The assimilative capacity of the Athabasca River for organic compounds

• Main Authors: Wallis, P., Baker, B., Peake, E., Telang, S., Strosher, M.
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: 1980
• Subjects: Oil Sands; Assimilative Capacity; AOSERP; Aquatic Ecosystem; AOSERP WS 2.3.2; Tar Sands; Alberta; Athabasca River; Peace-Athabasca Delta; Lake Athabasca
• Online Access: https://era.library.ualberta.ca/items/cd3e89cb-1ba0-468b-8a2f-c026cd2cfb95; https://doi.org/10.7939/R3R785R21

Understanding the functioning of the aquatic ecosystem within the mainstem Athabasca River is of paramount importance if protection against the input of contaminants from oil sands developments is to be afforded to the Athabasca River itself, the Peace-Athabasca Delta, and Lake Athabasca. The term assimilative capacity has been applied to denote the dynamic ability of aquatic ecosystems to remain viable and productive in the face of external factors (natural or anthropogenic). An implicit assumption within this definition is the fact that aquatic ecosystems possess the ability to change in response to external factors while maintaining their productivity and diversity. The rate and extent of this adaptive capability is the underlying process of assimilative capacity which must be understood and therefore examined. This project is intended to provide a problem analysis of the goal to determine the assimilative capacity of the Athabasca River with special regard to organics. Objectives for the project are: (1) To analyze available hydrometric, sediment and water quality data pertinent to the organic regime of the river; (2) To synthesize the data into a framework of understanding (model) that would eventually be suitable for obtaining the organic assimilative capacity of the river; and (3) To identify data gaps that require filling in order to operate the model as a simulation tool.