6.0 annual monitoring report - water management · 6.0 annual monitoring report - water management...
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6.0 Annual Monitoring Report
- Water Management -
1
Highlights from the Annual Monitoring Report
Agenda Items:
• 6.1 Middle Quinsam Lake (MQL) Sulphate Levels
• 6.2 Current Long Lake Sulphate Levels, Treatment System & Seep
Monitoring
• 6.3 Historic Long Lake Sulphate Levels
• 6.4 Long Lake Manganese
• 6.5 Long Lake Entry (LLE) Water Quality & Follow-up from Lorax Report
• 6.6 No Name Lake Historical Data Review (conductivity, sulphate, pH)
– discussion on use as a reference lake
• 6.7 7SSD and 7S Reporting and Discharge Periods
• 6.8 Lower Wetland Outlet (LWO) Exceedances
• 6.9 Lower Quinsam Lake Iron Exceedances and Thermocline
Relationship
• 6.10 Iron River Baseline Study and Mitigation Activities
2
3
2016 ETRC Stakeholder Meeting North Water Management
2005 & 2015 Google Earth Image of Quinsam Watershed
4
5
Quinsam Watershed Including Upper Quinsam Lake 2015
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
400
50
100
150
200
250
300
Apr-
02
Apr-
03
Apr-
04
Apr-
05
Apr-
06
Apr-
07
Apr-
08
Apr-
09
Apr-
10
Apr-
11
Apr-
12
Apr-
13
Apr-
14
Apr-
15
Apr-
16
WA
DIS
CH
AR
GE
m3/s
DIS
SO
LV
ED
SU
LP
HA
TE
(m
g/L
)
WA Q MQL 1M MQL 4M MQL 9M MQL 1M from Bottom WQG
6
Middle Quinsam Lake (MQL) and Long Lake have rapid flushing rates. The estimated mean residence time for
MQL water is approximately 17 days; for Long Lake it is approximately 34 days (MoE. 1989).
Sulphate levels have declined since Summer 2014 with a much lower range of concentrations observed between
depths even during periods of thermal stratification.
Agenda Item 6.1: Middle Quinsam Lake Sulphate Levels vs Inflow (2002 to 2016)
0
20
40
60
800
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50O
ct-
12
Jan-1
3
Apr-
13
Jul-1
3
Oct-
13
Jan-1
4
Apr-
14
Jul-1
4
Oct-
14
Jan-1
5
Apr-
15
Jul-1
5
Oct-
15
Jan-1
6
Apr-
16
Jul-1
6
Oct-
16
DA
ILY
PR
EC
IPIT
AT
ION
(mm
)
FL
OW
(m
3/s
)
FLOW VS PRECIPITATION Middle Quinsam Lake Inflow
Flow Daily Precipitation (mm)
7
Quinsam River flows have been regulated since 1957. A diversion dam upstream from Middle Quinsam
Lake diverts roughly 72% of the flow of the Quinsam River into the Campbell River system via Gooseneck
Lake. Approximately 70% of the annual discharge from the Quinsam watershed occurs during the winter
months of November through March.
MoE 1989 report states that a comparison of predicted effluent discharge volumes and receiving water flows
into Middle Quinsam Lake indicates that effluent dilution ratios will normally range from 8:1 to 38:1. However,
dilution ratios considerably lower than 8:1 could occur if BC Hydro were to release relatively low flows at the
Quinsam diversion during a period of high discharge from the mine (MoE. 1989).
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
Sulp
hat
e, d
isso
lve
d (
mg/
L)
2-North Sulphate
PDSR
PDS
WD
WC
WB
Sulphate Concentrations in the North End
8
9
2016 ETRC Stakeholder Meeting
South Water Management - reference drawing
• Sulphate concentrations declined at depth through the 2015-16 monitoring period and remained under WQG
• Levels at depth have increased in the Spring and Summer 2016 5 in 30 monitoring events with 3 exceedances
above WQG: Spring 2016 ( 9m 133 mg/L & 1m from bottom 134 mg/L) & Summer 2016 (1m from bottom 128
mg/L)
Agenda Item 6.2: Current Long Lake Sulphate Levels, Treatment
System & Seep Monitoring
10
Long Lake Water Quality
Aggregate loading from mine related point source discharges have cyclical profiles with higher loads correlating
with discharge quantities and seasonal weather patterns. Discharge quantities from October through May were
higher during 2015-16 than 2014-15 which may have had an affect on sulphate concentrations found within
Long Lake.
