2017 Alberta CreekWatch Data Appendices for a Report Card on Urban Creek Water Quality

Report Card is published separately at www.creekwatch.ca

Report prepared by Reed Froklage Citizen Science Coordinator RiverWatch Institute of Alberta [email protected] www.creekwatch.ca APPENDICES

Appendix 1 Creek Ranking Page 1 Calculations Based on Median Values for Eleven Parameters

Appendix 2 Benthic Page 3 Macroinvertebrate Index

Appendix 3 CreekWatch Page 5 Website and Data Entry Platform

Appendix 4 Combined Data Page 6 Graphs for Urban Stormwater Creeks by Parameter and City

Appendix 5 Box-and-Whisker Page 12 Plots for all Monitored Physical and Chemical Parameters

Appendix 6 Creek Water Page 19 Quality Summaries Appendix 1 Creek Ranking Calculations Based on Median Values for Eleven Parameters

The comparison ranking of study creeks was based on a point system for eleven parameters using median values for dissolved oxygen, ammonia nitrogen, nitrate-nitrogen, phosphorus, temperature, conductivity, turbidity, chloride, Escherichia coli (E. coli), and total coliforms. A benthic macroinvertebrate index was also used as a metric, explained in Appendix 2.

Points were totaled for each individual creek to achieve the rankings (1 – 15). Rankings were interpreted as an indication of overall water quality compared between the fifteen monitored creeks. Top rankings denoted greater overall water quality, while lower rankings signified lesser overall water quality.

Ranking the 15 study creeks meant that there were 1 – 15 points available for each parameter. The lowest point (one) was awarded for the higher values in each parameter, understanding that higher values are undesirable for temperature, turbidity, ammonia-nitrogen, nitrate-nitrogen, phosphorus, E. coli, coliforms, conductivity and chloride. The exceptions are for dissolved oxygen and benthic macroinvertebrates, where higher values are deemed desirable. Rankings were also assigned percentages based on the total possible points for each creek to account for missing or insufficient data. See Table 1 on the next page.

1 A Report Card on Urban Creek Water Quality 2017 Table 1 Creek Ranking Calculations based on Median Values for Eleven Parameters

* Percentages were assigned based on the total possible points for each creek to account for missing data on Wedgewood Creek, Waskasoo Creek, Oldman Creek, and the Sturgeon River. * Nd = No Data

2 A Report Card on Urban Creek Water Quality 2017 Appendix 2 Benthic Macroinvertebrate Index

Aquatic macroinvertebrate sampling was conducted once on eleven of the fifteen monitored creeks in 2017. Table 2 below displays total macroinvertebrate counts from each creek. Macroinvertebrates are organisms without backbones, which are visible to the eye without the aid of a microscope (mayflies, stoneflies, caddisflies, etc). They live on, under, and around rocks and sediment on the bottoms of lakes, rivers, and streams. Aquatic biomonitoring can indicate preceding river conditions for weeks or months prior to collection.

Metrics can be used to analyze and interpret biological data by condensing lists of organisms and turning them into relevant biological information. The procedures and scoring index described here are based in part on guidelines for Volunteer Stream Monitoring developed by the US Environmental Protection Agency. (US Environmental Protection Agency (1997). Volunteer Stream Monitoring: A methods manual, Ch. 4 Macroinvertebrates and habitat: www.epa.gov/owow/monitoring/volunteer/stream/ums40.html)

1. Select sample location in moving water 2. Thoroughly kick substrate while holding a 1m x 1m seine net downstream to collect organisms 3. Rinse sample from the net into a bucket and ensure all organisms are free of the net 4. Filter the bucket through a strainer to collect invertebrates while removing debris 5. Empty strainer into a shallow tub and carefully remove organisms with a dropper and isolate using an ice cube tray 6. Identify, count, and record organisms according to an invertebrate key 7. Safely release all organisms back into the stream Three categories of invertebrates were identified being pollution sensitive (PS), moderately pollution tolerant (MPT), and pollution tolerant (PT). Relative abundance was also established as rare, common, or dominant in comparison to the rest of the collected sample. Scores were calculated based on the scoring index in Table 3 on the next page.

3 A Report Card on Urban Creek Water Quality 2017 Table 2 Total macroinvertebrate counts 2017

* Due to varying circumstances, no sampling was completed on Waskasoo Creek, Wedgewood Creek, Oldman Creek, or the Sturgeon River.

Table 3 Benthic macroinvertebrate scoring index

* Source: US Environmental Protection Agency (1997). Volunteer Stream Monitoring: A methods manual, Ch. 4 Macroinvertebrates and habitat: www.epa.gov/owow/monitoring/volunteer/stream/ums40.html

4 A Report Card on Urban Creek Water Quality 2017 Appendix 3 CreekWatch Website and Data Entry Platform

All CreekWatch data is available publicly. The CreekWatch website (www.creekwatch.ca) has been developed to support a data input and graphing platform. The creation of a database allows for the uploading of water quality data and is an essential part of virtually preserving the data collected through CreekWatch. This allows for ease of data collection, input, and synthesis amongst online viewers. Our volunteers are trained on how to input data to the website. This information is then available for immediate public viewing, allowing for trend analysis, graphing, and comparison amongst the creeks.

