A monitoring framework to assess changes in hydroecological conditions, and sources, distributions and toxicity of contaminants in lakes of the peace-athabasca delta

阿尔伯塔省北部的和平-阿萨巴斯卡三角洲(PAD)是一片以其生态、历史和文化意义闻名于世的大型淡水景观，其生态系统服务受到包括气候变化、水电开发和油砂生产在内的多种潜在压力的威胁。对淹没和维持三角洲的河流流量下降和污染加剧的担忧，导致迫切需要有针对性的、综合的水生态、污染物和毒性研究，以确保三角洲现在和未来得到保护。我们将与业界(卑诗省水电公司；加拿大自然资源有限公司；森科尔能源公司)、政府(艾伯塔省环境监测、评估和报告机构；伍德布法罗国家公园)和当地多方利益相关方PAD生态监测计划(PADEMP)合作，开发和应用新颖的研究和监测方法组合，以：1)追踪三角洲地区气候、河流流量和湖泊水文条件之间的关系；2)将污染物(多环芳香化合物、金属)在三角洲内的空间分布及其毒性特征与水文路径和湖泊条件联系起来。所获得的知识将用于生成准确的风险评估，并为三角洲最先进的监测框架奠定基础，该框架将提供衡量标准，以确保工业活动遵循最佳环境实践，以限制下游累积影响。我们拟议的研究与加拿大-艾伯塔省联合油砂监测方案不同，但将直接补充该方案，该方案主要侧重于阿萨巴斯卡河干流。我们的研究将有助于确保加拿大在和平和阿萨巴斯卡流域开发自然资源的利益最大化和成本最小化。来自政府机构和PADEMP的工作人员将接受实地抽样方法以及数据分析和解释方面的培训，以建设当地能力并确保监测的持续进行。该项目将为在该领域寻求职业生涯的研究生和研究技术人员提供特殊的基础和应用研究和培训机会。

The ecosystem services of the Peace-Athabasca Delta (PAD), northern Alberta, a large freshwater landscape world-renowned for its ecological, historical and cultural significance, are threatened by multiple potential stressors including climate change, hydroelectric development and oilsands production. Concerns over declining discharge and increasing pollution of the rivers that flood and sustain the delta have led to a pressing need for targeted, integrated hydroecological, contaminant and toxicity research to ensure the delta is protected now and in the future. In collaboration with industry (BC Hydro; Canadian Natural Resources Limited; Suncor Energy), government (Alberta Environmental Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Agency; Wood Buffalo National Park) and the local multi-stakeholder PAD Ecological Monitoring Program (PADEMP), we willdevelop and apply novel combinations of research and monitoring methods to: 1) track relations among climate, river flow and lake hydrological conditions in the delta, and 2) link the spatial distribution of contaminants (polycyclic aromatic compounds, metals) and their toxicity characteristics in the delta with hydrological pathways and limnological conditions. Knowledge gained will be used to generate an accurate risk assessment and establish the foundation of a state-of-the-art monitoring framework for the delta, which will provide metrics to ensure industrial activities are following best environmental practices to limit downstream cumulative effects. Our proposed research is distinct from but will directly complement the JointCanada-Alberta Oil Sands Monitoring Program, which focuses largely on the Athabasca River mainstem. Our studies will help to ensure Canada maximizes the benefits and minimizes the costs of developing natural resources in the Peace and Athabasca watersheds. Staff from the government agencies and PADEMP will be trained in methods of field sampling, and analysis and interpretation of the data to build local capacity and ensure continuation of the monitoring. The project will provide exceptional basic and applied research and training opportunities for graduate students and research technicians pursuing careers in this field.