| Abstract/Description or Keywords |
Habitat assessment and benthic macro-invertebrate sampling following CABIN protocols, continuous temperature monitoring, and water quality analysis occurred at three sites on the Salmo River from 2007 to 2012. Site NESLM01 is downstream of the Village of Salmo. NESLM02 is downstream of the community of Ymir and upstream of the Village of Salmo. Site NESLM03 is near the headwaters of the Salmo River. CABIN monitoring protocols, including benthic macro-invertebrate sampling, occurred at each site annually in the fall. Non-metal water quality analysis was conducted at each site at this time. Metals in the water were analysed in 2007, 2008, and 2009 at NESLM02. Metals in the sediment were analysed in 2010, 2011, and 2012 at NESLM02. Non-metal water quality analysis was also conducted monthly from 2009 to 2013 at NESLM02. Continuous temperature monitoring occurred at each site with varied annual monitoring dates. CABIN BEAST Analysis found the NESLM01 and NESLM02 fluctuated between potentially stressed and stressed during 2007 to 2012 while NESLM03 was severely stressed in 2007, fluctuated between potentially stressed and stressed from 2008 to 2011, and was unstressed in 2012. Benthic macro-invertebrate metrics showed that all three sites had fairly stable abundance and diversity measures (with the exception of a high outlier at NESLM03 in 2007). Site NESLM01 had the highest Chironomidae taxa and the lowest EPT numbers. NESLM02 had the lowest Chironomidae taxa and the highest EPT taxa. Site NESLM03 had higher numbers of Chironomidae taxa in 2007 with the number decreasing and the EPT numbers increasing to 2012. Non-metal water quality analysis showed some low exceedances in values of dissolved oxygen during cold winter months at NESLM02 and also pH values lower than guidelines in the latter half of 2012 and beginning of 2013. Total phosphorus spikes were found in 2009 at NESLM02 and NESLM03. Metal water quality data collected at NESLM02 had three parameters (total cadmium, total copper, total zinc) exceeding the guideline for the protection of aquatic life. Total cadmium values were approximately 10 times higher than the CCME guideline in all years. Sediment quality data collected at NESLM02 revealed that out of the 27 parameters having guidelines for the protection of aquatic life, 7 exceeded the guidelines in one or all years of sampling. These included arsenic, cadmium, iron, lead, nickel, silver, and zinc. These results revealed that the lower effect guidelines were exceeded by arsenic, iron, and nickel sediment values and that cadmium, lead, and zinc values exceeded the higher effect CCME PEL guidelines at least one year sampled. These elements are thus of greater potential concern. Maximum stream temperatures ranged from 14.22 ľC at NESLM03 in 2011 to 20.65 ľC at NESLM01 in 2008 (Table 10). The highest temperatures each year were at NESLM01 while the lowest were at NESLM03. Both sites had average summer temperatures (July to early September) that exceeded BC optimum temperature guidelines for adult Bull Trout (Salvelinus confluentus) of 6.0-14.0 ľC. |
