| Abstract/Description or Keywords |
Under existing Environmental Management Act authorizations, numerous environmental monitoring and assessment programs have been conducted within the Elk River watershed over the past twenty years by Teck. Initially, these programs focused on measurement of selenium in water, sediment, and tissues of biota, whereas more recent monitoring has broadened to include evaluation of additional constituents in those media, as well as assessment of benthic invertebrate community and fish population characteristics. Monitoring activities in the BC portion of Lake Koocanusa1 have also increased. In addition to extensive monitoring activities, numerous supporting investigations have been undertaken to address specific questions about sample types and sampling methods, locations, and timing that will facilitate detection of coal-mine-related effects on aquatic biota. Results of recent monitoring and studies are summarized in this report to inform the study design of a comprehensive monitoring program (i.e., the Regional Aquatic Effects Monitoring Program, or RAEMP) to assess potential mine-related effects in the aquatic environment throughout the Elk River watershed and the Canadian portion of Lake Koocanusa. water quality; sediment quality; calcite deposits; tissue residues for aquatic ecological receptors (i.e., plankton, periphyton, benthic macroinvertebrates, fish, and amphibians); aquatic-dependent birds; invertebrate community structure; fish population characteristics |
