Water Stewardship Information Sources
| Citation | Smith, C. 2013. Tsulquate River Community Watershed water quality objectives attainment report. BC Ministry of Environment. |
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| Organization | Ministry of Environment |
| URL | http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wat/wq/objectives/west_coast/tsulquate_river-ar.pdf |
| Abstract/Description or Keywords | Water Quality Objectives (WQOs) were approved for the Tsulquate River in 2009 (Epps and Phippen, 2009) based on data collected between June 2002 and May 2005. The Tsulquate River is the source of drinking water for the community of Port Hardy. WQO attainment monitoring occurred during summer low flow and fall flush periods in 2009. Grab samples were also collected in September 2006 as part of the MOE’s benthic invertebrate sampling program. Water quality data from 2005 to 2009, along with changes that have occurred in the watershed between 2005 and 2012, are presented in this report. Data showed that the water quality objectives for fecal coliform bacteria, Escherichia coli, and total suspended solids were exceeded during the summer sampling event; with no exceedances observed in the fall sampling period. The higher summer values coincided with a first flush rainfall event on September 9, 2009. In order to get the best representation of summer low flow and first flush events in future monitoring, it is recommended that summer sampling be completed by midAugust, and that the start of fall sampling be determined by assessing the long-range weather forecast in order to choose the first period where significant persistent rain is predicted. |
| Information Type | report |
| Regional Watershed | Vancouver Island North |
| Sub-watershed if known | Tsulquate |
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| Project status | complete |
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