State of the Niagara River Brad Hill Environment Canada Burlington, Ontario CANADA

L. Erie L. Ontario Niagara Falls F.E.N.O.T.L

Background Approximately 56 km (35 mi) long Elevation drop is approx. 100m (53m over Niagara Falls) Empties approx. 2/5 ths 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”

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 NRTMP Work Plan

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) –PCB congeners at 14 stations –Dioxins & furans at 10 stations –PAHs at 8 stations –Dechlorane plus at 4 stations New stations for 2009 include: –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) Data pending SiteEmerald Shiner Spottail Shiner 102 nd Street, NY6 Cayuga Creek, NY6 Fort Erie66 Frenchman’s Creek61 Lewiston, NY6 Niagara-on-the-Lake6 Queenston6 Wheatfield, NY6 Youngstown, NY6 Summary of sampling sites and number of YOY fish composite samples collected in Niagara River during 2009

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. Erie L. Ontario F.E.N.O.T.L

1,3-Dichlorobenzene1,4-Dichlorobenzene1,2-Dichlorobenzene 1,3,5-Trichlorobenzene1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene1,2,3-Trichlorobenzene 1,2,3,4-TetrachlorobenzenePentachlorobenzeneHexachlorobenzene HexachlorobutadieneHexachlorocyclopetadieneHeptachlor AldrinOctachlorosytrenep,p’-DDE p,p’-DDDo,p’-DDTp,p’-DDT DDT TotalPhotomirexMirex α-BHCγ-BHCHeptachlor Epoxide Total Chlordaneα-Endosulfan  -Endosulfan DieldrinEndrinEndrin Aldehyde MethoxychlorTCPCB2-Methyl Naphthalene 1-Methyl NaphthaleneNaphthaleneAcenaphthylene FluorenePhenanthreneAnthracene Beta-ChloronaphthaleneAtrazineMetolachlor FluoranthenePyreneBenz(a)anthracene Chrysene/TriphenyleneBenzo(b+k)fluorantheneBenzo(a)pyrene Indeno(1,2,3-c,d)pyreneDibenzo(a,h)anthraceneBenzo(g,h,i)perylene AluminumAntimonyArsenic BariumBoronBeryllium CadmiumCobaltChromium CopperGalliumLanthanum IronLithiumManganese MolybdenumNickelLead RubidiumSeleniumSilver StrontiumTelluriumUranium VanadiumZincMercury

Hexachlorobenzene p,p’-DDE p,p’-DDT DDT TotalMirex Total Chlordane Dieldrin TCPCB Benz(a)anthracene Chrysene/TriphenyleneBenzo(b+k)fluorantheneBenzo(a)pyrene Indeno(1,2,3-c,d)pyreneBenzo(g,h,i)perylene Aluminum Iron Mercury

Hexachlorobenzene Mirex Chrysene/TriphenyleneBenzo(a)pyrene Iron

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] [Benzo(b/k)Fluoranthene] [Benzo(ghi)perylene] [ ] - NR source [ ]* - Upstream source { } - Suspected Basin Source ** - Method change Downward Trend (86/87-04/05) 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 (905)