1. Shuswap Lake
Integrated Planning
Process (SLIPP)
All-Committee Meeting
Water Quality Update
Gabi Matscha, BC Ministry of Environment
April 12, 2012
Quaaout Lodge

2.
2011 Water Quality
Monitoring Program and
Results
April 12, 2012
Quaaout Lodge
Gabi Matscha

3. Water Quality Monitoring – Improvements with
SLIPP
Monitoring under SLIPP – 1st Year
– Monitoring conducted
– Monitoring Results
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4. Water Quality Monitoring – Improvements with SLIPP
Before SLIPP With SLIPP
Several agencies (5) and local Coordinated water quality monitoring in the
governments (5) monitored water quality in Shuswap Lake all serving the same
Shuswap Watershed independently and objectives.
with different objectives.
No data sharing. Data sharing and integrated reporting.
Many small independent or non-published Goal to create one data base.
reports.
Monitoring duplication between agencies. Sampling programs coordinated and
streamlined.
Insufficient sampling due to limited funds Sampling programs include objectives for
within each agency. more than one agency. Shared funds
ensure sufficient sampling.
Studies provided information on specific Monitoring information of all projects will
issues and areas.
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provide a picture of overall water quality
health.

5. Water Quality Monitoring – Improvements with SLIPP
Involved in Water Quality Program:
• Department of Fisheries and Oceans,
• Environment Canada (Federal/Provincial Program)
• Ministry of Environment (Thompson, Okanagan),
• BC Parks,
• Ministry of Forest, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
• Interior Health Authority,
• Columbia Shuswap Regional District,
• North Okanagan Regional District,
• Adams Lake Indian Band?
• City of Salmon Arm,
• District of Sicamous,
• Various Small Purveyors on Shuswap and Mara Lake,
• Shuswap Water Action Team Society,
• Swansea Point Community Association,
• Lower Shuswap Stewardship Society,
• Many volunteers
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6. Monitoring under SLIPP – 1st Year
Monitoring Objectives in 2011 Agency involved
• Overall Nutrient Conditions in All Arms of Shuswap Lake, • DFO, MoE
Little Shuswap Lk, Mara Lk, Mable Lk, Sugar Lk.
• Investigation of factors potentially influencing large algae • MoE
blooms on Mara/Shuswap Lakes.
• Identification of near shore Water Quality: • IHA, Small Purveyors, BC
- Near Drinking water Intakes Parks, CSRD, City of
- Near septic seepages Salmon Arm, District of
- Near beaches Sicamous
• Groundwater monitoring to identify septic seepage • CSRD, MFLNRO
routes and impacts
• Identification of nutrient availability (nutrient seepage or • SWAT, Swansea Pt.
runoff) near shore using attached algae study Comm. Assotiation, MoE
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7. Monitoring under SLIPP – 1st Year
Monitoring Objectives in 2011 Agency involved
• Monitor effects of sewage treatment plant discharges • City of Salmon Arm, MoE,
(Salmon Arm, Sicamous). District of Sicamous
• Monitor effects of septic tank conditions in Canoe Creek. • City of Salmon Arm
• Monitor effects of greywater discharge on Nielson Beach • MoE
• Characterize boat greywater to help model effects on • Waterways, MoE
Lake Water Quality.
• Identify nutrient and contaminant loadings from • MoE
tributaries.
• Identify stream sections and tributaries with highest • MoE, NORD, Env.
nutrient loads within the Shuswap River system. Canada, Lower Shuswap
Stewardship Society
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8. Monitoring under SLIPP – 1st Year
Other Achievements
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9. Monitoring under SLIPP – 1st Year - Results
Shuswap Lk W of Sorrento Total Nitrogen (mg/L)
0.450
0.400
0.350
0.300
0.250
0.200
0.150
0.100
0.050
0.000
2002-09-01 2004-01-14 2005-05-28 2006-10-10 2008-02-22 2009-07-06 2010-11-18 2012-04-01 2013-08-14
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10. Monitoring under SLIPP – 1st Year - Results
Shuswap Lk W of Sorrento Nitrate + Nitrite (mg/L)
0.16
0.14
0.12
0.1
0.08
0.06
0.04
0.02
0
2002-09-01 2004-01-14 2005-05-28 2006-10-10 2008-02-22 2009-07-06 2010-11-18 2012-04-01 2013-08-14
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11. Monitoring under SLIPP – 1st Year - Results
Shuswap Lk W of Sorrento Total Organic Nitrogen (mg/L)
0.350
0.300
0.250
0.200
0.150
0.100
0.050
0.000
2002-09-01 2004-01-14 2005-05-28 2006-10-10 2008-02-22 2009-07-06 2010-11-18 2012-04-01 2013-08-14
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12. Monitoring under SLIPP – 1st Year - Results
Shuswap Lk W of Sorrento Total Phosphorus (mg/L)
0.04
0.035
0.03
0.025
0.02
0.015
0.01
0.005
0
2002-09-01 2004-01-14 2005-05-28 2006-10-10 2008-02-22 2009-07-06 2010-11-18 2012-04-01 2013-08-14
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13. Monitoring under SLIPP – 1st Year - Results
• Similar Trends near Marble Point and at Sandy Point
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14. Monitoring under SLIPP – 1st Year - Results
Shuswap Lk at Sandy Pt Dissolved Phosphorus (mg/L)
0.025
0.02
0.015
0.01
0.005
0
2004-01-14 2005-05-28 2006-10-10 2008-02-22 2009-07-06 2010-11-18 2012-04-01 2013-08-14
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15. Monitoring under SLIPP – 1st Year - Results
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16. Monitoring under SLIPP – 1st Year - Results
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17. Monitoring under SLIPP – 1st Year - Results
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18. Monitoring under SLIPP – 1st Year - Results
Summary
• Generally Increased organic Nitrogen in Main, Sicamous and Salmon
Arm in 2011 compared to historic data (2003-2008)
• Slight increase of phosphorus at Sandy Point in Salmon Arm from
historic data (2003-2006). Increase was already observed in 2008.
• Large tributaries contribute significantly higher nutrient loadings than
smaller streams (even nutrient poor streams such as Adams and
Seymour).
• Shuswap River provided the highest Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Organic
Carbon Loading into Shuswap Lake System during Mar-Apr (Low-Land-
Runoff) and June-July (High-Elevation Snow Melt).
• Salmon River Nitrogen and Organic Carbon Loadings are similar to
Adams, but Phosphorus loadings similar to Shuswap River during peak
flows.
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19.
SLIPP Annual Water
Quality Monitoring Plan
for 2012/13
April 12, 2012
Quaaout Lodge
Gabi Matscha (Ministry of Environment)

