Transcript State of the Niagara River

State of the Niagara River
Brad Hill
Environment Canada
Burlington, Ontario
CANADA
L. Ontario
N.O.T.L
Niagara Falls
F.E.
L. Erie
Background
• Approximately 56 km (35 mi) long
• Elevation drop is approx. 100m (53m over Niagara Falls)
• Empties approx. 2/5ths of the fresh water in North America
• Significant loading source for Lake Ontario
• Currently divert 50% - 75% of flow for power generation
Historical Context
• 1950s: IJC reports on pollution problems
• 1973: IJC designates Niagara River as “Problem Area”
• Late 1970s: Love Canal
• 1980 & 1981: Canada/Ontario Review Board Baseline Reports
summarize environmental conditions in the Niagara River
• 1981: IJC Special Report on Pollution of the Niagara River
• 1981 – 1983: Niagara River Toxics Committee report
• 1987: Niagara River “Declaration of Intent” - NRTMP
• 1996: “Letter of Support”
NRTMP Work Plan
Source Reduction
• Point Sources
• Non-point Sources
Ambient Monitoring
• Upstream/Downstream Program
• Biomonitoring – caged mussels, Y-o-Y fish
Public Information
• Annual Reports
• Public Meetings every 3 years
Monitoring Programs
• 3 main components:
– Upstream/Downstream
• Water and suspended sediment
– Biomonitoring
• Mussels and fish
– Tributary screening & trackdown
• Sediment investigations in tributaries
• Additional components:
– Point & Non-point Sources
• Landfills, STPs, HWS
Caged Mussel Biomonitoring
• Mussels deployed for 21-day
exposures
• Routine monitoring at 36
stations (total PCB, OC
pesticides, chlorinated
benzenes)
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PCB congeners at 14 stations
Dioxins & furans at 10 stations
PAHs at 8 stations
Dechlorane plus at 4 stations
• New stations for 2009 include:
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Bakers Creek
Lyons Creek
Welland River
Scajaquada Creek
Rattle Snake Creek
Young-of-the-Year (YOY) Fish Sampling
• Most recently collected in
fall 2009
• Used to analyse local
conditions
• Samples submitted for
routine parameters (Hg,
total PCBs, pesticides)
Summary of sampling sites and number of YOY
fish composite samples collected in Niagara
River during 2009
Site
Emerald Spottail
Shiner
Shiner
102nd Street, NY
6
Cayuga Creek, NY
6
Fort Erie
6
6
Frenchman’s Creek
6
1
Lewiston, NY
6
Niagara-on-the-Lake
6
Queenston
6
Wheatfield, NY
• Data pending
Youngstown, NY
6
6
Tributary Screening
• Sediment samples from Niagara tributaries
• Site specific sampling and analysis
• No “hot spots” found that trigger immediate action
• Certain areas may deserve further attention
– Guideline exceedences of PCBs, Mercury, Lindane and
Zinc
– Low levels and non-detects validate effectiveness of
remediation
• On going monitoring by MOE and assessment by RAP
show some tributaries may no longer be sources of
contaminants
L. Ontario
N.O.T.L
F.E.
