Baseline Surveys

Hat Creek Coalfield
Similkameen Coalfields
Crowsnest Coalfields
Vancouver Island
Peace River
Telkwa Coalfield

 

Hat Creek Coalfield

Hat Creek Coalfield -- Baseline Surface Water Quality Survey
( 55KB)

In August 2005 the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, Ministry of Environment, and Ts'kw'aylaxw First Nation jointly commenced baseline surface water quality sampling of Hat Creek and one major tributary. Sites sampled on a monthly basis include: Hat Creek above Pocock Creek, Ambusten Creek, and Hat Creek at lower bridge. Stream sample site locations, physical and chemical analyses are documented in the accompanying tables. The tables will be updated periodically as new data are acquired. Sample collection is performed by the Ts'kw'aylaxw First Nation. Analyses were performed by Maxxam Analytics Inc.

 

Similkameen Coalfields

Similkameen Coalfields – Baseline Surface Water Quality Survey
( 176KB)

In April 2004 the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, Ministry of Environment, and Upper Similkameen Indian Band jointly commenced baseline surface water quality sampling of seven streams draining from the Princeton and Tulameen coalfields. Streams sampled on a monthly basis include: Tulameen River, Lamont Creek, Bromley Creek, Summers Creek, Allison Creek and Granite Creek. In November, 2004 sampling also commenced for Asp Creek. The Similkameen River in Princeton is sampled bi-weekly under a separate Canada/B.C. water sampling program (since 1984). These data can be found at http://waterquality.ec.gc.ca/EN/home.htm. Stream sample site locations, physical and chemical analysis are documented in the accompanying tables. The tables will be updated periodically as new data is acquired. Sample collection is performed by the Upper Similkameen Indian Band. Analysis were performed by Maxxam Analytics Inc. (Phillips Environmental Laboratories prior to February 2005).

Similkameen Coalfields – Baseline Benthic invertebrate in Stream Survey
( 136KB)

In October 2004 the Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources undertook a baseline benthic invertebrate survey of seven streams draining from the Princeton and Tulameen coalfields. Streams were sampled at the same locations as surface water quality stations in Similkameen River, Tulameen River, Lamont Creek, Bromley Creek, Summers Creek, Allison Creek and Granite Creek. Sampling was performed by Ministry of Environment staff in triplicate at each site utilizing a Hess sampler. Taxonomic identifications were performed by Fraser Environmental Services and are listed in the following report.

Town of Princeton Water Supply Wells
( 46KB)

In April and September, 2005 the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, Ministry of Environment and Town of Princeton collaborated in collecting and analyzing water samples from the town’s four municipal water supply wells. Samples were analyzed by Maxxam Analytics Inc. for a wide range of physical properties, trace metals, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and volatile organics (VOC). The data serve as a useful baseline water quality of the town’s current water supply wells. Additional historical water quality data may be available by contacting the office of the Town Administrator in Princeton.

Similkameen Coalfields – Fish Population and Habitat Survey Review
( 615KB)

Fish and fish habitat are important sub-sets of the broader array of environmental resource information existing in each coal field that the ERIP has sought to consolidate and make available. G3 Consulting Ltd. was recently contracted to do a more thorough review of existing fisheries information areas surrounding the Similkameen and Crowsnest coal fields. Contact was made with numerous individuals, companies and agencies to locate and catalogue fish and fish habitat surveys and assessments found in less obvious locations, the so-called “grey literature”. In addition to this report, the additional documents and sources have been added to the searchable ERIP database.

 

Crowsnest Coalfield

Crowsnest Coalfield – Baseline Surface Water Quality Survey
( 183KB)

In April 2004 the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources and Ministry of Environment commenced baseline surface water quality sampling of six streams draining from the Crowsnest coalfield. Streams sampled on a monthly basis include: Flathead River above McLatchie Creek, Coal Creek (2 sites), North Lodgepole Creek, Morrissey Creek, Leach Creek, Wheeler Creek and lower Michel Creek in Sparwood. Stream sample site locations, physical and chemical analysis are documented in the accompanying tables. The tables will be updated periodically as new data is acquired. Sample collection is by the Ministry of Environment. Analyses were performed by Maxxam Analytics Inc. (Phillips Environmental Laboratories prior to February 2005).

