NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Tags: water quality, environmental monitoring, fish, sewage

Objective(s): To collect and sample small bodied fish species (emerald and spottail shiners) upstream, downstream, and at the sewage effluent outflow pipe at Fort Smith to examine the reproductive health of the fish.

Project Description: The objectives of this research project are to: 1. Collect and sample small bodied fish species (emerald and spottail shiners) at the same two sites as Sept 2013 (sewage effluent outflow pipe at Fort Smith and upstream near the boat launch) and at other accessible, habitat-appropriate sites (mouth of Salt River, exposed bitumen sites, above the rapids). The fish collections will be conducted according to established Environmental Effects Monitoring techniques to examine the reproductive and health of the fish. 2. Repeat the collections of Fort Smith sewage influent, effluent, and river water for water quality characteristics. Fish collection: Electrofishing (backpack) and Seine net on the Slave River and Salt River. Fish sampling will be done according to approved Animal Care methods- fish are euthanized humanely and then dissected. Body lengths and body and organ weights will be recorded. Fish tissues will be frozen on dry ice for later analysis of reproductive hormones. Water samples collected will be tested for common water quality characteristics (for ammonia, nitrate, pH, conductivity, temperature, oxygen). Sewage effluent and river water samples will be processed through appropriate extraction columns for the analyses of common pharmaceutical compounds and personal care products; columns are frozen for later analysis in the laboratory in Ontario. The research team anticipates discussions with the local groups to discuss the different approaches taken to environmental biomonitoring using fish. The annual Aurora Research Institute report will be filled out completely. Any presentations (oral or posters) will be made available to interested parties. The research team strives for an open line of communication- all results from the student's work will be available for discussion with the communities. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from September 3, 2014 to December 31, 2014.