Water Stewardship Information Sources
| ID | 148 |
|---|---|
| Citation | BC Ministry of Environment. 2013. Water quality assessment and objectives for the Brash Creek Community Watershed. BC Ministry of Environment. |
| Organization | Ministry of Environment |
| URL | http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wat/wq/objectives/brash-creek/brash-final.pdf |
| Abstract/Description or Keywords | This document presents a summary of the ambient water quality of Brash Creek, British Columbia, and proposes water quality objectives designed to protect existing and future water uses. The water quality assessment for the river and an evaluation of the watershed form the basis for the objectives. The Brash Creek watershed is approximately 3,370 ha in area with the community watershed portion comprising the majority (3,093 ha) of this. The creek is approximately 12.7 km in length from the upper watershed to its confluence with the Shuswap River. Brash Creek is used as a backup source of domestic water for the City of Enderby. Other designated water uses include irrigation, livestock watering, wildlife, and aquatic life. Water quality samples were collected from Brash Creek at an upstream background site and at the water intake site between 1996 and 1999. Microbiological indicator (E. coli) and turbidity levels were generally low and below guideline levels but elevated concentrations did occasionally occur. Water temperatures were within the acceptable range for drinking waters (for aesthetic purposes) at most times although the data show that water quality guidelines can be exceeded during hot summer months at the water intake. Water colour is naturally elevated and frequently exceeds the drinking water guideline, which can affect the aesthetic quality of the drinking water. Other water quality parameters measured and found to be well within acceptable levels include pH, suspended solids (total and dissolved), nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) and dissolved oxygen. Metal levels were below method detection limits, however it is recommended that future monitoring include low-level metal analyses to obtain a more accurate estimate of dissolved and total metal concentrations in Brash Creek. The proposed water quality objectives for Brash Creek are summarized in the following table. To determine if these objectives are being attained, it is recommended that monitoring be conducted during freshet (early May to mid-June) and low-flow (midSeptember to late October) conditions, and consist of a minimum of 5 weekly samples collected over a 30-day period. |
| Information Type | report |
| Regional Watershed | Shuswap |
| Sub-watershed if known | Brash Creek |
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| Comments | |
| Project status | complete |
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