What and why we monitor...
WATERS
Everyday most of us are in direct contact with our waters, either through our drinking water or in direct contact for work, recreational, or ceremonial purposes. Surface waters or watercourses can contain contaminants, bacterias, and pathogens from run-offs from the land and non-point sources of pollution. With the increase of community members, stakeholders, and changes within industrial practices, it is important to ensure that the Tabusintac watershed and its watercourses remain healthy for all within the local municipalities.
TWA with its partners have implement methodologies that are recognized provincially, nationally and worldwide so that data can be analyzed to ensure healthy waters remain within the Tabusintac watershed. Water quality are compared to the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) and Health Canada guidelines.
There are many variables and factors that affect the water quality within the Tabusintac watershed that we don't have much control over which are the weather, groundwater, and bedrock of the area.
Temperatures are affected by many factors but are mainly due weather that greatly affects water quality within the watershed.
TEMPERATURES (measured in degrees Celsius (°C)) vary in the Tabusintac watershed. Water temperatures within the watercourses range from lower temperatures from freezing at 0 to 8°C mid range from 8 to 15°C degrees; warm temperatures ranging from 15 to 20°C; and extreme temperatures above 20°C. Warmer the water temperature-the more chances for bacteria and pathogens to thrive that can directly affect our health and aquatic life. The temperatures of the watercourses will affects the aquatic life rate of their metabolic activities. Temperature triggers migration and spawning for many species. Spawning and embryo development stages of all fish species are the most sensitive to temperature conditions and changes. Salmonoids (salmon and trout) require water temperatures between 12 and 14 °C.
Temperature affects the chemistry of the water as well by increasing and decreasing metals and oxygen that is needed for aquatic life.
DISSOLVED OXYGEN (DO) is the amount of oxygen dissolved in the water. DO is measured in parts per million or mg/l. The amount of oxygen in the water depends on the water temperatures, biological processes (plant and algae growth), and turbulence.
Guidelines for aquatic life are:
For warm water biota; early life stages -6.0 ppm; other life stages- 5.5 ppm
For cold water biota; early life stages- 9.5 ppm; other life stages- 6.5 ppm
Prolonged exposure to low DO conditions will result in suffocation.
BACTERIAL sampling is conducted at sampling sites within the Tabusintac watershed periodically and sent to RPC Lab's in Fredericton to be analyzed for Escherichia coli (E. Coli) in freshwaters and Enterococcus in marine waters.
Both bacteria are specific to humans and other warm-blooded animals. E. coli and enterococcus are used as indicators of fecal contamination. Presence of these bacterias do not always represent a health hazard; but are regarded as an indicator of the possible presence of disease causing microorganisms that originate in the digestive tracts. High levels indicate a possible health risk.
E. coli and enterococcus may enter a watercourse directly from sewage discharge, run-off from land, malfunctioning septic systems, pets, and wildlife.
Guidelines from DELG:
Guidelines from Health Canada for recreational primary contact:
Shellfish harvesting is closed when E. Coli water samples are above 14 MPN / 100 mL of sampled water.
EELGRASS
Eelgrass- known as seaweed in the past in the surrounding communities; is a very important part of the ecosystems within the Tabusintac watershed. TWA has monitored eelgrass sites on a yearly basis so that data can be compared from previous years to see if there are differences in the amount of eelgrass and its growth. Eelgrass is dissected to weigh the biomasses of the roots, rhizomes, leaves, and shoots. the root from the plant. TWA has uses the SeagrassNet protocols- used internationally, and this site is one of the first along eastern coast of Canada. Visit SeagrassNet.org for more information. TWA has trained and shared their knowledge and expertises so that other organizations so they could start up their own monitoring in Atlantic Canada. TWA and has provided resources to the Ecology Action Centre to help bridge knowledge gaps.
Many people are unaware of the importance this plant plays in the environment. It has resulted in a significant degradation due to human impacts such as urban development, dredging, pollution, fisheries, aquaculture, and sediment runoff.
The Tabusintac watershed has many natural resources and eelgrass is one of them. Eelgrass, known as seaweed in the past, has rebounded since the 1930s after an eelgrass wasting disease hit many international seagrass beds and reduced them up to 90% without many not being able to recover to this day.
Eelgrass beds provide many services and benefits to our community:
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Habitat and nurseries- different species that are economically, culturally, and traditionally important, such as lobster, salmon, and shellfish, rely on these areas
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Water quality- filters pollutants and allows for sediments to settle
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Coastal protection- reduces coastal erosion by absorbing wave energy and trapping sediments
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Carbon sequestration- absorbs carbon dioxide and stores it
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Food source- for various of marine organisms, including migratiory waterfowl, and some species of fish
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Oxygen production- a flowering plant that provides oxygen