20. Water Quality Plan for 2012/13
Recap: Three Year Water Quality Monitoring
Plan (as approved by WQ Committee Feb 2011)
Proposed Monitoring Plan for 2012/13
Overview
Proposed procedural changes
Discussion about proposed details and changes.
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21. 2011/12
Cost. Recommendation as per Recommendation
Est. Integrated Plan
$75,000 1) Deep Stn. Monitoring - monitoring of key sites effected by salmon run
nutrient loading.
- monitoring of algae bloom related factors (e.g. food
web) to identify causes and management options.
- 14C primary production
$ 9,000 2) Littoral Stn. Monitoring - conduct grab sampling at new sites where seepage
has been detected;
- Questionnaires and dye tests in areas where septic
system seepage is a potential problem – w. with IHA.
- Attached algae study – integrative measure.
$ 9,000 3) Chemical Tracing of sewage Houseboat greywater sampling at Nielson Beach
and greywater contamination beaches to confirm results and improvement through
management actions; use different tracer.
$34,000 - Tributary monitoring to identify nutrient and
contaminant loading.
Total:
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$127,00

22. 2012/13
Cost Recommendation as per Recommendation after considering MoE
Est. Integrated Plan work
SLIPP: 1) Deep Stn. Monitoring - Monitoring of key sites effected by salmon run
$68,185 nutrient loading.
Others: - Monitoring of general water quality in all Arms
$164,500 and Little Shuswap Lake
- Algae bloom related sampling (food web)
SIPP: 2) Littoral Stn. Monitoring - Joint sampling program with Interior Health
$7,992 small purveyors at sewage seepage sites.
Others: - Initiate secchi project in Little Shuswap, Mable
$12,100 and Adams Lake, if volunteers available.
- Continue Periphyton study.
SLIPP: 3) Chemical Tracing of sewage and - Identify houseboat #s and distribution
$6,782 greywater contamination – Septic - Identify typical greywater production by day
Others: systems, STP loading, boat and person on Shuswap houseboats.
$12,630 discharges - Characterize houseboat greywater chemistry
for later detailed modelling.
SLIPP: 4) Watershed and Tributary - Finish GIS based land use mapping and
$32,000 Monitoring, land use and animal unit info collection.
Others:
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agricultural trends - Continue Tributary monitoring on remaining
$82,172 arms and Mara Lake (focus on larger
streams). Determine tribs w. highest loading.

23. 2013/14
Cost Recommendation as per Recommendation
Est. Integrated Plan
$57,000 1) Baseline Deep Stn. Monitoring Continuation of following dependent on results of
Yr. 1-2:
- Understand nutrient dynamics and influence of
salmon run on nutrient dynamics
- Understand factors that support large algae
blooms in Shuswap Lake system and how to
manage.
$16,000 2) Intensive Littoral Stn. Monitoring - Estimate seepage and runoff into lake through
models for lakewide loading calculations.
$10,000 3) Chemical Tracing of sewage and - Conduct loading calculations based on data
greywater contamination – Septic collected in Yr. 1-2.
systems, STP loading, boat
discharges
$60,000 4) Watershed and Tributary - Use outcome of Yr. 2 in lakewide loading
Monitoring, land use and calculations.
agricultural trends - Monitor contaminants of concern (as identified
23 in earlier years) at several locations in 1-2
Total: watersheds that contribute highest loadings.
$143,000

24. 2012 Water Quality Plan Discussion
Procedural Improvements from last Year
Ø Data Entry in Time
Ø Interim data base for all SLIPP Partners in 2012 – Excel
into Access data base
Ø Data Entry for all SLIPP Agencies will be done by
Contractor
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