GHOST RIVER STATE OF THE WATERSHED REPORT 2018 FINAL REPORT (Revised version December 2018) GHOST RIVER STATE OF THE WATERSHED REPORT 2018 Acknowledgements We would like to thank all members of the Steering Committee, the Ghost Watershed Alliance Society (GWAS) Board of Directors and members as well as local residents of the Ghost Watershed for their contributions to this report throughout the process. They have significantly helped shape this report, and our work would not have been possible without them. Specifically, we would like to thank and acknowledge the following individuals and organizations for their contributions to this report: Compilation: ALCES Landscape & Land-use Ltd. and GWAS Design and layout: ALCES Landscape & Land-use Ltd. and Marina Krainer Maps: ALCES Landscape & Land-use Ltd. Primary author: Ryan MacDonald, ALCES Landscape and Land-use Ltd. Major contributors: Matthew Chernos, Anne Holcroft Weerstra, Marina Krainer, Danielle Marcotte, Bryne Weerstra Other contributors: Roger Drury, Sharlene Fritz, Cal Hill, Bill Motherwell, Judy Sterner Copy editing: Sharlene Fritz, Anne Holcroft Weerstra, Judy Sterner, Bryne Weerstra Project coordination: Marina Krainer SOW Subcommittee: Sharlene Fritz, Judy Sterner, Heinz Unger, Bryne Weerstra Steering Committee & Reviewers: Christine Boulton – Rangeland Agrologist, Alberta Environment and Parks Roger Drury – Hydrotechnical Engineer, TransAlta Hydro Operations (retired) Jennifer Earle – Fisheries Biologist, Alberta Environment and Parks Marc Fossi – Angler Cal Hill – Geologist (retired), previously Executive Vice President Strategy and Regulatory, Alberta Energy Regulator Anne Holcroft Weerstra – Wildlife and Vegetation Ecologist, Biota Consultants Kathryn Hull and Kristina Wantola – Riparian Health Specialists, Alberta Riparian Habitat Management Society (Cows and Fish) i GHOST RIVER STATE OF THE WATERSHED REPORT 2018 Brad Jones – Resource Manager, Alberta Environment and Parks Natalie Kromrey – Water Quality Specialist, Alberta Environment and Parks Patricia (Penny) MacMillan – Local resident, GWAS founding member, FRMUD Steering Committee member Bob McAlpine – Water Quality Specialist, WQ Consulting Services Ltd. Mike Murray – Program Manager, Bow River Basin Council Lesley Peterson – Alberta Provincial Biologist, Trout Unlimited Canada George Roman – Senior Water Resources Planner, City of Calgary Frauke Spurrell – Air Quality Specialist, Alberta Environment and Parks Judy Stewart – Bow River Basin Council Shoma Tanzeeba – Hydrologist, Alberta Environment and Parks Kendra Tippe – Agricultural Fieldman, MD of Bighorn Michael Wagner – Forest Hydrologist, Alberta Agriculture and Forestry Rob Wolfe – Environmental Planner, Alberta Environment and Parks Cover photo: Roger Drury Funding contributions: • Bow River Basin Council • Cochrane Environmental Action Committee • Elbow River Watershed Partnership • Land Stewardship Centre • MD of Bighorn • TransAlta Corporation • The many volunteers who helped GWAS run a charitable casino from which funds were used for this report. Thank you! ii GHOST RIVER STATE OF THE WATERSHED REPORT 2018 Executive Summary Background The Ghost Watershed Alliance Society (GWAS) has completed this State of the Watershed (SOW) report as an initial step in watershed management planning in the Ghost Watershed. The purpose of this report is to provide an objective, scientifically-based overview of available data and information to assess the current condition of the watershed. In addition to providing an overview, this report outlines current data and knowledge gaps, and provides recommendations on ways to improve our understanding of the watershed. The completion of this report was collaborative in nature, with input from several individuals and organizations. Watershed Overview The Ghost Watershed is a special place. Situated along the Eastern Slopes of the Rocky Mountains, west of the City of Calgary, Alberta, the Ghost River and its tributaries flow through a diverse landscape, eventually discharging into the north arm of the Ghost Reservoir where it flows into the Bow River at the site of the Ghost dam. The gradual eastward decrease in elevation and slope defines this watershed, corresponding with changes in geology, soils, climate, vegetation and human use, all of which change along this west to east gradient. These gradual changes determine the numerous natural subregions represented within the Ghost Watershed, including Alpine, Subalpine, Montane, Upper and Lower Foothills, and Foothills Parkland, which provide a complexity that supports biodiversity. Generally, the biota in the watershed is rich and diverse, with a variety of wildlife, fish and plant populations. The Ghost Watershed is one of the most scenic landscapes in Alberta, and