| Abstract/Description or Keywords |
Creston Valley is the Central Kootenay region’s most significant agricultural area, producing mixed crops, fruit trees, hay, oats, canola, turf, nurseries, and livestock. Creston Valley Flats, within the Kootenay River floodplain, is a heavily diked and ditched area now used primarily for agriculture. This network of dikes and drainage ditches, along with two major tributaries, connects to the Kootenay River, which runs through the Flats from the United States, to Duck Lake and into the south end of Kootenay Lake. A previous study, intended to review impacts of runoff following a rain event on water quality in Wynndel, BC, demonstrated some non-point source pollution was occurring in the Wynndel area of Creston. From that data, a reconnaissance was planned and conducted on the Creston Valley, including the Wynndel area, to identify other potential areas of non-compliance throughout the valley. From this, detailed water analyses were conducted with the intention that the information gathered would guide administrative decisions on compliance, enforcement, and authorizations under the Environmental Management Act and determine where further monitoring, assessment and compliance efforts should be focused in the future. Information about potential impact sites in Creston Valley was gathered locally and regionally. Twenty sites ranging from Canyon-Lister to Creston Flats, including both agricultural drainage ditches as well as streams, were chosen based on the reconnaissance. Shortly after the reconnaissance water samples were obtained for testing. Parameters included standard field measurements and lab analysis for nutrients, metals, anions and bacteriology. Some select sites were also tested for pesticide residue. Field and laboratory results indicated that some non-compliance is occurring throughout the valley and water quality is being compromised by non-point source pollution, particularly in areas within close proximity to dairy farms. Bacteriology revealed enterococcus levels were above acceptable guidelines for most of the twenty sites tested. Rykerts Creek in the Canyon-Lister area, the Old Goat River Channel, and the Old Kootenay River Channel in the Flats were of particular concern for bacteriology. From this reconnaissance, it was recommended that focused monitoring efforts be regularly conducted on those sites affected by non-point source pollution and that partnership with stakeholders, community stewardship groups, and environmental organizations be encouraged to enhance monitoring and data collection efforts. |
