Ministry of Environment
EcoCat:The Ecological Reports Catalogue
EcoCat Image
 

Report: 1998-99 Attainment Report of Ambient Water Quality Objectives

Report Documents
 
Map Plotfiles
  • No files of this type available
 
Data Files
  • No files of this type available
 
Digital Map Files
  • No files of this type available
 
Image Document
  • No files of this type available
 
Video Files
  • No files of this type available
 
All Documents

  • No files available

Contact

  • If you have any questions on the information presented, or require additional report data or attachments, please contact the Report Contact

 
This document presents the results of monitoring done in 1998-99 to check the attainment of objectives set by the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks.

Author:  Burke Phippen

Date Published:  Jan 2001

Report ID:  11323

Audience:  Government and Public

This report assesses the 1998-99 attainments of ambient water quality objectives for fresh and marine surface waters of British Columbia. The setting of water quality objectives in priority basins in British Columbia began in 1982. By the end of 1999, the Ministry of environment, Lands and Parks had set water quality objectives in 48 bodies of water, both fresh and marine, throughout the Province. Annual monitoring to check the attainment of objectives started in 1987. This reportpresents the results of monitoring done in 1998 and 1999 to check the attainment of objectives in 12 basins (1998) and 13 basins (1999). Due to budgetary restraints, the program has been considerably reduced as compared to previous years. The results are summarized in a series of tables. For all Ministry Regions the objectives were met 95 percent of the time in 1998 and 91 percent of the time in 1999. The findings in 1998 and 1999 are significantly higher than the 1996 and 1997 figures (81% and 77% respectively), and similar to previous years when attainment ranged from 94 percent in 1987 to 83 percent in 1995. There was not 100 percent attainment because objectives are set in areas where water quality problems may occur. Monitoring results therefore reflect the state of water quality in areas affected by human activity rather than in the Province as a whole. Variables for which objectives were sometimes not met in three or more basins in each of the 1998 and 1999 sampling programs included fecal coliforms, E.coli, suspended solids, chlorophyll-a (a measure of algal growth in lakes and streams), total phosphorus in lakes, and dissolved oxygen. (Cowichan - Koksilah Rivers, Middle Quinsam River, Tsolum River, Oyster River Water, Nechako River, Fraser River (from the Source to Hope), Williams Lake, San Jose River, Okanagan Valley Lakes, Similkameen River, Hedley Creek, Cahill Creek and Tributaries, Bessette Creek, Tributaries to Okanagan Lake near Vernon, Thompson River, Columbia River (from Keenleyside to Birchbank), Columbia River (From Birchbank to the International Border), Fraser River (Kanaka Creek to the Mouth), Boundary Bay, and Burrard Inlet Water.)

Report Type
  Water
 
Subject
  Water Information - Water Quality
 


Warranty Disclaimer

This information is provided as a public service by the Government of British Columbia, Box 9411, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada V8W 9V1. This Web site and all of the information it contains are provided "as is" without warranty of any kind, whether express or implied. All implied warranties, including, without limitation, implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement, are hereby expressly disclaimed. Limitation of Liabilities Under no circumstances will the Government of British Columbia be liable to any person or business entity for any direct, indirect, special, incidental, consequential, or other damages based on any use of this Web site or any other Web site to which this site is linked, including, without limitation, any lost profits, business interruption, or loss of programs or information, even if the Government of British Columbia has been specifically advised of the possibility of such damages.


 

COPYRIGHT | DISCLAIMER | PRIVACY | ACCESSIBILITY