| Abstract/Description or Keywords |
This report assesses the 1998-99 attainments of ambient water quality objectives for fresh and marine surface waters of British Columbia. The setting of water quality objectives in priority basins in British Columbia began in 1982. By the end of 1999, the Ministry of environment, Lands and Parks had set water quality objectives in 48 bodies of water, both fresh and marine, throughout the Province. Annual monitoring to check the attainment of objectives started in 1987. This reportpresents the results of monitoring done in 1998 and 1999 to check the attainment of objectives in 12 basins (1998) and 13 basins (1999). Due to budgetary restraints, the program has been considerably reduced as compared to previous years. The results are summarized in a series of tables. For all Ministry Regions the objectives were met 95 percent of the time in 1998 and 91 percent of the time in 1999. The findings in 1998 and 1999 are significantly higher than the 1996 and 1997 figures (81% and 77% respectively), and similar to previous years when attainment ranged from 94 percent in 1987 to 83 percent in 1995. There was not 100 percent attainment because objectives are set in areas where water quality problems may occur. Monitoring results therefore reflect the state of water quality in areas affected by human activity rather than in the Province as a whole. Variables for which objectives were sometimes not met in three or more basins in each of the 1998 and 1999 sampling programs included fecal coliforms, E.coli, suspended solids, chlorophyll-a (a measure of algal growth in lakes and streams), total phosphorus in lakes, and dissolved oxygen. (Cowichan - Koksilah Rivers, Middle Quinsam River, Tsolum River, Oyster River Water, Nechako River, Fraser River (from the Source to Hope), Williams Lake, San Jose River, Okanagan Valley Lakes, Similkameen River, Hedley Creek, Cahill Creek and Tributaries, Bessette Creek, Tributaries to Okanagan Lake near Vernon, Thompson River, Columbia River (from Keenleyside to Birchbank), Columbia River (From Birchbank to the International Border), Fraser River (Kanaka Creek to the Mouth), Boundary Bay, and Burrard Inlet Water.) |
