O&G Activities and the Charlie Lake Watershed

Presentation by

Allan Blair

OGC SCEK Fund Workshop

June 10, 2004

Agenda

• Charlie Lake Watershed• What are the issues?• Strategic Environmental Plan for the Charlie

Lake Watershed• Run-off – a sediment primer• Oil and Gas activity successes• Future work• More information?

Charlie Lake Watershed

What are the issues?

Major concerns*: – lake water quality– recreational fishery – other recreation uses

Other concerns: – maintaining bird and wildlife

habitat

*Based on CLCS/PRRD survey of concerns from lake residents and users

Strategic Environmental Plan

Key Areas for improvement• upgrading of poorly functioning stream

crossings (primarily culverts that pass under roads)

• Preventing run-off from oil and gas sites, agricultural and lakeshore development sites

• reducing impacts from isolated septic systems.

SiO2-

PO4--

-

-

+

+

--

-+

+

PO4-

PO4-Cd+

Pb2+

Electrostatic charges on sediment surfaces can carry nutrients/chemicals

Run-off – a sediment primer

• Fine sediments (silts, clays) can carry nutrients and chemical contaminants

• Suspended sediment reduces water clarity - Affects growth of bottom algae (basis of food chain)

• Reduces hunting success of predatory fish (fish are generally visual hunters)

Visible sediment load in Stoddart Creek

Run-off – a sediment primer

(cont’d)

• Can cover over important fish spawning areas

• Over time lakes fill in. As lakes shallow, turbidity increases and algae-bloom related problems worsen.

• Erosion ultimately results in the loss of valuable land.

Oil and Gas activity in the Watershed

• 130 oil/gas and related industrial sites

• Oil field roads

Oil and Gas – culvert / road restoration

Before

After

Site Restoration – road and culvert removed

Oil and Gas - site drainage

Before

After

Scope of Future work

• OGC SCEK matching funding for 2005• ID sites with opportunities to remedy or

mitigate ongoing erosion issues • Expand efforts in working with well site

operator, OGC and land owner • Develop strategies and a plan of action to

deal with the identified erosion issues • Explore best practices for erosion control for

future development

More information?

• www.charlielakeconservationsociety.ca

• info@charlielakeconservationsociety.ca