11
Long Lake Seep Passive Treatment System
Sulphate reductions observed in the BCR effluent vary from 150 – 250 mg/L in the winter months to
upwards of ~ 300 mg/L or greater in the summer months. Sulphate reduction efficiency has declined
marginally as the system ages.
12
Long Lake Seep Passive Treatment System
Carbon Addition
• Golder associates determined that
treatment system reduction efficiency was
limited by organic carbon and its addition
may promote sulphate reduction
• Bench scale testing was designed and
implemented in 2014 using simulated
BCR cells
• Results from bench scale testing
completed in 2014 indicated molasses
was best suited as a carbon source
• In May 2016, an injection site was built to
inject molasses into full scale system
• An expanded monitoring regime was
implemented in the treatment system to
evaluate the effectiveness of molasses
addition
13
Long Lake Seep Passive Treatment System
• A comparison of monthly sulphate reductions throughout the treatment system year over year. It is
observed that reduction efficiency has declined as the system ages prior to the injection of molasses
• Overall sulphate reduction through the treatment system since the molasses addition began in May,
2016 has shown a modest improvement (10 to 15 percent) over previous year’s performance . The
molasses addition system will continue to be evaluated through different seasons and temperatures
14
0
100
200
300
400
500
600Ja
nu
ary
Feb
ruar
y
Mar
ch
Ap
ril
May
Jun
e
July
Au
gust
Sep
tem
be
r
Oct
ob
er
No
vem
be
r
De
cem
ber
Sulp
hat
e R
ed
uct
ion
(m
g/L)
System Sulphate Reduction By Month
Full System
2013
2014
2015
2016
Molasses Injection Commenced
Agenda Item 6.3:
Historic Long Lake Sulphate Levels
0
40
80
120
160
200
240
280D
ec-
81
May
-83
Ap
r-8
4
Ap
r-8
5
Ap
r-8
6
Ap
r-8
7
Ap
r-8
8
Ap
r-8
9
Ap
r-9
0
Ap
r-9
1
Ap
r-9
2
Ap
r-9
3
Ap
r-9
4
Ap
r-9
4
Ap
r-9
5
Ap
r-9
6
Ap
r-9
7
Ap
r-9
8
Ap
r-9
9
Ap
r-0
0
Ap
r-0
1
Ap
r-0
2
Ap
r-0
3
Ap
r-0
4
Ap
r-0
5
Ap
r-0
6
Ap
r-0
7
Ap
r-0
8
Ap
r-0
9
De
c-0
9
SULP
HA
TE
(mg/
L)
9 Meters Bottom
Op
en
pit
s
1, 2
& 3
So
uth
pro
du
cti
on
sta
rt m
id-1
99
1
2S
Un
de
rgro
un
d p
rod
uc
tio
n s
tart
Mid
-1
99
3
Op
en
pit
pro
du
cti
on
ce
as
ed
Ma
y 1
99
4
4S
UG
pro
du
cti
on
sta
rt F
eb
. 1
99
6
2S
UG
pro
du
cti
on
ce
as
ed
-O
ct
19
96
4S
UG
pro
du
cti
on
ce
as
ed
M
ay 1
99
9
IEC: Nov./Dec.,1981 (DL = 5.0)
Norecol: Feb/83 to Oct/84
(DL = 1.0 - 2.0)
Historic (1981-2010) Long Lake Sulphate Levels
Small quantities were mined from 4S
in 2003, 2004 & 2005.
15
MoE: 1986 (9m, 1.8, 12m, 2.4)
• Hypolimnetic oxygen depletion occurs in Long, Middle Quinsam and Quinsam Lakes at the end of the
growing season prior to destratification. Rapid flushing during fall and winter probably prevents phosphorus
released during this brief anoxic period from contributing to summer algal production (MoE. 1989).
