I J Environment Environnement Canada Canada
DFO • Library / MPO •
Fisheries Pêches 11111111111111111111111111111111 111111111111111111 and Oceans et Oceans 04038060 NOV 101989
ECOLOGICAL REPORT SERIES NORTHERNFLOOD AGREEMENT MANITOBA
Federal Ecological Monitoring Program: Annual Report, 1987-1988
number 8 8-2
NFAM-ERS I 88-2 : . !
FEDERAL ECOLOGICAL MONITORING PROGRAM
ANNUAL REPORT, 1987/88
Prepared by: L. McKerness
July 1988
iii
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report presents the highlights of the second year of an environmental monitoring and research program being undertaken by the federal departments of
Fisheries and . Oceans (DFO) and Environment (DOE) in an area of northern
Manitoba impacted by a major hydroelectric development. The program focusses on some of the geographical areas and environmental concerns which are perceived to be of greatest interest to the native communities located within the impacted area.
DFO' s program is concentrated on Southern Indian Lake (SIL), the location where the Churchill River has been diverted to the Nelson River for purposes of hydro power generation. The results of their current program, along with their past research on SIL, represents the only biophysical and biological data set extending over the pre- and post- hydro project development period in the entire impacted area. DFO has also begun extending interpretations of physical and chemical data to the entire impacted area by evaluating the completeness and reliability of the available data. DFO's studies in 1987/88 consisted of three main subjects; the physical environment of SIL, the lower trophic levels, and fish populations and fisheries.
The physical environment studies consisted of studies on sediment, hydrology and water _chemistry, and primary productivity and nutrient status. A principal objective of the sediment studies conducted in 1987 was to determine the usefulness of sediment cores in quantitatively determining changes in sedimentation rates. Activities conducted under the hydrology and water chemistry project focussed on the organization of the historical hydrological iv
and water chemistry data for northern Manitoba rivers affected by the hydro project into a data base structured to provide ·mass balances. The objectives of the primary productivity and nutrient status projects were to measure the rates of primary productivity of algae in SIL and to determine what nutrient and/or physical factors are limiting algal growth.
Studies on the lower trophic levels in 1987 consisted of investigations of the zooplankton and zoobenthos in SIL. The objectives of the zooplankton studies were to characterize long term changes in the zooplankton community of SIL and to determine the degree to which these changes are due to variable climate or to lake manipulation. The zoobenthos studies consisted of faunal surveys and
continued research on the autecology of the burrowing mayfly, Hexagenia, an
important fish food in all of the impacted lakes.
Research on fish and fisheries in 1987 /88 had two aspects: fish population work and mercury research. The fish population studies consisted of monitoring SIL fish populations, a stock study of lake whitefish, and an
investigation of the status of the SIL commercial fishery. The mercury
research activities consisted of a monitoring program to follow concentrations
of total mercury in the muscle of commercially important fish in SIL, and the
continued investigation of the time course of mercury methylation.
DOE's program activities in 1987/88 consisted of mercury research,information
synthesis, wildlife, water quality, hydrology, sediment, and morpholoy. The
mercury research and information synthesis projects, funded by DOE, were
directed by DFO. The mercury project was part of the time course
investigation of mercury methylation and followed two course.s: the continued V
monitoring of microbial mercury methylation balance in the diversion lakes to
determine if decreases are occurring over the near term; and the measurement
of the mercury methylation balance in older reservoirs to examine long term
changes. The information synthesis project was completed in 1987/88 with the
publication of an annotated inventory of all remote sensing data for the
impacted area.
The wildlife project completed its second year of investigations on fall
waterfowl populations in the Lake Winnipeg Outlets Lakes area. This project
was initiated because of the concern expressed by members of the Norway House
Band regarding reduced opportunities for waterfowl hunting in the fall.
The major activity for 1987 for the hydrology project was the purchase and
testing of an ultrasonic flow meter for installation in the diversion channel
from SIL. Local flow characteristics in this channel have prevented the measurement of the diverted flow by conventional means.
Activities conducted in 1987/88 under the water quality project were directed
towards meeting the objective of this multi-year project, namely to to assess
the water quality changes in the impacted area and to determine the
relationship of these changes to the hydroelectric project. These activities
included the measurement of a number of water and sediment quality parameters
at eleven sites in the impacted area, microbiological surveys of recreational waters, a remote sensing project in the Split Lake area, and water quality data synthesis. vi
The second phase of two contracts - one on sediment and one on morphology - were undertaken and essentially completed in 1987/88. The objectives of these studies were to investigate the sediment and morphologic effects resulting from the hydroelectric project along the diversion route (that portion of the impacted area where the Churchill River is diverted to the Nelson River) and to recommend future studies. vii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Executive Summary iii
List of Figures viii
Introduction ...... 1
Department of Fisheries and Oceans' Program...... 5
Sediment Studies ...... ·...... 5 Hydrology and Water Chemistry ...... 9 Primary Productivity and Nutrient Status ...... 14 Zooplankton ...... 18 Zoobenthos ...... 19 Fish and Fisheries ...... 25
Department of the Environment's Program ...... 31
Wildlife ...... 31 Water Quality ...... ·...... 33 Sediment ...... 48 Morphology...... 52 Mercury Research ...... 56 Information Synthesis ...... 63 Hydrology ...... 6 7
Program Management ...... 68
Acknowledgements ...... 70
Glossary 71
Appendix A - Ecological Report Series Publications ...... 74
Appendix B - Provincial NFA Ecological Monitoring Program Publications...... 75
Hap - Federal Ecological Monitoring Program Location Hap .... 77 viii
LIST OF FIGURES
Page
FIGURE 1: Federal Ecological Monitoring Program Expenditures ...... 4
FIGURE 2: DFO Study Areas on Southern Indian Lake 6
FIGURE 3: Radioisotope Profile in a Core from Southern Indian Lake, Area 4 ...... 7
FIGURE 4: River Reaches used for Hydrologic and Water Chemistry Budget, as Delimited by Dash-Dot Lines ...... 11
FIGURE 5: Time Line for Water Chemistry Data Collected from Locations along the Churchill-Nelson Rivers ...... 13
FIGURE 6: Seasonal Mean Secchi Disc Depths in Southern Indian Lake and Wood Lake, the Control Site ...... 16
FIGURE 7: Seasonal Mean Alkaline Phosphatase- Activity Values in Southern Indian Lake, Notigi Reservoir, and Wood Lake, the Control Site ...... 17
FIGURE 8: Hexagenia Standing Stocks (Lakewide Mean of H. limbata and H. rigida) and Lakewide Mean Degree-Day Accumulations above 8°C for Southern Indian Lake, 1972-86 ...... 21
FIGURE 9: Laboratory Growth Rates of Hexagenia, at 8°, 15° and 20° c ...... 22
FIGURE 10: Summary of Emergence Data for Hexagenia at Southern Indian Lake, 1986 and 1987 ...... 23
. FIGURE 11: Hatching Success of Hexagenia limbata Eggs at Different Temperatures ...... 24
FIGURE 12: Mean Pike Muscle Mercury Concentrations for 6 Sampling Sites, 1978-86 ...... 28
FIGURE 13: Mean Whitefish Muscle Mercury Concentrations for 6 Sampling sites, 1975-86 ...... 29
FIGURE 14: Mean Walley Muscle Mercury Concentrations for 6 Sampling Sites, 1978-86 ...... 30
FIGURE 15: Shorelines Surveyed for Waterfowl, One or More Times, during the Fall of 1986 and 1987 ... 32 ix
FIGURE 16: Densities of Dabblers, Divers and all Ducks Observed along Playgreen Lake Shorelines Before and After the Onset of Lake Winnipeg Regulation ...... 34
FIGURE 17: Proposed Reports/Activities for the 4-Year Water Quality Program, 1987 to 1991 ...... 35
FIGURE 18: Location of the Water Quality Stations in the outlet Lakes Area ...... 3 7
FIGURE 19: Location of the Water Quality Stations in the Split Lake Area ...... 38
FIGURE 20: Location of the Water Quality Stations in the Diversion Route Area ...... 39
FIGURE 21: List of Water Quality Variables Sampled ...... 40
FIGURE 22: Chlorophyll-a and Phosphorus Concentrations for 4 Water Quality Sampling Sites ...... 41
FIGURE 23a: Non-Filterable Residue in the Thompson and Split Lake Areas, 1987 ...... 42
FIGURE 23b: Non-Filterable Residue in the Threepoint Lake, 1987 ...... 42
FIGURE 24a: Turbidity in the Thompson and Split Lake Areas, 1987 ...... 43
FIGURE 24b: Turbidity in the Threepoint Lake Area, 1987 ...... 43
FIGURE 25a: Dissolved Organic Carbon in the Thompson and Split Lake Areas, 1987 ...... 45
FIGURE 25b: Dissolved Organic Carbon in the Threepoint Lake Area, 1987 ...... 45
FIGURE 26: Bacteria Counts from Split Lake at First Beach, 1987 ...... 46
FIGURE 27: Turbidity Indications along Diversion Route from Selected Landsat Imagery ...... 50
FIGURE 28: Summary of Recommended Morphological Studies along the Rat Burntwood River ...... 57
FIGURE 29: Seasonal Mean Specific Methylation (M) and Demethylation (D) Rates and Corresponding M/D Ratios; June 29 through August 26, 1987 ...... 59 X
FIGURE 30: Effect of Addition of 30mM Bromoethane Sulfonic Acid (BESA) on the M, D, and M/D Rates in Sediments from Methyl Bay, SIL ...... 62
FIGURE 31: Aerial Photography Map and Associated Data Block ...... 65
FIGURE 32: Landsat Microfiche Map and Associated Data Block ...... 66 INTRODUCTION
A large and complex hydroelectric development project, the Lake Winnipeg,
Churchill-Nelson Rivers (LWCNR) Hydroelectric Development Project, is located in northern Manitoba, Canada. With a total design capacity of 8400 MW, this project involves the regulation of Lake Winnipeg, the diversion of flows from the Churchill River into the Nelson River, and the construction and operation of fourteen generating stations. Construction works to regulate Lake Winnipeg and divert the Churchill River were completed in the mid 1970's; the fifth of the possible fourteen generating stations, Limestone, is now under construction.
In 1977, a four-party agreement, the Northern Flood Agreement (NFA), was signed to ensure that all persons adversely · affected by the Lake Winnipeg,
Churchill-Nelson Rivers Hydroelectric Development Project receive fair and equitable treatment. The signatories to this agreement were the governments of Canada and Manitoba, Manitoba Hydro, and the Northern Flood Committee - an organization representing the five Indian bands located within the project area (Nelson House, Split Lake, York Factory, Cross Lake, and Norway House).
In 1986, the Department of the Environment (DOE) and the Department of
Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) began a coordinated five year program of environmental monitoring and research ac ti vi ties in northern Manitoba. This program, called the Federal Ecological Monitoring Program (FEMP), is directed towards meeting some of the federal obligations under the Northern Flood
Agreement, specifically those concerned with ecological monitoring. - 2 -
Other ecological monitoring programs are being, or have been, conducted in the NFA area. Through the auspices of a four-party Program Advisory Board
(PAB), which was established in 1986, the four parties to the NFA have the opportunity to meet formally to coordinate their respective ecological programs. Past programs, most notably the Lake Winnipeg Churchill and Nelson
Rivers Study concluded in 1975, provide some historical data. (For more details on historical background and program considerations, please see the
FEKP 1986/87 Annual Report).
The purpose of this report is to describe the FEKP projects undertaken by DOE
and DFO in 1987/88. An attempt has been made to present the material in this
report in a clear and comprehensible manner, most especially through the extensive use of figures, maps, and a technical glossary. It is thus hoped
that the general interest reader will be able to obtain a good understanding
of the wide range of scientific investigations being undertaken under the
auspices of the FEMP.
For the more technical reader, this report will serve as a preview of the FEKP
reports which are published in the format of an ecological report series. A
list of reports published to-date in this series is given in Appendix A. A
listing of reports on related studies being undertaken by provincial
government departments of Manitoba is given in Appendix B.
It should be noted that much of the information presented in this second
annual report is based on the results of work-in-progress and therefore should
be considered as tentative. In addition, the conclusions, recommendations, or - 3 -
opinions expressed are those of the authors and are not necesarily the same as those of the department which sponsored their work.
