Technical annex: oil sands monitoring, annual report 2013 to 2014

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met.
• Wood Buffalo airshed:
  • Design, purchase and installation of Wapasu station (AMS-17);
  • Progress made to secure land, design and purchase equipment for Conklin Fire Tower (AMS-18); and
  • Developed, deployed solar-powered, low-flow continuous denuders for more accurate measurement of nitrogen deposition.
• Lakeland airshed:
  • Implemented more stringent detection limits for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs); and
  • Added methane/non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHC) analyzers at the portable station and the ability to trigger additional sampling during high NMHC events for addressing odour issues.

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met.
• The ecosystem site, Island Falls, SK, has been operational since October 2012; in 2013 to 2014, work continued on installation of the sites in Wood Buffalo National Park, NT; Pinehouse Lake, SK; Joussard, AB; and Flat Valley, SK.
• Continued enhanced monitoring for total gaseous mercury (TGM), speciated mercury and/or BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes) at the Patricia McInnes (AMS-6), Lower Camp (AMS-11), Bertha Ganter (AMS-1), and Buffalo Viewpoint (AMS-4) sites

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met.
• Ongoing site preparation for installation of upwind site in Joussard, AB

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met.
• Summer 2013 intensive monitoring campaign completed, including:
  • An airborne component; and
  • A ground-based component in Fort McKay (Fort McKay South site, AMS-13, was enhanced to accommodate additional equipment in support of the intensive study).
• A ground-based monitoring site (Oski-ôtin) was established in the community of Fort McKay, with the assistance of the Fort McKay First Nation, in June 2013.

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met.
• Evaluating the latest NASA sulphur dioxide (SO2) dataset from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) to develop space-based trends in SO2 (~late 2014).
• Acquired measurements of methanol, ammonia, carbon monoxide have from the (TES) Thermal Emission Spectrometer satellite instrument; analyses of these data are underway.
• Analyzing satellite measurements of aerosols over the surface mining areas is ongoing.
• Developed Air Mapping Tool for the oil sands region
• Worked with National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) on the use of satellite remote sensing data.
• Continued measurements with two Environment Canada autonomous aerosol LiDAR systems (deployed in December 2012 and July 2013).
• Tested and validated Alberta Advanced Air LiDAR. 

• 2013 to 2014 commitment on tree rings and fingerprinting work met.
• Conducted work under the Monitoring Pollutant Transformation study, which will inform understanding of compounds and atmospheric processes causing odour and/or visibility issues.

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met.
• Finalized report Review of Oil Sands Air Emissions Inventories in December 2013.
• Compiled and assessed emissions data from multiple sources, and emissions for each oil sands site projected for 2013.
• Identified possible information gaps in PAH and mercury emissions in oil sands inventories.

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met.
• Analyzed CEMS (Continuous Emissions Monitoring Systems) data to compare to reported emissions for any daily/seasonal variations.

• 2013 to 14 commitment met via the aircraft portion of the summer 2013 intensive monitoring campaign.

• 2013 to 2014 commitment partially met by.
• Conducted facility-based monitoring of emissions under the aircraft portion of the summer 2013 intensive monitoring campaign.
• Monitored one tailings pond - additional monitoring postponed to subsequent years.
• Developed an autonomous mobile platform for tailings pond air concentration/emission monitoring.

• Work postponed.

• Work postponed.

• Conducted aircraft-based sampling of emissions from facilities, which include all point, fugitive and area sources from within a delineated flight box as part of the summer 2013 intensive monitoring campaign, and initiated analysis of the measurements.

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met.
• Implemented passive monitoring for PACs at 16 sites.
• Co-located passive samplers with bird boxes at various sites to support avian effects studies.

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met.
• Work ongoing to measure dry deposition fluxes for PACs.

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met.
• Work ongoing to improve forest critical loads and exceedance maps.