Data entry Each volunteer is assigned a unique user ID with a secure PIN in order to access the data entry portion of the website. Users are prompted to fill in each page completely before moving forward to mitigate input error. Drop-down menus allow differing levels of equipment to be compared against other levels. Having a user ID allows CreekWatch to track who is collecting information, determine the frequency and duration of each sample collected, and monitor the number of samples collected at each selected site.

Data viewing Once data has been submitted, it becomes publicly available on the site. Anyone who visits www.creekwatch.ca will be able to view the data. Simply select a site, an indicator, and timespan as seen in the photo below. Appendix 4 displays the graphing capabilities.

Photo 1 - Screen capture of the data-viewing platform

5 A Report Card on Urban Creek Water Quality 2017 Appendix 4 Combined Data Graphs for Urban Stormwater Creeks by Parameter and City 2017

Dissolved Oxygen - Calgary and Area Creeks Trends: Calgary and area creek dissolved oxygen concentrations tended to increase Sept – Oct. Nose Creek had the lowest median value 8 mg/L; Pine Creek the highest median value 11 mg/L. DO levels below 6.5 mg/L are especially concerning in freshwater ecosystems.

Dissolved Oxygen - Edmonton and Area Creeks Trends: Edmonton and area creek dissolved oxygen concentrations tended to increase Sept – Oct. Fulton and Oldman Creeks had the lowest median value 7 mg/L; Blackmud Creek the highest median value 9 mg/L. DO levels below 6.5 mg/L are especially concerning in freshwater ecosystems.

6 A Report Card on Urban Creek Water Quality 2017 Temperature - Calgary and Area Creeks Trends: Calgary and area creek temperatures warmed towards Jun – Aug with some measurements at or above 20°C, and then cooled into Sept – Oct. Confederation Creek had the lowest median value 9°C; Pine Creek the highest median value 14°C; and overall, Calgary and area had cooler creeks than Edmonton in the early spring.

Temperature - Edmonton and Area Creeks Trends: Edmonton and area creek temperatures warmed quickly in May; peaked Jun – Aug with some measurements at or above 20°C; and then cooled into Sept – Oct. Mill Creek had the lowest median value 13°C; Gold Bar Creek had the highest median value 17.5°C; and overall, Edmonton and area had warmer creeks in early spring than Calgary.

7 A Report Card on Urban Creek Water Quality 2017 pH - Calgary and Area Creeks Trends: Calgary and area creek pH remained fairly constant throughout the year and generally had alkaline median values slightly above 8. Confederation Creek had a lower pH than other creeks with several samples as low as 6.0.

pH - Edmonton and Area Creeks Trends: Edmonton and area creek pH tended to rise slightly as the year progressed and generally had alkaline median values slightly below 8 and with more wide-ranging values than Calgary.

8 A Report Card on Urban Creek Water Quality 2017 Turbidity - Calgary and Area Creeks Trends: Calgary and area creek turbidity remained fairly low throughout the year and generally had median values of 10 NTU. Nose Creek had the highest median value at 29 NTU; four creeks had median values of 10 NTU.

Turbidity - Edmonton and Area Creeks Trends: Edmonton and area creek turbidity started higher in Apr – May and took a while to settle down; then decreased except for two spikes in early-Aug and late-Sept; and generally had median values of 10 – 30 NTU. Fulton Creek had the highest median value at 28 NTU; Mill Creek and Oldman Creek had the lowest median values of 10 NTU.

9 A Report Card on Urban Creek Water Quality 2017 Phosphorus - Calgary and Area Creeks Trends: Calgary and area creek phosphorus remained fairly low throughout the year and generally had median values 0.13 – 0.14 mg/L. Confederation and Jumpingpound Creeks were exceptions with very low median values 0.01 – 0.02 mg/L.

Phosphorus - Edmonton and Area Creeks Trends: Edmonton and area creek phosphorus was generally in higher concentrations Apr – Jul and then decreased Aug – Oct. One group of creeks had higher median values 0.2 – 0.4 mg/L; two creeks had considerably lower median values of 0.09 mg/L.

10 A Report Card on Urban Creek Water Quality 2017 E. coli - Calgary and Area Creeks Trends: Calgary and area creek E. coli concentrations were generally below 1000 CFU/100mL, except for three spikes late- May, late-Aug and late Oct. Nose Creek had the highest median value 700 CFU/100mL; Jumpingpound had the lowest median value 100 CFU/100mL. (See below, Calgary and area creeks generally had higher E. coli concentrations than Edmonton and area.)

