Box 4400, Fredericton, NB, E3B 5A3, jculp@unb.ca;


Patricia A. Chambers (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Environment and Climate Change Canada, 867 Lakeshore Rd., Burlington Ontario, Canada, L7R 4A6, patricia.chambers@canada.ca;


Robert B. Brua (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Environment and Climate Change Canada, 11 Innovation Boulevard, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 3H5, bob.brua@canada.ca;


Adam G. Yates (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Western University & Canadian Rivers Institute, adam.yates@uwo.ca;


16:00 - 16:15: / 103C ANALYSIS OF CHIRONOMIDAE (INSECTA: DIPTERA) DIVERSITY AND COMMUNITY COMPOSITION IN BROWN COUNTY, SD

5/19/2015  |   16:00 - 16:15   |  103C

ANALYSIS OF CHIRONOMIDAE (INSECTA: DIPTERA) DIVERSITY AND COMMUNITY COMPOSITION IN BROWN COUNTY, SD Inputs from agricultural runoff can impact aquatic habitats and fauna, often resulting in ecological degradation of waterways. Here, we use Chironomidae (Diptera) to assess agricultural impacts on aquatic systems. Specific goals included: 1.) assessing Chironomidae diversity in two South Dakota river systems, and 2.) correlating these data to land use patterns and water chemistry. Six sites with varying degrees of agricultural impact were selected on the Elm and James Rivers and Chironomidae diversity and richness was assessed monthly from June to October 2014 by collecting surface floating pupal exuviae; water chemistry data were also collected weekly during this period. Chironomidae samples were sorted and identified to genus and diversity and similarity indices were used to compare species composition across sample sites. To date, 23 genera have been identified across all sample sites, with Glyptotendipes as the only taxon common to all sites. The outcome of these results will provide information concerning the health and diversity of these river systems, particularly as it relates to agricultural impacts.

Nathan Roberts (Primary Presenter/Author), Penn State University, nathan.roberts@wolves.northern.edu;


Alyssa Anderson (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Southwest Minnesota State University, alyssa.anderson@smsu.edu;
Dr. Alyssa Anderson received her PhD in Entomology from the University of Minnesota in 2012. She is an Associate Professor of Biology at Southwest Minnesota State University, teaching several ecology and zoology-themed courses. Anderson’s primary research interests include studying life-history and ecological importance of winter-active insects, especially Chironomidae, as well as Chironomidae taxonomy and systematics.