| Abstract/Description or Keywords |
This report assesses the water quality of Similkameen River. The report has two parts : an overview report and a technical report. Provisional water quality objectives were issued in 1985 for the Similkameen River and its major tributaries. Recent mining developments have prompted the present extension to this work and an update of provisional water quality objectives approved by the Ministry for this part of the sub-basin. The Similkameen River and the mouth of Hedley Creek are important rainbow trout habitat. Several other fish species, including whitefish are also important to the Similkameen River. Most of the water contamination comes from diffuse agricultural sources, although there are treated municipal sewage discharges from Princeton and Keremeos. Mining developments are designed for "zero-discharge", but there is evidence of ground water contamination from past mining operations. As a result, the contaminants of most concern in this update, which were not addressed in the previous assessment, are metals, metalloids and cyanide compounds. Provisional water quality objectives have been set for nutrients, metals, solids, bacteriological indicators, cyanide compounds, dissolved oxygen and pH. Attainment of these objectives will protect aquatic life and irrigation supplies. Attached : Technical report Overview report found at : http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wat/wq/wq_objectives.html |