E. coli - Edmonton and Area Creeks Trends: Edmonton and area creek E. coli concentrations were generally below 400 CFU/100mL, except for three spikes late- May, mid-Aug and early Sept. Five creeks had median values of 0 CFU/100mL; Whitemud and Fulton Creeks had median values of 100 CFU/100mL; and Mill Creek had the highest median value 300 CFU/100mL. Edmonton and area creeks generally had lower E. coli concentrations than Calgary and area.

11 A Report Card on Urban Creek Water Quality 2017 Appendix 5 Box-and-Whisker Plots for all monitored Physical and Chemical Parameters

Box plots enable us to study the distributional characteristics of a group of scores and they provide a useful way to visualize a range of responses for a large group of data. See Figure 1 below. The graph presents information from a 5 number summary of the lower extreme, lower quartile, median, upper quartile, and upper extreme. The “box” represents the middle half of all the data points, with the vertical line representing the median value. Long boxes indicate a larger interquartile range, which mean the data is really spread out around the median value. Short boxes represent the opposite, indicating a smaller interquartile range with data more concentrated around the median value. The “whiskers” represent the upper and lower extremes of the data. The longer the whisker, the greater the variance among the values.

Figure 1 Box and whisker plot Median showing median, interquartile range (25th and 75th percentile), and maximum and minimum values. Min 2th PC 7th PC Max

Figure 2 Distribution of creek temperature from March – October 2017. Higher temperatures are a concern for overall creek health and fish survivability. Note the higher median temperatures for Sturgeon River and Gold Bar Creek.

12 A Report Card on Urban Creek Water Quality 2017 Figure 3 Distribution of creek salinity from March – October 2017, using a calculation derived from the YSI unit. Note the higher median salinity for Nose Creek.

Figure 4 Distribution of creek chloride from March – October 2017, which can be impacted by winter road and snowmelt. Note the higher median chloride for Confederation Creek.

13 A Report Card on Urban Creek Water Quality 2017 Figure 5 Distribution of creek nitrate-nitrogen from March – October 2017, using a handheld colorimeter. Note the higher median nitrate-nitrogen for Confederation and Mill Creek.

Figure 6 Distribution of creek ammonia-nitrogen from March – October 2017, using test strips. Note the higher median ammonia-nitrogen for West Nose Creek.

14 A Report Card on Urban Creek Water Quality 2017 Figure 7 Distribution of creek turbidity from March – October 2017, which is often higher during spring freshet or stormwater events.

Figure 8 Distribution of creek conductivity from March – October 2017, using a calculation derived from the YSI unit. Note the higher median conductivity for Confederation and Nose Creek.

15 A Report Card on Urban Creek Water Quality 2017 Figure 9 Distribution of creek pH from March – October 2017. Note the lower median pH for Confederation Creek.

Figure 10 Distribution of creek orthophosphorus from March – October 2017. Note higher median orthophosphorus for Oldman and Blackmud Creek.

16 A Report Card on Urban Creek Water Quality 2017 Figure 11 Distribution of creek total coliforms from March – October 2017 collected with Coliscan Easygel. Note the higher median coliform for Fulton Creek.

Figure 12 Distribution of creek E. coli from March – October 2017, collected with Coliscan Easygel. E. coli is commonly present in stormwater through a variety of sources. Note the higher median E.coli for Nose Creek.

17 A Report Card on Urban Creek Water Quality 2017 Figure 13 Distribution of creek total dissolved solids from March – October 2017. Note the higher median total dissolved solids for Nose and Confederation Creek.

Figure 14 Distribution of creek dissolved oxygen from March – October 2017. Note the lower median dissolved oxygen for Nose, Sturgeon, Fulton and Oldman Creek.

18 A Report Card on Urban Creek Water Quality 2017 Appendix 6 Creek Water Quality Summaries

Fish Creek (Calgary, Alberta) – Creek Water Quality Summary

Primary Site Name: Fish Creek at mouth

Site Location Data – GPS: 50.904326, -114.010253

Watershed: South Saskatchewan River Basin

Stream Profile: Fish Creek originates in Kananaskis Country before traveling east through Tsuu T’ina First Nation and then ultimately reaching Calgary before entering the Bow River. The upper sections of Fish Creek are primarily forested, while the middle section is more agricultural and grassland coverage, and urban land use is more prominent near the creek mouth. The lower portion also receives stormwater discharge from the City of Calgary’s encompassing residential neighborhoods. Photo 2 - A view upstream, facing west near its confluence with the Bow River in Fish Creek Provincial Park Within Calgary’s city limits, Fish Creek is popularly known as the largest urban park in Canada, stretching 19 kilometers from east to west. Offering a variety of trail networks for walking, biking, or hiking, the park offers an easily accessible urban resource.