• Historical dissolved oxygen (DO) vs total manganese reported at 1 metre from bottom samples since 2005
display an inverse relationship with DO and Mn-T. When DO levels decrease Mn-T concentrations increase
which is most prominent during summer and fall when DO levels decline below 3 mg/L. There was one Oct
1, 1993 1MB sample reported as 5.15 mg/L, Total Iron was 3.37 mg/L, Dissolved Oxygen 5.57 mg/L.
• Factors for elevated Mn-T could be attributed to equipment used for determining the depth.
Agenda Item 6.4: Long Lake Manganese (Includes Fall 5 in 30 Sampling)
16
0.00
1.00
2.00
3.00
4.00
5.00
6.000.00
1.00
2.00
3.00
4.00
5.00
6.00
7.00
8.00
9.00
10.00
Jan
-00
Jul-
00
Jan
-01
Jul-
01
Jan
-02
Jul-
02
Jan
-03
Jul-
03
Jan
-04
Jul-
04
Jan
-05
Jul-
05
Jan
-06
Jul-
06
Jan
-07
Jul-
07
Jan
-08
Jul-
08
Jan
-09
Jul-
09
Jan
-10
Jul-
10
Jan
-11
Jul-
11
Jan
-12
Jul-
12
Jan
-13
Jul-
13
Jan
-14
Jul-
14
Jan
-15
Jul-
15
Jan
-16
Jul-
16
Total M
angan
ese
(mg/L) D
isso
lve
d O
xyge
n (
mg/
L)
DO vs Mn-T - Long Lake 1 Metre From Bottom
Mn-T DO
0.00
1.00
2.00
3.00
4.00
5.00
6.000.00
1.00
2.00
3.00
4.00
5.00
6.00
7.00
8.00
9.00
10.00
Jan
-00
Jul-
00
Jan
-01
Jul-
01
Jan
-02
Jul-
02
Jan
-03
Jul-
03
Jan
-04
Jul-
04
Jan
-05
Jul-
05
Jan
-06
Jul-
06
Jan
-07
Jul-
07
Jan
-08
Jul-
08
Jan
-09
Jul-
09
Jan
-10
Jul-
10
Jan
-11
Jul-
11
Jan
-12
Jul-
12
Jan
-13
Jul-
13
Jan
-14
Jul-
14
Jan
-15
Jul-
15
Jan
-16
Jul-
16
Total M
angan
ese
(mg/L) D
isso
lve
d O
xyge
n (
mg/
L)
DO vs Mn-T - Long Lake 1 Metre From Bottom
Mn-T DO
• Hypolimnetic oxygen depletion occurs in Long, Middle Quinsam and Quinsam Lakes at the end of the
growing season prior to destratification. Rapid flushing during fall and winter probably prevents phosphorus
released during this brief anoxic period from contributing to summer algal production (MoE. 1989).
• Historical dissolved oxygen (DO) vs total manganese reported at 1 metre from bottom samples since 2005
display an inverse relationship with DO and Mn-T. When DO levels decrease Mn-T concentrations increase
which is most prominent during summer and fall when DO levels decline below 3 mg/L. There was one Oct 1,
1993 1MB sample reported as 5.15 mg/L, Total Iron was 3.37 mg/L, Dissolved Oxygen 5.57 mg/L.
• Factors for elevated Mn-T could be attributed to equipment used for determining the depth.
Long Lake Manganese (Not Including Fall 5 in 30)
17
18
Agenda Item 6.5
Long Lake Entry (LLE) Water Quality & Follow-up from Lorax Report
19
Dissolved Sulphate (2009-2016): 4S-lower, LLE and LLE-IZD
20
Dissolved Sulphate (2009-2016): 4S-lower and LLE
21
“Conduct a water quality sampling survey during low flow periods to take water
samples from any observed surface water discharges to the LLE Pond.”