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met to measure PACs and particulate metals at 3 sites met [Mannix (AMS-5), Fort McKay South (AMS-13) and Lower Camp (AMS-11)].
• Enhanced the Fort McKay Bertha Ganter site (AMS-1) to house enhanced deposition equipment.
• Progress made towards preparation (legal and permitting) of Buffalo Viewpoint station (AMS-4) to upgrade for enhanced deposition.

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met.
• Completed and archived for future use daily forecasts from GEM-MACH (Global Environmental Multi-scale - Modelling Air quality and Chemistry) simulations.
• Conducted twice-daily forecast runs in support of the summer 2013 intensive monitoring campaign to inform locations of flights.
• Modified GEM-MACH to include outputs of sulphur and nitrogen deposition, in order to estimate deposition and calculate critical loads exceedances.

• Developed Air Data QA/QC Guidance Document for Short Term Studies.
• Developed inventory of Standards and Protocols template for air monitoring; relevant information were collected from EC, ESRD, and monitoring organizations.

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met.
• Increased sampling frequency to monthly at M6.

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met.
• Conducted joint field method comparability studies by ESRD and EC in 2012.  Analysis of these studies is ongoing.
• Studies conducted by ESRD beginning 2013 to assess comparability of samples collected at two Athabasca River monitoring sites.  These studies are ongoing and will require the collection of three years of data.
• Assessed the comparability of analytical methods for the polar organic fraction initiated with a review in 2011 is ongoing.
• Inter-lab comparisons conducted by ESRD and EC in 2013 to assess comparability of analyses for metals and organics in snow samples.  Additional comparisons, assessment and follow-up are ongoing.

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met.
• Continued monthly sampling at M4 and M5.
• Continued quarterly sampling at M3, M7.
• Continued water quality sampling with benthos/CABIN mainstem work to provide greater geographical coverage for water quality information.

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met.
• Sampled 85% of the core monitoring sites identified in the Phase 1 Plan that are to be in place under full implementation (2015).
• Sampled 63 sites in total in 2013.
• Monitored 25 key sites on a monthly basis.
• Conducted intensive (more than 2 times per week) sampling at 13 strategic locations.
• Continued benthos/CABIN and fish work to provide water quality information
• Incorporated additional sites to link with effects based monitoring (also event-based).
• Initiated comparative assessment with other agencies.
• Additional upstream control monitoring sites added to each tributary.

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met.
• Continued water quality sampling with benthos/CABIN and fish work to provide greater geographical coverage for water quality information.

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met.
• Collected surface water samples monthly (except during river freeze-up and break-up periods) at 12 sites (M9, M10, M11a, M12, BI1, BU1, BU2, MC1, RI1, QU1, SL1, SL2).
• Increased the number of monitoring locations from 9 to 12 (additional sites: BU1, BU2, MC1).
• Deployed passive samplers monthly in open water at three sites (M9, M11a, M12).
• Deployed automated samplers at two sites for two months each (M9, M11a).

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met.
• Monitored tributary water quality during the Freshet (snowmelt period) every second day at key tributary locations, reducing over time to twice weekly, then weekly, and then twice monthly at 12 to 14 sites.
• Continuously monitored 13 sites.
• Conducted ‘event-based’ sampling (rainfall/runoff events) starting in July at 6 sites (2 sites each on the Steepbank, McKay, and Ells rivers).

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met.
• Deployed and retrieved passive samplers at mainstem sites M0, M1, M4, M7 and M9 (and on the Slave and Peace rivers as part of Extended Geographical Area).
• Implemented Passive Suspended Sediment Sampling with monthly deployments (M0, M2, M3, M4, M7 and M9).
• Deployed and retrieved passive samplers on the Steepbank, Ells, Mackay, Firebag, Joslyn, and Birch rivers.
• Deployed and retrieved passive sampling devices in deltaic wetlands in mid-summer in the PAD.