Crowsnest Coalfield – Baseline Stream Benthic Invertebrate in Stream Survey
( 149KB)

The Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources undertook a baseline benthic invertebrate survey of seven streams draining from the Crowsnest coalfield at the same locations as surface water quality sites in the Flathead River above McLatchie Creek, Coal Creek (2 sites), North Lodgepole Creek, Morrissey Creek, Leach Creek, Wheeler Creek and lower Michel Creek east of Sparwood. All sites were sampled in October 2004 except the Michel Creek site which was sampled in October 2005. Sampling was performed by Ministry of Environment staff in triplicate at each site utilizing a Hess sampler. Taxonomic identifications and counts were performed by Fraser Environmental Services and are listed in the following report.

Crowsnest Coalfield – Fish Population and Habitat Survey Review
( 6.5MB)

Fish and fish habitat are important sub-sets of the broader array of environmental resource information existing in each coal field that the ERIP has sought to consolidate and make available. G3 Consulting Ltd. was recently contracted to do a more thorough review of existing fisheries information areas surrounding the Similkameen and Crowsnest coal fields. Contact was made with numerous individuals, companies and agencies to locate and catalogue fish and fish habitat surveys and assessments found in less obvious locations, the so-called “grey literature”. In addition to this report, the additional documents and sources have been added to the searchable ERIP database.

 

Vancouver Island

Comox Coalfield – Baseline Surface Stream Water Quality Survey
( 107KB)

In March 2005 the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources and Ministry of Environment commenced baseline surface water quality sampling of six streams draining from the Comox coalfield. Streams sampled on a monthly basis include: Oyster River, Tsolum River, Browns River, T’Sable River, Puntledge River, and Trent River. Stream sample site locations and physical and chemical analysis are documented in the accompanying tables. The tables will be updated periodically as new data is acquired. Sample collection is performed by John Caswell and Eileen Stearns. Analyses are performed by Maxxam Analytics Inc.

 

Peace River

Hudson’s Hope – Baseline and Watershed Assessment
( 569KB)

From September 2003 to August 2004 the Environmental Protection regional office in Prince George conducted a water quality survey Lynx, Brenot and Portage Creeks near Hudson’s Hope. The survey was intended to document current conditions in advance of the potential for coalbed gas development as well as other potential land uses plus evaluate the effects of current land uses, namely agriculture and forest harvesting. The results of this survey can be found in the attached summary report.

Hudson’s Hope – Groundwater Wells Report
( 1.2MB)
Hudson’s Hope – Groundwater Wells Report (Data)
( 29KB)

In 2003 the Oil and Gas Commission retained a consultant to conduct a survey of groundwater water quality in the vicinity of Hudson's Hope. The purpose of the survey was to gather some preliminary water quality information to serve as a baseline of conditions prior to the exploration and possible development of coalbed gas in the area. The survey was paid for through the Commission's Science and Community Environmental Knowledge Fund.

 

Telkwa Coalfield

Telkwa Coalfield - Baseline Surface Water Quality Survey
( 64KB)

In May 2006 the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, in close cooperation with the Ministry of Environment, Environmental Protection Regional office in Smithers, commenced baseline surface water quality sampling of six streams draining from the Telkwa coalfield. Streams sampled on a monthly basis include: Pine Creek, Tenas Creek, Goat Horn Creek, Telkwa River, Bulkley River below the Telkwa confluence, and Canyon Creek. Stream sample site locations, physical and chemical analysis to date are documented in the accompanying tables. The tables will be updated periodically as new data is acquired. Analyses were performed by Maxxam Analytics Inc. Burnaby laboratory.