Surface Water Loading and 4-South Mine Seepage
22
Dissolved Sulphate at Surface Water Discharges into LLE
23
Dissolved Iron at Surface Water Discharges into LLE
24
Remobilization from Sediments
“Conduct a water quality survey in LLE during periods of low flow and high iron
concentrations to evaluate redox conditions in the wetland pond.” and,
“Conduct laboratory tests to evaluate the speciation of iron in LLE and 4S-
lower.”
LLE-L1 LLE-L2
LLE Culvert Inlet
25
LLE-L1 LLE-L2
Depth Surface 30cm 60cm 90cm Bottom
+15cm Surface 30cm 60cm 90cm
Bottom
+15cm
Field Parameters
Temperature 20.71 20.53 20.52 20.86 20.63 20.46
Conductivity 1501 1618 2159 1643 1836 2502
pH 7.27 6.71 6.50 6.78 6.36 6.28
DO 11.51 4.97 0.97 11.14 10.42 0.70
ORP 88.1 -18.1 -65.7 81.6 51.7 -87.9
Iron Concentration
Total Iron 0.317 68.9 0.333 42.4
Dissolved Iron 0.062 49.6 0.197 45.8
The anoxic (depleted dissolved oxygen) conditions at depth indicate that sediments in the wetland
could be a source of iron (ferric iron in the substrate reducing to the ferrous state and mobilizing into
the water column).
LLE Water Quality Survey Results
26
Tests to evaluate the speciation of iron in LLE pond and 4S-lower:
• Samples (oxic water) have been taken at 4S-lower and LLE discharge
for both metal analysis and analysis using diffusive gel (DGT)
samplers (which separates species according to their lability)
• The labile fraction mainly represents inorganic metal species
• The non-labile fractions represents organically bound metal
species
The 1989 Ambient Water Quality Assessment and Objectives For Middle Quinsam
Lake Sub-basin, Campbell River Area states ”Water quality throughout the Quinsam
watershed is characterized as soft, exceptionally clear and oligotrophic. There is a
tendency for pH to become slightly acid (6.0 - 7.0), presumably during periods of rain
or snowfall. The water has a low concentration of dissolved substances and little
buffering capacity to stabilize pH. Median pH is 7.1.”
Point Sources:
Mining activities have been influencing the groundwater and surface waters in the
surrounding area for over 30 years.
2013-2015, clear cut logging has occurred on the south-west side of the lake with the
potential to increase nutrient/sediment loading as this area supports one of the main
tributaries to the Lake.
Agenda Item 6.6: No-Name Lake Historical Data Review
27
No Name Lake Outlet and South Area Mining Historical Data Review
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
DIS
SO
LV
ED
SU
LP
HA
TE
(m
g/L
)
NNO SULPHATE 1983-2015
1, 2 & 3 South Pits – Developed as open pit mid 1991. Open pit changed to underground late 1993
Open Pit 1 South was backfilled with overburden material and reclaimed in 1993.
Open Pits 2 & 3 were partially backfilled in 1993.
1994 open pit ceased 3 South Pit was used for the collection of all mine/surface water.
Production from the 2 South underground mine 1993 to Oct. 1996.
Oct 1, 1998 – Jul 1999, 4 South CCR disposed of sub-aqueously in 3 South Pit.
2 South underground portals backfilled in 1997.
1-South
Open Pit
4-South U/G 3-
South
Open
Pit
2-South Open
Pit & U/G
4-South U/G
(periodic)
5-South U/G
7-South U/G
28
Aug. 2, 2003
0
20
40
60
80
100
120Jan-8
3
Jan-8
4
Jan-8
5
Jan-8
6
Jan-8
7
Jan-8
8
Jan-8
9
Jan-9
0
Jan-9
1
Jan-9
2
Jan-9
3
Jan-9
4
Jan-9
5
Jan-9
6
Jan-9
7
Jan-9
8
Jan-9
9
Jan-0
0
Jan-0
1
Jan-0
2
Jan-0
3
Jan-0
4
Jan-0
5
Jan-0
6
Jan-0
7
Jan-0
8
Jan-0
9
Jan-1
0
Jan-1
1
Jan-1
2
Jan-1
3
Jan-1
4
Jan-1
5
Jan-1
6
CO
ND
UC
TIV
ITY
(µ
s/c
m)
FIELD CONDUCTIVITY NO NAME LAKE OUTLET
29
Nov. 2, 2002
Does not correlate with high sulphate
result.