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met.
• Surface/Groundwater Interaction
  • Investigated potential groundwater discharge locations identified on MacKay River in fiscal year 2012 to 2013.
  • Tested DTS system for local detection of groundwater discharge on the Steepbank River.
  • Tested direct measurement of river discharge (seep) to quantify net groundwater input on selected reaches (Steepbank & Ells), complemented with geochemical & temporal temperature data.
  • Collected samples from 19 seep sites along the Athabasca and Clearwater rivers.
• Groundwater Source Identification
  • Collected 23 large-volume groundwater samples across region for background geochemistry & 4 from Pond 1/Ells River for TIE analyses.
  • Completed a validation study of multi-marker approach for identifying Oil Sands Process Water (OSPW) in groundwater.
• Groundwater Seeps
  • Sampled groundwater seeps at 5 locations on tributaries and Athabasca mainstem in June or July to assess influence on interpretation of surface water quality.
  • Sampled deeper groundwater seeps from Devonian carbonates on the Athabasca mainstem and its tributaries to compare against shallow groundwater contributions and begin establishing a temporal record of deeper groundwater contributions to the Athabasca River.

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met.
• Initiated scoping exercise.
• Initiated development of a continuous sediment flux program.

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met.
• Switched eight stations to annual (year-round) from seasonal (open water period).
• Completed station audit for RAMP hydrometric sites.
• WSC to implement hydromet station at M9, upper Steepbank hydromet station implemented by Alberta/Hatfield.

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met.
• Monitored 2013 and 2014 ice break up at many locations along the Athabasca mainstem and in the PAD to provide required supporting information for river ice dynamics modelling.
• The actual number and location of sites vary from year to year, depending on the nature of the river ice breakup; monitor locations are determined based on previous year’s observations along with current year visual observations made from aircraft during breakup; pressure transducers installed at key locations.
• Integration of  ice dynamics modelling on sediment and contaminant transport in LAR 2D models.

Additional progress
Develop hydro-climatic, hydrologic, and hydraulic models for prediction of water quantity and quality and sediment transport

Model sediment dynamics within selected tributaries (relates to REPS below) - complete Ells River model; initiate Steepbank model

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met.
• Sediment Transport/Dynamics (Modelling)
  • Completed Ells River model and modelling is underway.
  • Initiated Steepbank River model. Sediment deposition and erosion characterization underway (5m annular flume work occurring now). Microbial characterization underway.
• Developing predictions for water quantity and quality and sediment transport in the Mainstem and Tributaries
  • Completed Active Suspended Sediment Collection at sites M0, M2, M3, M9 during open water high flow, open water low flow and under ice.
  • Conducted two 5m annular flume experiments as input to numerical models of sediment transport on both tributaries and main stem.
• Hydrological and Climatic Modelling
  • Collected and assessed multi-year historical data.
  • Assessed Hydro-Climatic variability and extremes.
  • Modelled water availability based on climate and hydrologic models.
• Hydraulic Modelling
  • Completed initial1D numerical model of flow and sediment transport in the Lower Athabasca River (LAR) (250Km from Crooked Rapids to Old Fort).
  • Completed initial 2D numerical model of flow and sediment transport in the LAR and a focus on a 20Km reach above and below Steepbank River -EFDC (common platform between EC and Alberta).
  • Completed initial modelling of sediment and contaminant transport in Mainstem (near Steepbank) and tributaries.

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met.
• Continued Benthos/CABIN and fish work.

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met.
• Initiated development of a continuous sediment flux program, initial sampling at M3.

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met.
• Historical method sediment sampling was determined to be no longer an option. Continued sediment quality sampling with benthos/CABIN work in mainstem to provide greater geographical coverage.

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met.
• Sampled 6 additional lakes in March 2013.

