42
WWF-Canada Freshwater Health Assessment for the North Saskatchewan River Basin Disclaimer: This analysis reflects currently available and accessible data as of May 22, 2014.
NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER HEALTH ASSESSMENT
CONTENTS
SUMMARY ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 1
Overall River Health Scoring ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 1
Overall Data Sufficiency Scoring ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 1
HYDROLOGY ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 2
Overall Hydrology River Health Scoring ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 2
Hydrology Data Sufficiency ........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 3
Long-Term Trends in Monthly Flow for the South Saskatchewan River ....................................................................................................................................... 4
Recent-Term Trends in Monthly Flow for the South Saskatchewan River ................................................................................................................................... 6
Trends in Annual Flow for the South Saskatchewan River Basin ................................................................................................................................................ 16
Hydrological Alteration due to Dams in the South Saskatchewan River Basin ........................................................................................................................... 17
WATER QUALITY ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 23
Overall Water Quality Health Scoring ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 23
Water Quality Data Sufficiency ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 23
FISH ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 32
Overall Fish Health Scoring ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 32
Fish Data Sufficiency ................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 32
BENTHICS ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 38
Overall Benthic Health Scoring ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 38
Benthic Data Sufficiency ............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 38
1 WWF-Canada Freshwater Health Assessment for the North Saskatchewan River Basin
Disclaimer: This analysis reflects currently available and accessible data as of May 22, 2014.
SUMMARY
OVERALL RIVER HEALTH SCORING
Sub-Basin
Basin
Overall River Health
Indicator Upper North
Saskatchewan Central North Saskatchewan
Battle River Lower North
Saskatchewan
Hydrology
Hydrology Health Category Poor Good Poor Poor Poor
Hydrology Score 1 3 1 1 1
Water Quality Water Quality Health Category Very Good Good Fair Good Good
Water Quality Health Score 4 3 2 3 3
Benthic Macro-Invertebrates
Benthic Health Category Data Deficient Data Deficient Data
Deficient Data Deficient
Data Deficient
Benthic Health Score Data Deficient Data Deficient Data
Deficient Data Deficient
Data Deficient
Fish
Fish Health Category Good Good Good Data Deficient Good
Fish Health Score 3 3 3 Data Deficient 3
Total Score 8 9 6 4 7
Total Available Score 11 11 11 11 11
Percentage of Maximum Score 72.7% 81.8% 54.5% 36.4% 63.6%
Overall Health Category Good Good Poor Data
Deficient Fair
OVERALL DATA SUFFICIENCY SCORING
Sub-Basin
Basin
Overall Data
Sufficiency
Indicator Upper North
Saskatchewan Central North Saskatchewan
Battle River
Lower North Saskatchewan
Hydrology Data Sufficiency Category Partially Sufficient
Partially Sufficient
Partially Sufficient
Partially Sufficient
Partially Sufficient
Data Sufficiency Score 1 1 1 1 1
Water Quality
Data Sufficiency Category Partially Sufficient Partially
Sufficient Partially
Sufficient Partially
Sufficient Partially
Sufficient
Data Sufficiency Score 1 1 1 1 1
Benthic Macro-
Invertebrates
Data Sufficiency Category Insufficient Insufficient Insufficient Insufficient Insufficient
Data Sufficiency Score 0 0 0 0 0
Fish Data Sufficiency Category Sufficient
Partially Sufficient
Sufficient Insufficient Partially
Sufficient
Data Sufficiency Score 3 1 3 0 1
Total Score 5 3 5 2 3
Total Available Score 12 12 12 12 12
Percentage of Maximum Score 41.7% 25.0% 41.7% 16.7% 25.0%
Overall Data Sufficiency Category Partially
Sufficient Partially
Sufficient Partially
Sufficient Insufficient
Partially Sufficient
2 WWF-Canada Freshwater Health Assessment for the North Saskatchewan River Basin
Disclaimer: This analysis reflects currently available and accessible data as of May 22, 2014.
HYDROLOGY
OVERALL HYDROLOGY RIVER HEALTH SCORING
Sub-Basin Basin
Hydrology
Indicator Upper North
Saskatchewan Central North Saskatchewan
Battle River Lower North
Saskatchewan
Long-Term Trends in Monthly Flow
Average percentage change in median monthly flow, measured as the relative change in median monthly flow per year, reported
as an average across studied stations and weighted by the
median annual flow per station.
Period of Study 1911-2012 1935-2012 1964-2012 1910-2012 1910-2012
Number of Stations 1 1 2 1 5
Value 0.89 0 0.57 0.84 0.57
Health Category Good Very Good Good Good Good
Health Score 3 4 3 3 3
Recent-Term Trends in Monthly Flow
Average percentage change in median monthly flow, measured as the relative change in median monthly flow per year, reported
as an average across studied stations and weighted by the
median annual flow per station.
Period of Study 1976-2012 1979-2012 1981-2012 1982-2012 1976-2012
Number of Stations 19 11 9 4 43
Value 0.06 0.03 0.53 0 0.15
Health Category Very Good Very Good Good Very Good Good
Health Score 4 4 3 4 3
Long-Term Trends in Annual Flow
Average percentage change in median annual flow, reported as
an average across studied stations and weighted by the
median annual flow per station.
Period of Study 1911-2012 1935-2012 1964-2012 1910-2012 1965-2013
Number of Stations 1 1 2 1 5
Value 0.4% 0.0% 1.2% 0.0% 0.6%
Health Category Very Good Very Good Very Good Very Good Very Good
Health Score 4 4 4 4 4
Pre- vs. Post-Dam or Recent vs. Historical Analsis of Monthly
Flow
Percentage of total months, for all stations analyzed, with
significantly different variance in monthly flow pre- vs. post-dam
operation or for historical vs. Recent time periods in undammed systems.
Period of Study Various Various Various Various Various
Number of Stations 5 1 2 1 9
Value 88.3% 70.0% 95.0% 91.6% 88.1%
Health Category Very Poor Very Poor Very Poor Very Poor Very Poor
Health Score 0 0 0 0 0
Percentage change in median monthly flow pre-and post-dam or for historical vs. Recent time periods in undammed systems,
averaged across studied stations by mean annual flow.
Period of Study Various Various Various Various Various
Number of Stations 5 1 2 1 9
Value 60% 26% 66% 81% 60%
Health Category Very Poor Good Very Poor Very Poor Poor
Health Score 0 3 0 0 1
Hydrology Score
Total Score 11 15 10 11 11
Maximum Available Score
20 20 20 20 20
Percentage of Maximum Score
55.0% 75.0% 50.0% 55.0% 55.0%
Hydrology Health Category
Poor Good Poor Poor Poor
Hydrology Score 1 3 1 1 1
3 WWF-Canada Freshwater Health Assessment for the North Saskatchewan River Basin
Disclaimer: This analysis reflects currently available and accessible data as of May 22, 2014.
HYDROLOGY DATA SUFFICIENCY
Sub-Basin Basin
Data Sufficiency Indicator Upper South
Saskatchewan Bow River
Red Deer River
Lower South Saskatchewan
Total number of sub-sub-basins 6 7 6 7 26
Total number of dams (>10m) 5 1 1 1 8
Year of earliest dam operation 1962 1989 1956 1929 1929
Year of earliest available continuous flow monitoring
1911 1935 1962 1910 1962
Number of monitoring stations available for earliest, continuous flow monitoring
1 1 1 1 4
Number of sub-sub-basins with monitoring stations
1 1 1 1 4
Number of monitoring stations on river downstream of dams
0 0 0 0 0
Data Sufficiency Category Insufficient Insufficient Insufficient Insufficient Partially
Sufficient
Year of long-term continuous flow monitoring
1911 1935 1964 1910 1964
Number of monitoring stations available for continuous flow monitoring analysis
1 1 2 1 5
Number of sub-sub-basins with monitoring stations
1 1 2 1 5
Number of monitoring stations on river downstream of dams
0 0 0 0 0
Data Sufficiency Category Insufficient Insufficient Partially
Sufficient Insufficient
Partially Sufficient
Year of widespread, continuous flow monitoring
1976 1979 1981 1982 1982
Number of monitoring stations available for continuous flow monitoring analysis
19 11 9 4 43
Number of sub-sub-basins with monitoring stations
6 6 5 2 19
Number of monitoring stations on river downstream of dams
1 0 0 0 1
Data Sufficiency Category Partially
Sufficient Partially
Sufficient Partially
Sufficient Partially
Sufficient Partially
Sufficient
Overall Data Sufficiency Category Partially
Sufficient Partially
Sufficient Partially
Sufficient Partially
Sufficient Partially
Sufficient
Data Sufficiency Score 1 1 1 1 1
4 WWF-Canada Freshwater Health Assessment for the North Saskatchewan River Basin
Disclaimer: This analysis reflects currently available and accessible data as of May 22, 2014.
LONG-TERM TRENDS IN MONTHLY FLOW FOR THE NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER
MAP. RESULTS OF A SERIES OF TREND ANALYSES OF MEDIAN MONTHLY FLOW IN THE NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER BASIN.
5 WWF-Canada Freshwater Health Assessment for the North Saskatchewan River Basin
Disclaimer: This analysis reflects currently available and accessible data as of May 22, 2014.
TABLE. RESULTS OF LONG-TERM TREND ANALYSES FOR MEDIAN MONTHLY FLOW IN THE NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER SUB-BASIN.
