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

艾伯塔省北部的和平-阿萨巴斯卡三角洲（PAD）是一个以其生态、历史和文化意义而闻名的大型淡水景观，其生态系统服务受到多种潜在压力的威胁，包括气候变化、水电开发和油砂生产。由于担心三角洲河流的流量减少和污染增加，迫切需要进行有针对性的、综合的水文生态、污染物和毒性研究，以确保三角洲现在和未来得到保护。与工业界（卑诗水电、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；woodbuffalo国家公园)和当地多方利益相关者PAD生态监测计划（PADEMP），我们将开发和应用新的研究和监测方法组合：1)跟踪三角洲气候，河流流量和湖泊水文条件之间的关系；2)将三角洲污染物（多环芳香族化合物，金属）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，并为三角洲地区建立最先进的监测框架奠定基础，该框架将提供指标，确保工业活动遵循最佳环境实践，以限制下游的累积影响。我们提出的研究与加拿大-阿尔伯塔联合油砂监测计划不同，但将直接补充该计划，该计划主要关注阿萨巴斯卡河主河。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。来自政府机构和非洲发展规划方案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，以建立当地能力并确保监测的继续进行。该项目将为研究生和在该领域从事研究的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.