Table 4 Fish Creek Summary 2017: Fish Creek Summery 2017 Water Quality Parameter Mean Median Max Min # Samples Dissolved Oxygen 8.45 8.00 14.92 4.00 25 Ammonia Nitrogen 0.28 0.25 0.50 0.10 25 Nitrate-nitrogen 0.12 0.06 0.84 0.01 25 Phosphorus 0.13 0.12 0.29 0.01 25 pH 8.23 8.27 8.92 7.80 25 Water Temperature 12.52 13.60 19.80 2.70 25 Turbidity 32.76 29.00 81.00 15.00 25 Conductivity 1.03 1.02 1.34 0.62 23 TDS 884.00 903.00 1014.00 689.00 23 Salinity 0.68 0.69 0.79 0.53 23 Chloride 114.18 110.00 165.00 89.50 19

E. coli 768.18 700.00 2000.00 0.00 22 Total Coliforms 2545.45 2450.00 6700.00 300.00 22

19 A Report Card on Urban Creek Water Quality 2017 Nose Creek (Calgary, Alberta) – Creek Water Quality Summary

Primary Site Name: Nose Creek at mouth

Site Location Data – GPS: 51.044963, -114.019647

Watershed: South Saskatchewan River Basin

Stream Profile: Nose Creek’s headwaters extend all the way through the northern reaches of Rocky View County and into Mountain View County. Covering such a large geographical area at roughly 75 kilometers in length, there are many different land uses that have the potential to impact the creek. The land coverage is primarily agricultural, with urban influences as it travels through the town of Crossfield, and the cities o f Airdrie and Calgary. Its final stretch travels past the Calgary Zoo before Photo 3 – Photo 3 - A view downstream 100m from its confluence at the Bow River reaching the Bow River.

Table 5 Nose Creek Summary 2017: Nose Creek Summery 2017 Water Quality Parameter Mean Median Max Min # Samples Dissolved Oxygen 9.80 9.97 12.71 4.71 22 Ammonia Nitrogen 0.41 0.38 1.00 0.13 21 Nitrate-nitrogen 0.18 0.15 0.71 0.02 18 Phosphorus 0.16 0.14 0.29 0.04 22 pH 8.25 8.21 8.73 8.00 22 Water Temperature 10.85 11.80 18.00 2.20 22 Turbidity 19.00 15.50 42.00 11.00 22 Conductivity 0.80 0.82 0.96 0.62 21 TDS 720.62 728.00 787.00 579.00 21 Salinity 0.55 0.56 0.61 0.44 21 Chloride 68.76 65.00 85.00 60.00 15

E. coli 600.00 200.00 2100.00 0.00 21 Total Coliforms 2271.43 2100.00 9600.00 500.00 21

20 A Report Card on Urban Creek Water Quality 2017 West Nose Creek (Calgary, Alberta) – Creek Water Quality Summary

Primary Site Name: West Nose Creek

Site Location Data – GPS: 51.130073, -114.047870

Watershed: South Saskatchewan River Basin

Stream Profile: West Nose Creek is a significant and permanent tributary to Nose Creek that drains a third of the entire Nose Creek Watershed. Originating i n the northwestern portion of the watershed, it travels 65 kilometers before joining Nose Creek near the Calgary International Airport.

Photo 4 – A view facing south of the confluence of West Nose Creek (on the right) with Nose Creek (on the left), Deerfoot Trail in the background. Photo was taken on a rainy day with stormwater flowing into the creeks.

Table 6 West Nose Creek Summary 2017: West Nose Creek Summery 2017 Water Quality Parameter Mean Median Max Min # Samples Dissolved Oxygen 9.80 9.97 12.71 4.71 22 Ammonia Nitrogen 0.41 0.38 1.00 0.13 21 Nitrate-nitrogen 0.18 0.15 0.71 0.02 18 Phosphorus 0.16 0.14 0.29 0.04 22 pH 8.25 8.21 8.73 8.00 22 Water Temperature 10.85 11.80 18.00 2.20 22 Turbidity 19.00 15.50 42.00 11.00 22 Conductivity 0.80 0.82 0.96 0.62 21 TDS 720.62 728.00 787.00 579.00 21 Salinity 0.55 0.56 0.61 0.44 21 Chloride 68.76 65.00 85.00 60.00 15

E. coli 600.00 200.00 2100.00 0.00 21 Total Coliforms 2271.43 2100.00 9600.00 500.00 21

21 A Report Card on Urban Creek Water Quality 2017 Pine Creek (Calgary, Alberta) – Creek Water Quality Summary

Primary Site Name: Pine Creek at Mouth

Site Location Data – GPS: 50.844988, -113.961947

Watershed: South Saskatchewan River Basin

Stream Profile: Pine Creek enters the Bow River at Policeman’s Flats just south of Calgary. The headwaters are found 20km west on the Ann and Sandy Cross Conservation Area near Priddis, Alberta. It travels through agricultural and ranchland before its confluence, along with two golf courses on the edge of Calgary.

Photo 5 – A view facing east of the mouth of Pine Creek as it joins the Bow River in the distance.

