DOI: 10.25976/xbkx-aa68
title: Water Quality of Seven Persons Creek

description: Water quality of Seven Persons Creek at two riparian restoration sites was assessed to provide baseline information, identify water quality issues, and for educational purposes. At the Saamis Archaeological Site (SAS), City of Medicine Hat, there were two water sampling locations, upstream and downstream, 1.25 km apart. A third location was adjacent to a private agricultural land 61 km upstream of the two SAS locations. The SAS is a recreational trail park and was used as an off-leash dog park at the time of the study. Upstream of the SAS are two riparian golf courses, and within SAS are two draws utilized for stormwater conveyance into the creek. Land use in the watershed is predominantly agriculture. Water samples were collected from the two SAS locations on 4 Apr, 20 Jun, and 8 Aug 2018, and field measurements were also taken on 4 Apr. The Private land location was sampled on 29 May, 16 Jul and 13 Aug 2018. Samples were sent to a laboratory for analysis. Results were compared with provincial guidelines for surface waters or literature. For all locations, key water quality issues in creek were bacteria and nutrients (nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P)). Except for bacteria and pH, highest values of water quality variables occurred at the start of the snowmelt in Apr. At the SAS, there were differences in water quality between locations depending on the season and a number of variables. In terms of bacteria, the downstream location had better water quality than the upstream location throughout the season. The downstream location also had lower values for nitrate, total nitrogen, total Kjeldahl nitrogen, total phosphorus and total dissolved phosphorus at the start of the snowmelt. In contrast, based on total dissolved and suspended solids, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, chloride and oxidation-reduction potential, the upstream location was of better quality at the start of the snowmelt. By late summer, total N and total Kjeldahl N were lower at the upstream location.
description: Prior to the water sample collection at the SAS locations on 4 April, field measurements were made using a YSI Professional Plus water quality multi-meter. Three measurements were taken for each site per variable.
A swing sampler was used to take grab samples from the middle of the creek. All grab samples were combined in a container and sample bottles were filled.
Water samples were analyzed for routine water quality variables and pesticides. Physical tests included total suspended solids and total dissolved solids. Tested anions and nutrients included total alkalinity, bicarbonate, carbonate, chloride, conductivity, hydroxide, nitrate and nitrite (combined), nitrate, nitrite, total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), total nitrogen, pH, total dissolved phosphorus, and total phosphorus. Bacteriological tests include MPN - E. coli and fecal coliform bacteria. Ten pesticides were tested (from the ALS suite of pesticides): Bromoxynil, 2,4-D, Dicamba, 2,4-DP, Dinoseb, MCPA, Mecoprop, Picloram, 2,4,5-T, and 2,4,5-TP. Conventional urban stormwater variables such as PAHs and heavy or toxic metals were out of scope of this study. 
Laboratory analysis performed by ALS Environmental - Calgary.