Spatial and Temporal Indicators of High Fecal Coliform Concentrations at Three Sites With Marine Shellfish Harvesting Activity on Vancouver Island
department or school: Science, Faculty of
department or school: Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, Department of
data provider: DSpace
creator: Boardman, Anya
creator: Chelswick, Kailey
creator: Collins, Sophia
creator: Law, Pui Yi
issued: 2024-05-06T18:09:31Z
issued: 2024-05-02
description: Fecal contamination in shellfish harvesting areas in British Columbia affects human health, ecosystem function, and industry. Previous studies have investigated fecal contamination of marine environments, however, sources of contamination and the dispersal of contaminants throughout marine environments is contingent on the specific environmental conditions at a given site. In collaboration with the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), this report addresses fecal contamination in marine waters across three vital shellfish harvesting locations on Vancouver Island (Saanich Inlet, Comox Harbour, and Baynes Sound), through the analysis of fecal coliform concentration data obtained from Environment and Climate Change Canada. FC concentration data spans from 1982 to 2022, and was analyzed in relation to environmental factors including rainfall, salinity, air temperature, land use, flushability and streamflow at the three study sites. Our findings highlight significant seasonal FC concentration variations, with peaks during fall, closely linked to increased precipitation and runoff. Land use analysis points to agriculture, residential development, and mining as key contamination sources. In addition, this study examined the relationship between river streamflow, proximity to river mouths, and FC concentration, providing nuanced insights into how freshwater inputs affect marine water quality and how this varies by river. This research also investigates coastal flushability, which refers to the ability of an area to clear pollutants through the movement of tidal waters. Results indicate that regions with increased water flow have reduced FC concentrations, highlighting how hydrodynamics play a role in dispersing contaminants. Conversations with stakeholders and investigation into regional sewage management practices suggest that private and central sewage management practices are likely an important source of fecal contamination. Elevated FC concentrations across all study …
aggregated CHO: https://circle.library.ubc.ca/rest/handle/2429/88230
note: Spatial and Temporal Indicators of High Fecal ColiformConcentrations at Three Sites With Marine ShellfishHarvesting Activity on Vancouver IslandBy Anya Boardman, Kailey Chelswick, Sophia Collins and Pui Yi LawMay 2, 20241AbstractFecal contamination in shellfish harvesting areas in British Columbia affects human health,ecosystem function, and industry. Previous studies have investigated fecal contamination ofmarine environments, however, sources of contamination and the dispersal of contaminantsthroughout marine environments is contingent on the specific environmental conditions at agiven site. In collaboration with the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), this reportaddresses fecal contamination in marine waters across three vital shellfish harvesting locationson Vancouver Island (Saanich Inlet, Comox Harbour, and Baynes Sound), through the analysisof fecal coliform concentration data obtained from Environment and Climate Change Canada.FC concentration data spans from 1982 to 2022, and was analyzed in relation to environmentalfactors including rainfall, salinity, air temperature, land use, flushability and streamflow at thethree study sites. Our findings highlight significant seasonal FC concentration variations, withpeaks during fall, closely linked to increased precipitation and runoff. Land use analysis points toagriculture, residential development, and mining as key contamination sources. In addition, thisstudy examined the relationship between river streamflow, proximity to river mouths, and FCconcentration, providing nuanced insights into how freshwater inputs affect marine water qualityand how this varies by river. This research also investigates coastal flushability, which refers tothe ability of an area to clear pollutants through the movement of tidal waters. Results indicatethat regions with increased water flow have reduced FC concentrations, highlighting howhydrodynamics play a role in dispersing contaminants. Conversations with stakeholders andinvest…
has type: Report
is shown at: 10.14288/1.0442324
language: eng
peer review status: Unreviewed
provider: Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library
rights: Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
rights URI: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
scholar level: Undergraduate
is part of: University of British Columbia. ENVR 400
type: Text
identifier URI: http://hdl.handle.net/2429/88230