Table 7 Pine Creek Summary 2017: Pine Creek Summery 2017 Water Quality Parameter Mean Median Max Min # Samples Dissolved Oxygen 10.17 10.57 14.88 4.92 24 Ammonia Nitrogen 0.30 0.25 0.50 0.07 21 Nitrate-nitrogen 0.05 0.02 0.27 0.00 17 Phosphorus 0.14 0.13 0.30 0.01 21 pH 8.16 8.18 8.31 7.83 24 Water Temperature 12.76 14.10 20.10 0.80 24 Turbidity 12.83 10.00 38.00 10.00 24 Conductivity 0.83 0.84 0.98 0.59 22 TDS 706.27 708.00 754.00 650.00 22 Salinity 0.54 0.54 0.58 0.49 22 Chloride 76.66 75.00 105.00 55.00 15

E. coli 450.00 300.00 1900.00 0.00 20 Total Coliforms 2020.00 1650.00 55.00 200.00 20

22 A Report Card on Urban Creek Water Quality 2017 Confederation Creek (Calgary, Alberta) – Creek Water Quality Summary

Primary Site Name: Confederation Creek

Site Location Data – GPS: 51.079399, -114.079288

Watershed: South Saskatchewan River Basin

Stream Profile: Confederation Creek is an important tributary to Nose Creek, but is often labelled as a “stormwater creek”. The headwaters extend out from Nose Hill, and it acts as drainage for upstream developments that include residential and commercial lots, as well as as well as one active, and one defunct golf course. The final 1.5 KM of the stream is buried at grade, travelling through the Queen’s Park Cemetery, and the communities of Highland Park and Thorncliffe-Greenview Photo 6 – Confederation Creek in Confederation Park, looking west before its confluence with Nose Creek at before it travels underground towards its confluence with Nose Creek. outfall N25.

Table 8 Confederation Creek Summary 2017: Confederation Creek Summery 2017 Water Quality Parameter Mean Median Max Min # Samples Dissolved Oxygen 9.68 9.93 14.00 5.00 46 Ammonia Nitrogen 0.23 0.25 1.00 0.00 45 Nitrate-nitrogen 0.31 0.28 0.66 0.00 7 Phosphorus 0.10 0.02 1.00 0.00 45 pH 7.52 7.80 8.54 6.00 45 Water Temperature 11.21 12.00 23.00 0.00 46 Turbidity 23.24 10.00 180.00 10.00 46 Conductivity 0.95 1.02 1.37 0.41 9 TDS 848.44 839.00 1137.00 460.00 9 Salinity 0.66 0.64 0.89 0.34 9 Chloride 185.78 175.00 515.00 75.00 43

E. coli 644.44 300.00 1700.00 100.00 9 Total Coliforms 2566.67 2300.00 4400.00 700.00 9

23 A Report Card on Urban Creek Water Quality 2017 Jumpingpound Creek (Cochrane, Alberta) – Creek Water Quality Summary

Primary Site Name: Jumpingpound Creek

Site Location Data – GPS: 51.185623, -114.500286

Watershed: South Saskatchewan River Basin

Stream Profile: Jumpingpound Creek is located west of the City of Calgary in the town of Cochrane. It enters the Bow River after traveling approximately 87 kilometers from its headwaters in the Rocky Mountains, while crossing five jurisdictions. The creek is joined by many smaller tributaries in the watershed, and has an influx of groundwater to maintain flows throughout the entire year. Photo 7 – Looking south at the mouth of Jumpingpound Creek 500m from its confluence with the Bow River

Table 9 Jumpingpound Creek Summary 2017: Jumpingpound Creek Summery 2017 Water Quality Parameter Mean Median Max Min # Samples Dissolved Oxygen 10.27 10.00 14.00 7.00 9 Ammonia Nitrogen 0.26 0.25 0.38 0.25 9 Nitrate-nitrogen 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.01 2 Phosphorus 0.06 0.02 0.34 0.02 9 pH 8.09 8.10 8.36 7.98 9 Water Temperature 10.97 12.50 20.20 2.00 9 Turbidity 10.00 10.00 10.00 10.00 9 Conductivity 0.30 0.30 0.35 0.25 2 TDS 268.00 268.00 285.00 251.00 2 Salinity 0.20 0.20 0.21 0.19 2 Chloride 10.00 10.00 15.00 5.00 6

E. coli 100.00 100.00 200.00 0.00 2 Total Coliforms 300.00 300.00 500.00 100.00 2

24 A Report Card on Urban Creek Water Quality 2017 Whitemud Creek (Edmonton, Alberta) – Creek Water Quality Summary

Primary Site Name: Whitemud Creek at mouth

Site Location Data – GPS: 53.505454, -113.561679

Watershed: North Saskatchewan River Basin

Stream Profile: Whitemud Creek is a major tributary of the North Saskatchewan River and provides many vital terrestrial and aquatic ecological functions in the southwest portion of Edmonton. Whitemud Creek was named during the Palliser Expedition for the white-colored mud (bentonite clay) along the creek’s banks. The ravine provides ample opportunity for hiking and interactions with nature through old growth coniferous forests, deciduous and mixed- wood forests, meadows, and riparian Photo 8 – A view facing east near its confluence with the North communities. Saskatchewan River

