Water Quality Objectives Attainment Summary Boundary Bay Tributaries in 2002
The Little Campbell, Nicomekl, and Serpentine Rivers, which flow into Boundary Bay,
are at risk of contamination from diffuse agricultural sources and stormwater
runoff due to intensive agricultural and urban use of the area. This report
presents the results of monitoring undertaken in 2002 to check attainment of
Boundary Bay tributary water quality objectives set in 1988. Objectives have not
been formally monitored since 1992. The CCME Water Quality Index was also determined for each tributary using 2002 results. The river systems of concern are the Serpentine River and its tributaries (Latimer Creek, Mahood Creek and Hyland Creek), the Nicomekl River and its tributaries (Murray Creek and Anderson Creek), and the Little Campbell River. The current results were also compared with data obtained over the past 30 years to determine the overall state of water quality in the three river systems.
 Historically, the Little Campbell River has not consistently met objectives for dissolved oxygen at the upstream location (at 216th Street), and for fecal coliforms and suspended solids at the downstream location (at 176th Street). Objectives for fecal coliforms, E. coli, ammonia, nitrite, suspended solids, and pH were met in 2002 at both sites in the Little Campbell River. Objectives for dissolved oxygen (DO), however, were only met at the downstream location. While fecal coliform and suspended solids conditions at the downstream site have improved since 1990, DO conditions, which have always been poor at the upstream site, appear to be deteriorating further. The Water Quality Index rating for the protection of aquatic life in the Little Campbell River was Marginal in 2002, mainly due to very low DO conditions at the upstream site.
 The Nicomekl River mainstem has failed to meet fecal coliform, suspended solid, dissolved oxygen, and pH objectives in previous attainment monitoring, while Murray Creek has failed to meet fecal coliform and suspended solid objectives. Objectives for fecal coliforms, E. coli, ammonia, nitrite, suspended solids, dissolved oxygen, and pH were generally met in 2002 at sites in the Nicomekl River and its tributaries, with a few exceptions. The E. coli objective for irrigation was not met at the midstream location, while the long-term dissolved oxygen objective was not met at the downstream location in the river. Water Quality conditions in the Nicomekl mainstem have improved over the last 30 years. This is particularly true for suspended solids and DO levels at the downstream location, and for fecal coliform levels at the upstream location of the mainstem. Improvements in fecal coliform and suspended solids levels also appear to have occurred in Murray Creek since 1990. Water quality conditions in Anderson Creek have been relatively good historically and have even slightly improved in terms of fecal coliform levels. The Water Quality
Index ratings for the Nicomekl River, Murray Creek and Anderson Creek were Good in 2002.
The Serpentine River mainstem has not consistently met objectives for suspended solids, dissolved oxygen, and pH in the past. The tributaries, particularly Latimer Creek, have seldom met objectives for fecal coliforms (all creeks), suspended solids (Latimer and Mahood Creeks), and dissolved oxygen (Latimer Creek). However, in 2002, objectives for  fecal coliforms, E. coli, ammonia, nitrite, suspended solids, dissolved oxygen, and pH were generally met at sites in the Serpentine River and its tributaries, with a few exceptions. The E. coli and long-term fecal coliform objectives were not met at the upstream location, while suspended solids and long-term dissolved oxygen objectives were not met at the downstream location of the Serpentine River. Additionally, the E. coli objective for irrigation was not met in Hyland Creek. While there has been an improvement in fecal coliform levels at the downstream Serpentine River location since 1990, there has not been a significant improvement at the upstream location. There have been significant improvements in fecal coliform levels in both Mahood and Hyland Creeks since 1990, although 2002 levels were close to exceeding long-term objectives. Since 1990, there have also been improvements in ammonia, suspended solids, and DO in the Serpentine mainstem, as well as in Mahood and Hyland Creeks. The Water Quality Index ratings for the Serpentine River, Latimer Creek, Mahood Creek, and Hyland Creek were Good in 2002.
The 3-page summary report is available here (PDF/251 KB/3 pages).
The complete report is available here (PDF/3.93 MB/62 pages).
UPDATED: JULY 2004
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