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La Salle River Diversion Project

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La Salle River Diversion Project A Post-Hoc Assessrnent of the Assiniboine- La Salle River Diversion Project by A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of Master of Natural Resources Management Natural Resources hstitu te University of Manitoba Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada R3T ZN2 Copyright by Lisa Lowman. Aupst 1001 National Library BibIiithèque nationale du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliographie Services services bibliographiques 395 Wellington Street 395. nie WdlingaDn Ottawa ON K1A ON4 -ON KlAOIYQ canada Canada The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive licence dowing the exclusive permettant a la National Library of Canada to Bibliothewe nationaie du Canada de reproduce, 10- distn'bute or sell reproduire, prêter, distribuer ou copies of this thesis in microfonn, vendre des copies de cette thèse sous paper or electronic formats. la forme de microfiche/nlm, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format électronique. The author retains ownership of the L'auteur conserve la propriété du copyright in tbis thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protège cette thése. thesis nor substantial extracts fiom it Ni Ia thèse ni des extraits substantiels may be printed or otherwise de celle-ci ne doivent être imprimés reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation. THE UNIVERSITY OF MANïïOBA COPYRIGEI' PERMISSION A POST-HOC ASSESSMENT OF THE ASSINIBOINE -LA SALLE RIWR DIVERSION PROJECT LISA LOWMAN A Thesis/Practicum submitted to the Faculîy of Graduate Stridii of The University of Manitoba in partial fulfillment of the requinment of the dcgne of MASTER OF NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT Permission has been granted to the Library of the University of Mriaitoba to lend or seII copies of this thesidpracticum, to the National Libray of Canada to microfilm this thesis and to lend or seli copies of the film, and to University Microfilms Inc. to pmblish an abtract of this thesis/pncticum. This reproduction or copy of this thesis has been made availabk by ruthority of the copyright owner solely for the purposc of private study and resarcb, and mry oily be repdiiced rad copied as permitted by copyright laws or with erpmwritttn authohtion from the copyright owaer. The Assiniboine-La Salle River Diversion was implemented in 1984 to relieve chronic problems of warer shortage and poor water quality. Flows were increased alont the ia Salk River. Elm River, and Mili Creek to provide Live streams and a dependable water supply for domestic. municipal- agriculniral. and irrigation needs- Since construction of the diversion project- feu- follow-up studies have been conducted in the area- The purpose of this thesis was to cary out a post-hoc assessrnent of the diversion project in order to validate impacts, identif' necessq miugation. and CO consider the implications for future water use in the area- The specific objectives were to: 1)- identify predicted impacts of the Assiniboine-Lri Sde River diversion project: 2). identify any documented impacts of the diversion project since construction. with reference to impact predicuons- in terms of water quality and quantity: 3)- conduct a detailed wmr quality and quanuty analysis of selected current impacts of the diversion project: 41, establish how current and any funire water demands will affect the existing impacts on the La Salle River considered above. and: 5). to recommend- based on concIusions of the impact smdy. any action needed to ensure that the provincial water quality objectives are maintained. and to meet future domestic- municipai- agncultural, imgation. and recreational wacer demands. By usins four research methods including Literature review. review of databases and reports. statistical analysis. and surveys and interviews. the gened purpose and specific objectives of this research were addressed, The litenrure review revealed the need for active monitoring of diversion projects whether or noc they are subject to an environmental assessment- Further. it estabiished that monitoring is critical dunng al1 stages of project development including the post- operationai phase. An environmental impact assessment conducted by Hildebrandt-Young Ltd. in 198 1 predicted that the diversion project would improve the overall water quality of the La Salle River system- However. results from the analysis have ciearly indicated that water quality problems stiI1 remain along the entire system. p~cuIar1yalong the iower reaches. The ovenll water quaiity index (CW'QI) for the La Salle River was nnked for most yem during the period 1988-20 as '-faif'. LUso based on the CWQL water quality conditions during the mid-70's were comparatively better than during the mid-90's. The majorky of survey respondents indicated impr~vementsin water quality since diversion construction.. However- respondents observed continuai water qudity problems dong the La Saile River, puticularly during high water lrvels. surnmer and winter montfis. As weil. the municipal water ueatmect plant opentor indicated poor water quality during the rnonths of Januq to ApRL All other major water use operations includins golf courses and sewage hgoons were. however satisfied with the water quality dong the La Salle and Elrn Rivers. Results from the survey analysis concluded that the majorïty of respondents dong the La Salle and Elrn Rivers had an adequate supply of river and well water to meet their water use needs for 1999, However. one water user dong the Eh River indicated a water shortase from the Elrn River during the rnonths of My and August in 1999, Another wacer user also indicated a shortage of weU water dunng low water table penods along the Elrn River- Drspitr this, survey results concluded that water is no longer hauled in for domestic consumpuon due to water shortages, as was needed pnor to the diversion construction, As well. survey respondents noted that recreational acuvities seem to have grown in popularity dong the La Salle River. ic is evident from this study that increased tiiture water demands will only ma@@ curent water quality and potential quantity problems dong the La SalIe and EhRivers, Poor water quaiity has the pocential to impact al1 water uses of the La Salle River Watershed including habitat required by aquauc life These water qualicy trends are most Uely to continue in the future unless human activities change along the rivers ancilor more rigid water management programs and pracuces are put into place- For these reasons. it is recornmended that a watershed management plan be developed for the La Salle River Basin including mirigauon measures for idenùfied water quality and quantity problems. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This research was funded by both the Water Resources Branch, Manitoba Conservation and Prairie FmRehabilitation Administration, Agriculture And Agri-Food Canada, Throughout the durauon of this thesis. C was fortunate rnough to have support and input from exuernely knowkdgcable mernbers of my thesis advisory comminee including: Dr- John SincIair (Faculty Advisor. University of Manitoba). hlr- Jim Smithson Konservation Engineer- Wrater Resources Bmnch)- Dr- lan Dickson (Private Consultant). Mr- Bob Eilers (Professor. University of hlanicobah and Dr. Rick Baydack (Professor- University of Manitoba). Each cornmittee member has given me invaluable insight and assistance in irnproving the document from the first draft to the final draft. 1 would dso Iike to acknowledge Martin Erikson €rom the Fishenes Branch. Manitoba Conservation who provided me with a wealth of information on watershed management pracuces in Manitoba. Also, I'd like to thank to Jeff Babb from the University of Winnipeg for his statistical advisory support- Special thanks to Dwight Williamson of the Water Quality Management Section, Manitoba Conservation for his generous cime. patience- and expert advise during the water quality anaiysis. 1 musc also thank lim Smithson for providing a orerit deal of backgound information required for this study As well, many tiianks co Cory Johnson. who provided technical and mord support during the oral exam. C would also like to thank the survey respondents for taking the time and effort to complete their questionnaires. Their responses were crucial co the SUCC~SSof the study- Finaily. I would like to thank my tàmily and friends for their inspiration and support throughout this project. A very special thrinks to my mother and father. who empowered me with confidence and determination in reaching my goals throughout my education- As wrll. thank-you to my two furry fiends. Tabina and Tanner. who were great cuddle monsters during those long hours of wnting- "Achievernents in I$e corne through our abifie ro work around and over the obstacles thar cross our patlr, These accomplishments can ulwqs be measured by out beliefin ourselves" - Marvin Ashton. TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract.......................................................................................................................... i -*- Acknowled,=ment~ ...................................................................................... 111 List of Tables ............................................................................................................ -.Lx List of Fi,uures .................................................................................................... -.y1 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION. ......................................... 1 1.1 BACKGROUND..............,, ...........................................................................
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