Rob Kent and Rob Phillips National Water Quality Monitoring Office National Water Research Institute Environment Canada Rob Kent and Rob Phillips National Water Quality Monitoring Office National Water Research Institute Environment Canada National Water Quality Monitoring Office & WQ Indicator: Canadian Approach National Water Quality Monitoring Office & WQ Indicator: Canadian Approach National Water Quality Monitoring Conference San Jose, California May 10, 2006

1.Program Design & Monitoring Objectives 2.Methods Development & Lab support 3.Research support 4.Data management 5.Interpretive tools/guidance 6.Reporting, Indicators and information systems 7.Partnerships / Outreach 8.National co-ordination 1.Program Design & Monitoring Objectives 2.Methods Development & Lab support 3.Research support 4.Data management 5.Interpretive tools/guidance 6.Reporting, Indicators and information systems 7.Partnerships / Outreach 8.National co-ordination National WQ Monitoring Office.…moving beyond “taking the sample’” National WQ Monitoring Office.…moving beyond “taking the sample’”

National WQ Monitoring Office.…activities (cont) National WQ Monitoring Office.…activities (cont) Other Lead and Supportive Activities Confirm gaps & target priority effort areas Capital plan and acquisition (lab & field monitoring) Partnership Fund Dedicated monitoring team (staffing FTEs) Fed-Prov network plans (SK, NS, QC, North) Federal collaboration plans (INAC, Parks) Bilateral Agreements (Drafts)

National WQ Monitoring Office.…moving beyond “taking the sample’” (cont) National WQ Monitoring Office.…moving beyond “taking the sample’” (cont) Program integrates biological & phys/chem information to assess aquatic ecosystem health status and trends Provide national forum for biomonitoring experts Expansion of network:  Collection of reference sites (Parks; historic sites)  Pilot network of test sites (10-15/region)  Northern sites – IPY project (Wrona et al.) - Training for community biomonitoring Status:  Establishing national pilot network team  Site selection with Parks Verification of WQI Aq.Ecosystem Health findings? National Aquatic Biomonitoring Program

Water Quality Monitoring Networks – Retention and Expansion WQI Expansion Priorities: North (YK, NWT, NU), SK, QC, NS Retention: taking stock of existing agreements and work; national consistency, existing capacity and gaps; current geo-referenced metadata inventory In situ automated network, national data analysis Annual national meeting (AQUA) Water Quality Monitoring Networks – Retention and Expansion WQI Expansion Priorities: North (YK, NWT, NU), SK, QC, NS Retention: taking stock of existing agreements and work; national consistency, existing capacity and gaps; current geo-referenced metadata inventory In situ automated network, national data analysis Annual national meeting (AQUA) National WQ Monitoring Office.…moving beyond “taking the sample’” (cont) National WQ Monitoring Office.…moving beyond “taking the sample’” (cont)

WQI: Approach outline Background, context Current Monitoring & Expansion Water Quality Index? Challenges Summary & Conclusions Background, context Current Monitoring & Expansion Water Quality Index? Challenges Summary & Conclusions

7 6 Environmental Sustainability Index 2005 Environmental Systems 4 / 146 Environmental Stresses 104/ 146 Human Vulnerability 2/ 146 Social and Institutional Capacity 14 / 146 Global Stewardship 133/ 146 Air Quality Water Quantity Water Quality Biodiversity Terrestrial Systems Reducing Air Pollution Reducing Water Stress Reducing Ecosystem Stresses Reducing Waste and Consumption Pressures Reducing Population Pressure Natural Resource Management Basic Human Sustenance Environment-related Natural Disaster Exposure Environmental Health Science/Technology Private Sector Responsiveness Environmental Governance Eco-Efficiency Participation in International Collaborative Efforts Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reducing Trans- boundary Environmental Pressures Canada- Overall rank 6th out of 146 countries (World Economic Forum; Yale/Columbia University research)

Background WQ consistently top priority for Canadians Increased public concern and decreased confidence in water safety External criticism of current status (DRIPS!) Commitment to better inform Canadians on national water quality Respond to Canadian values on water: drinkable, swimmable, fishable, available

Understandable indicators to track whether Canada's current economic activities threaten the way of life for future generations Track natural assets - including the ecosystem services that are crucial to sustaining the economy in the long term Water Quality: Canadian WQI as the Freshwater Quality Indicator Understandable indicators to track whether Canada's current economic activities threaten the way of life for future generations Track natural assets - including the ecosystem services that are crucial to sustaining the economy in the long term Water Quality: Canadian WQI as the Freshwater Quality Indicator National Roundtable on the Environment and Economy Environment and Sustainable Development Indicators Environment Environnement Canada

Environment Environnement Canada Water Quantity Monitoring

Existing EC and Provincial Networks (2005) Current long-term, systematic WQ monitoring programs All require annual funding campaigns Many networks (~20) designed and operated for a range of assessment and management purposes; None explicitly for reporting under the WQ Indicator Note: Grey Jurisdictions have no Fed-Prov Agreement

WQI Monitoring Expansion Saskatchewan

Existing EC and Provincial Networks (2005) Note: Grey Jurisdictions have no Fed-Prov Agreement

WQI Monitoring Expansion Yukon

Existing EC and Provincial Networks (2005) Note: Grey Jurisdictions have no Fed-Prov Agreement

WQI Monitoring Expansion Nunavut/NWT

WQI: Typical Applications Selected parameters (~10) related to water use at monitoring site Most appropriate ambient WQ guidelines or objectives (site-specific) 3yr average values from at least 9 periods; or stratified use of CWQI over specific periods (freshet, recession and base flow) Selected parameters (~10) related to water use at monitoring site Most appropriate ambient WQ guidelines or objectives (site-specific) 3yr average values from at least 9 periods; or stratified use of CWQI over specific periods (freshet, recession and base flow) Environment Environnement Canada

Canadian WQI  Scope (F1) - number of variables not meeting water quality objectives  Frequency (F2) - the number of times the objectives are not met  Amplitude (F3) - the extent to which objectives are exceeded  Scope (F1) - number of variables not meeting water quality objectives  Frequency (F2) - the number of times the objectives are not met  Amplitude (F3) - the extent to which objectives are exceeded

Environment Environnement Canada European example

Environment Environnement Canada Other Modes?

Cdn WQI Challenges Complexity of “Weather Report” for water Multiplicity of partners means time required “Boom or Bust” cycles wrst. monitoring means rapid action required when funds available Climate, vastness of country, many partners Politics and changing government/ministers Quantum leaps in tech’y demand attention and take time to verify/implement Complexity of “Weather Report” for water Multiplicity of partners means time required “Boom or Bust” cycles wrst. monitoring means rapid action required when funds available Climate, vastness of country, many partners Politics and changing government/ministers Quantum leaps in tech’y demand attention and take time to verify/implement Environment Environnement Canada

Summary & Conclusions Expansion Opportunity Recoup of Monitoring Network cuts of 90’s Equation allows flexibility in reporting among Partners Opportunity to incorporate new technologies including in-situ, real-time, BioMonitoring Opportunity to strengthen existing partnerships and networks WQI may help solve DRIPS! Expansion Opportunity Recoup of Monitoring Network cuts of 90’s Equation allows flexibility in reporting among Partners Opportunity to incorporate new technologies including in-situ, real-time, BioMonitoring Opportunity to strengthen existing partnerships and networks WQI may help solve DRIPS! Environment Environnement Canada