Use of in Water Resource Management and the EA Process Tammy Karst-Riddoch, Dörte Köster and Neil Hutchinson WaterTech 2015, Kananaskis

Chironomids Algal Pigments

Chironomus anthracinusProcladius Inferred DissolvedEutrophic Oxygen TaxaLittoral TaxaDiatoxanthin (diatoms)Fucoxanthin (goldenZeaxanthin ) (blue-greenChlorophyll-a algae) Cyclotella(all algae) ocellata crotonensisRatio Littoral/PlanktonicLittoral Species TaxaInferred Richness Total Phosphorus

2000 Post-1980

Post-1950 1950

1900

Year Post-settlement

1850

1800

Pre-settlement

1750 0 20 40 0 20 40 0 1 2 3 425 45 65 5 25 45 1 3 5 70.0 0.5 1.0 0 1 2 3 4 8 120 0 20 0.0 0.8 24 39 5410 1214 16 % % VWHO (mg/L) % % ng/mg ng/mg ng/mg ng/mg % % ug/L What is Paleolimnology? “Study of Lake History”

2013

1950 Getting ready

1900

...and muddy 2 Success! Paleolimnology: Indicators

Sediment Analysis Obtained Information

Lead-210 Sediment age

www.geo.arizona.edu Carbon and nitrogen Nutrient and sediment sources, algal content and isotopes abundance

www.sciencelearn.org.nz Algal Pigments Total algal abundance HPLC & VRS (Visible reflectance Importance of algal groups, such as spectroscopy) blue green algae www.algae-fcps.edu www.holistikhealth.com www.algae-fcps.edu www.holistikhealth.com

Fossil Algae Nutrient status, conductivity, aquatic habitat Rühland et al., 2003 Fossil Midge Larvae Oxygen conditions, nutrient status, aquatic habitat 3 Isabelle Larocque Paleolimnology as an Assessment Tool

• baseline lake health • / algae • anoxia and fish habitat • climate change • groundwater quality • river paleoecology • acidification • fire history • species invasion • speciation / evolution • lake levels • floods/droughts

4 The Problem with Limited Baseline Data

– Water quality is variable on different time scales – Multiple stressors – Lakes are changing due to climate change • Implications for water resource management and EA process – Setting appropriate and realistic goals • What are the baseline conditions? • Has baseline changed or is it changing? Why? When? By how much? – Post-development impact assessment • Are observed changes due to human impacts, natural variability, climate change, or a combination of these?

5 Case Study 1 Pigeon and Wabaman Paleolimnology: Historical Context for Lake Management For the North Saskatchewan Regional Plan (ESRD) Wabaman L.

Pigeon L.

6 Pigeon and Wabaman Issues

• Nuisance algal blooms in Pigeon L. and multiple human pressures on Wabamun L. – Concern: Healthy Lakes (“ESRD water conversations”) • Are algal blooms linked to human activities? – How much have the lakes changed and why? – What can be done? • No data on water quality or algae for large periods of watershed development (~1900-1970)

7 Pigeon Lake: Overview

Percent OrganicAll Carbon Algae (Beta-carotene)Blue-green Algae (Myxoxanthophyll)Inferred Total PhosphorusFr. crotonensis (a summerInferred Conductivityalgae)

2010 ~1995: Increased ion content 2000 Algae indicating calmer 1990 waters 1980 1970 ~1950: Slight increase in organic 1960 matter, nutrients (phosphorus) 1950 and blue-green algae 1940

Sediment Date Sediment 1930

1920 1900-2013: Decrease in total algae 1910 • Naturally rich in nutrients and 1900 blue-green algae 1890 5 10 15 0 100 200 0 20 40 20 25 30 0 5 10 15100 200 300 400 8 % nmol/g C nmol/g C ug/L % uS/cm Wabamun Lake: Results

1980s-present:

% Organic CarbonCarbon AccumulationMyxoxanthophyll Rate (blue-greenBeta carotene algae) (all Fragilariaalgae) capucinaDiatom-Inferred var. mesolepta TPDiatom-Inferred ConductivityAlgae indicating calmer waters 2000 Higher ion content 1980