North Saskatchewan River
Upper North Saskatchewan Central North Saskatchewan Battle River Lower North Saskatchewan
05DF001 05EA001 05FB002 05FD001 05GG001
Start Year for Analysis 1911 Start Year for Analysis 1935 Start Year for Analysis 1964 Start Year for Analysis 1964 Start Year for Analysis 1910
Median Annual Flow (m3/s) 136.1 Median Annual Flow (m3/s) 1.8 Median Annual Flow (m3/s) 0.1 Median Annual Flow (m3/s) 0.1 Median Annual Flow (m3/s) 162.1
Month Theil-Sen
Slope
Mann-Kendall p-value
Average Median Monthly
Flow
Average Percentage Change in
Median Monthly
Flow*
Theil-Sen Slope
Mann-Kendall p-value
Average Median Monthly
Flow
Average Percentage Change in Median Monthly
Flow*
Theil-Sen Slope
Mann-Kendall p-value
Average Median Monthly
Flow
Average Percentage Change in
Median Monthly
Flow*
Theil-Sen
Slope
Mann-Kendall p-value
Average Median Monthly
Flow
Average Percentage Change in
Median Monthly
Flow*
Theil-Sen Slope
Mann-Kendall p-value
Average Median Monthly
Flow
Average Percentage Change in Median Monthly
Flow*
October 0.20 0.18 138.7 0.00 0.48 1.5 -4.1E-04 0.26 0.07 0.00 0.00 ** 0.1 1.89 -0.03 0.85 170.9
November 0.86 1.6E-11 *** 92.6 0.93 0.01 0.84 1.8 -1.2E-03 0.54 0.11 0.00 0.03 * 0.1 2.23 0.78 4.7E-09 *** 99.0 0.79
December 1.04 1.1E-17 *** 73.7 1.41 - - - - - - - 0.98 1.5E-12 *** 77.0 1.27
January 1.01 9.9E-18 *** 69.4 1.46 NA NA 0.1 - - - - 1.01 5.4E-16 *** 67.6 1.49
February 1.05 1.8E-17 *** 68.3 1.54 0.00 0.62 0.5 -2.5E-04 0.30 0.02 0.0E+00 0.13 0.0 1.09 8.0E-17 *** 68.7 1.58
March 1.22 1.7E-17 *** 75.2 1.63 -3.7E-05 0.91 0.8 -3.3E-04 0.36 0.11 0.0E+00 0.51 0.0 1.19 2.0E-16 *** 73.5 1.62
April 1.49 1.7E-08 *** 162.2 0.92 -4.1E-05 1.00 9.9 -0.03 0.06 1.68 0.00 3.4E-06 *** 0.3 1.86 2.48 4.7E-07 *** 238.7 1.04
May -0.19 0.51 253.8 -0.03 0.14 8.2 -0.01 0.03 * 0.84 1.16 -0.01 3.3E-04 *** 0.8 0.69 0.24 0.49 312.3
June -2.77 3.8E-06 *** 445.0 0.62 -0.01 0.12 3.2 -1.7E-03 0.50 0.36 -0.01 0.13 0.8 -1.58 0.01 ** 435.4 0.36
July -3.53 2.2E-08 *** 454.4 0.78 0.00 0.52 3.2 -1.5E-03 0.30 0.39 -0.01 0.03 * 0.6 2.01 -3.08 1.0E-05 *** 498.8 0.62
August -3.07 1.4E-15 *** 324.3 0.95 4.4E-04 0.86 2.2 -1.4E-04 0.68 0.13 0.00 0.02 * 0.2 1.48 -2.71 1.5E-11 *** 361.4 0.75
September -0.95 6.7E-07 *** 210.6 0.45 -5.6E-04 0.85 1.7 -4.8E-04 0.10 0.05 -5.6E-04 0.12 0.1 -1.52 5.5E-10 *** 262.7 0.58
Average for all months,
for each station
-0.30 197.34 0.89 0.00 3.01 0.0E+00 0.00 0.37 0.12 -3.9E-03 0.29 1.01 -0.10 222.17 0.84
Average percentage change in median monthly flow for all months, weighted by
median annual flow 0.89 0.00 0.57 0.84
* Percentage change in median monthly flow is only calculated for months with a statistically significant trend over time. For months without a significant trend, a value of zero is assigned for calculation of the overall station score.
6 WWF-Canada Freshwater Health Assessment for the North Saskatchewan River Basin
Disclaimer: This analysis reflects currently available and accessible data as of May 22, 2014.
RECENT-TERM TRENDS IN MONTHLY FLOW FOR THE NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER
MAP. RESULTS OF A SERIES OF TREND ANALYSES OF MEDIAN MONTHLY FLOW IN THE NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER BASIN FOR THE PERIOD 1976 TO 2012.
7 WWF-Canada Freshwater Health Assessment for the North Saskatchewan River Basin
Disclaimer: This analysis reflects currently available and accessible data as of May 22, 2014.
TABLE. RESULTS OF RECENT-TERM TREND ANALYSES FOR MEDIAN MONTHLY FLOW IN THE UPPER-NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER SUB-BASIN.
Upper North Saskatchewan
05DA007 05DA009 05DA010 05DB002 05DB005
Start Year for Analysis 1976 Start Year for Analysis 1976 Start Year for Analysis 1976 Start Year for Analysis 1976 Start Year for Analysis 1976
Median Annual Flow (m3/s) 2.1 Median Annual Flow (m3/s) 14.5
Median Annual Flow (m3/s)
0.1 Median Annual Flow (m3/s) 3.2 Median Annual Flow
(m3/s) 1.1
Month Theil-Sen
Slope Mann-Kendall
p-value
Average Median Monthly
Flow
Average Percentage Change in
Median Monthly
Flow*
Theil-Sen Slope
Mann-Kendall p-value
Average Median Monthly
Flow
Average Percentage Change in
Median Monthly
Flow*
Theil-Sen Slope
Mann-Kendall p-value
Average Median Monthly
Flow
Average Percentage Change in
Median Monthly
Flow*
Theil-Sen Slope
Mann-Kendall p-value
Average Median Monthly
Flow
Average Percentage Change in Median Monthly
Flow*
Theil-Sen
Slope
Mann-Kendall p-value
Average Median Monthly
Flow
Average Percentage Change in
Median Monthly
Flow*
October -1.3E-03 0.93 3.19 0.02 0.75 23.64 -9.4E-04 0.33 0.20 0.02 0.28 3.94 6.9E-04 0.93 1.02
November 8.5E-03 0.14 1.64 0.04 0.27 10.79 3.6E-05 0.95 0.10 0.008 0.63 2.79 -0.01 0.30 0.74
December 2.5E-03 0.36 1.01 0.005 0.86 7.43 -4.1E-04 0.16 0.06 -0.003 0.85 2.03 - -
January 4.6E-04 0.86 0.73 0.02 0.08 5.72 -4.1E-04 0.18 0.05 0.003 0.65 1.63 - -
February 2.7E-03 0.13 0.61 0.02 0.16 5.16 -3.3E-04 0.30 0.04 -0.003 0.73 1.51 -0.02 0.18 0.29
March -1.4E-03 0.57 0.63 -0.010 0.34 5.03 -3.3E-04 0.17 0.04 -4.5E-04 0.87 1.79 -0.001 0.73 0.33
April 2.5E-03 0.75 0.89 -0.02 0.33 7.08 -6.5E-04 0.04 * 0.06 1.18 0.01 0.70 3.52 0.002 0.76 0.80
May -0.03 0.37 4.67 -0.14 0.45 33.47 -0.001 0.69 0.34 0.05 0.33 5.56 0.01 0.56 2.21
June -0.03 0.52 15.27 -0.12 0.73 126.78 0.002 0.91 1.27 0.10 0.07 7.58 0.03 0.11 2.83
July -2.3E-03 0.93 19.91 0.0E+00 0.97 169.39 -0.003 0.53 1.34 0.05 0.44 7.71 -7.0E-04 0.98 2.28
August -0.12 0.03 * 16.00 0.75 -1.12 0.07 145.28 -0.002 0.47 0.70 0.02 0.56 5.26 -0.007 0.58 1.48
September -0.04 0.29 7.41 -0.05 0.80 62.29 -3.1E-04 0.87 0.37 0.02 0.69 5.06 -6.6E-04 0.99 1.43
Average for all
months, for each station
0.02 6.00 0.06 0.13 50.17 0.00 0.00 0.38 0.10 0.02 4.03 0.00 0.01 1.34 0.00
* Percentage change in median monthly flow is only calculated for months with a statistically significant trend over time. For months without a significant trend, a value of zero is assigned for calculation of the overall station score.
8 WWF-Canada Freshwater Health Assessment for the North Saskatchewan River Basin
Disclaimer: This analysis reflects currently available and accessible data as of May 22, 2014.
Upper North Saskatchewan
05DB006 05DC001 05DC006 05DC010 05DC011
Start Year for Analysis 1976 Start Year for Analysis 1976 Start Year for Analysis 1976 Start Year for Analysis 1976 Start Year for Analysis 1976
Median Annual Flow (m3/s) 11.4 Median Annual Flow (m3/s) 132.9
Median Annual Flow (m3/s)
8.5 Median Annual Flow (m3/s) 76.8 Median Annual Flow
(m3/s) 2.5
Month Theil-Sen
Slope Mann-Kendall
p-value
Average Median Monthly
Flow
Average Percentage Change in
Median Monthly
Flow*
Theil-Sen Slope
Mann-Kendall p-value
Average Median Monthly
Flow
Average Percentage Change in
Median Monthly
Flow*
Theil-Sen Slope
Mann-Kendall p-value
Average Median Monthly
Flow
Average Percentage Change in
Median Monthly
Flow*
Theil-Sen Slope
Mann-Kendall p-value
Average Median Monthly
Flow
Average Percentage Change in Median Monthly
Flow*
Theil-Sen
Slope
Mann-Kendall p-value
Average Median Monthly
Flow
Average Percentage Change in
Median Monthly
Flow*
October 0.01 0.87 14.28 -0.25 0.29 107.4 -0.03 0.53 10.68 0.08 0.69 70.89 -9.8E-03 0.42 1.55
November 0.05 0.23 9.14 -0.65 0.04 * 103.6 0.63 0.02 0.46 6.11 -0.17 0.46 78.70 -1.8E-03 1.00 1.07
December 8.8E-03 0.80 5.91 -0.83 0.09 113.2 -0.02 0.28 4.39 0.24 0.38 79.24 - -
January 0.01 0.48 4.98 - - -6.1E-04 0.97 3.33 0.27 0.31 67.89 - -
February 0.02 0.22 5.10 - - 0.009 0.33 3.14 -0.12 0.69 66.22 - -
March 0.02 0.60 5.85 -0.25 0.94 115.5 0.005 0.79 3.38 0.08 0.54 77.74 - -
April 0.03 0.25 9.01 0.31 0.69 122.4 -0.03 0.31 6.01 0.58 0.02 * 86.54 0.67 0.02 0.23 0.61
May -0.04 0.69 18.12 0.0E+00 0.99 148.7 -0.05 0.68 20.82 0.27 0.58 86.76 -0.01 0.41 2.19
June 0.42 0.07 39.35 0.05 0.98 198.5 0.31 0.33 38.99 -0.58 0.35 88.24 0.04 0.41 5.78
July 0.12 0.41 36.78 0.15 0.77 180.7 -0.11 0.41 29.46 0.53 0.23 85.88 -0.02 0.43 4.92
August -0.07 0.60 25.91 -0.13 0.73 140.2 -0.19 0.11 17.96 0.35 0.18 77.93 -0.04 0.07 2.84
September -0.05 0.56 19.62 -0.48 0.32 117.7 -0.10 0.34 15.09 -0.05 0.93 67.99 -0.01 0.28 2.30
Average for all
months, for each station
0.07 16.17 0.00 0.31 134.8 0.06 0.07 13.28 0.00 0.28 77.84 0.06 0.02 2.66 0.00
* Percentage change in median monthly flow is only calculated for months with a statistically significant trend over time. For months without a significant trend, a value of zero is assigned for calculation of the overall station score.
9 WWF-Canada Freshwater Health Assessment for the North Saskatchewan River Basin
Disclaimer: This analysis reflects currently available and accessible data as of May 22, 2014.