The report begins with a table of the FEMP expenditures by DOE and DFO for
1987/88 and a cumulative total for the program to-date (Fig. 1). The main body of the report is a brief description, by project, of the 1987/88 FEMP activities, beginning with those of DFO.
The report concludes with a technical glossary, a listing of published reports on other related studies, and a map of the study area. FIGURE 1: Federal Ecological Monitoring Program Expenditures
COMHITTED EXPENDITURES TOTAL EXPEHDITURES 1987/8 1987/8 198617 87/8 Project 0 & M CAPITAL 0 & M CAPITAL 0 & M CAPITAL
DOE Wildlife 16,000.00 14,161.86 20,961.86 Water Quality 175,000.00 21,000.00 173,728.15 21,000.00 200,483.78 51,000.00 Hydrology 35,000.00 19,000.00 18,593.00 18,593.00 Sediment 21,000.00 21,000.00 41,000.00 Morphology 28,500.00 28,500.00 48,500.00 Mercury 51,589.00 51,341.39 100,021.40 Management 56,446.00 58,221. 70 62,533.19 Info Synthesis 26,465.00 25,291.87 48,896.65 Fisheries (DFO) 10,000.00 10,000.00 10,000.00
DOE TOTAL 410,000.00 50,000.00 372,244.97 49,593.00 522,396.88 79,593.00
DFO Physical Environment -nutrient & primary 40,700.00 5,500.00 42,163.00 5,500.00 46,853.94 6,005.14 production -shore erosion 9,700.00 9,737.97 11,614.68 4,177.83 Lower Trophic Levels -benthic studies 9,000.00 9,049 .. 88 10,953.69 4,005.55 -zooplankton & benthos 11,600.00 11,619.30 11,818.30 4,172.00 Fish Populations & Fisheries -SIL fish populations 32,200.00 24,500.00 32,2·43.03 24,500.000 32,763.66 35,495.00 -Whitefish stocks 1,900.00 1,970.06 18,906.76 3,528.00 Management -SIL camp 58,600.00 58,663.51 119,941.36 4,674.00 -Project Administration 26,300 26,372.67 1 39,527.29
DFO Total 190,000.00 30,000.00 191,819.422 30,000.00 292,379.68 62,057.52
Footnotes:
1. Funding of 5 summer students included in this total for the above list of projects. 2. Total departmental expenditures in excess of its program budget were paid with funds from the department's operating budget (A-Base budget). - 5 -
DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES AND OCEANS' PROGRAM
Sediment Studies
Preliminary survey work was done in 1987 to test methods for sediment studies of lakes affected by increased sedimentation due to Churchill-Nelson development. One of the main objectives was to determine the usefulness of sediment cores in quantitatively determining changes in sedimentation rates.
The objectives of such investigations at Southern Indian Lake (SIL) are: (1) to complete a sediment balance, thereby testing a previously developed model for shoreline erosion, and (2) to determine post-impoundment. sedimentation rates and sediment distribution in the deep part of the lake, which would assist in the interpretation of results of biological investigations.
Determination of the sensitivity of these methods is critical to defining changes in sedimentation regimes resulting from hydroelectric development of lakes in northern Manitoba.
In August 1987, sites for coring were chosen in SIL areas 2, 4, and 8
(Fig.2). All locations were >300 m offshore and in depths >7 m. Once taken, cores were visually examined, subsampled at 1 cm intervals, and analyzed for
²¹⁰Pb and ¹³⁷CS.
137 Host Cs in sediments was deposited as a result of atmospheric testing of 137 nuclear weapons. The rate of atmospheric Cs fallout peaked in 1963, so 137 Cs peaks in lake sediments are considered to mark sediments deposited during the period 1962-1965. In cores taken from SIL, this marker should 137 occur in sediments deposited before impoundment (1976). Cs peaks are found in most cores from SIL at depths ranging from 5-11 cm (Fig. 3). - 6 -
FIGURE 2 . DFO Study Areas5 on Southern Indian Lake
5
Churchill River
Southern ,nd1an Lake
. Jaurno I of Fisheries Sciences Vol.41,No.4,I
10 20 - 7 -
FIGURE 3: Radioisotope Profile in a Core
from Southern Indian Lake, Area 4
0.6 -
0.5 -
0.4 -
X X X 0.2 X 0 X 0 X
X 0.1 -
0 0 2 4 6 8 1 0 1 2 1 4 1 6 1 8 20 Depth ( cm )
137 210 137 Δ = Cs, X= Pb, Cs peaks at 6.5 cm depth. 210 Pb shows a simple decay curve below 5-6 cm depth,
indicating a constant sedimentation rate below that depth . - 8 -
210 226 Pb is a natural product of Ra decay in the uranium RADIONUCLIDE * series. For a given. region, . 210Pb is. deposite . d at a f airly . constant rat e from the atmosphere into lakes, and from there into lake sediments. The ²¹⁰Pb ²¹⁰Pb atmospheric deposition rate is generally well in excess of 210 production by radionuclide decay within the sediments. Pb decays with a half life of 22.2 years, so where the total sediment deposition rate is
constant over the long term, the concentration. o f 210 Pb in. the se imentt s decreases in a predictable way from the .sediment-water interface downwards
into the sediments. For example, 44-year-old sediments should contain only 210 half as much excess Pb as the 22-year-old sediments above, and so on down. Such a constant decay curve does appear in SIL sediments below 5-11 cm depth (Fig. 3). There is generally a prominent break in the curve at 5-11 cm 13 7 210 depth, which· coincid · · d es with· the Cs peak d escrib e d a b ove. Pb levels
in sediments above this break are lower, which may indicate a higher total 210 sedimentation rate relative to excess Pb deposition. In any case, the break in the decay curve marks a sharp change in sedimentation rate.
Coincidence. . o the peak in. 137 Cs concentration. with . the rea in. t e 210Pb
curve strongly supports the concentration of as a marker for
differences between pre- and post-impoundment sediment deposition in SIL. The 210 137 ¹³⁷CS peak should occur slightly below the Pb point because Cs
marking occurred in 1963, whereas impoundment occurred in 1976. Demonstration
of this will require core intervals of <1 cm to be sampled.
* Words which appear in the Glossary are capitalized on their first appearance
in the text. - 9 -
Attempts were made to find reliable visual markers of differences in
sedimentation before and after impoundment. An abundance of small (<0. 5 mm
diameter) black SPHERULES, the upper limit of which coincides with the change
in sedimentation rate as indicated by RADIOISOTOPE analysis, occurred in Area
4 of SIL. The SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPE revealed these spherules to be
composed of algal and DIATOM remains and clay, similar to the matrix material
in which they were found. The black colour of the spherules is probably due
to local reduction of iron or manganese sulphides. The spherules turn light
grey-brown on exposure to air because the sulphides are oxidized on contact with atmospheric oxygen. Collection and study of further samples will be necessary to identify the composition of these spherules, and to confirm them as reliable indicators of the depth of post-impoundment sediments.
ORGANIC fragments, visible under the BINOCULAR MICROSCOPE, are another potential visual marker observed in some cores. These fragments are abundant in post-impoundment sediments, but are rare or absent in the lower, pre-impoundment sediments. Chemical analysis of cores, yet to be completed, may confirm significant changes in organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorous content as indicators of the change in post-impoundment sedimentation patterns.
Hydrology and Water Chemistry
In 1987, historical HYDROLOGICAL and water chemistry data for northern
Manitoba rivers affected by Churchill-Nelson development were organized into a data base structured to provide mass balances. The data base created will facilitate collation of temporal (past, present and future) and geographic
(upstream, downstream) trends in mass fluxes (chemical concentrations x discharge) of dissolved IONS. - 10 -
Preparation of balanced monthly water budgets for northern Manitoba river reaches affected by hydroelectric development is a necessary prerequisite to determining chemical budgets for those reaches. Preliminary budgets have now been prepared that balance major river inflows and outflows, local inflow drainage, on-lake precipitation and evaporation, and lake-storage changes.
River reaches used were delimited by the locations of river discharge stations with adequate periods of record (Fig. 4).
Calculation of precipitation, evaporation, and changes in water-storage terms in a hydrologic balance require accurate knowledge of the areas of the lakes involved. Due to discrepancies in reported areas for the larger lakes in the region (ranging up to a 71% difference for Split Lake), lake areas were re-measured using pre- and post-development National Topographic Survey (NTS)
1:50000 scale maps (larger lakes on the Churchill River diversion downstream of Notigi Dam, all lakes on the Nelson River downstream of Jenpeg Dam), and also using Landsat Multi-Spectral Scanner (MSS) data (Cross and Sipiwesk
Lakes, Stephens Reservoir).
Discrepancies in published lake areas should be of general concern. Good
correspondence between lake areas measured by Landsat MSS and areas measured
on NTS 1:50000 maps suggests that this technique would be useful in checking
the areas of Southern Indian Lake and the Notigi Reservoir. The latter has not been measured accurately since being impounded. Imagery analysis would
also provide a single, objective and highly comparative method of determining
altered areas of all lakes affected by Churchill-Nelson development.
Calculation of precipitation, evaporation and changes in water-storage terms
are subject to uncertainties, but generally these terms are small in - 11 -
FIGURE 4: River Reaches used for Hydrologic
and Water Chemistry Budget,
as Delimited by Dash-Dot Lines
z
:r a z-
SPRUCE
0 50 100 km
100• 96° - 12 -
proportion to major riverine inflows and outflows.· Therefore, water budgets must be balanced by adjusting river inflow and outflow data. For SIL and the
Churchill River diversion, published discharge!i usually can be balanced by changes of <5% on an annual basis, excepting at the South Bay Diversion
Channel where the discrepancy is as great as 8%. However, large discrepancies were found in reported discharges for reaches along the Nelson River, from
Jenpeg through Bladder Rapids to Kelsey Dam. Although discharges at Jenpeg
Dam and Sea River Falls downstream to Kelsey Dam generally balance within 3% annually, reported discharge at Bladder Rapids must be reduced up to 15% to achieve mass balance, with the highest changes needed in most recent years.
Downstream of Thompson and Kelsey Dam, to Kettle and Long Spruce Dams, balanced annual budgets were produced with alterations to published discharges averaging <2%. Currently, efforts are being made to improve water quantity data at the South Bay Diversion Channel (Water Survey of Canada), on the
Nelson River at Bladder Rapids (Water Survey of Canada), and at Jenpeg Dam and
Kelsey Dam (Manitoba Hydro).
Available water chemistry data were merged into a single record for
calculation of concentrations and monthly mass fluxes at all possible discharge stations. A time line of water chemistry data available is shown in
Fig. 5. Data collection in the Churchill-Nelson development area has been
only sporadic since 1978. Sometimes only one or two ions per sample have been
ana1yzed; a wide suite of ions was analyzed for <70% of the samples
indicated. Year-round sampling, at monthly intervals, is currently being
carried out by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), although this
program will only cover the period 1986-1988. - 13 -
FIGURE 5: Time Line for Water Chemistry Data
Collected from Locations along the
Churchill-Nelson Rivers
LEAF RAP I OS
MISS! - -- SOUTH BAY CHANNEL -
DAM _
THOMPSON ------
JENPEG DAM _
KELSEY DAM
SPLIT LAKE ___
KETTLE DAM
1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984
Solid line indicates existence of some chemistry data. - 14 -
Preliminary calculations have been prepared of concentrations and mass fluxes of major ions through time for all years without gaps of greater than two months in the available data set. However, insufficient data exist to reconstruct water chemistry balances over a full year for even the reaches which could be balanced hydrologically, and balances cannot be constructed concurrently for all reaches in any given year since hydroelectric development began. For some reaches, only one pre- and one post-development year are available for comparison.
The lack of water chemistry data will greatly constrain confidence in pre- and post-development comparison. It is of particular concern that trends in a system not at equilibrium because of impoundment or diversion may be missed or misinterpreted. Regardless of these limitations, hydrological and water chemistry budgets using historical data will be completed, provisionally, in an attempt to determine changes in water chemistry and altered land-water interactions due to hydroelectric development.