Table 10 Whitemud Creek Summary 2017: Whitemud Creek Summery 2017 Water Quality Parameter Mean Median Max Min # Samples Dissolved Oxygen 7.98 7.54 10.82 6.75 20 Ammonia Nitrogen 0.22 0.13 0.50 0.13 27 Nitrate-nitrogen 0.08 0.08 0.19 0.03 24 Phosphorus 0.27 0.23 0.76 0.04 27 pH 7.87 7.94 8.20 7.23 27 Water Temperature 13.34 15.15 25.40 2.20 26 Turbidity 30.19 20.00 130.00 10.00 27 Conductivity 0.66 0.66 1.04 0.33 27 TDS 545.43 539.50 721.50 321.20 27 Salinity 0.41 0.41 0.55 0.24 27 Chloride 74.63 75.00 90.00 45.00 27

E. coli 134.62 100.00 600.00 0.00 26 Total Coliforms 2250.00 2150.00 6000.00 600.00 26

25 A Report Card on Urban Creek Water Quality 2017 Blackmud Creek (Edmonton, Alberta) – Creek Water Quality Summary

Primary Site Name: Blackmud Creek at mouth

Site Location Data – GPS: 53.454896, -113.546976

Watershed: North Saskatchewan River Basin

Stream Profile: The headwaters of Blackmud Creek are located near the town of Nisku. It meanders north, crossing Highway 2 before entering the Edmonton city limits. Within the City limits, Blackmud Creek offers ample opportunities to enjoy nature through interactions made available at numerous urban parks. The eventual confluence is located in Mactaggart Sanctuary where it joins Whitemud Creek before traveling the final distance to the North Saskatchewan Photo 10 – A view looking upstream facing east at its confluence with River. Whitemud Creek in Mactaggart Sanctuary

Table 11 Blackmud Creek Summary 2017: Blackmud Creek Summery 2017 Water Quality Parameter Mean Median Max Min # Samples Dissolved Oxygen 9.05 8.76 12.00 6.93 21 Ammonia Nitrogen 0.27 0.25 1.00 0.00 28 Nitrate-nitrogen 0.07 0.05 0.21 0.02 24 Phosphorus 0.49 0.33 2.00 0.08 28 pH 7.89 7.91 8.24 7.49 28 Water Temperature 13.54 16.25 21.20 1.40 28 Turbidity 20.36 16.00 70.00 10.00 28 Conductivity 0.65 0.65 0.93 0.35 27 TDS 540.46 533.00 734.50 371.10 27 Salinity 0.41 0.40 0.57 0.28 27 Chloride 76.79 80.00 100.00 60.00 28

E. coli 85.19 0.00 800.00 0.00 27 Total Coliforms 1859.26 1600.00 5000.00 200.00 27

26 A Report Card on Urban Creek Water Quality 2017 Mill Creek (Edmonton, Alberta) – Creek Water Quality Summary

Primary Site Name: Mill Creek at Mill Creek Swimming Pool

Site Location Data – GPS: 53.520047, -113.473965

Watershed: North Saskatchewan River Basin

Stream Profile: Mill Creek flows through south central Edmonton before entering the North Saskatchewan River. Named after a flourmill established in 1878 near the creek’s mouth, it enters Edmonton’s City limits while passing beneath Anthony Henday Drive. It eventually opens up into Mill Creek Ravine that offers scenic views and hiking opportunities within the bustling city of Edmonton. Sections of the creek are engineered underground to accommodate City infrastructure, and this includes the final section of the creek that enters the North Saskatchewan River through a raised culvert. The City of Edmonton is currently exploring the Photo 10 – A view looking upstream facing southeast in the potential of resurfacing the north portion of Mill Creek Ravine the creek.

Table 12 Mill Creek Summary 2017: Mill Creek Summery 2017 Water Quality Parameter Mean Median Max Min # Samples Dissolved Oxygen 8.53 8.26 11.98 7.26 20 Ammonia Nitrogen 0.29 0.25 0.50 0.13 25 Nitrate-nitrogen 0.30 0.29 0.91 0.10 22 Phosphorus 0.25 0.21 0.77 0.08 25 pH 7.81 7.79 8.17 7.31 25 Water Temperature 12.32 13.20 22.90 3.80 25 Turbidity 16.40 10.00 35.00 10.00 25 Conductivity 0.91 0.85 2.20 0.43 25 TDS 768.22 754.00 1800.50 367.30 25 Salinity 0.59 0.58 1.44 0.28 25 Chloride 135.20 135.00 295.00 60.00 25

E. coli 366.67 300.00 1000.00 0.00 24 Total Coliforms 3308.33 3000.00 7000.00 400.00 24

27 A Report Card on Urban Creek Water Quality 2017 Wedgewood Creek (Edmonton, Alberta) – Creek Water Quality Summary

Primary Site Name: Wedgewood Creek

Site Location Data – GPS: 53.480750, -113.628739

Watershed: North Saskatchewan River Basin

Stream Profile: Wedgewood Creek enters the City limits in the southwest corner and travels 5 kilometers to the North Saskatchewan River. The steep ravine near the mouth offers great nature viewing opportunities with towering spruce trees, plenty of bird life, and a great view of the North Saskatchewan River once at the confluence.

