Pulp Mills and the Environment: an Annotated Bibliography for Nothern Alberta
Monitoring
Alberta Environment. Dissolved Oxygen Objectives Workshop, Technical Proceedings, 12 December 1989. Edmonton: Alberta Environmental Protection Services, Environmental Assessment Division, Standards Research and Development Branch, [1990]. Includes: objectives and guidelines, monitoring of rivers and lakes, biochemical oxygen demand, fish protection, physiological responses, and research needs.
Barton, D.R. and R.R. Wallace. Ecological Studies of the Aquatic Invertebrates of the Alberta Oil Sands Environmental Research Program Study Area of Northeastern Alberta. Edmonton: Alberta Environment and Environment Canada, 1980. AOSERP Report 88, Project AF 2.0.1. A baseline study of the aquatic invertebrates of the Athabasca, Muskeg and Steepbank Rivers.
Beak Consultants. Secondary Fibers Pulping/ Deinking Effluent Toxicity Study. Ottawa: Environment Canada, Environmental Protection Service, Water Pollution Control Directorate, Abatement and Compliance Branch, 1979. About re-cycled paper.
Beaver, R. and M. Ballantyne. Breeding Behaviour of the White Pelican in the Athabasca Oil Sands Area. Edmonton: Alberta Environment and Environment Canada, 1979. Alberta Oil Sands Environmental Research Program Report 82, Project LS 22.2. White pelicans are fish-eating birds. Their eggs and tissues can be used to monitor toxic substances in water bodies. This report gives some behavioural information on these birds. See also D. Ealey. The Distribution, Foraging Behaviour, and Allied Activities of the White Pelican in the Athabasca Oil Sands Area. AOSERP Report 83.
Boerger, Hans. Distribution and Abundance of Macrobenthos in the Athabasca River near Fort McMurray. Edmonton: Research Management Division, Alberta Environment, 1983. Report OF-53. Intended for monitoring water quality with aquatic macroinvertebrates. Chironomids, mayflies, oligochaets, caddisflies and stoneflies comprised 53%, 21%, 18%, 2% and 1% of the 27,229 specimens collected in a 85 km stretch one summer. Densities reached 3,294 individuals per square metre. Densities decreased 31% downstream of the Suncor Tar Sands plant.
Bond, W.A. and K. Machniak. An Intensive Study of the Fish Fauna of the Steepbank Muskeg River Watershed of Northeastern Alberta. Edmonton: Alberta Environment and Environment Canada, 1979. Alberta Oil Sands Environmental Research Program Report 76, Project AF 4.5.1. A similar study to Machniak and Bond, see below. White and Longnose Suckers seem to be part of the Lake Athabasca population, at least 150 km to the north.
Bond, W.A. Fishery Resources of the Athabasca River Downstream of Fort McMurray: Volume I. Edmonton: Alberta Environment and Environment Canada, 1980. Alberta Oil Sands Environmental Research Program Report 89, Project AF 4.3.2. Twenty-seven species of fish were found, 11 of which were common. Diversity reduced to 18 species at the Athabasca Delta. Walleye, Goldeye, Long-Nose Sucker and White Sucker migrate upstream in spring even under ice cover. Lake Whitefish migrate upstream in the fall to spawn. Best introduction to the biology of the fish in the Athabasca River.
Bush, Maureen. Public Participation in Resource Development After Project Approval. Hull, Quebec: Canadian Environmental Assessment Research Council, 1990. Cat. No. En 107-3/ 17-1990. Eight case studies were looked at AFTER the projects were approved and developed.
Byrtus, G. Athabasca River Monitoring Program - 1981. Edmonton: Alberta Environment, Pollution Control Division, 1982. A sample of the monitoring carried out when methoxychlor was being used to kill black fly larvae in the Athabasca River.