Primary Productivity and Nutrient Status
The objectives of these projects are to measure the rates of primary productivity of algae in Southern Indian Lake (SIL) and to determine what
NUTRIENT and/or physical factors are limiting algal growth. The data collected are compared to pre- and post-impoundment data collected from 1974 to 1978.
Prior to flooding (1974 and 1975), the growth of algae during summer in SIL was primarily controlled by the availability of the nutrient phosphorus. In
the two years after impoundment (1977 and 1978), algal growth was controlled - 15 -
by the availability of light in many areas because of a decrease in transparency of the lake water caused by sediments eroding from flooded shorelines. Secchi disc depth, a simple measure of water transparency, decreased at most stations in SIL after impoundment (Fig. 6). Primary productivity increased in some parts of the lake because of the increase in available phosphorus, and decreased in other parts due to reduction in light, but overall it remained about the same as before impoundment and diversion.
Physical measurements to define light conditions in the water column during
1987 indicated that water transparency increased in the north end of the lake at Stations 4B and 5B and also at Station 6E on the east side of South Bay
(Figs. 2, 6). Al though light levels were higher- than immediate post-impound ment levels at 4B and 5B, the water was still not as transparent as before flooding. At 6E, light levels in 1987 were similar to those measured in 1974 and 1975 prior to impoundment. At Station lA, light transparency remained as low or lower than immediate post-impoundment levels. At Stations 2E and 6C, light levels were similar to or slightly higher than immediate post-impoundment levels.
In 1987, chlorophyll concentrations were higher than immediate post-impoundment values at all stations except for Sandhill Bay and Notigi
Reservoir, but rates of primary productivity were lower. Nutrient status measurements indicated that, in areas where light transparency had increased
(Stations 4B, 5B, and 6E), phosphorus had again become an important factor controlling the growth of algae, as indicated by the activity of ALKALINE
PHOSPHATASE (Fig. 7). In areas where transparency had not improved (Stations FIGURE 6: Seasonal Mean Secchi Disc Depths in Southern
Indian Lake and Wood Lake, the Control Site
4
1974 1977 3.5
1975 [:Sc1 1978
3 1976 1987
2.5
..c
0 2
1.5
4B 58 WOOD SANDHILL IA 2E BAY
location of stations in Southern Indian lake are shoHn in FIGURE 2, FIGURE 7: Seasonal Mean Alkaline Phosphatase Activity Values in Southern
Indian Lake, Notigi Reservoir, and Wood Lake, the Control Site.
0.05 1976 1978
[SJ 1977 1987 0.04·
0 0.03 0
0.02 0... 0... = 0.01
0
-0.01 4B 5B WOOD SANDHILL NOTIGI IA 2E 6C 6E BAY
Location of sampling stations in Southern Indian Lake are shown in FIGURE 2. - 18 -
lA, 2E, 6C) or was actually lower than immediate post-impoundment levels
(Notigi Reservoir), algae appeared to be controlled by light rather than phosphorus.
The 1987 data indicated that, in parts of the lake, major changes have
occurred in the dynamics of primary production during the 11 years since
impoundment. The changes observed are a response to the continuing change in water transparency due to erosion of flooded shorelines in some areas and
stabilization of shorelines in other areas. At least one more year of similar
studies will be needed to determine that the observations are not year-to-year variation.
Zooplankton
ZOOPLANKTON studies had two objectives: 1) to characterize long-term changes
in the zooplankton community of Southern Indian Lake (SIL); and 2) to deter mine the degree to which these changes are due to variable climate or to lake manipulation.
In 1987, the thirteenth year of the study, a series of 46 stations,
distributed over eight characteristic regions of the lake, were sampled and
the samples were analyzed. Preliminary results indicate that 1987 zooplankton
abundance, 32.8 individuals per liter, is less than half pre-impoundment
levels and is lower than average post-impoundment values. Changing community
structure, which began after impoundment, continued. CLADOCERANS declined in
1987 to 3.6 individuals per liter, or 25% of the pre-impoundment values. On
the other hand, larger northern species such as Limnocalanus macrurus remained - 19 -
about five times more abundant in 1987 than in 1972. Mysis relicta was absent
from the lake before impoundment but was found in 16 out of 46 stations
surveyed in 1987. However, its numbers declined slightly from previous
post-impoundment surveys. One additional northern species, Diaptomus
pribilofensus, was recorded for the first time from SIL in 1987. More
detailed discussion and conclusions will be possible after data from the
entire post-impoundment period have been synthesized.
Zoobenthos
ZOOBENTHOS studies during 1987/1988 consisted of two major activities: FAUNAL
surveys and continued research on the AUTECOLOGY of the burrowing mayfly,
Hexagenia, in Southern Indian Lake (SIL).
Surveys of zoobenthos in SIL and lakes along the lower Churchill River and the diversion route were initiated in 1972, and continued every two years from
1977 to 1987. The objective of these surveys was to monitor evolution of
I zoobenthos in lakes affected by Churchill River diversion. Samples from the
1987 survey currently are being sorted and the data need to be analyzed, so no results are yet available.
Zoobenthos surveys done on SIL during the period from 1972 to 1983 indicated a collapse of populations of burrowing mayflies beginning in the 1979 survey.
Originally, the collapse was attributed to the effects of impoundment and
Churchill River diversion. However, populations appeared to recover in 1985 although impoundment and diversion were still operational. Further investigation revealed that the decline in Hexagenia populations followed an - 20 -
unusually cold year in 1978, and colder than average years in 1979 and 1980
(Fig. 8).
In 1986, an intensive study of the autecology of Hexagenia was started. The objective was to obtain sufficient information to separate natural and
ANTHROPOGENIC effects on populations of these mayflies. The study is meant to serve as a template for similar problems that bedevil other environmental impact assessments, and is pertinent to other areas of Churchill-Nelson development because Hexagenia is an important fish food in all affected lakes.
Data collected during 1986 and 1987 indicated that water temperature and weather during emergence are major variables controlling abundance of
Hexagenia in SIL. SIL is near the northern limit of the range of Hexagenia, and cool summer temperatures and a short ice-free season have resulted in life cycles that are 3-4 yr long in SIL, compared to 1-2 yr in more southerly locations such as Dauphin Lake and Lake Winnipeg. The link between temperature and larval development was confirmed in controlled laboratory studies (Fig. 9), and field observations indicated that slowed development in cold years such as 1986 may result in later adult emergence (Fig. 10) and high adult mortality as adults attempt to emerge into fall storms. Stormy weather during emergence at any time of the year affects recruitment success of a given year class, because high winds and waves effectively prevent emergence and mating. In addition, hatching success of Hexagenia eggs is directly related to temperature, poor hatch occurring at low temperatures (Fig. 11).
These factors are currently being quantified to produce a generalized model for Hexagenia life-history strategies in SIL and the Churchill-Nelson development area as a way to predict responses of Hexagenia to normal and stressed conditions. - 21 -
FIGURE 8: Hexagenia Standing Stocks (Lakewide Mean of H. limbata
and H. rigida) and Lakewide Mean Degree-Day Accumulations 0 above 8 C for Southern Indian Lake, 1972-86
E 0
0 > E 0 E 800 0 z 100 \ 0 w \ 700 \ z 80 I I 0 \ 600 z I 60 \ 0 500 w I w I 40 \ I z \ w 400 w ' ' 0 20 Degree days X w •---• Hexagenia 300
72 74 76 78 80 82 84 86 YEAR 0 0 0 FIGURE 9: Laboratory Growth Rates of Hexagenia, at 8 , 15 and 20 C
a) Body length b) Mean individual weight
, .12 .12 .10 10 . I E / ' I N S .08 S 08 N , ,,t ·Y ' I , I (I) , , (I) / +- I / , / 0 ,06 , o .06 / 0:: ,X 0:: / , , .c , , /' .04 / .c .04 H. limbata +- , , +- 3 , 3 0 '- .02 e .02 (..9 (..9 H. ngm
2 4 6 8 10 1214 16 18 20 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 1618 tD 22 Rearing Temperature (OC) - 23 -
FIGURE 10: Summary of Emergence Data for Hexagenia
at Southern Indian Lake, 1986 and 1987
...
.-----, 19 8 6 ----,575 ~------t 1987 Opachuana - f------1 1so
't------1 5 2 4 Long Bay - 1------1730
t------t 3 9 0 South Bay West - 1------i574
South Bay East - I------1 6 9 6 4 9 6
North End - 1------, 5 7 0
f---1? Missi Falls -
I I July August September
Bars refer to a period of 901. emergence for each location and numbers beside 0 the bars refer to accu~ulated degree-days (above BC) for each summer. - 24 -
FIGURE 11: Hatching Success of Hexagenia limbata
Eggs held at Different Temperatures
Temperature % hatch Time to hatch oc (x ± SE) ( days after start of trials)
4 0 8 <10 '2,75 1:, 33 ± 6 9-30 20 80 ± 2 5-14
0 Trials ~ere conducted on eggs stored at 8 C for 75 days;
each trial consisted of 12 replicates of 50 eggs. - 25 -
Fish and Fisheries
Research on fish and fisheries in 1987/1988 had two aspects: fish population work and mercury research.
Three studies were undertaken on fish populations: 1) monitoring of Southern
Indian Lake (SIL) fish populations, 2) a stock study of lake whitefish, and
3) an investigation of the status of the SIL commercial fishery. These projects continue and extend studies conducted by DFO since 1976. Such studies will help develop long-term models for the evolution of BOREAL reservoirs, and particularly those lakes . affected by Churchill-Nelson development.
Under the fish monitoring project, fish populations in Wupaw Bay, SIL, were monitored from early June to late August. Fish characteristics such as abundance, age-class structure, and feeding patterns were measured. Data analysis to date indicates that abundance, growth condition, and mortality of the adult pike population of Wupaw Bay were relatively unaffected by flooding. However, reproductive success was affected by flooding. Young of the year (YOY) northern pike were most abundant in 1977, directly following flooding, but numbers declined in subsequent years. The pike population appears to be maintaining itself at a lower level since impoundment. The abundance of FORAGE fish species has remained largely unaffected by reservoir formation and does not appear to limit pike populations.
The objectives of the lake whitefish study were to better understand dynamic stock structure of this species following flooding, and to explain the large - 26 -
numbers of whitefish congregating immediately downstream of the Missi Falls control structure. Preliminary mark-recapture data indicated that up to
88,690 fish gathered below Missi Falls. These numbers are significant when compared to the mean annual commercial catch on the lake in the last few years. Preliminary MORPHOMETRIC comparisons indicated similarities between the Missi Falls fish and whitefish from the main commercial fishing area on
SIL (Area 4), which is close to Missi Falls (Fig. 2). Whitefish from other more southerly areas on SIL showed no similarities to either Area 4 or Missi
Falls fish. Therefore, the fish found below Missi Falls may have emigrated from SIL and are now isolated from the lake by the control structure. This study will have particular relevance to dams throughout the Churchill-Nelson development area, and should be completed soon.
The objective of the commercial fisheries study was to examine species cdmposition, age, size distribution and grade of the commercial catch, and to identify and compare the catch per unit effort (C.U.E.) and the frequency of net relocation among commercially fished regions. This year's findings will be compared to past studies in order to understand how the commercial fishery has changed. Historically, whitefish were a major component ( >85%) of the commercial catch, but now they constitute only 46%. Before flooding (1972), the C. U. E. for whitefish was 23 .1 kg/net night. By 1983, the C.U.E. had
declined to 7.5 kg/net night. The present C.U.E. is 7.41 kg/net night, which
indicates a levelling out during the post-impoundment period. Data on the
commercial fishery are expected to be published in 1988.
The research programs on mercury implemented in 1987 /1988 concerned mercury
levels in SIL fish, MERCURY METHYLATION in the f loaded zone of SIL, and - 27 -
mercury METHYLATION/DEMETHYLATION activity in northern reservoirs. (The methylation/demethylation research was DOE funded, but DFO administered).
