AEMERA and the Future of Lake Monitoring in Alberta – 2015 Update Ron Zurawell, Ph.D. P.Biol.

AEMERA AEMERA and the Future of Lake and the Future of Lake Monitoring in Alberta – Monitoring in Alberta –

2015 Update2015 Update

Ron Zurawell, Ph.D. P.Biol.Ron Zurawell, Ph.D. P.Biol.

What is AEMERA?What is AEMERA?

The Alberta Environmental Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting Agency was created to respond to the need for a “world-class” monitoring, evaluation and reporting (MER) system to provide assurance that Alberta’s natural resources are being developed in an environmentally responsible manner.

AEMERA in the IRMSAEMERA in the IRMSAEMERA is one of the three pillars of the Integrated Resource Management System (IRMS). The IRMS is the means by which Alberta will achieve responsible resource stewardship through:•Government policy (AB Energy) & (AB Environment & Parks)•Energy regulation (AB Energy Regulator)•Non-energy regulation (AB Environment & Parks), and •Independent environmental monitoring (AEMERA).

AEMERA Legislated Responsibilities

The GOA outlined the following responsibilities for AEMERA in its enabling legislation, the Protecting Alberta’s Environment Act section 3(1):

• To obtain credible and relevant scientific data and other information regarding the condition of the environment in Alberta;

• To ensure the data and other information are available and reported to the public in an open and transparent manner

AEMERA Implementation AEMERA Implementation UpdateUpdate

• Divisions: Operations (Monitoring), Science, Strategy & Communications, Finance & Admin.

• Permanent Division VP’s in place

• Organizational structure being developed

• Permanent offers to seconded management & non-union staff underway

• Permanent offers to seconded union staff starting June

Lake Monitoring in AlbertaLake Monitoring in Alberta

Centrally managed by AEMERA:

1.Long-term programs (LTLN & Provincial Parks Program)

2.Regionally-focused lake programs (Southern L&R, CARL, UAR, Peace Region)

3.Partnered lake monitoring (ALMS’ Lakewatch)

AB Lake/Res. Monitoring AB Lake/Res. Monitoring NetworkNetwork

Monitoring Program

AgencyYear

Initiated

# Lakes/Sampling Frequency

WQ Parameters Biological Monitoring

Long-term Lake Network

AEMERA 19805 basins/

2 (even yrs); 3 (odd yrs)

• Nutrients• Ion chemistry• Physical parameters• *discrete top and bottom

for metals

• Chlorophyll• Phytoplankton• Zooplankton• Microcystin (2005)

Prov. Parks Lake Monitoring

AEMERA/ALMS

Contractor

mid-1980’s

20 basins/5/yr alternating 4-

yr cycle

• Nutrients• Ion chemistry• Physical parameters• Metals (recent)

• Chlorophyll• Phytoplankton (recent)• Zooplankton (recent)• Microcystin (2005)

Central AB Rec. Lakes

AEMERA 2006Central AB’s

highly-used rec. lakes; ≈3/yr

• Nutrients• Ion chemistry• Physical parameters• Metals (recent)

• Chlorophyll• Phytoplankton• Zooplankton (recent)• Microcystin (2005)

Southern Lakes & Reservoirs

AEMERA 2005Southern AB’s

lakes & res.; ≈4/yr

• Nutrients• Ion chemistry• Physical parameters• Metals (recent)

• Chlorophyll• Phytoplankton (recent)• Zooplankton (recent)• Microcystin (2005)

ALMS Lakewatch

ALMS/ Volunteer

s1996

Citizen volunteer-based; ≈23/yr

• Nutrients• Ion chemistry• Physical parameters• Metals

• Chlorophyll• Phytoplankton (recent)• Zooplankton (recent)• Microcystin (2005)

• AEMERA provides funding, equipment and training

• AEMERA maintains WQ database; validated data made public

Aquatic Invasive Species Aquatic Invasive Species ProgramProgram

• Veliger (larval mussel) sampling coordination

• Data management & reporting

• Surveillance support (sample assessment)

• Emergency response planning & support

Contact InformationContact Information

Ron Zurawell Ph.D., P.Biol.Ron Zurawell Ph.D., P.Biol.Surface Water Quality LeadSurface Water Quality LeadAlberta Environmental Monitoring, Alberta Environmental Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting AgencyEvaluation & Reporting Agency780-427-2662780-427-2662ron.zurawell@[email protected]