Day, K.E., E.D. Ongley, R.P. Scroggins and H.R. Eisenhauer, editors. Biology in the New Regulatory Framework for Aquatic Protection. Ottawa: Environment Canada, Environmental Protection, 1989? Proceedings of the Alliston Workshop cosponsored by Environment Canada and the National Water Research Institute, 26-28 April 1988. Recommendations on the biological criteria (toxicity tests) used to achieve aquatic environmental protection.
Flannagan, John F. Life Cycles of Some Common Aquatic Insects of the Athabasca River, Alberta. Edmonton: Alberta Environment and Environment Canada, 1977. Alberta Oil Sands Environmental Research Program Report AF 2.2.1. Life cycle studies were carried out on 7 species of stoneflies, 7 mayflies and 8 caddisflies at Fort McMurray. These studies were disrupted in July and August 1977, presumably because of black fly control measure done 450 km upstream at Athabasca.
Fransen, M.A.H., R.T. Franson, and A.R. Lucas. Environmental Standards: a Comparative Study of Canadian Standards, Standard Setting Processes and Enforcement. Edmonton: Environment Council of Alberta, 1982. ECA83-SP/1. Outlines how standards, such as effluent limitations, are set. Many of the standards given are out of date.
Hartland-Rowe, R.C.B., R.W. Davies, M.McElhone, and R. Crowther. The Ecology of Macrobenthic Invertebrate Communities in Hartley Creek, Northeastern Alberta. Edmonton: Alberta Environment and Environment Canada, 1979. Alberta Oil Sands Environmental Research Program Report WS 1.3.3. This creek is a tributary of Muskeg River which in turn is a tributary of the Athabasca River. Over 160 species of macroinvertebrates were collected. Chironomids were most abundant but caddisflies had the most biomass. Several distinctive communities were identified. Most insects had one year life cycles. There was a typical diel drift cycle.
Jones, M.L., G.J. Mann and P.J. McCart. Fall Fisheries Investigations in the Athabasca and Clearwater Rivers Upstream of Fort McMurray. Volume I. Calgary: Aquatic Environments Ltd., 1978. Alberta Oil Sands Environmental Research Program Project AF 4.8.1. Of 2 213 fish collected by seine and gillnet, 14 species were found. Lake Whitefish (68.2%), Longnose Sucker (6.8%), Goldeye (6.6%), Walleye (4.3%), Northern Pike (3.9%), Flathead Chub (2.8%), White Sucker (2.4%), Trout-Perch (2.2%) Arctic Grayling (1.1%), Mountain Whitefish (0.7%), Burbot (0.7%), Lake Chub (0.2%), Yellow Perch (0.1%), and Rainbow Trout (1 specimen). The Athabasca River between Fort McMurray and Cascade Rapids is a critical spawning habitat for Lake Whitefish. Lake Whitefish, and possibly Goldeye and Walleye, migrate between the study area and the Peace-Athabasca Delta, 300+ km away. Insects are consumed in large numbers by Goldeye, Lake and Mountain Whitefish, and Grayling. Pike and Walleye feed primarily on fish.
Machniak, K. and W.A. Bond. An Intensive Study of the Fish Fauna of the Steepbank River Watershed of Northeastern Alberta. Edmonton: Alberta Environment and Environment Canada, 1979. Alberta Oil Sands Environmental Research Program Report 61, Project AF 4.5.2. Fish that moved, from the Athabasca River, upstream for spring spawning included Longnose Suckers (52%), Arctic Grayling (20%) and White Suckers (14%). In the spring, Mountain Whitefish (7%) migrated upstream for feeding and movements of Northern Pike (3%) and Walleye (3%) were also recorded. Resident fish included Pearl Dace, Brook Stickleback, Lake Chub, Longnose Dace and Slimy Sculpin. Other fish recorded were: Lake Whitefish, Goldeye, Dolly Varden, Burbot, Trout-Perch, Flathead Chub, Lake Cisco, Redbelly Dace, Brassy Minnow, Spottail Shiner, Brook Stickleback, and Yellow Perch.