The objective of the SIL fish mercury monitoring program was to follow concentrations of total mercury in the muscle of commercially important fish at selected sites in the SIL Reservoir. The extension of this long-term data set, the longest ( including pre-impoundment data) from any reservoir in the world, will prove invaluable in resolving the time course of elevated fish mercury levels in reservoirs. Fish samples were collected from locations in
SIL (South Bay, Camp 9 of Area 2, Area 4 and Area 5) (Fig. 2) and from Issett
Lake. Length and weight were recorded for each fish and a sample of white muscle was analyzed for total mercury. Results through 1986 showed continued high mercury levels in northern pike from SIL and Issett Lake (Fig. 12), a levelling off at below peak post-impoundment concentrations in lake whitefish
(Fig. 13), and a decline from peak post-impoundment concentrations in walleye
(Fig. 14).
The second mercury program looked at the time course of mercury methylation in the flooded zone of SIL. LIMNOCORRALS were used to determine the ability of moss flooded for 3 years to stimulate mercury methylation, compared to newly flooded moss. Total mercury levels were measured in perch at the start and finish of the experiment. Although mercury levels in perch from the old moss were slightly lower than those from the new moss, both were still elevated relative to the controls. Thus, flooded moss apparently retains its ability to stimulate methylation over time. FIGURE 12: Mean Pike Muscle Mercury Concentrations
for 6 Sampling Sites, 1978 to 1986
South Bay Channel Camp 9 X X X rJ [9 e:J (9 C) (!) C .Q +- 0 I... Area 4 Area 5 lssett L. +-c:: (1) A .A A u 1 .20 I )( )( X c:: u0 >. I... :::, u I... (1) 1.00 ~ C N o- 00 (1) ~ ~ Ol :::, -o- 0.80 Q) N
=aI... 0 "'O C 0 +- 0.60 (f)
0.40------'-----'-----'----'-----'-----'----'-----'----J.--- 1978 1979 1980 ,981 1982 i9B3 1984 i985 igae
Standardized by linear regression to a fork length of 550 mm. FIGURE 13: Mean Whitefish Muscle Mercury Concentrations
for 6 Sampling Sites, 1975-86
South Bay Channel Camp 9 (:) C) (') X X l r:g El . e:J
C 0 .._ 0 Area 4 Area 5 lssett L. .._I... C Cl) 0.30 I )( )( )( 0 C u0 >. I... :J 0 I... Cl) 2 0.20 N '°
-0 ..__.. Cl) N -0 I... 0 0.10 ""O C .,_0 (f)
0.00 1975 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 198.3 1984 1985 1986
Standardized by linear regression to a fork length of 350 mm. FIGURE 14: Mean Walley Muscle Mercury Concentrations
for 6 Sampling Sites, 1978 to 1986
South Bay Channel Camp 9 C9 El . e::J 0 C) C)
C 0 4- 0 Area 4 I... Area 5 lssett L. 4- C Cl) 6 6 t:i. >< )( X (.) C 1 .60 u0 >, I.... ::J 1.40 (.) I... Cl) 2 1.20 C 0 ,.-....
Cl) ~ I,) 2 OJ 1.00 0 ::J "O ---- Cl) N "O I... 0.80 0 "O C ,._0 0.60 (J)
0.40
0.20 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 198.3 1984 1985 1986
Standardized by linear regression to a fork length of 400 mm. - 31 -
DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT'S PROGRAM
Wildlife
In 1987 /88, the Canadian Wildlife Service, DOE undertook its second year of study of the fall waterfowl use of the area located at the outlet of Lake
Winnipeg, known as the outlet Lakes. As noted in the 1986/87 FEMP Annual
Report, the impetus for this study was the concern expressed by members of the
Norway House Band regarding reduced opportunities for waterfowl hunting in the fall, following initiation of Lake Winnipeg regulation.
Low-altitude aerial surveys were flown along selected shorelines in the Outlet
Lakes area. The routes flown in 198 7 were influenced by the results of the surveys conducted in the fall of 1986 and by the information obtained during hunter interviews held in Norway House in February 1987. A Bell 206B helicopter was used to conduct the surveys, travelling at an altitude of roughly 30 metres above ground or water level. The dates of the surveys were
October 5, 16 and 26. Fig. 15 shows the shorelines that were surveyed one or more times during either 1986 or 1987.
Data obtained from the 1986 and 1987 fall surveys are currently being analyzed with a report on this work expected in the fall of 1988. Preliminary analysis indicates that there has been a substantial reduction in the number of ducks present in the Outlet Lakes in the fall compared to the numbers recorded in the early 1970's, prior to Lake Winnipeg regulation. DIVING DUCKS appear to have experienced the largest reduction in numbers. For example, in Playgreen
Lake before Lake Winnipeg regulation, diving ducks accounted for approximately
98% of the total number of ducks observed. However, results from the 1986 and - 32 -
FIGURE 15: Shorelines Surveyed for Waterfowl, One or
More Times, during the Fall of 1986 and 1987
Lake Winnipeg
0 5 10 15 20 km - 33 -
1987 surveys indicate that divers have reduced in number to such an extent
that DABBLERS and divers occurred in roughly equivalent numbers in those years
(Fig. 16).
The cause(s) for these observed changes are presently under investigation.
Possible causes being considered include habitat deterioration associated with
a modified water regime, changes in flight patterns of migrating waterfowl,
regional waterfowl population declines, and over-exploitation.
Water Quality
The Water Quality Branch of Environment Canada· (DOE) is conducting a large multidisciplinary program in the NFA area. As noted in the FEMP 1986/87
Annual Report, this program was initiated in 1986 /87; however, most of the
activities undertaken during that year were concerned with program planning
and coordination.
One result of this planning was the development of a four-year study program,
to be conducted from 1987 to 1991, in which thirteen major program activities were identified for joint implementation with the Manitoba Department of
Environment and Workplace Safety & Health (EWS&H), (Fig. 17). In addition to
EWS&H, the Water Quality Branch is also working closely with Health and
Welfare Canada, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, and with the Water
Resources Branch of DOE in implementing its FEMP program.
The Water Quality Branch's program involves water quality and suspended sediment quality, microbiological surveys of recreational waters, REMOTE FIGURE 16: Densities of Dabblers, Divers and all Ducks Observed
along Playgreen Lake Shorelines Before and After
the Onset of Lake Winnipeg Regulation
50
40
35
30
[O 25
20
15
1 O
5
0 Dabblers Divers All ducks - 35 -
FIGURE 17: Proposed Reports/Activities for the 4-Year
Water Quality Program, 1987 to 1991
REPORT/1\CTIVITY T. RESrONSIBILITY RErOl:T/ACTIVITY T. RESPONSIDILITY Il,ln F.,>1/S&II I\,I[\
(l) Kicr-obiolo&lco.l assessment (6) Assessment of cnvit"ot\i,lcntal ot NFA cor.r.runlties r-aw water toxicity sct"ecnlnc tools. lOOT. OT. utllizcd foe- r-ccr-eation and dr-inkin& purposes. (7) Ev~luotion of lhe monitor-int str-ater,y """ilh a vie"'• to...-a.t"ds a) Field collcctlon: total C"cducins the snmplins inten SOT. SOT. collfonu and fecal colifor,n. lOOT. o:. sity,
b) Field collection: lOOT. o:. (8) Multiple v,dable analysis fecal str-ep. of histot"ical data base c) Pc-osr-ess Repor-t lOOT. o:. watet" quality chanses in association with hydt"Oelectr-ic lOT. 90T. d) Micr-otox study lOOT. o:. development. e) Compac-ison of IWD and (9) Prosress Reports SOT. SOT. E&WS&H analytical methods for micc-obiological analysis (10) Pt"oject ad~inistration and (i.e., on-site analysis coot"dination meetin&s (a.s ver-sus analysis in Winnipeg. SOT. so:. t"equit"ed),. SOT. SOT. (2) Video imager-y inter,,r-etation (ll) Evaluation of the utility ot the Rat, Burntwood and of watet" quality objectives Nelson Rivers: for use in water quality management activities vithin a) Aer-ial survey lOOT. OT. the NFA study area. SOT. SOT. b) In ter-pr-etation lOOT. (12) Watershed Classification (3) ~atec- quality studies to meet E&WS&H objectives i, ii and a) Basin water quality assessment t"epor-ts. iii identified in Schedule A. lOT. 901.
b) Development of pC"'oposed a) Field collection of samples. OT. 100:. watet" quality objectives. SOT. SOT. b) Re-evaluation of sing.le par-arneter- data analysis with c) Public Hearings OT. lOOT. inclusion of additional data ( fur-ther- to Playle and d) Pt"epat"atio~ of final water Willi""'fon 1986). JOT. 70:. quality objectives document fot" use as watet" quality c) Validation of total management str-ate&Y· 10:t 90T. phosphor-us and chlor-ophyll OT. lOOT. a models. e) Implementation OT. lOOT. (4) Regr-ession and cot"relation (after 1990/1991) of histor-ical water- quality data r-elated to dischar-ge JOT. ]Of. (13) Final miscellaneous var-iations. pr-oject t"e;,or-ts. SOT. soi:
(5) Cho.r-acter-ization of water quality within the !!FA study aC"ea.
(a) Field collection and analysis ( twice 11,onthly dur-inr; open water-; c:onthly dur-ing winter-). IIOTE: The intensity of field t:tudic!: will be r-cduccd in l?BB/1989 and 1990/1991. 100:t oi: - 36 -
SENSING correlations to water quality, and water quality data synthesis. The eleven sampling sites for this program, shown in Figs. 18, 19 and 20, are largely concentrated in the vicinity of the five NFC communities. Three of the eleven sites are located in nearby areas unaffected by the hydroelectric project; data collected from these sites will be used for comparison purposes. These sites are the Footprint River above Footprint Lake, the
Burntwood River above Threepoint Lake, and the Aiken River. The former two natural rivers have pre-development data listed for comparison to post-develop ment water quality data.
The water quality parameters being monitored at each sampling site include heavy metals, nutrients, ions, and suspended sediment. A detailed list of these parameters is given in Fig. 21.
As indicated by the extensive list of parameters shown in Fig. 21, a large amount of water quality data is being collected in the NFA area, only some of which has been analyzed to date. Examples of the type of information being collected by the Water Quality Branch are given in Figs. 22, 23 and 24 which show chlorophyll A, phosphorus, non-filterable residue measurements, and turbidity recorded in 1987 at a number of the water quality sampling sites. A report on some preliminary water quality results was distributed at the DOE workshop in March 1988; more comprehensive progress reports on the results of the 1987/88 water quality program are expected in the summer of 1988.