people have lived here for thousands of years. More than 100 years ago, the Canadian government recognized the importance of the Eastern Slopes watersheds as the source of water for the prairie region. In 1910, they established the Rocky Mountains Forest Reserve for the maintenance of timber and a continuous water supply. Today, the watershed is sparsely inhabited with only three higher density developments. Although there are few full-time residents, many visitors enjoy camping, hiking, rock and ice climbing, hunting, fishing, horseback riding, wildlife watching and off-highway vehicle (OHV) use. Large portions of the upper reaches of the Ghost Watershed are protected from development and OHV use, including the Ghost River Wilderness Area and Don Getty Wildland Provincial Park. However, outside of these protected areas, the land use history of the watershed, as well as the Ghost Arm of the Ghost Reservoir, has been one of increasing access and human impact, particularly by motorized recreational users. Summary of the current state of the Ghost Watershed Few measurements of air pollution exist within the Ghost Watershed. However, the evidence that is available suggests that air quality is generally excellent. Measurements of nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and ozone were all well below thresholds set by Alberta's ambient air quality objectives. Levels of emissions of carbon monoxide, particulate matter and carbon dioxide have not been measured within the watershed. Levels of these pollutants in the City of Calgary generally meet air quality standards, which suggest that the Ghost Watershed, with less urbanization and fewer sources of emissions, should meet these standards easily as well. iii GHOST RIVER STATE OF THE WATERSHED REPORT 2018 One of the critical indicators used to assess the state of the watershed is streamflow, as this represents an integration of climate, geology and land use. Streamflow contribution in the Ghost River is dominated by snowmelt. Streamflow in rivers and creeks within the watershed is low in winter when most water is stored as snow, particularly at higher elevations, and peaks in late spring as snowmelt and rainfall runoff. In addition to providing high volumes of water in the spring, much of the snowmelt recharges groundwater in aquifers, which then plays a substantial role in feeding flow in streams and rivers throughout the late summer, fall and winter. Surface water within the Ghost Watershed currently is not highly allocated to human uses. Until the flood of 2013, the largest commitment of water was a diversion to Lake Minnewanka for hydroelectric power generation. On average, the volume of water diverted was equal to approximately 63% of the water in the upper Ghost River, and 22% of the streamflow volume in the watershed as a whole. Groundwater use is considered to be low as well, with groundwater allocations (excluding household wells) representing only 0.04% of total water licences in the watershed. Furthermore, the allocations pertaining to groundwater wells are located in areas of the watershed that provide sufficient groundwater yield. From this we can assume that groundwater use in the watershed is sustainable. That said, groundwater resources in the valley bottom and headwaters of the watershed are highly vulnerable. Fortunately, this is a region with relatively little groundwater well development. Water quality is equally as important as water quantity given that water quality provides an indication of the health of the watershed. Water quality in the Ghost Watershed is generally healthy, with an overall rating for all indicators as “Natural” to “Good”. However, some water quality indicators showed water quality conditions may be deviating from natural levels. In particular, water clarity appears to be degraded in Waiparous Creek. Past water quality studies have attributed this sedimentation issue to anthropogenic causes (Andrews 2006); however, at this time it is uncertain whether this is human induced or naturally occurring. Fecal coliform and Escherichia coli (E. coli) levels also exceeded thresholds of concern within the lower reaches of the watershed, specifically at Benchlands. In almost one out of every four measurements, fecal coliform levels exceeded safe thresholds, as defined by the provincial water quality guidelines for the protection of agricultural water uses, suggesting that the problem is persistent at this site and most likely requires further attention. Dissolved oxygen levels appeared to be adequate for most species, including spring mayflies, but were considered too low for larval fish in all sample periods in Waiparous Creek. This suggests there may be a long-term issue for larval fish habitat in these specific locations in the Ghost