WTR D

Canadian Surface Waters

Overview

  • Watersheds, Rivers, and Lakes

    • Define key terms related to watersheds.

    • Compare features of Canadian rivers and lakes.

    • Discuss characteristics and issues affecting Alberta's rivers.

Watersheds

Definition

  • A watershed is an area that drains to a common outlet.

  • Also known as a drainage basin or catchment area.

  • Separated by divides and often named for their primary river.

  • Watersheds can be nested, e.g., Little Red Deer River subwatershed is within the Red Deer River watershed, which is part of the South Saskatchewan and Hudson Bay Drainage Basins.

Major Canadian Rivers

Featured Rivers

  • Mackenzie River

    • Longest river in Canada (1800 km, 4250 km including tributaries).

    • Flows north from Great Slave Lake to the Arctic Ocean.

    • Discharges 306 km³ of water/year, carries 100 million tons of sediment.

    • Main river of the second largest North American river system.

  • Fraser River

    • Longest river in British Columbia (1400 km).

    • Originates at Mt. Robson, flows southwest to the Pacific Ocean.

    • Discharges 112 km³ of water/year with a sediment load of 20 million tons.

  • St. Lawrence River

    • Has the highest discharge of any Canadian river (447 km³/year).

    • Flows from Lake Ontario to the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

    • Key outlet for the Great Lakes, spanning ~3200 km.

  • Saskatchewan River

    • Composed of North and South branches flowing to Lake Winnipeg.

    • Fourth longest river system in Canada, covering 334,100 km².

    • Tributaries include the Bow and Red Deer rivers.

  • Nelson River

    • Flows from Lake Winnipeg to Hudson Bay (644 km).

    • Discharges 110 km³ annually, supporting a vast drainage area of 800,000 km².

Alberta Rivers Classification

Sensitivity Classes

  • Class A: Highest sensitivity for fish habitat.

  • Class B: High sensitivity.

  • Class C: Moderate sensitivity.

  • Class D: Low sensitivity.

Impact of Construction

  • Construction impacts sediment load, affecting aquatic life.

  • Techniques like open trench and horizontal directional drilling can manage environmental risks.

Wetlands

Identification Criteria

  • Indicators of hydrology, vegetation (hydrophytes), and soils (hydric soils).

  • Two main regimes: Hydrological Regime/Hydroperiod which shows water movement in wetlands.

Water Budget Formula

  • VS = P + SI + GI - SO - ET - GO

    • Where VS = change in water storage, P = precipitation, SI = surface inflows, GI = groundwater inflow, ET = evapotranspiration, SO = surface outflows, GO = groundwater outflows.

Influence of Climate

  • Two variables: Precipitation (P) and Temperature (T).

  • Variations create different wetland types between Boreal and Prairie regions.

Wetland Vegetation

Productivity and Diversity

  • High productivity due to ample water, sunlight, and nutrients.

  • Different ecological niches foster biodiversity.

Types of Wetland Vegetation

  • Floating Plants: e.g., Duckweed.

  • Submergents: e.g., Water milfoil.

  • Emergents: e.g., Cattails and bulrushes.

  • Wet Meadows: Periodically saturated but no standing water.

  • Upland Vegetation: Adapted to dryer conditions.

Wetland Types

Classification

  • Bogs: Nutrient-poor, dominated by Sphagnum; acidic conditions.

  • Fens: Nutrient-rich with grasses and sedges.

  • Marshes: Fluctuating water levels with productive emergent vegetation.

  • Swamps: Woody vegetation with standing or slow-moving water.

  • Shallow Open Water: Ponds or lakes with vegetated fringes.

Wetland Functions and Values

Ecosystems Services

  • Carbon Sequestration: Peatlands as effective carbon stores.

  • Biodiversity: Key habitats for various species.

  • Water Regulation: Wetlands act as sponges, managing floods and improving water quality.

  • Cultural Values: Historical and social significance of wetlands.

Economic Valuation

  • Understanding the monetary value of wetland services can promote preservation efforts.

Concerns and Management

Threats

  • Human activities leading to cultural eutrophication.

  • Impact of invasive species like Purple Loosestrife and Eurasian Milfoil.

  • Livestock impact and techniques for protecting riparian areas.

Legislation and Organizations

  • Various government and non-profit organizations are involved in water protection efforts in Canada.