L. Erie
1,3-Dichlorobenzene
1,3,5-Trichlorobenzene
1,2,3,4-Tetrachlorobenzene
Hexachlorobutadiene
Aldrin
p,p’-DDD
DDT Total
α-BHC
Total Chlordane
Dieldrin
Methoxychlor
1-Methyl Naphthalene
Fluorene
Beta-Chloronaphthalene
Fluoranthene
Chrysene/Triphenylene
Indeno(1,2,3-c,d)pyrene
Aluminum
Barium
Cadmium
Copper
Iron
Molybdenum
Rubidium
Strontium
Vanadium
1,4-Dichlorobenzene
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene
Pentachlorobenzene
Hexachlorocyclopetadiene
Octachlorosytrene
o,p’-DDT
Photomirex
γ-BHC
α-Endosulfan
Endrin
TCPCB
Naphthalene
Phenanthrene
Atrazine
Pyrene
Benzo(b+k)fluoranthene
Dibenzo(a,h)anthracene
Antimony
Boron
Cobalt
Gallium
Lithium
Nickel
Selenium
Tellurium
Zinc
1,2-Dichlorobenzene
1,2,3-Trichlorobenzene
Hexachlorobenzene
Heptachlor
p,p’-DDE
p,p’-DDT
Mirex
Heptachlor Epoxide
-Endosulfan
Endrin Aldehyde
2-Methyl Naphthalene
Acenaphthylene
Anthracene
Metolachlor
Benz(a)anthracene
Benzo(a)pyrene
Benzo(g,h,i)perylene
Arsenic
Beryllium
Chromium
Lanthanum
Manganese
Lead
Silver
Uranium
Mercury
Hexachlorobenzene
p,p’-DDE
p,p’-DDT
Mirex
DDT Total
Total Chlordane
Dieldrin
TCPCB
Chrysene/Triphenylene
Indeno(1,2,3-c,d)pyrene
Aluminum
Benzo(b+k)fluoranthene
Benz(a)anthracene
Benzo(a)pyrene
Benzo(g,h,i)perylene
Iron
Mercury
Hexachlorobenzene
Mirex
Chrysene/Triphenylene
Iron
Benzo(a)pyrene
60%
77%
110%
85%
75%
73%
Long-term Summary: NOTL Concentrations
No Longer Exceed Criteria
(in 04/05)
[1,2-dichlorobenzene]
[1,3-dichlorobenzene]
[1,4-dichlorobenzene]
[1,2,3-trichlorobenzene]
[1,2,4-trichlorobenzene]
[1,3,5-trichlorobenzene]
[1,2,3,4-tetrachlorobenzene]
[Pentachlorobenzene]
[a-BHC], [g-BHC]
[a-chlordane]
[g-chlordane]
{1-MethylNaphthalene}
{2-MethylNaphthalene}
[Acenaphthalene]
[Anthracene]
[p,p-DDD]*, [o,p-DDT ]*
{Atrazine}
[Arsenic], [Mercury]
[Octachlorostyrene]
[Fluorene]
[Heptachor Epoxide]
[Alpha Endosulfan]
[Beta Endosulfan]
[Antimony], [Cadmium],
[Chromium], [Lithium]
[Manganese], [Nickel]
[Zinc]
{Aldrin}
{Endrin}
{Endrin Aldehyde}
{Heptachlor}
{Methoxychlor}
{Photomirex}
Betachloronaphthalene
[Benz(a)anthracene]
[Dibenzo(ah)anthracene]
[Hexachlorocyclopentadiene]
[Hexachlorobutadiene]
[Lead], [Barium], [Beryllium]
[Copper], [Selenium]*
[Silver], {Strontium}
[Vanadium], [Cobalt]
[Metolachlor]
[Molybdenum]
[Fluoranthene]
[Pyrene]
[Indeno(123cd)pyrene]
[Napthalene]
[Phenanthrene]
Exceed Criteria at NOTL
(in 04/05)
[Mirex], [Iron]
[Hexachlorobenzene]
[Chrysene/Triphenylene]
[Benzo(a)pyrene]
Exceed Criteria at NOTL & FE
(in 04/05)
[p,p-DDT]*, [p,p-DDE ]*
{Dieldrin}, [PCBs (86-98)**]
[Aluminum]
[ ] - NR source
[ ]* - Upstream source
{ } - Suspected Basin Source
** - Method change
Downward Trend
(86/87-04/05)
[Benzo(b/k)Fluoranthene]
[Benzo(ghi)perylene]
No Trend
(86/87-04/05)
Upward Trend
(86/87-04/05)
Monitoring Summary
• Significant decreases in concentrations for most
compounds between 1986 and 2005
• Some compounds still exceed strictest agency
criteria
• Local sources continue to contribute contaminants
to the Niagara River
• Upstream and/or basin-wide sources may be
more significant for certain chemicals
Thank you
Brad Hill, Environment Canada
[email protected]
(905) 319-7209