Table of Contents

Executive Summary
Introduction
Quality Assurance
State of the Water Quality
Conclusions - State of Water Quality
Recommendations for Water Quality Management
Figure 3 Flow at Birchbank
Figure 4 Total Alkalinity
Figure 5 Total Aluminum
Figure 6 Total Arsenic
Figure 7 Total Barium
Figure 8 Total Beryllium
Figure 9 Total Cadmium
Figure 10 Calcium
Figure 11 Dissolved Chloride
Figure 12 Total Chromium
Figure 13 Total Cobalt
Figure 14 Fecal Coliforms
Figure 15 Apparent Colour
Figure 16 Colour (Single Wavelength)
Figure 17 Colour (Total Absorbance Colour)
Figure 18 Total Copper
Figure 19 Total Copper and Non-filterable Residue
Figure 20 Dissolved Fluoride
Figure 21 Hardness
Figure 22 Total Iron
Figure 23 Total Iron and Non-filterable Residue
Figure 24 Total Lead
Figure 25 Total Lead and Non-filterable Residue
Figure 26 Total Lithium
Figure 27 Magnesium
Figure 28 Total Manganese
Figure 29 Total Molybdenum
Figure 30 Total Nickel
Figure 31 Ammonia-N
Figure 32 Nitrogen (Nitrate/Nitrite)
Figure 33 Total Dissolved Nitrogen
Figure 34 pH (federal)
Figure 35 pH (provincial)
Figure 36 Total Dissolved Phosphorus
Figure 37 Dissolved Ortho-Phosphorus
Figure 38 Total Phosphorus
Figure 39 Potassium
Figure 40 Non-Filterable Residue
Figure 41 Non-Filterable Residue and flow
Figure 42 Total Selenium
Figure 43 Silica
Figure 44 Sodium
Figure 45 Specific Conductivity (federal)
Figure 46 Specific conductivity (provincial)
Figure 47 Total Strontium
Figure 48 Dissolved Sulphate
Figure 49 Air Temperature
Figure 50 Water Temperature
Figure 51 Turbidity (federal)
Figure 52 Turbidity (provincial)
Figure 53 Total Vanadium
Figure 54 Total Zinc
Figure 55 Total Gas Pressure
References

Canada - British Columbia
Water Quality Monitoring Agreement

Water Quality Section
Water Management Branch
Environment and Resource Management Department
Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks

Aquatic Science Section
Environmental Conservation Branch
Environment Canada
Pacific and Yukon Region

September, 1999

Canadian Cataloguing in Publication Data
Holms, G. B.

State of water quality of Columbia River at Birchbank, 1983-1997

At head of title: Canada-British Columbia Water Quality Monitoring Agreement.
Authors: Holms, G.B., Pommen, L.W., Cf. P.
Co-published by Aquatic Science Section, Environmental Conservation Branch, Environment Canada, Pacific and Yukon Region.
Includes bibliographical references: p.
ISBN 0-7726-3938-8

1. Water quality - Columbia River. 2. Water quality - British Columbia - Birchbank Region.
3. Water - Pollution - Columbia River. 4. Water - Pollution - Birchbank Region. I. Pommen, L. W. (Larry Wayne), 1948- . II. Canada. Environment Canada. Pacific and Yukon Region. Aquatic Science Section. III. British Columbia. Water Quality Section. IV. Canada-British Columbia Water Quality Monitoring Agreement. V. Title.

TD227.B7H649 1999 363.739'42'0971162 C99-960226-8

Authors

Holms, G. B. Water Quality Section,

Water Management Branch,
Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks,
Victoria. B.C.

Pommen, L.W. Water Quality Section,

Water Management Branch,
Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks,
Victoria. B.C.

Contributors

Beatty, J. Pollution Prevention,

Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks,
Nelson, B.C.

Boettger, B. Environmental Health Programs,

Public Health Protection Branch,
Ministry of Health
Victoria. B.C.

Butcher, G. Water Quality Section,

Water Management Branch,
Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks,
Victoria. B.C.

McDonald, L. Pollution Prevention

Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks,
Cranbrook, B.C.

Ryan, A. Aquatic and Atmospheric Sciences Division

Pacific and Yukon Region,
Environment Canada,
Vancouver, B.C.

Salekin, F. Water Quality Sample Collector for the Columbia River at Birchbank. Robson, B.C.

Shaw, P. Aquatic and Atmospheric Sciences Division

Pacific and Yukon Region,
Environment Canada,
Vancouver. B.C.