Post Flood Sediment Sampling in

Jan Quinlan, M.Sc., P.Ag.

Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development WaterTech – April 2014

Presentation at a Glance

1. The Back Story – The Flood – area, impact, “perfect storm” – High River

2. The Real Presentation – Sediment Sampling Program – Results and Interpretation – Next Steps

3. Questions

The Flood

June 2013

Southern Floods Geographical Location

• Geographical Area of ~ 55,000 km2 • Total Population of ~ 1.6 million • Both Urban and Rural Areas • Federal and Provincial Jurisdictions – Federal National Parks and three First Nations – Local authorities and provincially managed improvement districts CANMORE The Rivers Around Us BANFF BLACK DIAMOND &

HIGH RIVER NANTON

MEDICINE HAT

***MAP NOT TO SCALE*** Weather Leading up to the Flood Difficult Prediction

• Early forecasts were for 80-160 mm over 48 hours • No significant changes in forecast until the rain started – (Wed night - June 19) • As the rain fell, flood advisories, watches and warnings were issued – (Wed pm and Thurs – June 20)

• Up to 300 mm in 24 hours in some locations Weather Leading up to the Flood The Perfect Storm

• Extreme rainfall created by a “cold low system” that was essentially blocked by high pressure systems to the N and E – Abundant moisture from the Gulf/Pacific – Wind from the east push weather west against the mountains which blocked movement – Unstable cold low air mass creating storm clouds – Moisture at high elevations • rain on snow Date of contour: June 20, 2013 Source: Environment And, very quickly our lives changed Downtown Calgary

Photo by Calgary Sun Grounds Trans-Canada Highway at Canmore Canmore Townsite Bridge on Highway 66 High River The 2013 Flood By the Numbers The Flood in High River CALGARY CANMORE The Rivers Around Us BANFF OKOTOKS BLACK DIAMOND & TURNER VALLEY

HIGH RIVER NANTON

MEDICINE HAT

***MAP NOT TO SCALE***

Precipitation and Flow Time Series

High River

High River Unprecedented Flooding High River Unprecedented Flooding High River Unprecedented Flooding High River Unprecedented Flooding

“It’s normal for us to drive through the parking lot…”

“…but, to throw people in the hopper, that was weird” High River Unprecedented Flooding

“I haven’t been carried like this since my wedding day”.

Photo by Lyle Aspinall Sediment Sampling in Schoolyards in High River Once the Flood Waters Receded Widespread Sediment Deposition The Question… Is the Sediment Harmful to the Kids?

• A number of schoolyards had sediment deposited

• Need to get kids back to school

• Need to site portable classrooms High River Schoolyards: What to sample for?

• Looked at a number of other flooding event (Sandy, Katrina, Netherlands and UK)

• Talked to microbiologists, toxicologists and physicians

• Literature searches

•There was no “How to…” – even less information when it came to sediment High River Schoolyards: Analytical Schedule

• Pathogens (all samples) – Fecal coliforms, E. coli and Salmonella

• Salmonella, Fecal coliforms and E. coli are generally associated with feces/ fecal contamination, not specific to human or animals (warm blooded) – High levels can cause gastroenteritis

• The town is in an agricultural area and the sewer system including lift stations were flooded

High River Schoolyards: Analytical Schedule

• Metals (30% of samples) – Alberta Tier 1 (including arsenic, chromium, lead, and mercury)

•Associated with a number of industries including agriculture and oil and gas activities – Depending on the metal, there can be acute or chronic human health concerns

High River Schoolyards: Analytical Schedule

• Petroleum Hydrocarbons (PHCs) (30% of samples) – Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes (BTEX) – Petroleum hydrocarbons fractions 1 through 4 (PHC F1-F4)

• Associated with oil and gas activities

High River Schoolyards: Analytical Schedule

• Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) (30% of samples) – Includes carcinogenic PAHs, pyrene, naphthalene, anthracene, fluranthene and fluorene

• Byproduct of incomplete combustion – Carcinogenic (cancer causing) – Mutagenic (changes genetic material) – Teratogenic (developmental abnormalities)