Upper North Saskatchewan
05DD004 05DD005 05DD007 05DD009 05DE007
Start Year for Analysis 1976 Start Year for Analysis 1976 Start Year for Analysis 1976 Start Year for Analysis 1976 Start Year for Analysis 1976
Median Annual Flow (m3/s) 1.8
Median Annual Flow (m3/s)
40.3 Median Annual Flow
(m3/s) 47.4 Median Annual Flow (m3/s) 2.7
Median Annual Flow (m3/s)
0.9
Month Theil-Sen
Slope Mann-Kendall
p-value
Average Median Monthly
Flow
Average Percentage Change in
Median Monthly
Flow*
Theil-Sen Slope
Mann-Kendall p-value
Average Median Monthly
Flow
Average Percentage Change in
Median Monthly
Flow*
Theil-Sen Slope
Mann-Kendall p-value
Average Median Monthly
Flow
Average Percentage Change in
Median Monthly
Flow*
Theil-Sen Slope
Mann-Kendall p-
value
Average Median Monthly
Flow
Average Percentage Change in Median Monthly
Flow*
Theil-Sen
Slope
Mann-Kendall p-value
Average Median Monthly
Flow
Average Percentage Change in
Median Monthly
Flow*
October -0.008 0.33 0.94 -0.28 0.35 34.76 -0.10 0.19 24.40 -0.02 0.50 3.54 -0.005 0.36 0.63
November -0.02 0.21 0.64 -0.34 0.14 33.74 0.29 0.37 17.91 -0.007 0.63 1.86 -0.003 0.95 0.94
December - - -0.31 0.09 42.55 - - -0.001 0.83 1.27 - -
January - - -0.09 0.73 43.35 - - -0.004 0.25 0.97 - -
February - - 0.26 0.20 38.03 - - -0.006 0.24 0.96 -0.004 0.24 0.18
March - - 0.41 0.10 29.70 - - -0.010 0.22 1.10 -0.001 0.78 0.35
April 0.05 0.13 1.70 0.11 0.46 31.02 -0.24 0.30 17.12 -0.02 0.61 3.28 0.004 0.73 2.65
May 0.008 0.79 3.09 -0.25 0.23 43.81 -0.52 0.03 * 33.55 1.54 0.03 0.75 8.54 0.005 0.93 2.93
June 0.03 0.32 3.90 0.18 0.75 92.03 0.21 0.79 84.54 0.08 0.24 8.85 0.01 0.39 2.56
July -0.008 0.70 3.10 -0.93 0.34 90.37 -0.09 0.74 79.31 0.03 0.73 8.52 -0.01 0.71 2.07
August -0.02 0.21 2.03 -0.62 0.08 53.36 -0.68 0.002 ** 58.04 1.17 -0.03 0.33 5.15 -0.007 0.67 0.93
September -0.01 0.28 1.59 -0.38 0.20 43.40 -0.23 0.24 37.62 -0.01 0.81 4.77 -0.007 0.46 0.85
Average for all
months, for each station
0.02 2.12 0.00 0.35 48.01 0.00 0.29 44.06 0.34 0.02 4.07 0.0E+00 0.01 1.41 0.0E+00
* Percentage change in median monthly flow is only calculated for months with a statistically significant trend over time. For months without a significant trend, a value of zero is assigned for calculation of the overall station score.
10 WWF-Canada Freshwater Health Assessment for the North Saskatchewan River Basin
Disclaimer: This analysis reflects currently available and accessible data as of May 22, 2014.
Upper North Saskatchewan
05DF001 05DF004 05DF006 05DF007
Start Year for Analysis 1976 Start Year for Analysis 1976 Start Year for Analysis 1976 Start Year for Analysis 1976
Median Annual Flow (m3/s) 157.8 Median Annual Flow (m3/s) 0.2
Median Annual Flow (m3/s)
0.0 Median Annual Flow (m3/s) 0.0
Month Theil-Sen
Slope Mann-Kendall
p-value
Average Median Monthly
Flow
Average Percentage Change in
Median Monthly
Flow*
Theil-Sen Slope
Mann-Kendall p-
value
Average Median Monthly
Flow
Average Percentage Change in
Median Monthly
Flow*
Theil-Sen Slope
Mann-Kendall p-value
Average Median Monthly
Flow
Average Percentage Change in
Median Monthly
Flow*
Theil-Sen Slope
Mann-Kendall p-
value
Average Median Monthly
Flow
Average Percentage Change in Median Monthly
Flow*
October -0.48 0.46 149.86 0.00 0.10 0.13 0.00 0.06 0.03 0.00 0.02 * 0.00 0.00
November -0.57 0.33 132.24 -0.01 0.00 ** 0.15 7.74 0.00 0.10 0.02 0.00 0.16 0.00
December -0.20 0.57 119.08 - - - - - -
January -0.15 0.60 110.74 - - - - - -
February -0.42 0.09 110.89 0.00 0.50 0.96 0.00 0.77 0.00 0.00 0.49 0.02
March -0.43 0.18 128.44 0.00 0.03 * 0.76 0.36 0.00 0.07 0.20 0.00 0.02 * 0.04 0.00
April 0.50 0.64 214.31 -0.01 0.67 1.96 0.00 0.42 0.72 0.00 0.87 0.09
May -0.09 0.96 232.19 -0.01 0.11 0.63 0.00 1.00 0.11 0.00 0.69 0.01
June 0.29 0.83 325.46 0.00 0.67 0.37 0.00 0.28 0.05 0.00 0.51 0.00
July -0.02 1.00 317.36 0.00 0.25 0.46 0.00 0.65 0.20 0.00 0.89 0.03
August -0.46 0.45 210.92 0.00 0.15 0.16 0.00 0.14 0.03 0.00 0.91 0.00
September -1.33 0.11 177.99 0.00 0.18 0.16 0.00 0.13 0.08 0.00 0.02 * 0.01 0.00
Average for all
months, for each station
0.41 185.79 0.00 0.00 0.57 0.81 0.00 0.14 0.00 0.00 0.02 0.00
* Percentage change in median monthly flow is only calculated for months with a statistically significant trend over time. For months without a significant trend, a value of zero is assigned for calculation of the overall station score.
Average percentage change in median monthly flow for all months, weighted by
median annual flow 0.06
11 WWF-Canada Freshwater Health Assessment for the North Saskatchewan River Basin
Disclaimer: This analysis reflects currently available and accessible data as of May 22, 2014.
TABLE. RESULTS OF RECENT-TERM TREND ANALYSES FOR MEDIAN MONTHLY FLOW IN THE CENTRAL-NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER SUB-BASIN.
Central North Saskatchewan
05EA001 05EA005 05EB902 05EC002 05EC005 05ED002
Start Year for Analysis 1979 Start Year for Analysis 1979 Start Year for Analysis 1979 Start Year for Analysis 1979 Start Year for Analysis 1979
Start Year for Analysis
1979
Median Annual Flow (m3/s)
1.7 Median Annual Flow
(m3/s) 0.8
Median Annual Flow (m3/s)
0.0 Median Annual Flow
(m3/s) 0.0
Median Annual Flow (m3/s)
0.2 Median Annual Flow
(m3/s) 0.0
Month Theil-Sen
Slope
Mann-Kendall p-value
Average Median Monthly
Flow
Average Percentage Change in Median Monthly
Flow*
Theil-Sen
Slope
Mann-Kendall p-value
Average Median
Monthly Flow
Average Percentage Change in Median Monthly
Flow*
Theil-Sen
Slope
Mann-Kendall p-
value
Average Median Monthly
Flow
Average Percentage Change in Median Monthly
Flow*
Theil-Sen
Slope
Mann-Kendall p-value
Average Median Monthly
Flow
Average Percentage Change in Median Monthly
Flow*
Theil-Sen
Slope
Mann-Kendall p-value
Average Median Monthly
Flow
Average Percentage Change in
Median Monthly
Flow*
Theil-Sen
Slope
Mann-Kendall p-value
Average Median Monthly
Flow
Average Percentage Change in Median Monthly
Flow*
October -0.05 1.2E-
03 ** 1.52 3.23 -0.02
2.0E-04
*** 0.77 1.99 -4.7E-05 0.06 0.01 0.0E+00 0.001 ** 0.02 0.00 -0.001 0.004 ** 1.02 0.14 -1.7E-04 0.10 0.07
November -0.02 0.92 2.04 -0.01 0.004 ** 0.64 1.93 -5.7E-04 0.73 0.00 -5.6E-04 0.13 0.03 0.002 0.21 0.74 -3.0E-04 0.48 0.16
December - - -0.01 0.02 * 0.45 1.56 - - - - - - - -
January 0.05 -0.01 0.002 ** 0.45 2.11 - - - - - - - -
February -0.02 0.13 0.52 -0.02 3.4E-
04 *** 0.40 3.85 0.03 1.00 0.14 0.0E+00 1.00 0.00 -0.001 0.27 0.29 0.0E+00 NA 0.04
March -0.01 0.01 ** 1.08 1.05 -0.02 3.7E-
04 *** 0.83 2.69 -0.003
8.0E-05
*** 0.17 1.80 0.0E+00 0.27 0.01 -0.001 0.003 ** 0.33 0.39 0.0E+00 0.46 0.27
April -0.22 0.07 9.49 -0.09 0.07 3.76 -0.01 0.02 * 0.35 2.98 -0.01 0.06 0.45 -0.04 0.15 0.80 -4.4E-05 0.99 2.28
May -0.10 0.15 5.70 -0.07 0.001 ** 1.73 4.08 -9.1E-04 0.15 0.08 -6.0E-04 0.001 ** 0.12 0.48 -0.01 0.18 2.21 -0.002 0.10 1.25
June -0.05 0.02 * 2.08 2.21 -0.04 0.003 ** 1.44 2.89 -4.3E-04 0.23 0.06 -1.4E-04 9.1E-
04 *** 0.08 0.17 -0.01 0.05 * 2.83 0.25 -2.6E-04 0.15 0.47
July -0.04 0.03 * 2.56 1.54 -0.05 0.003 ** 1.35 3.75 -0.002 0.04 * 0.09 1.86 0.0E+00 0.01 ** 0.04 0.00 -0.005 0.01 ** 2.28 0.20 -2.0E-04 0.29 0.53
August -0.06 0.01 ** 1.76 3.17 -0.04 4.8E-
04 *** 0.91 3.99 -2.2E-04 0.23 0.03 0.0E+00 0.005 ** 0.03 0.0E+00 -0.003
1.1E-03
** 1.48 0.19 -1.5E-04 0.20 0.13
September -0.05 0.005 ** 1.42 3.59 -0.01 2.5E-
04 *** 0.83 1.57 0.0E+00 0.45 0.03 0.0E+00 0.005 ** 0.02 0.0E+00
-5.7E-04
0.02 * 1.43 0.04 0.0E+00 0.39 0.07
Average for all
months, for each station
0.06 2.57 1.23 0.03 1.13 2.53 4.8E-03 0.10 0.55 7.8E-04 0.08 0.05 6.9E-
03 1.34 0.10 2.6E-04 0.53 0.00
* Percentage change in median monthly flow is only calculated for months with a statistically significant trend over time. For months without a significant trend, a value of zero is assigned for calculation of the overall station score.
12 WWF-Canada Freshwater Health Assessment for the North Saskatchewan River Basin
Disclaimer: This analysis reflects currently available and accessible data as of May 22, 2014.