Photo 11 – A view looking upstream facing west before the confluence with the North Saskatchewan River; showing a broken footbridge.

Table 13 Wedgewood Creek Summary 2017: Wedgewood Creek Summery 2017 Water Quality Parameter Mean Median Max Min # Samples Dissolved Oxygen 7.72 7.55 9.22 6.10 20 Ammonia Nitrogen 0.23 0.13 0.50 0.13 25 Nitrate-nitrogen 0.09 0.08 0.48 0.05 24 Phosphorus 0.13 0.09 1.02 0.05 27 pH 7.74 7.70 8.03 7.42 27 Water Temperature 12.48 14.80 20.90 2.30 27 Turbidity 20.70 15.00 80.00 10.00 27 Conductivity 0.78 0.74 1.12 0.46 27 TDS 661.41 663.00 858.00 439.50 27 Salinity 0.52 0.52 0.66 0.40 27 Chloride 71.48 70.00 130.00 40.00 27

E. coli 76.00 0.00 900.00 0.00 25 Total Coliforms 1720.00 1300.00 5000.00 600.00 25

28 A Report Card on Urban Creek Water Quality 2017 Oldman Creek (Strathcona County, Alberta) – Creek Water Quality Summary

Primary Site Name: Oldman Creek

Site Location Data – GPS: 53.570936, -113.250509

Watershed: North Saskatchewan River Basin

Stream Profile: Oldman Creek exists just outside of the Edmonton city limits, flowing out of Boag Lake just west of Sherwood Park. It meanders roughly 14km beginning in multiple subdivisions before opening up to farmland, and finally the community of Akenside as it heads north. There is limited access to Oldman Creek, as much of it is on private property and it is characterized with steep ravines as it nears its confluence with the North Saskatchewan River.

Photo 12 – A view facing north and looking downstream near the Yellowhead Highway (behind the camera)

Table 14 Oldman Creek Summary 2017: Oldman Creek Summery 2017 Water Quality Parameter Mean Median Max Min # Samples Dissolved Oxygen 6.60 6.82 9.29 4.09 20 Ammonia Nitrogen 0.28 0.25 1.00 0.13 27 Nitrate-nitrogen 0.08 0.05 0.48 0.01 25 Phosphorus 0.40 0.37 0.87 0.15 27 pH 7.68 7.64 8.19 7.14 27 Water Temperature 14.20 16.00 22.30 3.50 27 Turbidity 13.07 10.00 70.00 10.00 27 Conductivity 0.74 0.77 1.17 0.40 27 TDS 602.50 578.50 845.00 434.90 27 Salinity 0.46 0.44 0.65 0.32 27 Chloride 116.85 105.00 200.00 70.00 27

E. coli 61.54 0.00 400.00 0.00 26 Total Coliforms 1888.46 1600.00 7000.00 200.00 26

29 A Report Card on Urban Creek Water Quality 2017 Gold Bar Creek (Edmonton, Alberta) – Creek Water Quality Summary

Primary Site Name: Gold Bar Creek

Site Location Data – GPS: 53.553126, -113.399779

Watershed: North Saskatchewan River Basin

Stream Profile: The mouth of Gold Bar Creek exists in a large park on the south bank of the North Saskatchewan River near the eastern edge of Edmonton. The creek drains an industrial area south of Baseline Road and passes by the Imperial Oil Strathcona Refinery. The area offers many walking and xc-ski trails and is a popular spot for bird watching and wildlife viewing. The creek received its name for the gravel bars at the mouth where early prospectors panned

and sluiced for gold. Photo 13 – A view facing west near its confluence with the North Saskatchewan River (behind the camera)

Table 15 Gold Bar Creek Summary 2017: Gold Bar Creek Summery 2017 Water Quality Parameter Mean Median Max Min # Samples Dissolved Oxygen 8.34 8.14 2.34 6.84 20 Ammonia Nitrogen 0.34 0.24 1.00 0.13 27 Nitrate-nitrogen 0.16 0.15 0.45 0.03 23 Phosphorus 0.11 0.09 0.30 0.03 26 pH 7.87 7.86 8.22 7.39 27 Water Temperature 14.60 17.50 22.20 2.80 27 Turbidity 25.52 12.00 150.00 10.00 27 Conductivity 0.93 0.90 1.53 0.44 27 TDS 756.41 754.00 1183.00 382.00 27 Salinity 0.58 0.58 0.93 0.29 27 Chloride 112.13 105.00 3.25 7.39 27