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met.
• Completed Bulk Suspended Sediment Collection
  • Centrifuged for sediment quality and sediment physical characteristics.
  • Collected large volume bed sediment (100 Kg) and water (800 L) from the Steepbank River within an area of benthic effects monitoring and from the main stem Athabasca River within an area of deposition.
• Completed suspended sediment sampling
  • Winter only (under ice) on Mainstem M0, M2, M3, M9.
  • Tributaries [Ells (3) and Steepbank (4)] (Time integration monthly).
  • Mainstem at M0, M2, M3, M4, M7, M9 (Time integrated monthly).
• Added bathymetry information to Habitat Mapping Surveillance Program. Completed a 60km swath bank to bank between FM and HWY 63 bridge and additional swaths to M7 (some gaps). Reswathed M3, M4 and M5 for year to year comparison. Completed LIDAR - Alberta raw LIDAR data agreement and contract to interpret/map LIDAR.
• Constructed sediment rating curves for Athabasca and tributaries of suspended loads to use as boundary conditions in sediment transport model.

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met.
• Continued sampling 11 sites (from M0 down to M9).
• Retrieved all available historical data and assessed for spatial & temporal coverage.

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met.
• Conducted more than 120 site visits with full sampling protocol at greater than 60 tributary sampling reaches, plus 25 joint mesh size comparative samples for methodological comparisons.
• Sampled an additional 70+ tributary locations in 2013 to 14 in the lower Athabasca and in the downstream receiving environments (EGA).
• Retrieved all available historical data and assessed for spatial & temporal coverage.
• Conducted methods comparison at6 reaches with 5 of 10 riffles sampled (MacKay, Steepbank and Ells - upper / lower sites) with side by side sampling for a total of 45 comparative samples.
• Initiated benthic invertebrate community assessment in both erosional and depositional zones, includes Southern operators region.

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met
• Sampled 12 Peace Athabasca Delta sites + 6 Slave Delta sites for water quantity and sediments at the increased frequency as per Plan.
  • Instrumented representative PAD wetlands in April/May to measure year-round water temperature, dissolved oxygen, water balance, hydro-period and connectivity to main flow system.
  • Continued work examining historical and future water availability in PAD wetlands.
  • Continued work on synthesizing available flood history and historical water level/saturated area information for PAD basins.
  • Continued surface elevation and bathymetric surveys of study sites using ground and aerial based approaches (LiDAR and total station survey).

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met.
• Continued snow monitoring to confirm deposition estimates.

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met.
• Continued ongoing monitoring of wet precipitation.

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met.
• Monitored all 6 mainstem Fish Health sites monitored (an increase of 1 site from fiscal year 2012 to 2013).

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met.
• Monitored all 13 tributary Fish Health sites (an increase of 1 site from fiscal year 2012 to 2013).

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met.
• Monitored all 17 Fish Community sites at existing frequency (3x/year).

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met
• Monitored all 39 tributary Fish Community sites (includes Delta sites).

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met.
• Completed laboratory fish and invertebrate bioassays to assess the toxicology of oil sands substances sampled including river waters, sediments, suspended sediments, groundwater, depositional samples (snow) and erosional samples (freshet).

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met.
• Continued current snow site sampling for toxicological assessment.

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met.
• Continued environmental samples with emphasis on groundwater in 2013.

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met.
• Completed caged Hyalella (2 weeks : 9 tributary sites : fall) and caged mussels (1 month : 9 tributary and mainstem sites : fall).

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met.
• Continued RAMP/Hatfield lake sampling program.

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met.
• Assessed nearly 350 lakes in 2012-13 to inform selection of the level 2 and level 3 lakes to be monitored.
• Produced lake survey database (inclusive of field observations and chemistry data from nearly the 350 level 1 lakes).

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met.
• Added another 22 RAMP lakes to the network of lakes being monitored.

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met.
• Sampled Level 2 lakes in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Northwest Territories, continued baseline characterization and initiated paleoecological analyses
• Selected Level 3 lake ecosystems in Saskatchewan, continued evaluation of candidate lakes in Alberta for Level 3 intensive monitoring, and began instrumentation of selected lakes.

