Water Quality Objectives Attainment Summary, Fraser River Tributaries from Hope to Kanaka Creek, 2002
This report presents the results of monitoring done in 2002 to check the attainment of
Fraser River tributary water quality objectives that were set in 1985.
Objectives have not been monitored since 1989. The CCME Water Quality Index was also determined for these tributaries using 2002 results.
Ten tributaries of the Lower Fraser were monitored: Salmon River, Kanaka Creek,
Bertrand Creek, Saar Creek, Sumas River, Chilliwack Creek, Atchelitz Creek,
Luckakuck Creek, Hope Slough, and Elk Creek. Grab samples were collected weekly
for five weeks during October and November 2002, and field measurements were
collected weekly for 10 weeks, during September to November 2002.
Bacteriological indicators included fecal coliforms, Enterococci, and
Escherichia coli. Water quality parameters included dissolved oxygen, water
temperature, conductivity, pH, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite and phosphorus.
Watershed-specific objectives for fecal coliforms, pH, and ammonia were met in all ten streams.
Fecal coliform levels in Kanaka Creek were well within the general irrigation
guideline. Objectives were not met for dissolved oxygen in any of the ten streams. Ammonia levels were below the objective for all sites but some creeks showed higher ammonia levels than historical data which may be indicative of a worsening trend.
For parameters where watershed-specific objectives have not been developed, values were compared to provincial water quality guidelines. E. coli and nitrate values met provincial guidelines. Nitrate concentrations also met a proposed revised guideline of 5 mg/L, recommended in this report, to reduce amphibian mortality. Guidelines were not met for temperature in most streams except Luckakuck Creek, Atchelitz Creek and Elk Creek, or for nitrite in Saar Creek, Sumas River, Chilliwack Creek, Atchelitz Creek, Hope Slough, or Elk Creek.
Tributaries that received a Good Water Quality Index rating in 2002 included the Salmon River, Sumas River, Kanaka Creek, Luckakuck Creek, Hope Slough, and Elk Creek. Bertrand Creek, Chilliwack Creek, and Atchelitz Creek received a Fair rating, while Saar Creek received a Marginal rating due to extremely poor dissolved oxygen conditions. The level of non-attainment revealed by the 2002 monitoring program warrants both source investigation and follow-up monitoring.
The summary report is available here (PDF/158 KB/2 pages).
The complete report is available here (PDF/1.51 MB/37 pages).
UPDATED: JULY 2004
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