Central North Saskatchewan
05ED003 05EE005 05EE006 05EE007 05EF001
Start Year for Analysis 1979 Start Year for Analysis 1979 Start Year for Analysis 1979 Start Year for Analysis 1979 Start Year for Analysis 1979
Median Annual Flow (m3/s) 0.0 Median Annual Flow (m3/s) 0.0 Median Annual Flow (m3/s) 0.0 Median Annual Flow (m3/s) 0.3 Median Annual Flow (m3/s) 162.6
Month Theil-Sen
Slope Mann-Kendall
p-value
Average Median Monthly
Flow
Average Percentage Change in
Median Monthly
Flow*
Theil-Sen Slope
Mann-Kendall p-value
Average Median
Monthly Flow
Average Percentage Change in
Median Monthly
Flow*
Theil-Sen Slope
Mann-Kendall p-value
Average Median Monthly
Flow
Average Percentage Change in
Median Monthly
Flow*
Theil-Sen Slope
Mann-Kendall p-value
Average Median Monthly
Flow
Average Percentage Change in Median Monthly
Flow*
Theil-Sen Slope
Mann-Kendall p-value
Average Median Monthly
Flow
Average Percentage Change in
Median Monthly
Flow*
October 0.0E+00 0.30 0.00 0.0E+00 0.21 0.0010 0.0E+00 0.52 6.1E-05 -8.6E-05 0.74 0.15 -0.07 0.98 157.89
November 0.0E+00 0.44 0.00 0.0E+00 1.00 6.9E-04 0.0E+00 NA 0.0E+00 0.0E+00 0.86 0.10 0.0E+00 1.00 135.54
December - - - - - - - - 0.17 0.68 116.31
January - - - - - - - - 0.11 0.72 108.97
February 0.0E+00 NA 0.00 0.0E+00 1.00 0.013 0.0E+00 NA 0.0E+00 0.0E+00 NA 0.00 -0.12 0.73 109.62
March 0.0E+00 0.85 1.7E-03 0.0E+00 0.68 0.005 0.0E+00 0.35 0.01 0.0E+00 0.49 0.16 -0.50 0.26 128.84
April 5.5E-04 0.62 8.9E-02 -1.6E-04 0.58 0.100 0.0E+00 0.91 0.13 -0.07 0.22 5.03 -0.98 0.50 259.23
May -2.1E-04 0.70 0.05 7.4E-05 0.26 0.018 0.0E+00 0.63 0.01 -0.02 0.72 2.49 -0.38 0.82 251.12
June 0.0E+00 1.00 0.04 0.0E+00 0.22 0.003 0.0E+00 0.40 0.01 9.7E-04 0.76 0.66 1.16 0.62 333.95
July -1.3E-04 0.26 0.02 0.0E+00 0.02 * 0.005 0.00 0.0E+00 1.00 0.03 -3.3E-03 0.38 0.87 0.83 0.67 341.81
August 0.0E+00 0.08 1.8E-03 0.0E+00 0.41 0.003 0.0E+00 0.29 4.5E-03 -1.1E-03 0.25 0.42 0.38 0.72 225.21
September 0.0E+00 0.15 1.6E-03 0.00 0.53 0.002 0.0E+00 0.17 3.5E-04 -5.0E-04 0.43 0.13 -0.23 0.72 182.22
Average for all
months, for each station
8.9E-05 0.02 0.00 2.3E-05 0.02 0.00 0.0E+00 0.02 0.0E+00 0.01 1.00 0.0E+00 0.41 195.89 0.0E+00
* Percentage change in median monthly flow is only calculated for months with a statistically significant trend over time. For months without a significant trend, a value of zero is assigned for calculation of the overall station score.
Average percentage change in median monthly flow for all months, weighted by
median annual flow 0.03
13 WWF-Canada Freshwater Health Assessment for the North Saskatchewan River Basin
Disclaimer: This analysis reflects currently available and accessible data as of May 22, 2014.
TABLE. RESULTS OF RECENT-TERM TREND ANALYSES FOR MEDIAN MONTHLY FLOW IN THE BATTLE RIVER SUB-BASIN.
Battle River
05FA001 05FA014 05FB002 05FC001 05FC002
Start Year for Analysis 1981 Start Year for Analysis 1981 Start Year for Analysis 1981 Start Year for Analysis 1981 Start Year for Analysis 1981
Median Annual Flow (m3/s) 0.7 Median Annual Flow (m3/s) 0.0
Median Annual Flow (m3/s)
0.1 Median Annual Flow (m3/s) 2.5 Median Annual Flow
(m3/s) 0.0
Month Theil-Sen
Slope Mann-Kendall
p-value
Average Median Monthly
Flow
Average Percentage Change in
Median Monthly
Flow*
Theil-Sen Slope
Mann-Kendall p-value
Average Median Monthly
Flow
Average Percentage Change in
Median Monthly
Flow*
Theil-Sen Slope
Mann-Kendall p-value
Average Median Monthly
Flow
Average Percentage Change in
Median Monthly
Flow*
Theil-Sen Slope
Mann-Kendall p-value
Average Median Monthly
Flow
Average Percentage Change in Median Monthly
Flow*
Theil-Sen
Slope
Mann-Kendall p-value
Average Median Monthly
Flow
Average Percentage Change in
Median Monthly
Flow*
October -0.03 1.1E-03 ** 0.81 3.41 -2.2E-04 0.06 0.01 6.7E-04 0.15 0.04 -0.02 0.05 0.97 0.0E+00 0.69 0.01
November -0.02 1.7E-04 *** 0.54 3.14 -3.8E-04 0.15 0.01 4.4E-04 0.73 0.07 -0.05 0.58 1.00 0.0E+00 0.30 0.00
December -0.01 1.4E-03 ** 0.33 2.72 - - - - - - - -
January -0.01 6.9E-05 *** 0.28 3.80 - - - - - - - -
February -0.01 0.01 ** 0.24 3.93 0.0E+00 0.83 0.03 7.1E-05 1.00 0.01 -0.02 0.18 0.32 0.0E+00 NA 0.0E+00
March -0.02 4.9E-04 *** 1.07 2.11 -3.3E-04 0.05 0.04 -1.2E-03 0.15 0.07 -0.03 3.4E-03 ** 1.58 1.61 0.0E+00 0.52 0.16
April -0.03 0.42 4.50 -0.002 0.07 0.12 -0.02 0.34 1.47 -0.26 0.20 14.18 0.0E+00 0.95 0.35
May -0.05 0.17 3.02 -0.001 0.10 0.04 -0.003 0.81 0.50 -0.08 0.28 9.65 0.0E+00 0.41 0.08
June -0.03 0.20 1.88 -2.9E-04 0.20 0.03 0.003 0.42 0.30 -0.07 0.21 3.46 0.0E+00 0.33 0.07
July -0.02 0.43 3.47 -3.5E-04 0.06 0.04 7.8E-04 0.75 0.35 -0.04 0.32 5.52 0.0E+00 0.74 0.11
August -0.03 0.04 * 1.35 1.91 -6.7E-05 0.48 0.01 4.3E-04 0.41 0.06 -0.03 0.34 4.24 0.0E+00 0.89 0.04
September -0.02 0.01 * 0.70 3.12 -2.0E-04 0.03 * 0.01 3.35 3.9E-04 0.17 0.02 -0.03 0.19 1.76 0.0E+00 0.84 0.01
Average for all
months, for each station
0.02 1.52 2.01 4.8E-04 0.03 0.34 0.003 0.29 0.0E+00 0.06 4.27 0.16 0.0E+00 0.08 0.0E+00
* Percentage change in median monthly flow is only calculated for months with a statistically significant trend over time. For months without a significant trend, a value of zero is assigned for calculation of the overall station score.
14 WWF-Canada Freshwater Health Assessment for the North Saskatchewan River Basin
Disclaimer: This analysis reflects currently available and accessible data as of May 22, 2014.
Battle River
05FC004 05FD001 05FE002 05FE004
Start Year for
Analysis 1981
Start Year for Analysis
1981 Start Year for Analysis 1981 Start Year for Analysis 1981
Median Annual Flow (m3/s)
0.0 Median Annual
Flow (m3/s) 0.1 Median Annual Flow (m3/s) 0.1 Median Annual Flow (m3/s) 2.7
Month Theil-Sen
Slope
Mann-Kendall p-value
Average Median Monthly
Flow
Average Percentage Change in Median Monthly
Flow*
Theil-Sen
Slope
Mann-Kendall p-value
Average Median Monthly
Flow
Average Percentage Change in Median Monthly
Flow*
Theil-Sen Slope Mann-Kendall p-value
Average Median Monthly Flow
Average Percentage Change in
Median Monthly
Flow*
Theil-Sen Slope Mann-Kendall
p-value Average Median
Monthly Flow
Average Percentage Change in Median Monthly
Flow*
October 0.0E+00 0.98 0.01 0.0E+00 0.48 0.04 1.5E-03 0.10 0.07 -0.05 0.11 2.49
November 0.0E+00 0.65 0.00 0.0E+00 0.85 0.03 3.0E-03 0.10 0.08 -0.03 0.18 1.64
December - - - - - - -0.02 0.12 1.11
January - - - - - - -0.02 0.04 * 0.81 2.53
February 0.0E+00 0.08 0.09 0.0E+00 NA 0.0E+00 2.6E-03 0.62 0.03 -0.02 0.01 * 0.73 2.95
March 0.0E+00 0.20 0.21 0.0E+00 0.26 0.01 -1.6E-03 0.31 0.10 -0.03 0.05 * 2.35 1.19
April 3.1E-04 0.83 0.15 -1.0E-
04 0.55 0.07 6.6E-03 0.10 0.54 -0.38 0.25 22.10
May 9.1E-05 0.10 0.04 -4.2E-
04 0.37 0.48 -5.2E-04 0.84 0.24 -0.12 0.59 16.33
June 0.0E+00 0.55 0.04 -0.01 0.51 0.65 3.1E-03 0.19 0.17 0.00 0.97 8.28
July 0.0E+00 0.52 0.11 -0.01 0.33 0.36 2.0E-03 0.19 0.10 -0.05 0.48 8.32
August 0.0E+00 0.89 0.01 -9.6E-
04 0.30 0.12 4.0E-04 0.21 0.04 -0.03 0.52 6.36
September 0.0E+00 0.74 0.01 0.0E+00 0.96 0.07 1.0E-03 0.18 0.05 -0.03 0.34 3.56
Average for all
months, for each station
4.0E-05 0.07 0.0E+00 1.5E-03 0.18 0.0E+00 2.2E-03 0.14 0.0E+00 0.06 6.17 0.56
* Percentage change in median monthly flow is only calculated for months with a statistically significant trend over time. For months without a significant trend, a value of zero is assigned for calculation of the overall station score.
Average percentage change in median monthly flow for all months, weighted by
median annual flow 0.53
15 WWF-Canada Freshwater Health Assessment for the North Saskatchewan River Basin
Disclaimer: This analysis reflects currently available and accessible data as of May 22, 2014.
TABLE. RESULTS OF RECENT-TERM TREND ANALYSES FOR MEDIAN MONTHLY FLOW IN THE LOWER-NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER SUB-BASIN.