One observation made on the basis of the 1987 data was that the natural unimpacted rivers show distinctly different seasonal trends than the larger
Burntwood, Rat, and Nelson Rivers. They were more variable in many of the - 37 -
FIGURE 18: Location of the Water Quality Stations in the Outlet Lakes Area
\ \ \
I I I I
\
LEGEND Water Quality Stations Road --- Cross Lake Community: IR19,IR19A,IR19B
Norway House Community: IR 17 FIGURE 19: Location of the Water- Quality Stations in the Split Lake Area
LEGEND Water Quality Stations Road --- Split Lake Community: IR 17 1,IR 17 A York Landing Community: IR 17 B - 39 -
FIGURE 20: Location of the Water Quality Stations in the Diversion Route Area
I I I I I I I I I
LEGEND
Water Quality Stations Road --- Nelson House Community: IA 170,IR 170A,IR 170B - 40 -
FIGURE 21: List of Wate~ Quality Variables Sampled
Field Results + Balance Data and Calculated Parameters cont. pH (pH units) Specific Conductance (usie/cm) Sulphate - dissolved Turbidity (NTU) Carbonate* Temperature (deg. C) Bicarbonate* Hydroxide* Hardness - total as caco3 Physical Data Non-carbonate Hardness* Total Dissolved Solids* pH (pH units) Free CO2 Specific Conductance (usie/cm) Saturation Index (Lang. pH units)* Turbidity (NTU) Stability Index (Ryznar pH units)* Temperature (deg. C) Sodium Percentage(%)* Colour (rel. units) L Carbon Organic - total* Residue - nonfilterable Nitrogen - total as N * Residue - nonfilterable fixed Phosphorus - particulate as P * Nitrogen - total ammonia - as N + Nutrient Data + Heavy Metals Phosphorus - total as P Phosphorus ortho, as P Cadmium - total Phosphorus total dissolved as P Cobalt - total Nitrogen - dissolved as N Nickel - total Nitrogen - particulate as N Copper - total Nitrogen - dissolved + N03, as N Lead - total Carbon, organic - particulate Zinc - total Carbon, organic - dissolved Barium - total Carbon, inorganic - dissolved Vanadium - total Mercury - total (ug/L) Biological data Aluminium - extractable Copper - extractable Chlorphyll-a Iron - extractable Total Coliform Manganese - extractable Fecal Coliform Fecal Streptcocci Dissolved Metals
+ Balance Data and Calculated Parameters Iron Manganese Alkalinity - total as caco3 Aluminum Alkalinity - phenol Arsenic Calcium - dissolved Selenium Magnesium - dissolved Cadmium Fluoride - dissolved Zinc Potassium - dissolved Lead Sodium - dissolved Nickel Chloride - dissolved Copper Silica - reactive as Vanadium 41 -
FIGURE 22: Chlorophyll-a and Phosphorus Concentrations
for 4 Water Quality Sampling Sites
0.05
\ o.co• ~ \ 0.04 o.co• 0.04 \ ,", \.. I .'--..., I .s 0 0.00 I C ---✓ " l ., 0.00 .!. l I C> .c> C: 0. .s ., 0.03 0 0.03 .g .!. 0 > " :c C: .c "§ u .g Q u ., 0 C: 0 0 c., :c u 0.02 u 0.02 0 C: n 0 :, (.) ~ 0 .c /\ n I \ 0. 2 ...... 0 ,' I _,,.-> _g 0.01 .c 0.01· ,t•--.._ ·>- a. r 0. f \ / '-.,' ...... , I \ I 0 .c. a. ,' ¥ o.,_ _ _._ __,__....._ __.,___....._ _ _,_ 0 ' A M J J A s 0 A M J J A s 0 Time (month) Time (month)
1. RAT RIVER ABOVE THREEPOINT LAKE 2, BURNTWOOD RIVER AT OUTLET OF THREEPOINT LAKE
0.06 Ct'llo,ophyJI- • Tolal Phoaphon.n Cla1ol•.. c1 PhcuphClflll ParJlculala Phoaphor1,u +----+----+----+
0.05 r~ I ', 0.010 I ', ... r---. :c: \ I r...... C> CJ I \ ..§. " 0.00 I I \ 0.04 ' .s 0.04 :c: ., 0 C: .!. 0.005 .S ~ -;:. :c: .c 0 a " Q c .s .!. 0.03 2 "u 0 0.03 E C: :c v~~\A a 0.00 I 0 u C: 0 u ._g 0 ~ :c n 0 :, c., 0 0.02 .c g 0.02 ~ 0 0 u Vf', I ' C: ., / \/ \ :, I \ \..----- ... 0 '-.-....._ I • 0.01 -g_., 0.01 ...... 0 .c a.
0 -,.---+--+---+--+---+----,f---+---+ 0 -1---1----1---+---+---+--- A M J JASON 0 .. A M J J A s 0
Time (month) Time (monlh)
3. BURNTWOOD RIVER NEAR THOMPSON 4. BURNTWOOD f;IIVER ABOVE THREE POltH LAKE FIGURE 23a: Non-Filterable Residue in the Thompson and Split Lake Areas, 1987
28 \ 28 \
24 \ \ \ \ 20 \ 18 --- TG0001 \\__ '- _J --- TG0003 '- lB CD ·········· UF0005 E \ / /\ ' / ------UF000-4 ... _,/ \ I•\ . \ ."- i. -·-·- UF0003 .r \ . \ \ 1' /·'\ I · I · 1 10 ✓/·/ \'\!' I \\. ,i • \ \,' -----✓- I" . 8 - / V \ / _/_\ \___ ✓-✓- "- ,7·--:.J "·\ ------. / ~: \. B ,...... __ .. 4 ·_._,/._...... \ ··-._,/,/ -~.,_:,,.·_::._·~~-~------\ . , ~- ...... :' ';,/ \\,...... ,,:1 o~---a-----+-----+-----+-----+------a-----+---- SO-JAN--87 21...... a? 10-HAY-87 18-.A.U&-87 07-0CT-87 26-NOV-87
Date
FIGURE 23b: Non-Filterable Residue in the Threepoint Lake, 1987
11 /i 18
17 I \ 18 I \ I \ i~ 111 I \ 14 II \. ·1 :\., \ I \ I \ --- TF0003 f \ \ \ ! .\ \ /. i --- TE0001 \l ::\ • \ ·········· TF0001 lt\l -···-- TF000-4 ! 1·· :'. \ ,1/ ;:1 i __l:, 1 \ . ' / .. '' 7 : \ I '' ''\I B i' .••..
... ~--f-----1-----+-----+-----+------1------,---- 1G-MAY-87 2'>-JJN-87 16-AUG-87 O7-0CT-87 28-NOV-87 Date FIGURE 24a: Turbidity in the Thompson and Split Lake Areas. 1987
""T ! ""t II sol ii I i \ ~t i \ 7o-f- i \ ""ti i \ i \ BOT i \ !5!5-+- ____, i, I ------\ --- TG0001 N ~I ------\ I --- TG0003 T ~T ------\, · \ ·········· UF0005 I ------/ .~ \ ------UF0004 ---- UF0003 u~, \ ,i(_.\\ 3!5 \ • . /· I \ I / : . \ 3 I // \\ ~~-~- \r' \t : --- \ /: \\ \ . ..-- : . ------~
: 1•_-1--·--_---_-_---_--__;,....-_----~~-·-~~-~~~-~~-+~~~_: ______,_-'+-I ,,------_,,~_~~-· :-,-'<:lf->_,:;__<_~-:_~~~->-t,'.1,:-; ----+-+-- 0 ,~ 30-,Jl,,-87 21-,.1,._B7 10....lv-B? 29--.JUN-87 1B-AU9-B7 O7-0CT-87 26-NOV-87
Date
FIGURE 24b: Turbidity in the Threepoint Lake Area, 1987
80 ,,i ::n ; l : : ; \ 80 : : :' '\ : \ : : j i : : ' ' 40 ;' '\ : : --- TF0003 N I : T 3!5 --- TE0001 i \ ·········· TF0001 u ' ' I' '\ ------TF0004 "" ! i .: .: ,l·-' ... '\ ;-- \/ ··.. ~-/\ I 20 :\ ·.. 11 .~ x / \{'\_ /.\ /\;\, / 15 ·.. } V ·---.:::::---/-· _.. · ···--.\j-···
10
51~------+-----+-----1------+-----+-----1----- 2:l--MAR--87 iO-NAY-1117 :ll!-AUS-117 07-0CT--87 2&-NOV-97
Date - 44 -
parameters examined (e.g. temperature, colour, dissolved organic carbon), perhaps due to a comparatively greater influence of watershed drainage.
(Fig. 25). Comparison of these rivers to the diversion route stations in
order to assess the effects of the hydroelectric development must be completed with the careful understanding of the differences these small rivers show in
both the magnitude and seasonal trends of various parameters.
MICROBIOLOGICAL studies were conducted consisting of community area surveys
and MICROBIAL and toxicant screening tests. Community area surveys were
undertaken to effectively assess existing bacterial population levels of total
COLIFORM, FECAL COLIFORM and FECAL STREPTOCOCCJ in the recreational waters of
the five NFC communities. The microbial and toxicant screening tests were
implemented as pilot studies in the areas of Nelson House, Split Lake and York
Landing to identify degraded or degrading water and sediment quality.
The results of the microbiological investigations conducted in 1987 in the
recreational waters of the five NFC communities showed that bacterial
contamination exceeding the recommended national guideline of 200 organisms
per 100 mL had occurred at least once in each community during the open-water
season. Calculated fecal coliform and fecal streptococci ratios (4 to 1)
indicated that the origin of this contamination, in some cases, was human.
Areas of concern in each community are as follows: Split Lake - First Beach;
(Fig. 26); Nelson House - School Bay; Cross Lake - Water Treatment Pipe
Intake; Norway House - Government Dock; and York Landing - Ferry Dock.
The levels of bacteria and their distribution in water and sediment can be
further complicated by the water level fluctuation of lakes exposing FIGURE 25a: Dissolved Organic Carbon in the Thompson and Split Lake Areas, 1987
l!1
20
1a
17
18 . /" \ ..' ' "' u / \\ . . . --- TG0001 _J --- TG0003 '- .. , ...... UF0005 IJ) . /\ ,,:'/ .. E r-· .... / \ /\ ------UF0004 " --- UF0003 10 . :;:';'': ...... / \\\\\\\\, •./ ,,l' \ V ~~-=---- /'
7
8
3 .L_3D_-J---1AN-8f--7---2-1--+W>----+-.-7---10---HA-+Y-...,,---28--.JUN---+-S7___ 1_&-_.t....JUl-&--8_7 ___ 0_7-0--!C-T--S-7 ___ 28-_-N+OV---.-7--
Date
FIGURE 25b: Dissolved Organic Carbon in the Threepoint Lake Area, 1987
1-4.0
1.9.'5
13.0
12.15
12.0
U.15
11.0
10.0
_J 10.0 --- TF0003
'-IJ) --- TE0001 E a.~ ...... TF0001 ------TF0004 g.o
e.e •·or ~--""'"''-.,,,~~-, 7.1!
7.0 ...... "",
o.e ', ...... ___ ...... , ____ _ e.o
e.e 30-JAN-87 21--H.A.R-87 10-M.AY-87 29-,JUN-87 . 1&-AUS-87 07-0CT-87 26-NOV-B7
.Date FIGURE 26: Bacteria Counts from Split Lake at First Beach, 1987
-4000
TOTAL E COLIFORM 0 0 ~WJ FECAL 0 2000 I- COLIFORM '·c z (I) ::, +- (.) 0 0 u 1610 m 0 I- Cl) -0 ::, 0 0 0:: z w ::,~ 820 z 0 0 I-
200 GUIDELINE f01 0 10 20 0 MAY 27 JUN 10 JUL OB JUL 10 SEP 21 Date Sampled - 47 -
contaminated sediment and the resuspension of bacteria into the water column by wave wash.
A self-administered bacteria program was developed in 1987/88, with plans to begin a pilot study in the community of Split Lake in the spring of 1988. In addition to investigating recreation waters, this program will also help determine water quality problem areas in water distribution within the community. This pilot study was developed in conjunction with Health and
Welfare Canada and with the cooperation of the Split Lake community members.
The battery of microbiological and biomonitoring tests conducted along the diversion route determined that the water in most cases was good water for microbiological generation. However, stimulatory and/or lethal responses were observed during microbiological tests using the bottom sediments. Further investigations into the sediment implications will be extended to the upper
Nelson River in 1988.
A remote sensing project was also carried out along a portion of the Churchill
River diversion route and Split Lake. Aerial imageries of the Burntwood and
Nelson Rivers were recorded. Simultaneous to the aerial imagery, water truthing of major ions, turbidity, non-filterable residue, and chlorophyll was conducted at the test sites.
The remote sensing study' was completed August 31 and September 1, 1987. With the assistance of the community of Split Lake, water samples were collected coincident with aerial imagery from six altitudes ranging from 152.4 meters to - 48 -
487.7 meters. The results from both the aerial imagery and watertruthing were good and a publication will be forthcoming in a research journal in September
1988.
In addition to the water quality data being currently collected, there is a considerable .body of existing data. One task that was undertaken in 1987/88 was an evaluation of all existing federal water quality data for the NFA area since 1953. A report is nearing completion which collates all existing water quality data from more than 200 stations in the drainage basins of the
Churchill, Rat, Burntwood, Grass, and Nelson Rivers, involving more. than 115 different parameters. This document should be available in September, 1988.
Assessing the water quality changes in the NFA area and determining the relationship of these changes to the hydroelectric project is an important objective of the water quality project. An evaluation of the existing data is required for comparisons of pre- and post- hydro project water quality conditions and for the determination of any correlations between water quality parameters and recorded streamflows.
Sediment
As noted in the FEMP 1986/87 Annual Report, a contract was awarded in 1987 to
Northwest Hydraulic consultants to examine the sediment effects resulting from the LWCN hydroelectric project. The work undertaken under this contract, which was directed by the Sediment Survey Section of the Water Resources
Branch of Environment Canada was divided into two phases; the first phase focussed on an assessment of existing information, while the objective of the second phase was to recommend future studies, if required. - 49 -
The report on the results of the phase I activities was released in mid-July
198 7 as FEMP Report #8 7 -4 . The report on the phase II activities is in progress and is expected to be ready for distribution in the summer of 1988.
