Overview of long-term air and deposition effects monitoring in the Cold Lake region

Michael BisagaAirshed Program Manager

BackgroundFormed in 2000, LICA is: • a monitoring organization, Alberta’s 7th Airshed (received

endorsement in 2005)• a community based synergy group • a partnership of community, industry and government

establishing understanding and rapport, sharing information and working towards mutually beneficial solutions to local concerns

East-Central AlbertaEncompasses approx. 18,000 square kilometers • M.D. of Bonnyville• Town of Bonnyville• City of Cold Lake• Town of St. Paul• County of St. Paul• County of Two Hills (partial) • County of Vermilion

River (partial) • Cold Lake Air Weapons

Range (Alberta portion)

The Region

A Special Region of Alberta

Images Courtesy of Marie Ilchuk and Cenovus Energy

Unique Characteristics

Monitoring Programs OverviewCore Ambient Programs• Passive Monitoring Network• Continuous Monitoring Network• PAH/VOC Monitoring NetworkDeposition Effects Programs• Soil Acidification• Surface Water AcidificationSpecial Studies• Integrated Particulate Matter Sampling Project (2015-16)• Beaver River Valley Air Quality and Visibility Monitoring (2015-16)

2003 20052004 20082006 2007 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Passive Network• Core network grid

established in 2003• Generally follows a

3x3 township grid

Passive Monitor: Sulphur Dioxide

Passive Monitor: Nitrogen Dioxide

Passive Monitor: Ozone

Passive Monitor: Hydrogen Sulphide

2003 20052004 20082006 2007 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Continuous Network

Continuous Monitor: Sulphur Dioxide, Hydrogen Sulphide, Oxides of Nitrogen, Ozone, Total Hydrocarbons, Particulate Matter, Meteorology

Continuous Monitor: Sulphur Dioxide, Hydrogen Sulphide, Oxides of Nitrogen, Total Hydrocarbons, Meteorology

Continuous Monitor: Sulphur Dioxide, Total Reduced Sulphurs, Oxides of Nitrogen, Ozone, Total Hydrocarbons, Particulate Matter, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, Speciated Volatile Organic Compounds, Meteorology

Continuous Monitor: Sulphur Dioxide, Hydrogen Sulphide, Oxides of Nitrogen, Ozone, Total Hydrocarbons, Particulate Matter, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, Speciated Volatile Organic Compounds, Meteorology

AQHI?

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• 3 Fixed: Cold Lake, Maskwa, St. Lina• 1 Portable: Currently at Elk Point

2003 20052004 20082006 2007 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

PAH/VOC Monitoring• Cold Lake & PAMS

1-in-6 Day VOC & PAH Sampling High NMHC Triggered Sampling

1-in-6 Day VOC & PAH Sampling

• 3 LICA sites:– Moose Lake PP– Whitney Lakes PP– Tucker Lake Forest Lot

• 1 ESRD site:– Cold Lake Fish Hatchery

Soil Acidification Monitoring

2003 20052004 20082006 2007 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Surface Water Acidification Monitoring• 64 lakes are assessed

– Critical load– Gross critical load

• Most data are collected by other organizations (ESRD, AEMERA, ALMS, Industry)

• Assessed against PAI

2003 20052004 20082006 2007 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Surface Water Acidification Assessment3rd Party Monitoring/Sampling LICA Monitoring/Sampling (2014)

2003 20052004 20082006 2007 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Integrated PM2.5Sampling Project• Transition to newer, more

reliable monitoring technology

• Co-location of FRM (CCME guidance document)

• Opportunity to characterize Cold Lake PM2.5

FRM Integrated Sample CollectionFilter mass, speciation (potential)

2003 20052004 20082006 2007 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Beaver River Valley Monitoring Project• Phase One: meteorology

monitoring to identify the conditions under which winds or air masses above the Beaver River valley could drain into it (2015-16)

• Phase Two: air quality monitoring informed by valley drainage flows identified in Phase One (2016-17)

Valley Monitoring Site Meteorology, Air Quality Monitoring TBD (Open-Path AQ Monitoring, Integrated Sampling, etc.)

