Wabamun Lake oil spill August 2005 : data report for water and sediment quality in the pelagic area of the lake (August 4-5 to September 15, 2005)

2006·7.3 MB·English

by  Anderson, Anne-Marie, 1952-

Wabamun
Lake Oil Spill August 2005:
Data Report For Water And Sediment
Quality The Pelagic Area
In
Of The Lake
(August 4-5 to September 2005)
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Digitized by the Internet Archive
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Wabamun
Lake August 2005
Oil Spill
Data Report for Water and Sediment Quality in
the Pelagic Area of the Lake
(August 4-5 to September 2005)
1 5,
Prepared by:
Anne-Marie Anderson, Ph.D., P.Biol.
Limnologist/Water Quality Specialist
Environmental Monitoring and Evaluation Branch
Environmental Assurance Division
April 2006
W0602
Pub. No: T/856
ISBN: 0-7785-4588-1 (Printed Edition)
ISBN: 0-7785-4589-X (On-Line Edition)
Web
Site: http://environment.gov.ab.ca/info/home.asp
Any comments, questions, or suggestions regarding the content of this document may be
directed to:
Environmental Monitoring and Evaluation Branch
Alberta Environment
10th Floor, Oxbridge Place
9820-
106th Street
Edmonton, Alberta T5K 2J6
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Additional copies of this document may be obtained by contacting:
Information Centre
Alberta Environment
Main Floor, Oxbridge Place
9820- 106*^ Street
Edmonton, Alberta T5K 2J6
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [email protected]
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On August 3, 2005, petroleum hydrocarbons spilled into Wabamun Lake following the
derailment of43 CN rail cars along the north shore ofthe lake, near the village of Whilewood
Sands. The oil slick spread rapidly into the pelagic portion ofthe lake, but in the week following
the spill, strong westerly winds and resulting wave action ensured that much ofthe oil drifted to
the north, east and south-east shoreline.
This report provides a summary ofthe chemical data (extractable and volatile priority pollutants,
PAH, and trace metals) collected from water and sediments in the pelagic zone ofthe lake on the
days and weeks following the spill.
• The oil slick spread rapidly over the eastern and south-east portion ofthe lake, but in
the week following the spill, strong westerly winds and wave action ensured that
most ofthe oil drifted to the shoreline. Overall, water and sediments in the open
water area ofthe lake were not contaminated with spilled hydrocarbons. Only very
low levels ofBTEX and some PAHs were detected occasionally.
• Results from the Paul Band site indicated some low-level water volatile hydrocarbon
contamination that could possibly be related to recovery operations along the
shoreline and/or wind patterns that may have resulted in the transport of
hydrocarbons on the water surface to that area.
• Hydrocarbons contained by a boom that had become unanchored were well in excess
ofguidelines for the protection ofaquatic life. Potential escape ofoil towards the
open water represents an ongoing risk to water quality and aquatic life.
• There was no post-spill evidence ofan increase in water and sediment metal
concentrations.
Wabamun Lake Spill August 2005. Data Report for the Open Water Area of the Lake
(August 4-5 to September 15, 2005) i
0
TABLE OF CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
i
LIST OF TABLES
iii
LIST OF FIGURES
iii
LIST OF APPENDICES
iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
v
INTRODUCTION
1.0 1
METHODS
2.0 2
2.1 Sampling Methods 2
2.1.1 Water Chemistry 2
2.1.2 Sediment Sampling 5
2.2 Laboratory Analyses 5
2.2.1 Trace Organic Compounds 5
2.2.2 Metals 8
2.2.3 Particle Size and TOCAnalysis 8
2.3 Data Presentation 8
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
3.0 1
3.1 Water 10
3.1.1 Trace Organics in Water 10
3.1.2 Metals in Water 15
3.2 Sediments 21
3.2.1 Lake Sediment Characteristics 21
3.2.2 Trace Organics in Sediments 21
3.2.3 Metals 26
4.0 LITERATURE CITED 28
5.0 APPENDICES 30
Wabamun Lake Spill August 2005. Data Report for the Open Water Area of the Lake
(August 4-5 to September 15, 2005) ii
6
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1 Wabamun Lake 2005 sampling sites 4
Table 2a Valid method variable codes and detection limits for trace organic compounds in
water 6
Table 2b Valid method variable codes and detection limits for trace organic compounds in
sediments 7
Table 3 Valid method variable codes and detection limits for metals and other elements in
water and sediments 9
Table 4 Trace organics in Wabamun Lake water: summary ofdetections and comparisons
with guidelines 11
Table 5 Comparison of2005 metals concentrations in Wabamun Lake water with surface
water quality guidelines and 2002 metals concentrations
1
PAH CCME
Table 6 Comparison of concentrations detected in lake sediments with available
sediment quality guidelines 23
Table 7 Comparison ofmetals detected in Wabamun Lake sediments with CCME sediment
quality guidelines (all concentrations in )ig/g dry weight) 27
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1 Wabamun Lake 2005 - sampling sites with site name and sampling schedule 3
Figure 2 Metal concentrations measured in Wabamun Lake water at sites sampled in 2005
before and after the Bunker C spill 17
Figure 3 Trace organics detected in Wabamun Lake sediments at sites sampled in 2005 and
2002 24
Wabamun Lake Spill August 2005. Data Report for the Open Water Area of the Lake
(August 4-5 to September 15, 2005) Hi
LIST OF APPENDICES
Appendix 1 . List of samples collected from the pelagic area in Wabamun Lake, 2005 31
Appendix 2 Trace organic analyses in Wabamun Lake water, 2005 39
Appendix 3 Total metal concentrations in Wabamun Lake water, 2005 55
Appendix 4 Sediment characteristics for samples taken from Wabamun Lake, 2005 59
Appendix 5 Trace organic analyses in Wabamun Lake sediments, 2005 60
Appendix 6 Total (harsh extraction) and extractable (mild extraction) ofmetals in Wabamun
Lake sediments 72
Appendix 7 Results ofQA/QC Sampling 76
Wabamun Lake Spill August 2005. Data Report for the Open Water Area of the Lake
(August 4-5 to September 15, 2005) iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This data report has benefited from the review comments of Leigh Noton (Environmental
Monitoring and Evaluation Branch, Head Water Quality Team), and Lcanne Zrum (Limnologist,
Alberta Environment, Central Region); both also had a leading role in the design and
implementation ofthe study.
Many staffmembers from Northern Region participated in the sampling program, in particular,
Brian Jackson, Monica Polutranko, John Willis, and Chris Ware.
The Analytical Chemistry Laboratory, Alberta Research Council, Vegreville conducted the
chemical analysis ofwater and sediment samples under the supervision ofGrant Prill (Trace
Organics Laboratory) and Frank Skinner (Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory).
Doreen LeClair and Bridgette Halbig (Environmental Monitoring and Evaluation Branch)
assisted in data management and report preparation.
Wabamun Lake Spill August 2005. Data Report for the Open Water Area of the Lake
(August 4-5 to September 15, 2005) V
Wabamun Lake Spill August 2005. Data Report for the Open Water Area of the Lake
(August 4-5 to September 15, 2005) vi