It will be published as FEMP Report #88-3. Some of the key points from these reports, especially #88-3, are highlighted here.
Analysis of the available data on sediment concentrations measured from
February 1975 to August 1984 along the Churchill River Diversion (CRD) route did not give any clear indications of either an increasing or decreasing trend in concentrations (87-4, p 18-21) Subsequent analysis of satellite data did suggest that the Burntwood River and the on-route lakes downstream of
Threepoint Lake are more turbid after the diversion (88-3, p 9) (Fig. 27); however, some caution must be exercised with the manner used to interpret the satellite data because of the influence of interfering factors
(eg. atmospheric conditions, film processing, etc.)
While the suspended sediment concentrations along the Burntwood River system do not appear to be much different from pre-diversion values, the quantities of sediment entering Split Lake from the CRD are in the order of ten times greater than in pre-diversion conditions (88-3, p. 30). This increase in tonnages delivered to Split Lake is as a result of the greatly increased water flows along the CRD. It was also noted that while this increase in sediment loading is large, it is in the order of five times less than what was predicted in the Lake Winnipeg Churchill Nelson Rivers study Board Report,
1975 (88-3, p. 30). - 50 -
FIGURE 27: Turbidity Indications along Diversion
Route from Selected Landsat Imagery
Date: 17 June 74 15 Oct 77 19 Aug 85 Source: J.D. Hollard Purchased 2 Purchased Location and - 2 prints transparency transparencies
South Bay 2/3 not covered 5
Issett Lake 3 5
Karsak./Pemich. Lakes 1 3/4
Rat Lake 2 2/3 1/3
Notigi Lake 1 2 2
Wapisu Lake l 3 2
Threepoint Lake 2/3 2/3 315
Footprint Lake 1 1 1
Wuskawatim Lake 2/3 4 5
Opegano Lake 3 not covered 5
Birch Tree Lake 3 not covered
Apussigamassi Lake 3
Split Lake not covered
Locations are in order of upstream (South Bay) to (Split Lake).
Turbidity increases from 1 to 5; numbers are based on assessed colour tones on false colour images from Landsat satellites.
Table material extracted from Table 1 of Report iBB-3. - 51 -
The increase in sediment loading to Split Lake may be resulting in the
deposition of sediment on traditional fish spawning beds (88-3, p. 31).
Detailed sediment investigations as well as a knowledge of the location of the
traditional spawning beds would be necessary to determine if this phenomena is
occurring. Only Southern Indian Lake (SIL) has been studied in this manner;
deposition of several centimeters of sediment on traditional spawning beds in
SIL has been observed, but the effect on productivity is not known (88-3,
p. 4).
The main source of the increased sediment loads entering Split Lake from the
CRD is lakeshore erosion and some riverbank erosion in the augmented
Rat-Burntwood River and lake system downstream of the Notigi Control
Structure. Because the system is a dynamic one, a number of factors are, and
will be, influencing the source of the sediment loads. For example, sediment
generated in and exported from Southern Indian Lake is mostly trapped in the
Rat-Notigi Reservoir (88-3, p. 30). However, recent observations by the
Department of Fisheries and Oceans indicate that the Notigi shoreline is
beginning to erode quite rapidly, which was not the case in the first decade
following diversion. This may result in a change from the Notigi reservoir
being a sediment sink to a sediment exporter. An.other factor to consider is
the effects of future power developments. It is estimated that the net effect
of most projected developments will be a further increase in sediment loads
and concentrations, because of the creation of extended lengths of lake and
reservoir shoreline susceptable to wind-wave erosion (87-4, p.8).
The geographical focus of the FEMP sediment investigations was the CRD; however, the Lake Winnipeg outlet lakes area was considered briefly, primarily - 52 -
in the context of its impact downstream. It was concluded that sediment contributions to Split Lake from the regulated Nelson River appear to be of negligible significance compared to those from the augmented Burntwood River
(83-3, p. 31). Within the outlet lakes area itself, it was concluded that sediment and vegetational inputs are EPISODIC and mainly related to wind-wave erosion of the Lake Winnipeg shoreline in the general vicinity of the inlet channels (87-4, p.9).
The phase II report concludes with four recommendations for further action.
The recommendations made were: investigations of sediment deposition in Split
Lake, continuation of studies on mercury attachment to sediment along the CRD, close coordination between agencies involved in various sediment studies, and a sediment budget study of the CRD to be conducted from downstream of Notigi to downstream of Split Lake. Northwest Hydraulics also categorized these recommendations as being of greater community interest (the first two noted above) or of greater scientific interest (the last one noted above) (88-3, p. 32).
Morphology
As noted in the FEMP 1986/87 Annual Report a contract was awarded in 1987 to
Kellerhals Engineering Ltd. to examine the morphologic effects resulting from the LWCN hydroelectric project. The work undertaken under this contract, which was also directed by the Sediment Survey Section of the Water Resources
Branch of Environment Canada, was divided into two phases - an assessment of
existing information and suggestions for possible future work. - 53 -
The report on the results of the phase I activities was released in late
August, 1987 as FEMP Report #87-5. The report on the phase II activities is
in progress and is expected to be ready for distribution in the summer of
1988. It will be published as FEMP Report #88-4. Some of the key points from
these reports, ·especially #88-4, are highlighted here.
In the FEMP Report #87-5, morphological effects were identified and discussed
on the basis of data and reports available in the spring of 1987, combined with the results of a brief field inspection. (Reports which became available
in late 1987 or early 1988, notably studies by Manitoba Hydro on open water river hydraulics and winter hydraulics, were reviewed in phase II).
Kellerhals Engineering categorized the morphological concerns according to their perception of the relevancy of these concerns to the NFA communities, to scientific interest, and to Manitoba Hydro, recognizing that some particular concerns may be relevant to all three interests. Shoreline stability, flooding, floating debris, standing dead trees, and shallow water depth were the morphological changes considered to be of most direct relevance to the
NFC communities (88-4, p. ii).
Specific morphological monitoring recommendations were made on a regional basis as follows: the upper Nelson River to Sipiwesk Lake, the lower Nelson
River, the lower Churchill River, the CRD route upstream of Notigi, and the
CRD route downstream of Notigi. Recommendations for the upper Nelson River focussed on the need to assess erosion rates at the entrance to 2-mile channel and to monitor sedimentation in Playgreen Lake; the effect of the hydroelectric development on the lake levels, particularly Cross Lake and - 54 -
Sipiwesk Lake were also noted (87-5, p .4-4). The detrimental morphological
impacts on the lower Nelson River, an area which will have considerable further hydroelectric development, were noted as relating primarily to loss of
shoreline stability, debris, and flooded forests of standing dead trees (87-5,
4-10). In the lower Churchill River area, the long-term morphological
evolution of the severely depleted river channel was noted as being the major
interest, primarily from a scientific point-of-view (87-5, p. 4-5).
The morphological issues of the upper CRD route (from Southern Indian Lake to
the Notigi Control Structure) were considered to be of interest to the NFC
communities, to science, and to Manitoba Hydro. It was noted that the main
morphological questions remaining to. be addressed for Southern Indian Lake
were primarily of interest in connection with a sediment budget for the CRD:
however, the rest of this area has had little morphological monitoring. It
was noted that the various detrimental effects of flooding need to be
quantified in order to better assess the extent of the initial damage and the
rate at which shorelines and reservoir surfaces return to a more natural,
stable state (87-5, p. 4-7).
The lower reach of the CRD route was considered separately because of the
potential for future hydroelectric developments in this reach. Morphological
issues identified here included the need for estimates of erosion and
deposition rates ( for input in a sediment budget for the CRD route), repeat
surveys of cross sections to determine if any channel enlargement is occurring
(as predicted in the LWCN Study), and the collection of bottom core samples to
provide a rough, general picture of deposition processes (87-5, p. 4-9). - 55 -
The Churchill River diversion route was the geographical focus of phase II of the morphological study because the potential for morphological change is greatest here as a result of the large increase in flows and water levels and because Nelson House, one of the five NFA communities, is located in this area.
One of the main objectives of phase II was to investigate the feasibility of using maps and air photos to quantify morphologic changes. The majority of the feasibility studies were undertaken on Threepoint and Footprint Lakes as these areas were considered to be of most interest to the residents of Nelson
House (88-4, p. 3-2).
Analysis of the air photos of Footprint and Threepoint Lakes provided some useful quantifiable information on morphologic changes; however, it was noted that the results could be improved considerably by conducting field work to ground truth the air photo interpretations and by obtaining air photos and video documentation flown specifically for this type of application
( 88-4, p. ii).
Besides trying to determine the areal extent of the morphologic changes, erosion volumes were also estimated. It was found that sufficient photography is available to allow determination of erosion rates at sites undergoing relatively rapid rates of retreat. This analysis indicated that rates of erosion have increased substantially following the diversion (88-4, p. iii).
The widespread effects of the Churchill River diversion have resulted in many morphological parameters undergoing change, all of which could be monitored. - 56 -
A list of the thirteen morphological studies recommended by Kellerhals
Engineering is shown in Fig. 28. Each recommendation is described in terms of
its perceived relevancy to community and scientific interests and in terms of
its potential for community involvement.
The reasons for identification of those studies in Fig. 28 as highly relevant
to the NFC communities were that they are directed towards quantifying the
effects of the diversion and towards better defining the time necessary for
these effects to diminish. It is currently estimated that it might take 50 to
100 years for a new stable shoreline to develop along the CRD route, longer in
some parts of the route if additional dams are constructed. There is,
unfortunately, little that can now be done to alleviate many of the
detrimental impacts (88-4, p. 51).
Mercury Research
Continuation of research on mercury methylation was another of the FEMP
projects conducted in 1987/88. This work was conducted by Agassiz North
Associates, under the direction of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans,
with funding provided from Environment Canada's FEMP budget.
Previous research had shown that elevated concentrations of mercury found in
the fish from lakes flooded by the Churchill River diversion are the product
of increased rates of microbial methylation. It is believed that the elevated
mercury concentrations in fish will persist as long as net bacterial
methylation remains elevated. The desire to try and address the important
question of how long the elevated mercury levels in the fish will remain has
motivated the continued research on mercury methylation. - 57 -
FIGURE 28: Summary of Recommended Morphological
Studies along the Rat Burntwopd River
RECOM. SHORT TITLE PRIORITY RATING NORTHERN INVOLVEMENT NUMBER COMMUNITY SCIENTIFIC IMMEDIATE LONG TERM RELEVANCE INTEREST
1 Obtain air photos HIGH HIGH LOW LOW
2 Establish field control HIGH MODERATE HIGH MODERATE and review local issues
3 Analysis of planimetric HIGH HIGH LOW LOW mapping
4 Analysis of topographic LOW HIGH LOW LOW mapping
5 Video survey to ground MODERATE MODERATE LOW MODERATE truth air photos
6. Video survey of HIGH LOW HIGH HIGH northern issues
7 Catalogue of video and LOW MODERATE LOW MODERATE 35 mm imagery
8 Field and office LOW HIGH LOW MODERATE studies of shorezone characteristics
9 Repetitive field LOW HIGH LOW MODERATE surveys to document changes in morphometry
10 35 mm photos to document MODERATE MODERATE MODERATE HIGH changes in morphometry
11 Repetitive bathymetric MODERATE MODERATE MODERATE MODERATE surveys to determine lake sedimentation
12 Lake coring to determine MODERATE HIGH LOW LOW lake sedimentation rates
13 Sediment plans to monitor MODERATE MODERATE LOW MODERATE lake sedimentation rates
Recommendations are from FEMP Report #88-4 prepared by Kellerhals Engineering Services Ltd. - 58 -
These studies have followed two courses: the continued monitoring of microbial mercury methylation balance in the diversion lakes to determine if decreases are occurring over the near term; and the measurement of the mercury methylation balance in older reservoirs to examine long term changes ( 88-1, p. 1). In 1987, five sites were monitored:· two on Southern Indian Lake
(Methyl Bay and Area 5); one in the Notigi Reservoir; one in Granville Lake, a northern Manitoba lake which has not been flooded and is used as the long term reference lake for these studies; and one in Sipiwesk Lake, a lake whose mean water level was raised approximately three meters between 1960 and 1965 by the
Kelsey Dam located on the Nelson River above Split Lake (88-1, p.7). The results of this monitoring are shown in Fig. 29.