Lower North Saskatchewan River
05GA003 05GA008 05GA010 05GG001
Start Year for Analysis 1982 Start Year for Analysis 1982 Start Year for Analysis 1982 Start Year for Analysis 1982
Median Annual Flow (m3/s) 0.0 Median Annual Flow (m3/s) 0.0
Median Annual Flow (m3/s)
0.0 Median Annual Flow (m3/s) 166.7
Month Theil-Sen
Slope Mann-Kendall
p-value
Average Median Monthly
Flow
Average Percentage Change in
Median Monthly
Flow*
Theil-Sen Slope
Mann-Kendall p-value
Average Median Monthly
Flow
Average Percentage Change in
Median Monthly
Flow*
Theil-Sen Slope
Mann-Kendall p-value
Average Median Monthly
Flow
Average Percentage Change in
Median Monthly
Flow*
Theil-Sen Slope
Mann-Kendall p-value
Average Median Monthly
Flow
Average Percentage Change in Median Monthly
Flow*
October 0.0E+00 0.41 2.5E-03 0.0E+00 0.53 1.0E-04 0.0E+00 0.22 1.9E-03 -0.63 0.48 169.05
November 0.0E+00 1.00 1.0E-03 0.0E+00 NA 0.0E+00 -2.0E-04 0.17 2.3E-03 0.03 0.95 128.99
December - - - - - - 0.32 0.55 119.26
January - - - - - - 0.05 0.82 107.50
February 0.0E+00 0.23 0.00 0.0E+00 0.65 0.01 0.0E+00 0.38 1.5E-03 0.38 0.43 110.16
March 0.0E+00 0.85 0.07 0.0E+00 0.69 0.04 0.0E+00 0.51 0.01 0.35 0.45 119.30
April 0.0E+00 1.00 0.20 0.0E+00 0.65 0.16 0.0E+00 0.94 0.06 0.68 0.80 330.63
May 2.0E-04 0.21 0.03 0.0E+00 0.08 0.01 0.0E+00 0.61 0.01 0.61 0.73 279.69
June 2.5E-04 0.03 * 0.03 0.75 0.0E+00 0.12 0.01 5.6E-05 0.25 0.01 5.53 0.08 321.22
July 0.0E+00 0.81 0.02 0.0E+00 0.71 0.01 0.0E+00 0.85 2.4E-03 0.80 0.63 364.68
August 0.0E+00 0.16 3.0E-03 0.0E+00 0.61 1.0E-03 0.0E+00 0.16 2.1E-03 0.90 0.53 233.39
September 0.0E+00 0.45 4.3E-03 0.0E+00 0.23 4.8E-04 0.0E+00 0.21 2.4E-03 -0.16 0.83 197.06
Average for all
months, for each station
4.5E-05 0.04 0.07 0.0E+00 0.02 0.00 2.5E-05 0.01 0.0E+00 0.87 206.74 0.0E+00
* Percentage change in median monthly flow is only calculated for months with a statistically significant trend over time. For months without a significant trend, a value of zero is assigned for calculation of the overall station score.
Average percentage change in median monthly flow for all months, weighted by median annual flow
2.0E-06
16 WWF-Canada Freshwater Health Assessment for the North Saskatchewan River Basin
Disclaimer: This analysis reflects currently available and accessible data as of May 22, 2014.
TRENDS IN ANNUAL FLOW FOR THE NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER BASIN
TABLE . RESULTS OF LINEAR REGRESSION ANALYSES FOR LONG-TERM TREND ANALYSIS OF MEDIAN ANNUAL FLOW IN THE NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER, BY SUB-BASIN.
Sub-Basin
Station Start Year Intercept Intercept Standard
Error
Intercept T-Test
Statistic
Intercept T-Test
p-value Slope
Slope Standard
Error
Slope T-Test
Statistic
Slope T-Test p-value
Adjusted R-Squared
F-Test Static
F-Test p-value
Upper-North Saskatchewan
05DF001 1911 -612.9785 226.00285 -2.71226008 0.007880921 0.3820029 0.115236 3.3149604 0.0012817 ** 0.0908179 10.988963 0.0012817 **
Central-North Saskatchewan
05EA001 1935 8.5091519 23.055889 0.36906631 0.713118185 -0.0033866 0.011685 -0.2898256 0.7727494 -0.0121997 0.0839989 0.7727494
Battle River
05FB002 1964 2.7577507 2.5489096 1.0819335 0.284921392 -0.001329 0.0012824 -1.0362856 0.305486 0.0015696 1.0738877 0.305486
05FD001 1964 7.8732669 2.5642894 3.07035031 0.003582128 -0.0039012 0.0012902 -3.0237409 0.0040741 ** 0.1476707 9.1430091 0.0040741 **
Lower-North Saskatchewan
05GG001 1910 108.13129 311.68779 0.34692181 0.729371858 0.0287528 0.158925 0.1809205 0.8567925 -0.0095738 0.0327322 0.8567925
TABLE . RESULTS OF MANN-KENDALL NON-PARAMETRIC LONG-TERM TREND ANALYSIS OF MEDIAN ANNUAL FLOW IN THE NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER, BY SUB-BASIN.
Sub-Basin Station Start Year Theil -Sen
Slope
Mann-Kendall Test
Statistic
Mann-Kendall Test p-value
Median Annual Flow
(m3/s)
Average Percentage Change in Median
Annual Flow
Weighted Averaged Between Stations
Upper-North Saskatchewan
05DF001 1911 0.4985915 1362 6.4999E-05 *** 136.12921 0.3662635 0.3662635
Central-North Saskatchewan
05EA001 1935 -0.0006641 -34 8.85E-01 1.8273896 0 0
Battle River 05FB002 1964 -0.0006752 -108 3.42E-01 0.1164167 0
1.2343731 05FD001 1964 -0.0029147 -384 0.00065359 *** 0.1197083 2.4348041
Lower-North Saskatchewan
05GG001 1910 0.2443182 539 0.12522781 162.10695 0 0
FIGURE . TIME-SERIES OF LONG-TERM TRENDS IN MEDIAN ANNUAL FLOW FOR THE NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER BASIN, BY STATION.
17 WWF-Canada Freshwater Health Assessment for the North Saskatchewan River Basin
Disclaimer: This analysis reflects currently available and accessible data as of May 22, 2014.
HYDROLOGICAL ALTERATION DUE TO DAMS IN THE NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER BASIN
TABLE. NON-PARAMETRIC COMPARISON OF VARIANCE FOR POST-OPERATION OF DAMS VS. PRE-DAMS MONTHLY FLOW IN THE NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER BASIN.
Pre-Dam Post-Dam Fligner-Killeen Mann-Whitney
Sub-Basin Station Dam Month
Number of Years
of Sampling
Median Monthly
Flow (m3/s)
Median Absolute Deviation
in Monthly Flow (m3/s)
Number of Years of
Sampling
Median Monthly
Flow (m3/s)
Median Absolute Deviation
in Monthly Flow (m3/s)
Test Statistic
p-value Test
Statistic p-value
Change in Monthly Flow Between the
Two Time Periods (%)
Average Change Across
Months (%)*
Upper-North Saskatchewan
05DD005 Brazeau
Reservoir
December 5 30.6 8.45082 48 40.5 13.19514 6.5378373 1.06E-02 * 30363.5 3.67727E-07 *** 32.4%
36%
January 6 28.3 4.15128 48 41.45 15.5673 19.497597 1.01E-05 *** 8731 8.51E-14 *** 46.5%
February 6 32.8 6.07866 48 38.55 14.826 1.7230267 1.89E-01 16327.5 1.75E-05 *** 17.5%
March 6 20.1 6.30105 48 32.55 16.3086 9.7428906 0.00180018 ** 20245 9.76082E-05 *** 61.9%
April 6 19.5 13.93644 48 30.7 17.34642 2.6636561 0.10266451 33651.5 9.41E-10 *** 57.4%
May 6 90.75 62.93637 48 44.2 28.61418 123.45053 1.11E-28 *** 207892.5 4.94E-29 *** 51.3%
June 6 110 44.84865 48 79.3 55.37511 2.1268376 1.45E-01 174244.5 4.53E-14 *** 27.9%
July 6 113 56.85771 48 78.85 63.23289 4.757406 2.92E-02 * 176493 8.72E-10 *** 30.2%
August 6 62 17.64294 48 43.35 33.95154 30.978443 2.6091E-08 *** 164365 2.92E-05 *** 30.1%
September 6 40.95 12.37971 48 32.6 30.61569 29.180858 6.5927E-08 *** 142947.5 2.41E-02 * 20.4%
October 6 28.75 15.93795 48 32.6 26.6868 34.26708 4.80E-09 *** 107327 5.83E-07 *** 13.4%
November 5 24.6 15.5673 48 35.95 15.64143 13.617857 2.24E-04 *** 62668.5 4.46E-04 *** 46.1%
* Percentage change in median monthly flow is only calculated for months with a statistically significant trend over time. For months without a significant trend, a value of zero is assigned for calculation of the overall station score.
FIGURE. ANALYSIS OF VARIANCE IN MONTHLY FLOW FOR THE PERIOD POST-OPERATION OF DAMS VS. PRE-DAMS IN THE NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER BASIN, BY STATION.
FIGURE. PERCENTAGE CHANGE IN MEDIAN MONTHLY FLOW FOR THE PERIOD POST-OPERATION OF DAMS VS. PRE-DAMS IN THE NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER BASIN, BY STATION.
18 WWF-Canada Freshwater Health Assessment for the North Saskatchewan River Basin
Disclaimer: This analysis reflects currently available and accessible data as of May 22, 2014.
TABLE. NON-PARAMETRIC COMPARISON OF VARIANCE FOR RECENT (1981 - 2011) VS. HISTORICAL (>= 1951 - 1980) MONTHLY FLOW IN THE NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER BASIN.
