Water Stewardship Information Sources
| Citation | Bull, J and Freyman, L. 2013. Status of water quality objectives attainment in Burrard Inlet and tributaries, 1999-2010. BC Ministry of Environment. |
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| Organization | Ministry of Environment |
| URL | http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/epd/regions/lower_mainland/water_quality/reports/burrard_inlet/bi_attain2011.pdf |
| Abstract/Description or Keywords | Burrard Inlet has experienced intensive industrial and urban development in the last 100 years. Measuring the environmental health of the aquatic ecosystem provides vital information for managing urban and industrial development to ensure protection of natural resources. Water quality is an important indicator of a healthy local aquatic ecosystem. This report presents the results of water quality monitoring undertaken in Burrard Inlet in 2009, and in several tributaries in 2010, to check attainment of Burrard Inlet Water Quality Objectives set in 1990. Objectives have not been formally monitored in the marine water since 2002, and in freshwater since 1994. The Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment or CCME Water Quality Index was also determined for each sub-basin and tributary using current results. These results were also compared with data obtained over the past 20 years to determine the long-term state of water quality in Burrard Inlet. Chemical and bacteriological indicators were monitored in marine water five times during a 30-day period from January to February in 2009. The tributaries were monitored twice in 2010, during both low flow (August-September) and high flow (October-November) periods. Bacteriological indicators included fecal coliforms, enterococci and E. coli. Water quality indicators included dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, suspended solids, turbidity, ammonia and metals (arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, lead, nickel and zinc). Sediment and tissue were not sampled during the current monitoring period. |
| Information Type | report |
| Regional Watershed | Lower Fraser |
| Sub-watershed if known | Burrard Inlet |
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| Project status | complete |
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