Machniak, K., W.A. Bond, M.R. Orr, D. Rudy and D. Millar. Fisheries and Aquatic Habitat Investigations in the MacKay River Watershed of Northeastern Alberta. Edmonton: Alberta Environment and Environment Canada, 1980. Alberta Oil Sands Environmental Research Program Report 93, WS 1.3.1. Deals with fish migration and populations of the MacKay, Dover and Dunkirk Rivers. Similar findings as Machniak and Bond, 1979.
McCart, P., P. Tsui, W. Grant and R. Green. Baseline Studies of Aquatic Environments in the Athabasca River near Lease 17.Volume 1: Baseline Studies. Edmonton: Syncrude Canada Ltd., 1977?. Environmental Research Monograph 1977-2. Studies of the water quality, periphyton, benthic macroinvertebrates and fish.
McCart, P., P. Tsui, W. Grant, R. Green and D. Tripp. Baseline Study of the Water Quality and Aquatic Resources of the MacKay River, Alberta. Edmonton: Syncrude Canada Ltd., 1978?. Environmental Research Monograph 1978-4. Studies of the water quality, periphyton, benthic macroinvertebrates and fish.
Monenco Consultants Ltd. Environmental Monitoring Studies in the Vicinity of the Peace River Pulp Mill Company Mill at Peace River, Alberta. Calgary: Monenco Consultants Ltd., 1989, 1990. Prepared for Daishowa Canada Co. Ltd. Examples of macroinvertebrate and water quality surveys as required by the permit holder.
Monenco Consultants Ltd. Winter Dissolved Oxygen Monitoring in the Vicinity of the Peace River Pulp Mill Company Mill at Peace River, Alberta. February, 1991. Calgary: Monenco Consultants Ltd., 1991. Prepared for Daishowa Canada Co. Ltd. An example of a short term study of dissolved oxygen.
Noton, L.R. and others. Water Quality in the Wapiti-Smokey River System Downstream of the Procter and Gamble Pulp Mill, 1983. Edmonton: Alberta Environment, Environmental Assessment Division, Environmental Quality Monitoring Branch, 1989.
Noton, L.R. and R.D. Shaw. Winter Water Quality in the Athabasca River System, 1988 and 1989. Edmonton: Alberta Environment, Environmental Protection Services, Environmental Assessment Branch, environment Quality Monitoring Branch, 1989. A 200 page report.
Noton, L.R. The Peace and Athabasca River Systems: A Synopsis of Alberta Environment's Monitoring Programs and the Water Quality Effects of Existing Pulp Mill Effluents. Edmonton: Alberta Environment, Environmental Assessment Branch, Environmental Quality Monitoring Branch, 1989. A 12 page overview.
Smith, Ann C. and William A. Yodis. Environmental Auditing Quality Management. New York: Executive Enterprises Publications, 1989. A handbook for managing an environmental audit. Could be used to help prepare or critique a management plan.
Taylor, J.K. and T.W. Stanley, editors. Quality Assurance for Environmental Measurements. Philadelphia: ASTM Publications, 1985. The results of a technical conference on monitoring air and water quality.
Thompson, M.S. and J. Crosby-Diewold. Baseline Inventory of Aquatic Macrophyte Species Distributions in the AOSERP Study Area. Edmonton: Alberta Environment and Environment Canada, 1980. Alberta Oil Sands Environmental Research Program Report 100, Project LS 10.2. More than 10 lakes were surveyed to find the kinds (19+) and distributions of the large aquatic plants.
Tripp, D.B. and P.J. McCart. Investigations of the Spring Spawning Fish Populations in the Athabasca and Clearwater Rivers Upstream from Fort McMurray. Volume 1. Edmonton: Alberta Environment and Environment Canada, 1979. Alberta Oil Sands Environmental Research Program Report 84, Project WS 1.6.1. A basic study of the spawning of the major fish of these rivers.
Walder, G.L and D.W. Mayhood. An Analysis of Benthic Invertebrate and Water Quality Monitoring Data from the Athabasca River. Edmonton: Research Management Division, Alberta Environment, 1985. A basic review.
Science Outreach Athabasca - September 27, 2012
