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étiquettes: contaminants, water quality, mining impacts, fish sampling, sediment quality, fish health

Objectif(s): To examine the health of two small-bodied fish species (Slimy Sculpin and Ninespine Stickleback) exposed to treated effluent from Giant Mine.

Description du projet: The objective of this study is to examine the health of two small-bodied fish species (Slimy Sculpin and Ninespine Stickleback) exposed to treated effluent from Giant Mine. Data collected during this study will be assessed to determine if there are treated effluent related effects. The study will be conducted within the exposure areas (Baker Creek and Yellowknife Bay) and the reference areas (Yellowknife River and Horseshoe Island Bay). The Ninespine Stickleback survey will be completed. For this survey, 100 young-of-the-year fish will be non-lethally sampled in each of the exposure areas (Baker Creek and Yellowknife Bay) and the reference area (Yellowknife River, in the area of Tartan Rapids). All fish will be released live back into the waterbody where they were captured. The following parameters will be assessed prior to release: abundance (catch-per-unit-effort), length, weight, and external condition (e.g. abnormalities, parasites). The Slimy Sculpin survey will be completed. For this survey, 30 adult males, 30 adult females and 30 juvenile fish will be lethally sampled in each of the exposure areas (Baker Creek and Yellowknife Bay) and the reference area (Yellowknife River, upstream of the bridge). These sample sizes are required to detect statistical differences between fish collected at the Exposure and Reference Areas. The following parameters will be assessed: abundance (catch-per-unit-effort), length, weight, age, external condition (e.g. abnormalities, parasites), maturity, sex, internal condition (e.g. abnormalities, parasites, tumors), gonad weight, gonad histology, liver weight, and concentrations of liver glycogen and triglycerides (for a subset of samples). Any young-of-the-year captured will be measured for length and weight prior to release back into the water body where they were captured. During both fish surveys, water quality and sediment quality samples will be collected. Seasonal water temperature will also be monitored throughout the season. Additional sampling of Arctic Grayling young-of-year for analyzing tissue concentrations of metals may be required. This work would be completed to help fill remaining gaps from a sediment program completed in Baker Creek, Trapper Creek and the Yellowknife River. This sediment program was designed to obtain information on existing sediment contamination in relation to Giant Mine, which will be incorporated into the overall Remediation Plan for the Giant Mine site. Additional sampling of a maximum of 50 Arctic Grayling young-of-year from Baker Creek and potentially the Yellowknife River may be required. These fish would be lethally sampled and submitted for tissue analysis of metal concentrations. In addition, length and weight would be recorded and an external health assessment (e.g., abnormalities, parasites) would be completed on these fish. Fish will be captured using a backpack electrofisher, dip nets, and small mesh seine nets. Technical reports will be submitted to Environment Canada and will be available by request from AANDC. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from July 4, 2012 to October 15, 2012.