Historic Recent Fligner-Killeen Mann-Whitney
Sub-Basin Station Month
Number of Years
of Sampling
Median Monthly
Flow (m3/s)
Median Absolute Deviation
in Monthly
Flow (m3/s)
Number of Years
of Sampling
Median Monthly
Flow (m3/s)
Median Absolute Deviation
in Monthly
Flow (m3/s)
Test Statistic
p-value Test
Statistic p-value
Magnitude of Change
in Monthly Flow (%)
Average Change Across
Months (%)*
Average Change Per Sub-Basin**
Upper-North Saskatchewan
05DA007
May 30 5.1 4.12 31 4.32 3.29 10.57 1.15E-03 ** 395160 4.1784E-05 *** 15.3%
4%
64%
June 30 16.3 6.82 31 15 6.23 5.80 1.60E-02 * 448306 8.35E-03 ** 8.0%
July 30 20.6 5.63 31 19.5 4.45 22.42 2.20E-06 *** 487149 6.90E-04 *** 5.3%
August 30 16.6 4.74 31 15.4 4.74 4.77 0.0289613 * 500660 5.8469E-06 *** 7.2%
September 30 7.48 3.53 31 7.125 2.94 19.92 8.063E-06 *** 452155 2.90E-03 ** 4.7%
October 29 3.24 1.18 31 3.1 1.04 13.93 1.89E-04 *** 428825 2.19E-04 *** 4.3%
April 24 0.8325 0.27 31 0.8465 0.38 12.53 4.01E-04 *** 225308 8.26E-01 1.7%
November 16 1.7 0.52 31 1.6 0.53 13.29 2.67E-04 *** 215659 3.92E-01 5.9%
December 15 0.963 0.21 31 0.963 0.24 11.38 0.0007432 *** 216482 3.40E-01 0.0%
January 14 0.708 0.13 31 0.732 0.16 13.89 0.0001935 *** 198783 1.61E-01 3.4%
February 14 0.6215 0.21 31 0.62 0.12 79.84 4.07E-19 *** 170061 5.99E-01 0.2%
March 14 0.566 0.21 31 0.6 0.11 73.71 9.04E-18 *** 181965 1.36E-04 *** 6.0%
05DB002
August 30 4.42 1.93 31 5.12 2.85 55.57 9.02E-14 *** 390883 3.7681E-05 *** 15.8%
11%
September 30 3.865 1.91 31 4.275 2.46 16.34 5.28E-05 *** 378276 3.72E-04 *** 10.6%
October 30 3.27 1.42 31 3.68 1.50 0.01 9.22E-01 377405 4.87E-09 *** 12.5%
March 29 1.61 0.58 31 1.73 0.58 0.91 0.3403277 405355 0.02148519 * 7.5%
April 29 2.89 1.60 31 3.17 1.35 15.93 6.569E-05 *** 373943 5.48E-03 ** 9.7%
May 29 5.55 3.44 31 4.44 2.67 7.91 4.93E-03 ** 508782 3.22E-11 *** 20.0%
June 29 7.035 4.84 31 5.94 3.65 10.79 1.02E-03 ** 438047 2.37E-03 ** 15.6%
July 29 6.23 3.62 31 6.44 4.82 51.42 7.45E-13 *** 416810 1.90E-01 3.4%
February 21 1.52 0.37 31 1.44 0.34 0.09 0.758512 253253 1.93E-02 * 5.3%
November 21 2.18 1.01 31 2.595 0.91 1.59 0.2073532 204765 9.30E-19 *** 19.0%
December 20 1.795 0.56 31 1.91 0.62 12.65 3.75E-04 *** 262249 5.73E-05 *** 6.4%
January 19 1.42 0.25 31 1.57 0.52 29.84 4.68E-08 *** 253028 4.55E-04 *** 10.6%
05DC001
March 22 24.75 6.75 11 112 20.61 157.54 3.91E-36 *** 109 8.2605E-64 *** 352.5%
92%
April 23 43.6 23.65 22 124 25.20 0.97 3.25E-01 27076 1.67E-147 *** 184.4%
May 30 138.5 77.84 31 138 44.48 87.28 9.43E-21 *** 429406 1.41E-01 0.4%
June 30 311 151.23 31 181 66.72 191.57 1.445E-43 *** 636067 1.3555E-82 *** 41.8%
July 30 324.5 149.00 31 169 54.86 255.68 1.503E-57 *** 685057 1.47E-89 *** 47.9%
August 30 225 120.09 31 134 35.58 407.78 1.11E-90 *** 669587 1.52E-78 *** 40.4%
September 30 134 48.18 31 114 33.21 74.77 5.30E-18 *** 527447 5.38E-22 *** 14.9%
October 30 83.8 27.72 31 106 20.76 42.64 6.59E-11 *** 228364 1.72E-72 *** 26.5%
November 21 42.8 14.68 16 100 14.83 0.72 0.3959458 2334 2.22E-132 *** 133.6%
December 20 31.1 9.64 5 112 13.34 8.39 3.77E-03 ** 0 1.68E-45 *** 260.1%
05DF001
January 30 63.1 38.10 31 107 22.24 78.49 8.06E-19 *** 159137 8.587E-130 *** 69.6%
46%
February 30 66.5 41.51 31 108 20.76 164.68 1.08E-37 *** 142529 1.66E-108 *** 62.4%
March 30 70.2 45.66 31 126 28.17 40.95 1.56E-10 *** 132371 1.14E-154 *** 79.5%
April 30 144 81.54 31 209 75.61 7.53 0.0060573 ** 238634 4.8993E-57 *** 45.1%
May 30 253 125.28 31 214 78.58 91.48 1.126E-21 *** 522246 2.15E-10 *** 15.4%
June 30 460.5 229.06 31 276 116.38 131.85 1.61E-30 *** 622036 1.61E-72 *** 40.1%
July 30 462 210.53 31 273 123.06 47.37 5.87E-12 *** 633299 1.39E-55 *** 40.9%
August 30 292 124.54 31 196 60.79 183.08 1.03E-41 *** 675780 7.27E-83 *** 32.9%
September 30 195 63.75 31 162.5 54.11 23.21 1.449E-06 *** 522575 3.28E-20 *** 16.7%
October 30 122 46.78 31 148 40.03 15.25 9.409E-05 *** 329931 6.79E-23 *** 21.3%
November 30 85.2 41.22 31 130 34.10 15.91 6.63E-05 *** 172202 2.60E-105 *** 52.6%
December 30 64.3 29.36 31 115 28.17 0.06 8.14E-01 113534 1.68E-173 *** 78.8%
* Percentage change in median monthly flow is only calculated for months with a statistically significant trend over time. For months without a significant trend, a value of zero is assigned for calculation of the overall station score.
** Sub-basin value is weighted average based on median annual flow per station.
19 WWF-Canada Freshwater Health Assessment for the North Saskatchewan River Basin
Disclaimer: This analysis reflects currently available and accessible data as of May 22, 2014.
Pre-Dam Post-Dam Fligner-Killeen Mann-Whitney
Sub-Basin Station Month
Number of Years
of Sampling
Median Monthly
Flow (m3/s)
Median Absolute Deviation
in Monthly
Flow (m3/s)
Number of Years
of Sampling
Median Monthly
Flow (m3/s)
Median Absolute Deviation
in Monthly
Flow (m3/s)
Test Statistic
p-value Test
Statistic p-value
Magnitude of Change
in Monthly Flow (%)
Average Change Across
Months (%)*
Average Change Per Sub-Basin**
Central North Saskatchewan
05EA001
March 29 0.43 0.59 31 0.23 0.29 4.71 3.00E-02 * 422790.5 0.427699867 45.6%
26% 26%
April 30 8.07 9.24 31 5.90 6.62 41.99 9.17E-11 *** 468622 9.20E-06 *** 27.0%
May 30 6.73 6.44 31 3.06 3.10 111.30 5.08E-26 *** 593966 2.89E-35 *** 54.5%
June 30 1.86 2.12 31 0.89 1.03 137.28 1.0453E-31 *** 531451.5 5.03905E-25 *** 51.9%
July 30 1.02 1.23 30 0.77 0.98 21.85 2.9423E-06 *** 450996.5 7.09E-06 *** 24.3%
August 30 1.08 1.15 30 0.84 1.11 5.73 1.67E-02 * 472945.5 5.41E-06 *** 22.1%
September 30 1.21 1.28 31 0.69 0.91 62.20 3.10E-15 *** 500806 3.26E-13 *** 43.2%
October 30 1.17 1.16 31 0.70 0.74 46.25 1.04E-11 *** 542176 2.18E-16 *** 39.9%
November 8 2.58 0.53 9 0.70 0.50 0.46 4.99E-01 399 5.10E-01 72.8%
February 11 0.28 0.39 5 0.09 0.07 2.52 1.12E-01 222 6.42E-01 69.5%
Battle River
05FB002
August 24 0.05 0.07 24 0.02 0.02 138.38 6.01E-32 *** 358117.5 9.09676E-23 *** 70.4%
54%
66%
September 24 0.03 0.04 24 0.01 0.01 173.34 1.38E-39 *** 339928.5 1.33E-24 *** 57.1%
October 24 0.04 0.05 24 0.02 0.02 241.48 1.87E-54 *** 357107 3.13E-22 *** 55.0%
November 10 0.10 0.05 7 0.02 0.02 6.53 0.01061964 * 1267 0.000126748 *** 83.3%
February 8 0.05 0.05 7 0.00 0.00 31.09 2.46E-08 *** 695 2.02E-04 *** 96.0%
March 23 0.04 0.06 24 0.03 0.04 36.86 1.27E-09 *** 268524 6.82E-01 31.0%
April 23 1.30 1.68 24 0.68 0.83 84.22 4.4302E-20 *** 306978.5 1.80E-14 *** 48.1%
May 23 0.61 0.53 24 0.32 0.29 109.20 1.4674E-25 *** 368776.5 4.68E-38 *** 47.4%
June 23 0.23 0.24 24 0.15 0.22 0.20 6.56E-01 292878.5 5.90E-09 *** 36.5%
July 23 0.14 0.18 24 0.07 0.10 111.26 5.20E-26 *** 341495.5 2.11E-21 *** 50.4%
05FD001
March 24 0.00 0.00 24 0.00 0.00 70.73 4.10E-17 *** 328966.5 1.02054E-12 *** 0.0%
76%
April 24 0.13 0.17 24 0.01 0.01 545.77 1.05E-120 *** 441640 1.26E-118 *** 96.2%
May 24 0.33 0.47 24 0.03 0.04 209.89 1.4514E-47 *** 400882.5 9.93E-51 *** 92.1%
June 24 0.73 0.60 24 0.41 0.54 9.90 1.65E-03 ** 332508.5 1.52E-20 *** 43.1%
July 24 0.60 0.60 24 0.23 0.31 207.09 5.92E-47 *** 397464.5 4.54E-48 *** 61.3%
August 24 0.17 0.23 24 0.03 0.05 164.00 1.52E-37 *** 384064 1.13E-38 *** 79.8%
September 24 0.07 0.09 24 0.01 0.01 77.94 1.0648E-18 *** 353586.5 7.52E-34 *** 90.8%
October 24 0.09 0.08 24 0.00 0.00 317.44 5.231E-71 *** 450074 6.89E-100 *** 100.0%
November 11 0.07 0.07 5 0.00 0.00 19.98 7.83E-06 *** 718 8.16E-06 *** 100.0%
February 6 0.07 0.03 6 0.00 0.00 30.24 3.82E-08 *** 618 7.81E-07 *** 100.0%
Lower-North Saskatchewan
05GG001
June 71 452.00 237.22 32 314.00 130.47 131.08 2.38E-30 *** 1385706 2.72253E-60 *** 30.5%
81% 81%
July 70 530.00 224.61 32 336.00 169.02 32.78 1.03E-08 *** 1559717.5 1.46E-91 *** 36.6%
August 70 388.00 134.92 32 242.00 97.11 68.86 1.06E-16 *** 1708439.5 3.59E-155 *** 37.6%
September 70 260.00 84.51 32 189.00 63.75 69.63 7.152E-17 *** 1481169 1.09604E-96 *** 27.3%
October 71 161.00 59.30 32 168.50 48.18 43.53 4.1838E-11 *** 1002220.5 3.23E-04 *** 4.7%
May 70 286.00 163.09 32 290.00 114.16 132.51 1.16E-30 *** 1038793.5 1.52E-01 1.4%
November 70 81.00 35.58 32 132.00 37.07 0.12 7.34E-01 355466.5 4.36E-182 *** 63.0%
December 70 50.10 21.79 32 118.00 29.65 49.99 1.54E-12 *** 146914 0.00E+00 *** 135.5%
January 69 40.80 18.09 32 108.00 20.98 2.48 0.11526101 123226.5 0.00E+00 *** 164.7%
February 69 39.40 15.12 32 115.00 20.02 0.20 0.65501443 122572 1.54E-300 *** 191.9%
March 69 40.50 18.09 32 120.00 25.20 25.39 4.67E-07 *** 149407 0.00E+00 *** 196.3%
April 69 167.00 162.57 32 314.50 178.65 1.39 2.39E-01 576997 3.52E-77 *** 88.3%
* Percentage change in median monthly flow is only calculated for months with a statistically significant trend over time. For months without a significant trend, a value of zero is assigned for calculation of the overall station score.