ObjectivesPassive, Continuous, PAH/VOC Monitoring Programs• Provide a stable, long-term monitoring framework to observe

changes resulting from oil sands development• Provide regional information on current status and trends of

contaminants of concern• Allow better understanding of the long-range effects of air

emissions downwind, such as on acid sensitive lakes and terrestrial vegetation

2014 Dashboard: Continuous Monitoring C

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2014 Dashboard: Passive Monitoring

A Closer Look at Elk Point• Determine potential causes of elevated

concentrations of hydrocarbons at the Elk Point Station

What compounds are being released and/or redistributed?

Elk Point Investigation: 2014 Diurnal Hydrocarbons

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Elk Point Investigation:2hr Back Trajectory, 2013 THC

Elk Point Investigation:12hr Back Trajectory, 2013 THC

Elk Point Investigation: Potential Hydrocarbon Sources

St. Lina Elk Point

Elk Point Investigation: Future Monitoring Considerations

• Locally, improvements are being made to mitigate fugitive emissions at cold heavy oil production sites.

• LICA may choose to return the portable monitoring station to Elk Point to do follow-up data collection in the future.

Deposition Effects: Context• “Improve analysis of existing monitoring data to

develop a better understanding of historical baselines and changes” – JOSM

• In 2007, LICA conducted an exploratory study to assess the region’s levels of deposition of acidic and acidifying substances, and to assess their potential impacts on surface waters and soils. – The study was updated in 2012 with new data

Deposition Effects: Context

Potential Acid Input Estimate

Land System and Soil Sensitivity to Acid Input

Gross Critical Load of Lakes

Deposition Effects:Soil (ESRD)

• ESRD has a monitoring site near Cold Lake• Established 1982, with eight sampling events to 2013• pH and base saturation have shown reductions in the

top 0-2 cm layer during this period• pH decreased from ~4.8 to 4.3• Base saturation decreased from ~95% to 85%• Base cation:aluminum ratio decreased and increased

over the years

Deposition Effects:Soil (LICA)

• Increase the monitoring coverage of regionally sensitive soils.

• Improve understanding of spatial variability in potential soil acidification.

• Determine if acidification trends at the existing ESRD site continue and if similar trends can be observed regionally.

Deposition Effects:Soil Monitoring

• Using a staggered implementation schedule beginning in 2010, LICA commissioned three new soil acidification plots in the region (to complement the existing ESRD site)

Owner Sampling Location 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020AESRD Cold Lake Fish HatcheryLICA Moose Lake Provincial ParkLICA Whitney Lakes Provincial ParkLICA Tucker Lake Forest Lot

Deposition Effects:Surface Water

• Determine the critical load of acidity of selected lakes.

• Compare the critical load to the regional PAI levels to provide an understanding of the acid sensitivity of the study lakes.

• 12 lakes were selected based on data gaps and local concern (half were sampled in 2014).

Deposition Effects:Surface Water

• 2014 Acid Sensitive Lakes Sampling Results:– 5 Lakes were sampled, 1 was inaccessible.– All lakes sampled generally had a high

buffering capacity to acid input and were below the monitoring load trigger level.

– Concentrations of calcium at Beartrap Lakewere lower than the other lakes resulting in a “Moderate” rating of sensitivity to acidification; PAI levels were near the monitoring load trigger level.

Lake Sampled in 2014

Deposition Effects:Surface Water

• 2014 Acid Sensitive Lakes Sampling Results (Continued):– Whitney Lake PAI level was also near the

monitoring load trigger level and the gross and net critical loads were generally low compared to other lakes.

– Future years of monitoring will help to assess if these trends continue over time, increasing or decreasing trends in buffer capacity exist, and if ongoing monitoring is needed.

Lake Sampled in 2014

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