An Evaluation of CVC’s Long-Term Watershed Health

Monitoring ProgramPresenters: Adrienne Ockenden & Loveleen Clayton

Importance of Monitoring

• Permits to Take Water• Studies & Strategies (subwatershed, SSMPs,

Fish Management Plans, Terrestrial Ecosystem Enhancement Model)

• Flood Forecasting• Modelling (water quality & quantity, terrestrial)• Certificates of Approval (sewage works & waste

management)• Plan Review• Plan Input• Municipal EAs• Report Cards

Groundwater

Streamflow & Precipitation

Geomorphology

Fish Terrestrial EcologyWater & Sediment Chemistry

Benthics

Reporting

• Annual reporting on current condition

• Every 5 years report on trends and conditions & produce a Watershed Report Card

10-Year Review

• 2008: 10th year of monitoring program• Currently: working on a 10-yr Review• 10-yr Review work includes:

• By Discipline: – Analyze Conditions & Trends– Review Protocols, Methodologies, Indicators, etc.

• Integration:– Determine relationships among indicators– Review discipline recommendations against program

objectives

10-yr Project Team

CVC Project

Management Team

Statistical Consultant (Kilgour & Associates)

Benthics (CVC, EcoMetrix)

Fish (CVC, AECOM)

Geomorphology (CVC, Geomorphic Solutions)

Hydrogeology (CVC, AECOM)

Hydrology & Meteorology (CVC, AECOM)

Terrestrial Ecology (CVC, University of Guelph)

Water & Sediment Chemistry (CVC, EcoMetrix)

GIS (CVC, Digital Environmental)

10-yr Review Questions

1. What is the influence of percent impervious cover on environmental responses within the Credit River watershed?

2. What is the current environmental condition in the Credit River watershed?

3. What are the time trends in measured environmental components?

4. Do time trends differ in upper, middle and lower parts of the watershed?

Fish

climate, geology, topography

Hydrology

GroundwaterFeatures

GeomorphicFeatures

Macroinvertebrates

Riparian Water Quality

Percent Impervious Cover (development) Modifier

Template

Compliance

Site Level Biological Response

Site-Level Physical Chemical Response

Indicator Type

Modifier and Template Variables

• Modifier and Template variables are calculated using GIS

• Percent Imperviousness calculated externally using satellite imagery (1999, 2003, 2008)

• Geology is based on OGS Information• Slope calculated for each aquatic station (100m

upstream and downstream)• Climate data includes: average monthly

temperature, degree days, precipitation

Response Variables

• Each discipline calculating summary statistics by site and by year

• Each discipline to provide values for each variable that classifies site condition (e.g. Impaired, Potentially Impaired, Unimpaired)– Can be based on “text-book” or

legislative criteria– If not available, can use regression

models to hindcast reference condition

Q1: What is the influence ofPercent Impervious Cover?

UpperMiddleLower

% Imperviousness(after correcting for geology, slope, catchment area, etc.)

Res

pons

e

Normal Range

Q2: What is the Current Condition?

• Judge existing condition vs normal range (hindcast normal range for each site using models to PIC of 0%)

Upper

Middle

Lower

Land Use

Res

pons

e

Normal Range

Q3: What are the Time Trends?

Upper

Middle

Lower

Year

Res

pons

e

Q4: Do the Time Trends differ fromupper to middle to lower watershed?

Upper

Middle

Lower

Year

Res

pons

e

Program Review

• Individual disciplines are evaluating:– Number of sampling sites– Frequency of sampling– Locations and spatial distribution– Selection of Indicators– Appropriate data summary and analysis– Integration of sites– Emerging issues (e.g. climate change)– QA/QC– Data Storage– Consistency with Industry Standards or Other Agency

Methods– Specific Recommendations based on the above

• Integrated program review will consider recommendations from individual disciplines, big picture observations or CVC and partner needs

Summary

• Individual stats + Modeling + Individual Program Review + Integrated Program Review Recommendations = Watershed Report Card!

• Watershed Report Card and Technical Report expected to be released in December 2010

Questions?Questions?

Loveleen Clayton: lclayton@creditvalleyca.caAdrienne Ockenden: aockenden@creditvalleyca.ca