** Sub-basin value is weighted average based on median annual flow per station.
20 WWF-Canada Freshwater Health Assessment for the North Saskatchewan River Basin
Disclaimer: This analysis reflects currently available and accessible data as of May 22, 2014.
FIGURE. ANALYSIS OF VARIANCE IN MONTHLY FLOW FOR RECENT (1981 - 2011) VS. HISTORICAL (
21 WWF-Canada Freshwater Health Assessment for the North Saskatchewan River Basin
Disclaimer: This analysis reflects currently available and accessible data as of May 22, 2014.
FIGURE. PERCENTAGE CHANGE IN MEDIAN MONTHLY FLOW FOR RECENT (1981 - 2011) VS. HISTORICAL (
22 WWF-Canada Freshwater Health Assessment for the North Saskatchewan River Basin
Disclaimer: This analysis reflects currently available and accessible data as of May 22, 2014.
23 WWF-Canada Freshwater Health Assessment for the North Saskatchewan River Basin
Disclaimer: This analysis reflects currently available and accessible data as of May 22, 2014.
WATER QUALITY
OVERALL WATER QUALITY HEALTH SCORING
Sub-Basin
Basin
Water Quality
Indicator Upper North
Saskatchewan Central North Saskatchewan
Battle River Lower North
Saskatchewan
Exceedance of water quality guidelines for
aquatic life
Exceedance of water quality thresholds. Weighted
average of exceedances of three thresholds: water quality guidelines,90th
percentile and 77th percentile. Expressed as a
proportion of total measurements. Reported for
the last five years of monitoring.
Year 2009-2013 2009-2013 2009-2013 2009-2013 2009-2013
Number of Stations 24 40 24 17 105
Value 0.03 0.18 0.3 0.17 0.17
Water Quality Health Category
Very Good Good Fair Good Good
Water Quality Health Score
4 3 2 3 3
Significant Mann-Kendal time-series test to
determine directional trend in proportion of exceedance of water quality thresholds.
Time Period 1954 - 2013 1952 - 2013 1970 - 2013 1972 - 2013 1952 - 2013
Trend
No statistically significant decline in proportion of
exceedance
Statistically significant decline in proportion of
exceedance
No statistically significant decline in proportion of
exceedance
No statistically significant decline in proportion of
exceedance
No statistically significant decline in
proportion of exceedance
WATER QUALITY DATA SUFFICIENCY
Sub-Basin
Basin
Wat
er
Qu
alit
y
Data Sufficiency Indicator Upper North
Saskatchewan Central North Saskatchewan
Battle River Lower North
Saskatchewan
Total number of sub-sub-basins 6 7 6 7 26
Year of earliest available monitoring 1954 1950 1972 1970 1972
Number of monitoring stations available for earliest monitoring
1 1 12 5 19
Number of sub-sub-basins with earliest available monitoring stations
1 1 4 2 8
Year of most recently available monitoring
2013 2013 2013 2013 2013
Number of monitoring stations available within last five years
64 93 21 83 261
Number of sub-sub-basins within last five years
6 5 2 7 20
Percentage of samples with at least 10 elements measured within last 5 years.
20% 22% 53% 42% 30%
Number of years of sampling in last 10 years
10 10 10 10 10
Overall Data Sufficiency Category Partially
Sufficient Partially
Sufficient Partially
Sufficient Partially
Sufficient Partially
Sufficient
Data Sufficiency Score 1 1 1 1 1
24 WWF-Canada Freshwater Health Assessment for the North Saskatchewan River Basin
Disclaimer: This analysis reflects currently available and accessible data as of May 22, 2014.
MAP. EXCEEDANCE OF WATER GUIDELINES MONITORING STATIONS IN THE NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER BASIN FOR THE MOST RECENT YEARS AVAILABLE (2009-2013).
25 WWF-Canada Freshwater Health Assessment for the North Saskatchewan River Basin
Disclaimer: This analysis reflects currently available and accessible data as of May 22, 2014.
FIGURE. WATER QUALITY IN THE NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER BASIN BASED ON PROPORTION OF EXCEEDANCE OF THREE THRESHOLDS: PROVINCIAL WATER QUALITY GUIDELINES, 75TH PERCENTILE OF HISTORICAL DISTRIBUTION, AND 90TH PERCENTILE OF HISTORICAL DISTRIBUTION. REPORTED BY SUB-BASIN AND DATA SOURCE.
Sub-basin Year Data Source Number of
Contaminants Measured
Total Number of
Sites
Number of Measurements
Total Number of Guidelines
Exceedances
Proportion of Guideline Exceedance
Total Number of
90th Percentile
Exceedances
Proportion of 90th
Percentile Exceedance
Total Number of
75th Percentile
Exceedances
Proportion of 75th
Percentile Exceedance
Weighted Average
Exceedance
5-Years Weighted Average
Exceedance
Upper North Saskatchewan
2013 AB.gov 7 3 58 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0.00
0.03
2013 EC 15 1 51 0 0.00 0 0.00 2 0.04 0.01
2012 AB.gov 7 25 815 18 0.02 11 0.01 59 0.07 0.03
2012 EC 15 1 219 11 0.05 1 0.00 19 0.09 0.04
2011 AB.gov 8 22 296 13 0.04 8 0.03 29 0.10 0.05
2011 EC 15 1 240 11 0.05 6 0.03 9 0.04 0.04
2010 AB.gov 7 6 124 3 0.02 0 0.00 6 0.05 0.02
2010 EC 15 1 250 6 0.02 2 0.01 10 0.04 0.02
2009 AB.gov 9 3 148 1 0.01 0 0.00 7 0.05 0.01
2009 EC
15 1 354 4 0.01 3 0.01 16 0.05 0.02
Central North Saskatchewan
2013 AB.gov 7 2 29 0 0.00 0 0.00 1 0.03 0.01
0.18
2013 EC 12 1 18 0 0.00 0 0.00 2 0.11 0.02
2013 SWSA 16 11 112 35 0.31 5 0.04 23 0.21 0.21
2012 AB.gov 7 17 680 41 0.06 73 0.11 178 0.26 0.11
2012 EC 15 1 197 17 0.09 10 0.05 24 0.12 0.08
2012 SWSA 15 14 126 34 0.27 4 0.03 22 0.17 0.17
2011 AB.gov 7 3 102 11 0.11 9 0.09 32 0.31 0.14
2011 EC 15 1 191 23 0.12 17 0.09 49 0.26 0.13
2011 SWSA 14 13 133 41 0.31 13 0.10 24 0.18 0.22
2010 AB.gov 7 1 63 2 0.03 2 0.03 10 0.16 0.05
2010 EC 15 1 230 22 0.10 15 0.07 59 0.26 0.11
2010 SWSA 16 14 164 52 0.32 12 0.07 40 0.24 0.22
2009 AB.gov 9 2 78 3 0.04 5 0.06 11 0.14 0.06
2009 EC 15 1 200 8 0.04 12 0.06 30 0.15 0.07
2009 SWSA
16 11 176 54 0.31 9 0.05 31 0.18 0.20
Battle River
2013 SWSA 15 1 65 20 0.31 6 0.09 19 0.29 0.23
0.30
2012 AB.gov 7 2 30 12 0.40 10 0.33 16 0.53 0.40
2012 SWSA 15 3 57 21 0.37 10 0.18 23 0.40 0.31
2011 AB.gov 7 3 120 35 0.29 33 0.28 56 0.47 0.32
2011 SWSA 14 4 57 15 0.26 8 0.14 17 0.30 0.23
2010 AB.gov 7 3 120 41 0.34 36 0.30 58 0.48 0.35
2010 SWSA 17 1 74 30 0.41 5 0.07 19 0.26 0.27
2009 AB.gov 7 3 124 44 0.35 51 0.41 76 0.61 0.42
2009 SWSA
17 1 81 28 0.35 8 0.10 21 0.26 0.25
Lower North Saskatchewan
2013 SWSA 17 15 319 97 0.30 22 0.07 51 0.16 0.20
0.17
2012 SWSA 16 13 430 83 0.19 23 0.05 61 0.14 0.14
2011 SWSA 16 18 338 59 0.17 20 0.06 46 0.14 0.13
2010 SWSA 16 17 409 120 0.29 33 0.08 79 0.19 0.21
2009 SWSA
16 17 473 103 0.22 38 0.08 57 0.12 0.16
26 WWF-Canada Freshwater Health Assessment for the North Saskatchewan River Basin
Disclaimer: This analysis reflects currently available and accessible data as of May 22, 2014.
FIGURE. ANALYSIS OF VARIANCE IN EXCEEDANCE OF WATER QUALITY THRESHOLDS OVER TIME FOR MONITORING STATIONS IN THE NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER BASIN, BY SUB-BASIN.
FIGURE. ANALYSIS OF VARIANCE IN EXCEEDANCE OF WATER QUALITY THRESHOLDS OVER TIME FOR MONITORING STATIONS IN THE ALBERTA PORTION OF THE NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER BASIN, BY CONTAMINANT.
27 WWF-Canada Freshwater Health Assessment for the North Saskatchewan River Basin
Disclaimer: This analysis reflects currently available and accessible data as of May 22, 2014.
28 WWF-Canada Freshwater Health Assessment for the North Saskatchewan River Basin
Disclaimer: This analysis reflects currently available and accessible data as of May 22, 2014.
29 WWF-Canada Freshwater Health Assessment for the North Saskatchewan River Basin
Disclaimer: This analysis reflects currently available and accessible data as of May 22, 2014.
FIGURE. ANALYSIS OF VARIANCE IN EXCEEDANCE OF WATER QUALITY THRESHOLDS OVER TIME FOR MONITORING STATIONS IN THE SASKATCHEWAN PORTION OF THE NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER BASIN, BY CONTAMINANT.
30 WWF-Canada Freshwater Health Assessment for the North Saskatchewan River Basin
Disclaimer: This analysis reflects currently available and accessible data as of May 22, 2014.
31 WWF-Canada Freshwater Health Assessment for the North Saskatchewan River Basin
Disclaimer: This analysis reflects currently available and accessible data as of May 22, 2014.
TABLE . RESULTS OF MANN-KENDALL NON-PARAMETRIC TREND ANALYSIS OF ANNUAL EXCEEDANCE OF WATER QUALITY THRESHOLDS OVER TIME FOR MONITORING STATIONS IN THE NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER BASIN, BY SUB-BASIN.