High River Schoolyards: Comparison Guidelines

• Alberta Tier 1 Soil and Groundwater Remediation Guidelines (2010) – Metals, PHCs and PAHs

• Guidelines for Compost Quality (CCME 2005) – Fecal coliforms and Salmonella

• Best Available Option

High River Schoolyards: Comparison Guidelines

• Alberta Tier 1 Soil and Groundwater Remediation Guidelines (2010) – Metals, PHCs and PAHs

• Commercial land use – Unrestricted access to the public including children (i.e. daycare or hospital) – Fine-grained texture

• Human Health Pathways – Direct contact – Vapour inhalation – Protection of a domestic use aquifer (DUA)

High River Schoolyards: Sediment Sampling Program

• Three schools selected for sampling – Spitzee Elementary (affected) – Notre Dame Collegiate (affected) – Highwood High (unaffected) High River Schoolyards: School Locations High River Schoolyards: Spitzee Elementary School High River Schoolyards: Notre Dame Collegiate High River Schoolyards: Highwood High (unaffected) High River Schoolyards: Sampling Locations

• Surficial sediment samples were collected from playground and other play areas where children were expected to have the highest potential to contact the sediment/soil.

• Additional sampling locations were selected in low, wet areas where sediment was concentrated.

• In total 35 samples were collected – 20 samples from Spitzee – 10 from Notre Dame – 5 samples from Highwood High High River Schoolyards: July 2013 Sampling Results

• Pathogens

Salmonella Fecal Coliforms E. coli (presence) (1000 MPN/g) (no guideline) Spitzee (1000, 2600) X 12/20 12/20 Notre Dame (1000) X 5/10 5/10 Highwood X 1/5 (unaffected) 1/5 High River Schoolyards: July 2013 Sampling Results

• Metals, PHC and PAHs – no reported concentration greater than guidelines

Metals PHCs PAHs Spitzee X X X

Notre Dame X X X

Highwood X X X (unaffected) High River Schoolyards: Interpretation

• Focused on the Human Receptor

• Not looking for presence/absence – Concentration of results (hot spots) – Very high results

• Fecal Coliforms and E.coli – While present in schoolyards it was also present in the unaffected areas – May not be directly related to the flood – Resample later as exposure to sunlight/drying should reduce numbers

Fact Sheet: Sediment Removal After Flooding

• Developed in conjunction with Alberta Health and

• Useful information of PPE and links to other sheets on safe play areas and gardens after flooding

http://esrd.alberta.ca/focus/esrd-2013-flood-recovery- programs/sediment-sampling-and-removal-information.aspx

Fact Sheet: Sediment Removal After Flooding Fact Sheet: Sediment Removal After Flooding High River Schoolyards: September 2013 Resampling Program

• Resampled affected school areas that had previously reported fecal coliforms and E.coli

• Spitzee – 10 sites resampled (of 12 that reported values) – garden box and sediment pile removed

• Notre Dame – 2 sites resampled (of 5 that reported values) – portable siting/stripping prevented sampling High River Schoolyards: September 2013 Results

• Pathogens

Fecal Coliforms E. coli > G/L Spitzee 8/10 2/10 0 Notre Dame 1/2 2/2 0 High River Schoolyards: September 2013 Interpretation

• Of the 12 samples collected, 9 reported lower values for fecal coliforms – None exceeded comparison guidelines

• Some areas pathogen numbers remained elevated, particularly in lower shaded areas or areas that retained more floodwater and sediment.

The Question… Is the Sediment Harmful to the Kids?

• Likely not a significant increase in risk versus unaffected areas – Pathogens persistence in flood associated sediment was demonstrated.

• Good sense prevails – Wash hands – Follow the Fact Sheet High River Schoolyards: Next Steps

• Planning a resampling program for Spring/Summer 2014

• Address ongoing residences concerns over public spaces

• All information will be available on ESRD website in the “Flood 2013” section Questions? If time permits…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player _detailpage&v=6JrMZ6DgoeQ