While there were significant differences in the rates of methylation (M),
demethylation (D), and MID in flooded sediments among the sites located within
the flooded zones in Methyl Bay, Area 5, and Notigi, they were all
significantly elevated in comparison to rates in Granville Lake
(88-1, p. ii). Rates at the offshore stations were comparable to rates measured in Granville Lake. At Methyl Bay where measurements have been made
for four consecutive years, there is no evidence that any of the M, Dor MID
rates have started to return to values in Granville Lake (88-1, p. i).
Methylation rates in Area 5 and the rates of both methylation and
demethylation in Notigi were significantly lower than those in Methyl Bay; in
1984, the last year these rates were measured, these values were approximately
the same. The differences observed in 1987 can, in part, be accounted for by
the variation among the sites in concentrations of organic matter. (The
amount and type of organic material are the most imp6rtant factors affecting - 59 -
FIGURE 29: Seasonal Mean Specific Methylation (M) and
Demethylation (D) Rates and Corresponding
M/D Ratios; June 29 through August 26, 1987
-1 -1 Station % added Hg g h No. Type Location Methylation Demethylation M/D ------Methyl Bay
1 Flooded, nearshore 0.0027 0.0551 0.0490 2 Flooded, near shore 0.0020 0.0531 0. 0377 3 Flooded, nearshore 0.0014 0.0321 0.0436 4 Reference, offshore 0.0001 0.0127 0.0078
Area 5
5 Flooded, nearshore 0.0009 0. 1233 0.0073 6 Flooded, nearshore 0.0011 0.0775 0.0142 7 Flooded, nearshore 0.0012 0.0923 0.0130 8 Reference, offshore 0.0002 0. 0206 0.0097
Notigi Lake West
9 Flooded, nearshore 0.0009 0.0336 0.0269 10 Flooded, near shore 0.0003 0.0341 0.0088 11 Flooded, near shore 0.0005 0.0285 0.0175
Sipiwesk Lake
12 Flooded, nearshore 0.0021 0.0367 0.0572 13 Flooded, nearshore 0.0011 0.0584 0.0188 14 Flooded, nearshore 0.0034 0.0912 o. 0373 15 Reference, offshore 0.0001 0.0073 0.0137
Granville Lake
16 Reference, nearshore 0.0001 0.0139 0.0072 17 Reference, nearshore 0.0001 0.0192 0.0052 18 Reference, nearshore 0.0003 0.0166 0.0181 19 Reference, offshore 0.0001 0.0099 0.0101
All values are time-weighted means. - 60 -
the net rate of methyl mercury production). The relatively low methylation rates in Area 5 compared to the high concentration of organic matter may be
due to different methylating FLORA from that occurring at other flooded sites
or perhaps that the organic matter is less available to the methylators (88-1,
p. 6 7).
Another reason for the observed differences between 1984 and 1987 may be
changes in the condition of materials in the flooded zone. There is some
indication that this may be the case in Notigi where turbidity has increased
significantly in the past few years. When deposited in the nearshore zone,
the inorganic sediment would effectively dilute the organic matter, reducing
its concentration per unit weight of sediment and its availability to the methylating bacteria (88-1, p. 68).
Results of work conducted under the FEMP mercury research program in 1986
indicated that rates of methylation and demethylation in three reservoirs
declined according to a negative exponential model. Based on this model,
methylation and demethylation rates in flooded sediments from Sipiwesk Lake
should have been about 50% of the rates in Methyl Bay this year. However,
methylation rates at the two sites were not significantly different, while
demethylation rates in Sipiwesk Lake were significantly higher than in Methyl
Bay (88-1, p. 72).
Two possible explanations for this descrepancy were suggested by Agassiz
North. One is that the model is incorrect. The second explanation is that
the model is based on the fundamental assumption that materials sampled have
been submerged since the reservoir was formed and 'this .3:ssumption may be - 61 -
invalid for Sipiwesk Lake. Water levels fluctuate on Sipiwesk Lake, with the
levels being generally lowest in the summer. This permits revegetation of the drawdown zone. In turn, this vegetation represents a fresh source of organic material to the near shore zone of the reservoir. The relative contribution of this material to the total organic matter availability is unknown; however
if this contribution is substantial, then net methyl mercury production and mercury concentrations in fish can be expected to remain elevated indefinitely
(88-1, p. 74).
Recent improvements in analytical methods for measuring mercury concentrations in surface water enabled the results from previously used proxy methods for determining relative mercury concentrations in water to be evaluated. The previous results were confirmed; namely, that total mercury concentrations are not elevated in the surface waters of Methyl Bay or Notigi Lake relative to
Granville Lake. The measured concentrations were well within the Heal th and
Welfare guidelines for total mercury concentrations in potable water
(88-1, p. 64).
Given the apparent cause of the reservoir mercury problem, a possible means of mitigation may be the selective stimulation of the demethylating bacteria and/or the inhibition of the methylators. However, the development of such measures requires knowledge of the causative microorganisms and their metabolic pathways (88-1, p.3). A pilot study was conducted, in 1987, to investigate the rate of METHANOGENIC BACTERIA in the processes of methylation and demethylation in sediments from Methyl Bay, SIL. The results are shown in
Fig. 30. FIGURE 30: Effect of Addition of 30 mM Bromoethane Sulfonic Acid (BESA)
on the M, D, and M/D Rates in Sediments from Methyl Bay, SIL
-1 -1 % added Hg g h Location Treatment Methylation Demethylation M/D
Flooded None 0.0131 0.0022 5.9545
BESA 0.0031 0.0414 0.0749
% difference - 76% + 1882% - 99%
Offshore None 0.0005 0.0208 0.0240
BESA 0.0002 0.0056 (),0357
% difference - 60% - 73% + 149%
Sediments were collected on August 20, 1987 and the assays conducted on August 21, 1987. Percent differences
represents the percentage change relative to the untreated sample from the same location. - 63 -
The results of this experiment indicate that methanogens are the principle methylators of mercury in sediments from both the flooded zone and the pre-existing lake basin in Methyl Bay. Perhaps the most important finding in this experiment was the disparate effect of methanogen inhibition on demethylating activity in sediments from the two locations. The results of this study may therefore indicate that conditions in the flooded sediments have selected for a group or groups of non-methanogenic bacteria which are capable of demethylation but which are poor competitors for the available resources in the presence of methanogens (88-1, p. 74).
Information Synthesis
As noted in the FEMP 1986/87 Annual Report, a contract was signed in
February 1987 with Electro-Magnetic Sensing and Interpretation to prepare a remote sensing imagery catalogue. This project was under the direction of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, with funding provided from .Environment
Canada's FEMP budget. The catalogue was completed and distributed in early
November 1987 as FEMP Report #87-3.
The objective of the catalogue was to establish an annotated inventory of all remote sensing data for the area affected by the Lake Winnipeg, Churchill,
Nelson Hydro Development Project. The data is presented in a graphical form to facilitate easy identification of geographic location of the data.
The catalogue is divided into two main sections - data and applications. The data section is further divided into sections on aerial photography, satallite imagery, and maps. - 6Li -
The aerial photography section presents researchers with a geographically referenced database of aerial photography from 1945 to 1987. Scale, film type, format, and purpose of photographic acquisition are presented with each data block of aerial photography. The information in this section is organized by subareas ( eg. outlet Lakes) , with each sub area containing an index map highlighting the individual subarea and indicating page number references for the appropriate data map. An example of the information listed for these data maps is given in Fig. 31.
The satellite section provides a complete listing and graphic representation of all imagery (<50 percent cloud) which has been recorded by the Landsat satellite in the study area. This section describes how Landsat data is collected and what the geographic reference (track map) is for each path and row combination (image center). Following each track map is a graphic presentation of each image center. Cloud type (opaque or transparent), and location of cloud is presented in each image center map. (Fig. 32) This information can be used by researchers in determining the amount of useful satellite imagery for their area of interest. Several color illustrations of
Landsat Multisectral Scanner (MSS) imagery are presented to illustrate the information content of this data.
A section on maps is also included as a supplementary data source. The intent of this section is to provide a source of some useful map collections since maps can be a valuable source of information when using remote sensing techniques to quantify environmental change. Many of the maps presented have been developed through photo interpretation, satellite analysis, or a combi- nation of the two (87-3 p. 417). Some of the available maps which are - 65 -
FIGURE 31: Aerial Photography Map and Associated Data Block
0 40 mi Lower Nels on Scale 1 • 1• , •• ,, , 1 0 60 km Block Type Scale Altitude Format Date 21 BW 20000 10000 9X9 May78
Header Description Block Identifies a unique photographic survey block.
Type Refers to film type, black and white (BW), color (CLR), and color infrared (CLR IR).
Scale Scale of photography, (eg. 2000 means 1: 2000).
Altitude Altitude at which photography was acquired, normally stated as above sea level, or above ground level (AGL).
Format Size of negative, either 9x9 .inches or 70 mm.
Date Date imagery was acquired. - 66 -
FIGURE 32: Landsat Microfiche Map and Associated Data Block
Legend
terrain not visible. - terrain visible but may or may not be clear.
terrain visible.
microfiche available but not clear, for reasons other than cloud. Path Row LS Date CIC Qual. of MSS App.# microfiche not available at MRSC. 35 20 3 8/21/82 40 GGGG 967
Header Description Path/Row All Landsat images in this catalogue are listed in ascending order of Path and Row. These in combination referred to as Centre Numbers and are to be used in conjunction with the Landsat Index Map to locate the approximate position of each image in relation to a map of Canada (see Landsat Index Maps, pp. 157,158,255, and 256). LS Landsat mission 1,2,3,4, or 5 The basic characteristics of the Landsat satellites and their sensors are documented in the Applications Section. See also Landsat satellite status report (Table 6). Date Date of image acquisition over target area listed by month, day, year. CIC Cloud Coverage a subjective estimate is made of the MSS scene. Cloud coverage can be opaque or transparent (see Table 33 in Appendix C for description of opaque). Qual. ofMSS Image Quality an asterisk indicates that no data had been processed for this scene at the time of publishing. MSS bands (Multi-spectral scanner bands) 1 2 3 4 (previously 4 5 6 7 for LS 1 to 3) Quality: Excellent, Good, Fair, Poor, Uncorrectable.
App. Appendix reference number Additional data for App. #25 can be found in Appendix C.
Source: Landsat Imagery Catalogue. - 67 -
referenced are forest inventory surveys, Canada Land Inventory Maps, and
drainage maps.
The catalogue concludes with a section on the application of remote sensing to hydrographic investigations. Aerial applications are limited to aerial
photography. Tables are presented to match film type, scale and camera type to
specific objectives of hydrographic research. Digital applications are presented in the context of quantitative remote sensing. The theoretical
constructs of digital multi spectral imaging are presented. Descriptions are given for sediment regime mapping and quantification using Landsat HSS and
Thematic Happer (TM). Time series analysis is discussed and several images are presented.
Hydrology
The outflow from Southern Indian Lake is the prime determinant of the altered water regime along the diversion route and down the lower Nelson River.
However, local characteristics at the outlet of Southern Indian Lake (SIL) have prevented the use of the standard methodology based on a stage/discharge relationship. Recent technological developments, which have lead to the development of an ultrasonic flow meter suitable for use in remote northern locations, should enable measurement of the diverted flow.
In the 1987/88 fiscal year, an ultrasonic flow meter was purchased and tested. It will be installed at the outlet of SIL in the summer of 1988. - 68 -
PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
Both Environment Canada and the Department of-Fisheries and Oceans undertook a number of activities to facilitate the effective management and coordination of their FEMP environmental monitoring and research projects.
In May 1987, Environment Canada hired a FEMP coordinator. In addition to the ongoing management and coordination of DOE's FEMP projects, an important responsibility of the coordinator is to liaise with other NFA parties, particularly to inform them of the FEMP results and planned activities and to incorporate their comments, to the maximum extent possible, on the FEMP.