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met.
• Established 8 REPS sites: 4 on the Steepbank; 3 on the Ells; 1 river reach of the Athabasca Mainstem below Fort McMurray.
• Integrated process-based measurements (sediment transport/dynamics, fish and invertebrate health, water quality parameters, water quantity (flows), sediment quality parameters, in-situ toxicology, etc.).
• Improved data to parameterize models/decision-frameworks (water quantity/quality/ecosystem health, cumulative effects).

• 2013 to 2014 commitment deferred.
• Deployed two river platforms with multiple WQ, sediment, hydraulic instruments at two sites (M9, M11a), open-water season.

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met at Mamawi Lake (WBNP), Egg Island (Lake Athabasca) and Dalmead Reservoir (reference site near Calgary)
• Completed reconnaissance. Permitting activities are underway in preparation for additional egg collections for 2014 breeding season

• 2013 to 2014 commitment was not met.
• Collected eggs from the N of Fort Chipewyan. Tremendous effort was made to locate and sample colonies with little success.
• This work requires a significant effort to locate and sample breeding colonies to ensure a sufficient number of eggs are collected.  Considering alternate mechanisms (e.g. monitoring contaminants in swallow food sources) to monitor contaminant uptake to wildlife.

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met.
• Wetlands surveyed for potential monitoring, expanded coverage includes 21 core monitoring ponds assessed for wetland health and contaminant levels in biotic and abiotic components.

• 2013 to 2014 commitment initiated.
• Exposures completed using field-collected sediment only. Pond water and snow melt exposure deferred.
• Exposure experiments on sediments completed in laboratories

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met.
• Data analyzed and report drafted.

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met
• Monitored air contaminants and tree swallow nestling health and development via nest boxes and passive air samplers at two sites near oil sands industrial activity and one reference site

• 2013 to 2014 commitment partially met
• Finalized an agreement with industry to obtain and assess collected birds

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met
• Harvested mallard ducks at locations upstream and downstream of oil sands operations with semi-aquatic mammals (otters, mink and muskrat) collected at the same sites; terrestrial carnivores (marten, fisher and lynx) obtained from trap lines, for contaminant analyses

• 2013 to 2014 commitment partially met
• Completed greenhouse exposure experimental work by examining a combination of effects of selenium and NA₂SO₄

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met
• Recorded at 12 sites (7 disturbed and 5 more pristine), species composition and diversity and collected soil and plants for contaminants analyses.
• Established a soil seed bank for all sites

• 2013 to 2014 commitment partially met.
• ABMI terrestrial and wetland protocols were completed at approximately 80 sites in the 3 oil sands areas. 
• ABMI did not operate at full capacity in the oil sands area due to reduced funding and challenges gaining access to the Cold Lake Air Weapons Range

• 2013 to 2014 commitment partially met:
• Conducted three aerial moose and deer surveys in Wildlife Management Units (WMU) 511, 515/651/841 and 726.  An additional survey was to be completed in WMU 527 however weather and snow conditions did not allow survey to be completed. WMU 527 has been added to the 2014 to 2015.
• Population and trend assessment of wolves not undertaken based on cost and technical feasibility considerations.

• 2013 to 2014 commitment partially met for migratory forest songbirds but not for wetlands-associated birds as this was screened out during project prioritization.
• Collected data on boreal landbirds at 3,615 point count sites across 39 habitat classes where data have been lacking.

• 2013 to 2014 commitment partially met
• Completed initial predictions of avian response to habitat supply based on current land use and pre-industrial (de-footprinted) landscape using models for 77 passerine species.

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met.
• Deployed automated recording units (ARUs) by 6 energy companies in on-lease monitoring programs.
• Piloted ARUs at 70 core biodiversity monitoring sites.
• Tested ARUs in a community-led monitoring program.
• Evaluated importance of survey length and observer effects on rare plant surveys.

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met.
• Developed protocols for training and surveying of boreal songbirds, and standards for point count surveys of boreal songbirds.