Province Source Sub-basin Start Year End Year Number of
Years
Number of Monitoring
Stations
Theil-Sen Slope
Mann-Ken Score
Mann-Ken p-value
Alberta
Environment Canada and Alberta
Environment and Sustainable
Development
All 1952 2013 61 389 -0.0046875 -454 0.0057
Upper North Saskatchewan
1954 2013 53 139 -0.0033333 -497 0.0013
Central North Saskatchewan
1952 2013 61 161 -0.0069444 -647 8E-05 ***
Environment Canada
All 1967 2013 46 3 -0.0025253 -256 0.019 *
Upper North Saskatchewan
1970 2013 43 1 0 -17 0.8505
Central North Saskatchewan
1967 2013 37 2 -0.0035714 -281 0.0089 **
Alberta Environment and Sustainable Development
All 1952 2013 61 386 -0.0041 -405 0.0139 *
Upper North Saskatchewan
1954 2013 52 138 -0.0035 -368 0.0184 *
Central North Saskatchewan
1952 2013 61 159 -0.0058 -546 0.0009 ***
Battle River 1972 2012 32 79 0.0000 -23 0.8041
Saskatchewan Saskatchewan Water
Security Agency
All 1950 2013 45 186 0.0000 74 0.6705
Central North Saskatchewan
1950 2013 44 80 0.0000 114 0.5086
Battle River 1986 2013 12 10 0.0000 -16 0.7654
Lower North Saskatchewan
1970 2013 44 96 0.0015 230 0.0198 *
32 WWF-Canada Freshwater Health Assessment for the North Saskatchewan River Basin
Disclaimer: This analysis reflects currently available and accessible data as of May 22, 2014.
FISH
OVERALL FISH HEALTH SCORING
Sub-Basin
Basin
Fish
Indicator Upper North
Saskatchewan Central North Saskatchewan
Battle River Lower North
Saskatchewan
Change in Native Fish Species
Richness
Period of Study 1966-2013 1954-2013 1987-2013 - 1954-2013
Number of Sites 1033 511 115 - 1659
Presence of statistically significant decline in median
species richness for the basin.
Trend None None None - None
Presence of statistically significant decline in total species richness for the
basin.
Trend None None None - None
Fish Health Category
Good Good Good Data Deficient Good
Fish Health Score 3 3 3 - 3
FISH DATA SUFFICIENCY
Sub-Basin Basin
Fish
Data Sufficiency Indicator Upper North
Saskatchewan Central North Saskatchewan
Battle River Lower North
Saskatchewan
Total number of sub-sub-basins 6 7 6 7 26
Year of earliest available monitoring 1966 1954 1987 - 1987
Number of sampling locations available for earliest monitoring
1 1 1 - 3
Number of sub-sub-basins with earliest available sampling locations
1 1 1 - 3
Earliest year of continuous monitoring 1972 1957 1987 - 1987
Number of sampling locations available for first year of continuous monitoring
1 1 1 - 3
Number of sub-sub-basins for first year of continuous monitoring
1 1 1 - 3
Year of most recently available monitoring
2013 2013 2013 - 2013
Number of monitoring stations available within last five years
117 91 34 - 242
Number of sub-sub-basins within last five years
6 6 6 - 18
Number of years of sampling in last 10 years
10 10 10 - 10
Overall Data Sufficiency Category Sufficient Partially
Sufficient Sufficient Insufficient
Partially Sufficient
Data Sufficiency Score 3 1 3 0 1
33 WWF-Canada Freshwater Health Assessment for the North Saskatchewan River Basin
Disclaimer: This analysis reflects currently available and accessible data as of May 22, 2014.
MAP. FISH SPECIES RICHNESS IN THE NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER BASIN (2012-2013).
34 WWF-Canada Freshwater Health Assessment for the North Saskatchewan River Basin
Disclaimer: This analysis reflects currently available and accessible data as of May 22, 2014.
FIGURE.NON-PARAMETRIC ANALYSIS OF VARIANCE IN FISH SPECIES RICHNESS IN THE NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER BASIN (1954-2013), BY SUB-BASIN.
FIGURE.TIME-SERIES OF FISH SPECIES RICHNESS IN THE UPPER-NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER SUB-BASIN (1966 -2013).
FIGURE.TIME-SERIES OF FISH SPECIES RICHNESS IN THE CENTRAL-NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER SUB-BASIN (1954 -2013).
35 WWF-Canada Freshwater Health Assessment for the North Saskatchewan River Basin
Disclaimer: This analysis reflects currently available and accessible data as of May 22, 2014.
FIGURE.TIME-SERIES OF FISH SPECIES RICHNESS IN THE BATTLE RIVER SUB-BASIN (1987 -2013).
FIGURE.TIME-SERIES OF FISH SPECIES RICHNESS IN THE NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER BASIN (1954 -2013).
FIGURE.TIME-SERIES OF TOTAL FISH SPECIES RICHNESS IN THE UPPER-NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER BASIN (1966 -2013).
36 WWF-Canada Freshwater Health Assessment for the North Saskatchewan River Basin
Disclaimer: This analysis reflects currently available and accessible data as of May 22, 2014.
FIGURE.TIME-SERIES OF TOTAL FISH SPECIES RICHNESS IN THE CENTRAL-NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER BASIN (1954 -2013).
FIGURE.TIME-SERIES OF TOTAL FISH SPECIES RICHNESS IN THE BATTLE RIVER BASIN (1987 -2013).
FIGURE.TIME-SERIES OF TOTAL FISH SPECIES RICHNESS IN THE NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER BASIN (1954 -2013).
37 WWF-Canada Freshwater Health Assessment for the North Saskatchewan River Basin
Disclaimer: This analysis reflects currently available and accessible data as of May 22, 2014.
TABLE . RESULTS OF MANN-KENDALL NON-PARAMETRIC TREND ANALYSIS OF FISH SPECIES RICHNESS OVER TIME IN THE SOUTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER BASIN, BY SUB-BASIN.
Indicator Data Source Sub-Basin Start Year End Year Theil-Sen
Slope Mann-Kendall
Test Score Mann-Kendal Test p-
value
Total Species
Richness
Fish and Wildlife Management
Information System, Alberta Environment
& Sustainable Resource
Development
Upper-North Saskatchewan
1966 2013 0.4286 471 2.78234E-05 ***
Central-North Saskatchewan
1954 2013 0.4000 821 1.55164E-07 ***
Battle River 1987 2013 0.3529 160 0.000846224 ***
Lower-North Saskatchewan
- - - - - -
North Saskatchewan Basin Overall
1954 2013 0.5333 1032 4.42891E-11 ***
Median Species
Richness
Fish and Wildlife Management
Information System, Alberta Environment
& Sustainable Resource
Development
Upper-North Saskatchewan
1966 2013 0.0000 24 0.82730779
Central-North Saskatchewan
1954 2013 0.0000 76 0.617476064
Battle River 1987 2013 -0.0833 -86 0.070590716
Lower-North Saskatchewan
- - - - - -
North Saskatchewan Basin Overall
1954 2013 0.0000 -7 0.96766735
38 WWF-Canada Freshwater Health Assessment for the North Saskatchewan River Basin
Disclaimer: This analysis reflects currently available and accessible data as of May 22, 2014.
BENTHICS
OVERALL BENTHIC HEALTH SCORING
Sub-Basin Basin
Benthic Macro-Invertebrates
Indicator Upper North
Saskatchewan Central North Saskatchewan
Battle River Lower North
Saskatchewan Value
Index of benthic community composition
based on sensitivity to disturbance
Median Hilsenhoff Biotic Index (HBI) score for the basin, based on the five
most recent years of monitoring.
Year 2007 2007-2008 2009-2010 - 2007-2010
Number of Sites 1 3 1 - 5
Value 3.62 4.50 6.08 - 4.64
Benthic Health Category
Data Deficient Data Deficient Data Deficient Data Deficient Data
Deficient
Benthic Health Score Data Deficient Data Deficient Data Deficient Data Deficient Data
Deficient
Significant Mann-Kendal time-series test to
determine directional trend in HBI over time.
Time Period 1982-2007 1982-2008 - - 1982 - 2010
Trend None None - - None
BENTHIC DATA SUFFICIENCY
Sub-Basin Basin
Ben
thic
Mac
ro-I
nve
rte
bra
tes
Data Sufficiency Indicator Upper North
Saskatchewan Central North Saskatchewan
Battle River Lower North
Saskatchewan
Total number of sub-sub-basins 6 7 6 7 26
Year of earliest available monitoring 1982 1982 2009 - 1982
Number of monitoring stations available for earliest monitoring
2 10 1 - 13
Number of sub-sub-basins with earliest available monitoring stations
1 2 1 - 4
Year of most recently available monitoring
2007 2008 2010 - 2010
Number of monitoring stations available within last five years
1 7 2 - 10
Number of sub-sub-basins within last five years
1 1 1 - 3
Number of years of sampling in last 10 years
1 2 2 - 4
Overall Data Sufficiency Category Insufficient Insufficient Insufficient Insufficient Insufficient
Data Sufficiency Score 0 0 0 0 0
39 WWF-Canada Freshwater Health Assessment for the North Saskatchewan River Basin
Disclaimer: This analysis reflects currently available and accessible data as of May 22, 2014.
MAP. HILSENHOFF'S BIOTIC INDEX SCORES FOR BENTHIC MACRO-INVERTEBRATE COMMUNITIES IN THE NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER (2007 - 2010).
40 WWF-Canada Freshwater Health Assessment for the North Saskatchewan River Basin
Disclaimer: This analysis reflects currently available and accessible data as of May 22, 2014.
FIGURE. ANALYSIS OF VARIANCE FOR HILSENHOFF'S BIOTIC INDEX VALUES FOR BENTHIC MACRO-INVERTEBRATE COMMUNITIES SAMPLED IN THE NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER BASIN.
Sub-Basin Source Year Number of Sites
HBI Value Weighted
Average HBI
Upper North Saskatchewan
ABMI 2007 1 3.627119 3.63
Central North Saskatchewan
ABMI 2007 1 6
4.50 SWSA 2007 3 4.027933
SWSA 2008 3 4.46262
Battle River SWSA 2009 1 5.11
6.08 SWSA 2010 1 7.05
TABLE . RESULTS OF MANN-KENDALL NON-PARAMETRIC TREND ANALYSIS OF HILSENHOFF'S BIOTIC INDEX OVER TIME IN THE NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER BASIN, BY SUB-BASIN & DATA SOURCE.
Data Source Basin Start Year
End Year Theil-Sen
Slope
Mann-Kendall
Test Score
Mann-Kendal Test p-value
Water Security Agency of Saskatchewan, Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring
Institute and Alberta Environment & Sustainable
Development North Saskatchewan
1982 2010 0 36 0.442389
Alberta Environment & Sustainable Development
1982 2001 0 3 0.947626
Water Security Agency of Saskatchewan
2007 2010 0.827989 6 0.089429
Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute and Alberta Environment &
Sustainable Development
Upper North Saskatchewan
1982 2007 0 16 0.594032
Water Security Agency of Saskatchewan and Alberta Environment & Sustainable
Development
Central North Saskatchewan
1982 2008 0 60 0.13673