1960

1940 1970-90: less

1920 productivity

1900 1880 Stable conditions, 1860 naturally rich in Sediment Date Sediment 1840

1820 nutrients and blue-

1800 green algae

1780

1760

1740 17 19 21 23 250.0 0.4 0.8 0 50 100 0 200 400 6000 20 40 60 25 30 35 40200 400 600 % g/cm2/yr nmol/g C n mol/g C % ug/L uS/cm 9 Implications for Management

• Naturally productive, so Realistic goal would be a meso-eutrophic lake

• Minor nutrient enrichment with watershed development • Recent algae blooms not explained by nutrients – strong climatic control, so External nutrient controls may not be sufficient to reduce risk of blooms

10 Case Study 2 Drinking Water Source Protection: Callander, ON

• Recent bluegreen algal blooms threaten drinking water • Need to identify causes to identify risks for Drinking Water Source Protection Plan

11 Paleolimnology of Callander Bay A new baseline was set!

F. capucina Diatom-inferred Sedimentation Mean Annual var. mesolepta TP Rate Water Level1

2000

1975 North Himsworth Lagoon constructed

1950 Construction of Portage Dam

Saw mill activity

Year 1925 Construction of the Big Chaudiere and Little Chaudiere dams 1900

1875 European Settlement onset of agriculture 1850 and logging 0 15 30 45 60 75 15 20 25 30 35 40 0.00 0.02 0.045.2 5.4 5.6 5.8 6.0 % Abundance g/L g/cm2/yr m 12 Case Study 3 Extending Baseline of Arctic lakes (NU) in Support of a Mining EA

Reference L. (R3)

Izok L. • 3 Arctic tundra lakes (L400-01) • Deep, ultra- oligotrophic, chemically-dilute lakes Itchen L. (L300)

13 Reference L. (R3)

Izok L. (L400-01) Izok Lake - Diatoms

Itchen L. (L300)

Cyclotella stelligeraAchnanthesFragilaria curtissimaAchnanthes virescensCymbellaAchnanthes bioretti v.silesiaca exiguaBrachysira kriegeriiAchnanthes proceraNavicula marginulataNitzschia schmasmanniiFragilaria amphibiaStauroneis teneraPinnulariaNavicula anceps Achnanthesinterrupta seminulumFrustuliaCyclotella minutissima rhomboidesCyclotella Cyclotellaradiosa agg. Tabellariaocellata v. crassinervia Aulacoseiratripartita AchnanthesflocculosaAulacoseira distans lacus-vulcaniAulacoseira perglabra lirata

2000 1980 1960 1940 1920 1900 1880

Year 1860 1850 1840 1820 1800 1780 1760 0 20 40 0 20 0 0 0 0 20 0 0 20 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 20 0 20 40 % Abundance

14 15 Patterns in pH

Izok Lake (L400-01) 6.6 6.4 6.2

6.0 pH 5.8 5.6 5.4 1750 1800 1850 1900 1950 2000 Year DI-pH Measured pH (1992-2012, n=4 years)

16 pH and Precipitation

Izok Lake (L400-01) 6.6 450

6.4 400

6.2 350

6.0 300

InferrredpH -

5.8 250

Precipitation (mm) Diatom 5.6 200

5.4 150 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 Year Mean Sediment Interval pH Sediment Interval Mean Sediment Interval Precipitation Annual Precipitation

17 Clear as Mud!!

Paleolimnology provides: • Quality, high-resolution, long- term records with applications for – Lake and watershed management – Environmental assessment – Source water protection

18 Thank You

• Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development (ESRD) • MMG Minerals • Field work and research contributors – Chris Teichreb (AER, former ESRD) – Dr. Isabelle Larocque (The Lakes Institute), Dr. Peter Leavitt (University of Regina) and Dr. Yi Yi (Alberta Innovates and Technology Futures) – ALMS staff – Linda Kimpe, L.A.N.S.E.T., Dept. Biology, University of Ottawa – Dr. Kris Hadley (NSERC Industrial Postdoctoral Fellow)

19