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An Evaluation of CVC’s Long- Term Watershed Health Monitoring Program Presenters: Adrienne Ockenden & Loveleen Clayton
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