• 2013 to 2014 commitment partially met.
• In coordination with ESRD’s provincial caribou program, 925 caribou fecal pellet samples were collected from 98 sites for DNA analysis from the Cold Lake caribou range.  Samples have been sent to DNA lab for processing and analysis.
• Completed required program elements to address assessment of boreal woodland caribou demographic rates and distribution. Work included:
  • Capture and radio-collaring of 120 boreal caribou in oil sands region
  • Recording of adult female caribou survival and estimation of annual mortality rates
  • Determination of female calf caribou survival to 9 months of age
  • Calculation of annual population growth rates for each boreal caribou population, including all populations overlapping with oil sands region
• Continued monitoring of boreal caribou distribution in relation to delineated local population range.

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met.
• Monitored movement patterns and habitat use of 44 individually marked whooping cranes during fall 2013 migration.

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met.
• Sampled 15 terrestrial sites and 15 wetlands with various levels of human footprint to better understand its impact on biodiversity and assess trends.
• Conducted Barred owl occupancy surveys at 495 sites across the oil sands region.  Twelve owls were captured in 2013 to 2014 and GPS dataloggers attached to track their movements over the breeding season.  Technical difficulties were encountered with data downloads from some the dataloggers.  The manufacturer was contacted to resolve those issues.   

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met.
• Surveyed 200 rare plant sites.
• Surveyed 42 owl sites, 65 yellow rail sites, and 27 amphibian sites; developed automatic recognizers for barred owl and yellow rail sonograms using specialized protocols.

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met.
• Coordinated among federal & provincial governments and monitoring organizations responsibility for monitoring activities and ensured coordination and integration
• Established a Yellow Rail working group with both governments and industry to prioritize monitoring sites for Yellow Rail and coordinate surveys.

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met with ongoing activities for 2014 to 2015
  • Updates to the 2010 wall-to-wall human footprint GIS layer to 2012 conditions is ongoing, with a website release planned for late 2014.
  • Enhanced accuracy of GoA base features (cutline, pipelines, roads) in human footprint layer for the oil sands region to be included in the 2012 wall-to-wall human footprint layer
  • Provided information to report on status of human footprint in oil sands region including change in human footprint between 2000 and 2012 based on the 3x7 km samples throughout the JOSM region
• Initiated protocol refinement and QC better track trends in human footprint

• 2013 to 2014 commitment partially met:
  • Detailed classes of human footprint was determined/summarized for field sites visited during 2013 to 2014, and for all quarter sections in the JOSM region
  • Some incorrect cutblock boundaries in the 2010 human footprint layer were corrected  during 2013 to 2014 and cutblock age was completed June 2014
• Developed a NSERC collaborative research and development project to test methods for monitoring vegetation recovery in 2013 to 2014.

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met
• Developed PLVI request for 56 townships, awarded contract and had inventory completed
• On the ground habitat data collected at 95 ABMI sites

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met
• Combined existing wetland layers to create a province-wide wetland map based on the best information available
• Combined existing vegetation layers to create a province-wide vegetation map based on the best information available
• Vegetation map will be updated as new information becomes available

• 2013 to 2014 commitment met, with ongoing activities for 2014 to 2015
• Initiated discussion with organizations in Alberta to develop a vegetation monitoring initiative that builds on new remote sensing imagery
• Tested methods to extract ecosite information based digital elevation models. Further refinement of predictive ecosite mapping is occurring during 2014 to 2015

• 2013 to 2014 commitment ongoing
• Modeled species-habitat relationships to identify land cover and biophysical information that need to be included in the analyses. Modeling was conducted for more than 200 species: mammals, birds, vascular plants, mosses,  lichens and mites
• Modeling will continue in 2014 to 2015 and if appropriate additional biophysical variables will be added

• 2013 to 2014 commitment completed, with ongoing activities for 2014 to 2015
• Used GIS information available on the internet to create GIS layers describing climate, topography, and soils throughout Alberta
• Converted the biophysical information into rasters that are perfectly aligned, and stored them on the ABMI website