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
Recommended
