In a bid to protect current water quality conditions in the Bow River amidst increasing population and growth pressures in the province, Rocky View County (RVC) council endorsed a plan on July 29 that aims to control phosphorus inputs.
The final draft of the Bow River Phosphorus Management Plan (BRPMP) was released in April after more than three years of work and involvement from more than 30 stakeholder groups. The plan was initiated by Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development (AESRD) in 2011.
“Given our research, phosphorus levels in the Bow River right now are within a level that we feel are appropriate and we want to keep it that way,” said AESRD Planning and Strategic Engagement Manager Robert Simieritsch in a presentation to council in November 2013.
The main goal of the plan is to manage current water quality conditions “to provide a healthy aquatic ecosystem while meeting the needs of those who rely on clean water.”
“This is a proactive and adaptive plan . . . The plan seeks to enable management actions, which aim to improve phosphorus management to meet social, environmental and economic outcomes well into the future,” said RVC Agriculture Fieldman Tim Dietzler.
According to the report, sources of phosphorus in the Bow River basin include plant material, soil, animal waste, treated wastewater effluent and fertilizer in runoff.
Airborne phosphorus comes from many sources such as industry and vehicle emissions, forest fires, and from wind picking up dust and soil and becoming part of stormwater runoff.
The plan states that although there are no defined limits for phosphorus, excess amounts can lead to decreased levels of dissolved oxygen in the water, contributing to other negatives impacts.
The planning area covers 12,481 square kilometres, including the City of Calgary, Airdrie, Strathmore, Okotoks and High River, as well as RVC, Wheatland County, the MD of Foothills, the Kananaskis Improvement Districts, and the Tsuu T’ina and Siksika Nations.
“Approximately one-third of the population of Alberta lives in the planning area, making it a high-risk area for phosphorus loading in the province,” states the plan.
In a presentation to council, Dietzler highlighted the four strategies stakeholders will be working to implement in the coming years.
The first is to increase the awareness of phosphorus sources, the planning area and phosphorus management practices. The plan also aims to reduce additional phosphorus added to the water and the movement of phosphorus along the Bow River. Finally, the plan aims to remove excess phosphorus from water before it reaches the Bow River.
RVC Coun. Liz Breakey said she thinks the plan “is critical.”
“The growth pressures in that area are immense. So there’s a really good plan in place to filter out the contamination and to deal with appropriate stormwater drainage,” she said, adding it’s important for the protection of the natural drainage channels off of the Bow River.
To view the report, visit esrd.alberta.ca.
