Water balance of South Lake and the water quality of the Octopus-Ominnik-South Lake system, Riding Mountain National Park, A

Hollier, Brandice

Brandon, Manitoba

Brandon University, Faculty of Science

2018

2018

ix, 100 pages : illustrations

thesis

English

"Chapters 2 and 3 of this thesis are co-authored by Dr. Peter Whittington while Chapter 4 is co-authored by Dr. Christopher Malcolm. The bulk of the writing and data analysis was done by Brandice Hollier, but guidance and refining was provided by the aforementioned. The intention is to publish each manuscript separately."--Page iii.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 95-100).
"In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, Evironmental and Life Sciences."

Parks Canada’s mandate directs the park to manage for ecological integrity, which includes restoration of anthropogenically altered landscapes back to their natural state. In this case, restoration means re-aligning Octopus Creek in Riding Mountain National Park back to its natural flow path. The original diversion was created with the intention of minimizing nutrient loading to Clear Lake and helped to maintain an ideal spawning habitat for northern pike in South Lake. Redirecting this human constructed channel back to its natural flow path could have implications for water levels and therefore, critical fish spawning habitat. A water balance which included all of the inflows and outflows of South Lake was conducted over two field seasons. Surface water, groundwater, evaporation, and precipitation were quantified. A water quality study was also conducted to monitor a point source of pollution, the Wasagaming Wastewater Lagoons, and to determine if non-point source pollution was occurring (alike many of the previous studies conducted in this study area). It was found that there is an excess amount of nitrogen and phosphorus entering the system. It was also concluded that the constructed channel is a significant source of surface water to South Lake. Therefore, redirecting the natural flow path into Clear Lake could have negative impacts on its current trophic status and could reduce available northern pike spawning habitat within South Lake. It is recommended that the hydrological system remains the way it currently flows.

Water balance (Hydrology)--Manitoba--Riding Mountain National Park
Water balance (Hydrology)--Manitoba--Clear Lake
Water balance (Hydrology)--Manitoba--Octopus Creek
Water balance (Hydrology)--Manitoba--South Lake
Water balance (Hydrology)--Manitoba--Ominnik Marsh

Brandon University.
Faculty of Science