E. coli 122.22 0.00 800.00 0.00 27 Total Coliforms 2725.93 2600.00 8000.00 100.00 27

30 A Report Card on Urban Creek Water Quality 2017 Fulton Creek (Edmonton, Alberta) – Creek Water Quality Summary

Primary Site Name: Fulton Creek

Site Location Data – GPS: 53.476538, -113.357635

Watershed: North Saskatchewan River Basin

Stream Profile: Fulton Creek has been labelled as one of Edmonton’s lost creeks. It originates in the southeastern section of Edmonton, flowing through the constructed wetland of Fulton Marsh before meandering through many underground culverts and collecting other sources of stormwater from both residential and industrial neighbourhoods. Due to the amount of diversion and management of the creeks, it tends to dry up late in the summer. It reaches its final destination at the North Saskatchewan River through a concrete outfall near the Capilano Bridge. Photo 14 – A view facing north looking upstream near its confluence with a stormwater pond in the community of Maple Ridge, Edmonton, showing a decorative culvert

Table 16 Fulton Creek Summary 2017: Fulton Creek Summery 2017 Water Quality Parameter Mean Median Max Min # Samples Dissolved Oxygen 6.72 6.82 9.26 4.00 4 Ammonia Nitrogen 0.16 0.19 0.25 0.00 4 Nitrate-nitrogen 0.05 0.05 0.07 0.03 2 Phosphorus 0.58 0.20 1.90 0.04 4 pH 7.77 7.77 7.93 7.60 4 Water Temperature 2.90 14.35 17.00 5.90 4 Turbidity 27.67 28.00 45.00 10.00 3 Conductivity 0.63 0.63 0.86 0.40 2 TDS 564.55 564.55 715.00 414.10 2 Salinity 0.43 0.43 0.55 0.31 2 Chloride 20.00 120.00 135.00 105.00 4

E. coli 233.33 100.00 600.00 0.00 3 Total Coliforms 5100.00 5000.00 7500.00 2800.00 4

31 A Report Card on Urban Creek Water Quality 2017 Sturgeon River (Lac Ste. Anne, Alberta) – Creek Water Quality Summary

Primary Site Name: Sturgeon River at Range Road 31A

Site Location Data – GPS: 53.713781, -114.330498

Watershed: North Saskatchewan River Basin

Stream Profile: The Sturgeon River originates 90 kilometers west of Edmonton at Hoople Lake and it is 260 kilometers in total length. It is a major tributary of the North Saskatchewan River, and travels through Lake Isle, Lac Ste. Anne, and Big Lake, and flows through the cities of St. Alberta, Spruce Grove, and Edmonton before its confluence east of Edmonton and Ft. Saskatchewan.

Photo 15 – A view of Lac Ste. Anne near the outflow as the Sturgeon River again takes its shape heading for the North Saskatchewan River

Table 17 Sturgeon River Summary 2017: Sturgeon River Summery 2017 Water Quality Parameter Mean Median Max Min # Samples Dissolved Oxygen 7.83 8.00 11.00 3.00 18 Ammonia Nitrogen 0.28 0.25 0.75 0.00 18 Nitrate-nitrogen Phosphorus 0.05 0.00 0.50 0.00 18 pH 7.89 7.90 8.40 7.50 18 Water Temperature 5.40 18.30 23.00 4.00 17 Turbidity 16.00 16.00 16.00 16.00 1 Conductivity TDS Salinity Chloride 22.97 25.00 35.00 10.00 16

E. coli Total Coliforms

32 A Report Card on Urban Creek Water Quality 2017 Waskasoo Creek (Red Deer, Alberta) – Creek Water Quality Summary

Primary Site Name: Waskasoo Creek

Site Location Data – GPS: 52.277396, -113.805605

Watershed: North Saskatchewan River Basin

Stream Profile: Waskasoo Creek’s headwaters extend from the parklands of central Alberta as the creek parallels the Red Deer River before its confluence in the City of Red Deer. The creek travels through significant areas of farmland with limited natural land cover, and where the natural flow at times has been diverted or channelized. Piper Creek joins Waskasoo Creek within the City limits, and there are many green spaces along the creek’s riparian areas that provide great walking trails that lead up to the creek’s confluence with the Photo 16 – Waskasoo Creek facing north looking downstream as it Red Deer River. enters the Red Deer River in the distance

Table 18 Waskasoo Creek Summary 2017: Waskasoo Creek Summery 2017 Water Quality Parameter Mean Median Max Min # Samples Dissolved Oxygen 9.25 9.00 12.00 6.00 8 Ammonia Nitrogen 0.25 0.25 0.50 0.00 8 Nitrate-nitrogen Phosphorus 0.03 0.00 0.24 0.00 8 pH 8.04 8.00 8.30 7.80 8 Water Temperature 11.63 13.50 18.00 3.00 8 Turbidity 18.50 18.50 27.00 10.00 8 Conductivity TDS Salinity Chloride 60.57 70.00 95.00 14.00 7

E. coli Total Coliforms

33 A Report Card on Urban Creek Water Quality 2017