Salt in the Creek
For the past 20 years or so, a number of developments has occurred on the upper reaches of Marwell Creek. The Canada Games Center was constructed, The City of Whitehorse dumped snow and gravel from winter snow clearing activities into a gully the flows into Marwell Creek. This has been accumulating through out this time span along withe 10% salt that has been mixed with the gravel when it is spread on roads. This salt is dissolved and washed into Marwell creek. The escarpment along the study area has shown a number areas of soil instability, with slump occurring in at least two occasions.
Water quality: Have there been negative impacts on Marwell Creek throughout the study area. If so, what remediation should be taken?
The following points may help identify changes that have occurred to the creek throughout the study area and provide remediation ideas based on your findings. (Necessary materials will be made available to your team.)
For the past 20 years or so, a number of developments has occurred on the upper reaches of Marwell Creek. The Canada Games Center was constructed, The City of Whitehorse dumped snow and gravel from winter snow clearing activities into a gully the flows into Marwell Creek. This has been accumulating through out this time span along withe 10% salt that has been mixed with the gravel when it is spread on roads. This salt is dissolved and washed into Marwell creek. The escarpment along the study area has shown a number areas of soil instability, with slump occurring in at least two occasions.
Water quality: Have there been negative impacts on Marwell Creek throughout the study area. If so, what remediation should be taken?
The following points may help identify changes that have occurred to the creek throughout the study area and provide remediation ideas based on your findings. (Necessary materials will be made available to your team.)
ES under took four related studies:
Task 1: Conduct samples of aquatic invertebrate populations at various points along the creek. Use the rating system to determine water quality throughout the course of the creek. Task 2: Create a map of the creek that includes features that contribute water to the drainage basin (i.e. runoff, groundwater, precipitation). Include potential sources of contamination and flow volume of the creek. |
Task 3: Use the water quality test kits to determine changes at various locations along the creek. Include: temperature, turbidity, and conductivity.
Task 4: Measure the volume of dumped gravel, calculate the concertration of salt in the dumped gravel. What implications does the use of salt on our roads in the winter have on Marwell Creek. A point source of pollution is a single identifiable localized source of water pollution. Identify any observable specific point sources of water pollution within the study area. Recommend remediation that could be taken. Identify legislation that would require clean-up.
Task 4: Measure the volume of dumped gravel, calculate the concertration of salt in the dumped gravel. What implications does the use of salt on our roads in the winter have on Marwell Creek. A point source of pollution is a single identifiable localized source of water pollution. Identify any observable specific point sources of water pollution within the study area. Recommend remediation that could be taken. Identify legislation that would require clean-up.