The Effects of Non-point Source Pollution in Small Urban and Agricultural Streams

M. Fluegel, S. Sylvestre, T. Tuominen, M. Sekela et G. Moyle

Full Report in Adobe portable document format (10 308 kb)
Data Compilation in MS Access (10 704 kb)

Executive Summary

The effects of agricultural and urban non-point source (NPS) pollution on aquatic ecosystems were investigated in two watersheds located in the Lower Fraser Valley, British Columbia: Elk Creek in Chilliwack and Yorkson Creek in Langley. These two watershed areas represent typical agricultural and urban activities in the valley.

The approach we used was to populate stream-side flow-through glass aquariums with hatchery raised cutthroat trout and crayfish. This near in-situ contained approach using hatchery organisms was chosen to minimize the effects on the natural populations of the relatively small study streams. The organisms were exposed for two months in three fall seasons (1999-2001) and one spring season (2000).

Water quality was measured continuously throughout each exposure period. Analyses included water chemistry, nutrients, bacteriological parameters, trace metals and various organic contaminants including nonylphenol, pesticides, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, polychlorinated biphenyls, polycylic aromatic hydrocarbons, sterols and toxaphene.

Biological effects of exposure to stream water containing NPS run-off were investigated by analysis of contaminants in cutthroat trout muscle and liver tissue and in crayfish muscle and hepatopancreas tissue. Histology of organs and analysis of mixed function oxidase and hepatopancreas biochemical indicators (e.g., metallothionein) as well as fish growth and health assessment were also investigated.

This report presents the data from this exposure study.