In March 1988, the DOE FEMP coordinator circulated a draft discussion paper entitled "The Future Direction of the FEMP" to the other NFA parties for their review and comment. The objective of the first part of the paper was to examine the many factors which must be considered in the implementation of the
FEMP and to develop from them a strategy for the remainder of the FEMP. The second part of the paper attempts to apply this strategy to the selection of future FEMP projects, concentrating especially on the key issue(s) to be addressed by each project. Once comments have been received from the other
NFA parties, this paper will be finalized.
On March 28 and 29, 1988, DOE hosted a technical workshop on the FEMP projects. Presentations were given on some of the results of the DOE and DFO projects to date, followed by discussions on both the results and the anticipated 1988/89 activities. Representatives from· all four of the NFA parties were invited to attend this day and a half workshop. - 69 -
On February 6 and 7, 1988, DFO hosted a workshop to determine the feasibility of doing a retrospective analysis of the biophysical, social and economic impacts of the LWCNR hydroelectric project on the commercial and domestic fishing practices of the five NFC communities. The first day of the workshop focussed on obtaining the views of six invited guests, with experience in environment-related social/economic studies in Canadian native communities, on a number of questions concerned with socio-economic analysis of native fishing practices. The second day was opened to discussions by all participants.
Representatives from all four NFA parties attended this workshop.
An ongoing management activity for DFO's program is the operation of a field camp at Southern Indian Lake. This camp is used by all of their researchers working in this area on the federal ecological monitoring program.
Other important aspects of the FEMP management include the close working relationship between DFO and DOE (as evidenced for example, in the funding by
DOE of projects directed by DFO) and the publishing of the ecological monitoring report series, including the FEMP annual report. - 70 -
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
A large number of individuals were involved in the FEMP program in 1987 /88, including the project leaders and their supporting professional and technical staff in DOE and DFO, as well as a number of consultants. To list them by name would be to run the risk of accidental omission. Without their dedicated efforts in the field and laboratories and their cheerful cooperation in providing the latest results of their projects, this report could not have been written.
A special thanks is due to D. Rosenberg for his preparation of the material on the results of the DFO program.
Thanks are also due to I. Shafer for his assistance in the final drafting of the report figures, to C. L. Blois for her typing of the numerous drafts of this report, and to R.A. Hale for his review of the report. - 71 -
GLOSSARY
ALKALINE PHOSPHATE - an enzyme that mediates the clevage of phosphate from ORGANIC phosphate compounds
ANTHROPOGENIC - involving the impact of man on nature
AUTECOLOGY - ecology dealing with individual organisms or individual kinds of organisms
BINOCULAR MICROSCOPE - an optical instrument, adapted to the use of both eyes, consisting of a lens or combination of lenses for making enlarged images of minute objects
BOREAL - of, relating to, or located in northern regions
¹³⁷CS - a form of the chemical element, cesium
CLADOCERANS - any of an order of minute, chiefly freshwater CRUSTACEANS. that includes the water fleas
CRUSTACEANS - any of a large class of mostly aquatic invertebrate animals with certain characteristics (eg. two pairs of antennae); eg. lobsters, and shrimps
DABBLING DUCK - (or DABBLER), a duck which typically feeds by "tipping up" so that its tail shows above the water surface; mallards and teal are dabblers
DEMETHYLATION - conversion of one type of chemical compound into another by the removal of the methyl group (CH₃-); the reverse of methylation
DIATOM - a certain type of minute PLANKTONIC unicellular or colonial algae
DIVING DUCK - (or DIVER), a duck which typically feeds by diving below the water surface; scaup and goldeneye are divers
EPISODIC - of or limited in duration or significance to a particular episode
FALSE COLOUR - the use of one colour to represent another; (ie. the use of red emulsion to represent infrared light in colour infrared film)
FAUNA - the animal life of an area
FAUNAL - relating or pertaining to FAUNA
FECAL COLIFORM - the type of COLIFORM present in the large intestine and feces of warm-blooded animals
FECAL STREPTOCOCCI - any bacterium of the genus streptoccus gram-positive bacteria of the coccus type arranged in bead-like chains; includes important PATHOGENS of man and domestic animals - 72 -
FLORA - the plant life of an area
FORAGE - food for animals, especially when taken by browsing or grazing
> - a symbol for greater than"
HYDROLOGICAL - see HYDROLOGY
HYDROLOGY - a science dealing with the properties, distribution, and circulation of water on the surface of the land, in the soil and underlying rocks, and in the atmosphere
INORGANIC - not ORGANIC, not containing carbon or compounds of carbon (with a few exceptions)
IONS - an atom or group of atoms that carries a positive or negative charge as a result of having lost or gained one or more electrons
ISOTOPE - one of a set of chemically identical types of atom which have the same atomic number but different mass numbers
²¹⁰Pb - a form of the chemical element, lead
LIMNOCORRALS - large enclosures to isolate a defined water mass from a larger body of water
METHANOGENIC BACTERIA - methane (CH₄) producing bacteria
METHYL MERCURY - an ORGANIC form of mercury, containing the methyl group (CH₃-); methyl mercury has a high affinity for animal tissue and is concentrated up the food chain METHYLATION - conversion of one type of chemical compound into another by the addition or incorporation of the methyl group (CH₃-); eg. conversion of INORGANIC mercury to METHYL MERCURY
MICROBES - very minute organism
MICROBIAL - pertaining to MICROBES
MICROBIOLOGY - a branch of biology dealing especially with microscopic forms of life
MORPHOMETRIC - relating to form and structure
NUCLIDE - a species of atoms characterized by the constitution of its nucleus
NUTRIENT - any substance which promotes growth or provides energy for a living organism
ORGANIC - relating to, or derived from, living organisms - 73 -
PATHOGEN - a specific causative agent (as a bacterium or virus) of disease
PLANKTON - the passively floating or weakly swimming animal and plant life of a body of water consisting chiefly of minute plants and of minute animals that have only weak powers of movement
RADIOISOTOPE - a radioactive ISOTOPE
RADIONUCLIDE - a radioactive NUCLIDE
²²⁶RA - a form of the chemical element, radium
REMOTE SENSING - in the science and art of obtaining information about an object, area, or phenomenon, through the analysis of data acquired by a devise that is not in contact with the object, area or phenomenon under investigation
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPE - an alectron microscope in which a beam of focussed electrons moves across an object, producing a three-dimensional image of the object
SPHERULES - a little sphere or sphericial body
TOTAL COLIFORM - resembling or designating a certain group of bacteria, some species of which are normally present in the large intestine and feces of all warm-blooded animals, other species are present on grains, grasses and other plant material.
ZOOPLANKTON - the animal life of the PLANKTON
ZOOBENTHOS - the animals that live on or in the bottom of bodies of water - 74 -
APPENDIX A
ECOLOGICAL REPORT SERIES PUBLICATIONS
Report
87-1 Annotated Bibliography for Churchill - Nelson River Diversion Region.
87-2 Measurements of Methylation Balance in Southern Indian Lake, Granville Lake, and Laurie Reservoir, Manitoba 1986.
87-3 Remote Sensing Imagery Catalogue, with Applications to Environmental Monitoring in Northern Manitoba.
87-4 Assessment of Sediment Effects, Churchill River Diversion, Manitoba, Phase I Report.
87-5 Morphological Effects of the Churchill River Diversion, Volume 1, General Assessment.
87-6 Federal Ecological Monitoring Program, Annual Report, 1986/1987.
87-7 Federal Ecological Monitoring Program: Report Preparation and Review Guidelines.
88-1· Measurements of Methylation Balance in Southern Indian Lake, Notigi Reservoir, Sipiwesk and Granville Lakes, Manitoba; 1987.
88-2 Federal Ecological Monitoring Program, Annual Report, 1987/1988
88-3 Sediment Report in preparation
88-4 Morphology Report in preparation
88-5 Water Quality Report in preparation - 75 -
APPENDIX B PROVINCIAL NFA ECOLOGICAL MONITORING PROGRAM PUBLICATIONS
The following is a list of reports prepared by the Fisheries Branch of the Manitoba Department of Natural Resources as part of their NFA Ecological Monitoring Program. The list includes reports printed from April 1986 to March 1988.
For information on the availability of these reports, please contact:
Fisheries Branch Department of Natural Resources Box 40, 1495 St. James Street Winnipeg, Manitoba R3H OW9
Anonymous. 1987. A Manual for Ecological Monitoring - Data Collection Procedures. Man. Dept. Nat. Res. Fish. Br. June, 1987.
Derksen, A.J. 1986. Ecological Monitoring - Fisheries 1985 Progress Report. Man. Dept. Nat. Res. Fish. Br. April 9, 1986.
Derksen, A.J. et. al. 1988. Ecological Monitoring - Fisheries 1986 Progress Report. Man. Dept. Nat. Res. Fish. Br. March, 1988.
Green, D. J. 1987. Summary of Fish Population Data from Rat and Threepoint Lakes, 1986. Man. Dept. Nat. Res. Fish. Br. MS Report No. 87-07, 47pp.
Hagenson, I. 1987. Fish Population Data from Rat and Split Lakes, 1985. Man. Dept. Nat. Res. Fish. Br. MS Report No. 87-04, 59pp.
1987. Fish Population Data from Split and Stephens Lakes, 1986. Man. Dept. Nat. Res. Fish. Br. MS Report No. 87-26, 59 pp.
Livingston, L. 1987. A Checklist of Phytoplankton Genera for Nelson River and Rat-Burntwood Lakes, 1980, 1981 and 1986. Man. Dept. Nat. Res. Fish. Br. MS Report No. 87-14, 20pp.
Mohr, L. 1987. Fish Population Data from Sipiwesk and Cross Lakes, 1986. Man. Dept. Nat. Res. Fish. BR. MS Report No. 87-28, 87pp.
Mohr, L.C. and J.A.W. Kirton. 1986. Fish Population Data from Sipiwesk and Cross Lakes, 1985. Man. Dept. Nat. Res. Fish. Br. MS Report No. 86-28, 83pp.
Mohr, L.C. and L. Livingston. 1987. Ecological Monitoring Zooplankton Analysis Methodology for 1986/87. Man. Dept. Nat. REs. Fish. Br. June, 1987. - 76 - The following is a list of reports prepared by the Manitoba Department of Environment, Workplace Safety and Health as part of their NFA Ecological Monitoring Program.
For information on the availability of these reports, please contact:
Environment and Workplace Safety and Health Building 2 139 Tuxedo Winnipeg, Manitoba
Playle, R.C. and D.A. Williamson. 1986. Water chemistry changes associated with hydroelectric development in northern Manitoba: The Churchill, Rat, Burntwood and Nelson Rivers. Manitoba Environment and Workplace Safety and Health. Water Standards and Studies Report No. 86-8. 50 pp.
. Playle, R.C. 1986. Two computer programs for predicting phosphorus concentrations in new reservoirs. Manitoba Environment and Workplace Safety and Health. Water Standards and Studies Report No. 86-9. 48 pp.
Playle, R.C. 1986. Water Quality Data Supplement: Water chemistry changes associated with hydroelectric development in northern Manitoba: The Churchill, Rat, Burntwood and Nelson Rivers. Manitoba Environment and Workplace Safety and Health. Water Standards and Studies Report No. 86-10. 262 pp.
Playle, R.C., D.A. Wiliamson and D.A. Duncan. 1988. Water chemistry changes following diversion, impoundment and hydroelectric development in northern Manitoba. p. 337-352. In W. Nicholaichuk and F. Quinn (eds.) Proc. of the Symposium on Interbasin Transfer of Water: Impacts and Research Needs for Canada. November 9 & 10, 1987. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. 504 pp.
Duncan, D.A. and D.A. Williamson. 1988. Water chemistry / water discharge relationships within the Churchill River diversion and Lake Winnipeg regulation region, Manitoba, Canada. Manitoba Environment and Workplace Safety and Health. Water Standards and Studies Report No. 88-4. 57 pp.
Duncan, D.A. and D.A. Williamson. 1988. Interrelationships among water quality parameters within the Churchill River diversion and Lake Winnipeg regulation region, Manitoba, Canada. Manitoba Environment and Workplace Safety and Health. Water Standards and Studies Report (in prep.). I Manitoba
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