Measurements of conductivity values at NNL and NNO are low indicating limited mine related impact;
however, further investigation is warranted to support this assumption.
5
5.5
6
6.5
7
7.5
8
8.5
9
pH
NNO Historical pH (1983-2015)
Transition from pH-L to pH-F
6.3
6.4
6.5
6.6
6.7
6.8
6.9
7
7.1
7.2
7.3
7.4
pH
No Name Lake Historical pH (1983 - 1984)
Station C:NNL1
Station C:NNL3
StationC:NNL8
Station C:NNL9
NNL(MaximumDepth)
No Name Lake Historical Data Review
As observed pH values have dropped below WQG of 6.5 on a several occasions during fall and winter. This graph
displays the transition from laboratory pH to field pH after January 2013. The figure on the right depicts historical pH
values obtained from baseline monitoring performed by Environment Canada on June 21, 1983 and Quinsam Coal
baseline study 1984. Quinsam collected six samples during May and July, 1984. These results indicate one sampling
event (July 12, 1984) resulted in a lower pH (6.4) at maximum depth (unknown). The historical pH values ranged from
6.4 to 7.3. 30
No Name Lake Historical Data Review
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
DIS
SO
LV
ED
SU
LP
HA
TE
(m
g/L
)
NNO SULPHATE 1983-2015
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
DIS
SO
LV
ED
SU
LP
HA
TE
(m
g/L
)
NO NAME LAKE SULPHATE (June 2012 to Nov. 2015)
NNL 1m NNL 4m NNL 9m NNL 1m from Bottom
WQG-Max: 128 mg/L
A review of historical data suggests that there were occasions when this lake’s water quality was mine
impacted. This is observed in historical sulphate concentrations recorded for No Name Lake Outlet
(NNO) as well as a sampling event at No Name Lake during 2012 where sulphate concentrations
reached 17.6 mg/L at depth. 31
32
2016 ETRC Stakeholder Meeting
7-South Water Management
- reference drawing
• There were no permit limit exceedances for any metals at 7SSD during
2015-16
• Discharge from 7SSD occurred intermittently for 43 days this monitoring
year (21 days in April & December - March for 22 days)
• The targeted 8:1 dilution ratio was achieved at all times
• No discharge has occurred since March 11, 2016 until Oct. 7th, 2016
from 7SSD. With 5 days of discharge occurring this quarter, 2016.
• Water quality at 7S compared to the model also displays excellent water
quality as all results are below the expected values, with the expectation
of Arsenic at 7SSD during times of zero discharge.
• This indicates that during 2015-16 monitoring year QCC had a
negligible impact on water quality at 7S and in turn the Lower Wetland
Outlet. 33
Agenda Item 6.7: 7-South Water Management
7SSD WQ (2015-16 Averages)
Parameter
Expected Case
(mg/L)
Worst Case
(mg/L)
Actual
(mg/L) Result
Fluoride 0.122-0.134 0.150-0.161 N/A
Sulphate 56-71 139.3-180.5 35.3 Below Expected
Aluminum 0.040-0.041 0.110-0.113 0.0147 Below Expected
Arsenic 0.001 0.002 0.00225
Above Worst
Case
Boron 0.069-0.082 0.152-0.186 0.03 Expected
Cadmium 0.000012-0.00013 0.000037-0.00004 0.0000049 Below Expected
Cobalt 0.00015-0.00017 0.00161-0.00211 0.00025
In-between
Copper 0.004 0.006 0.00093 Below Expected
Iron 0.034 0.130-0.133 0.0184 Below Expected
Manganese 0.016-0.017 0.054-0.066 0.0382 In-between
Nickel 0.001 0.003-0.004 0.0007 Below Expected
Selenium 0.00193-0.00194 0.00612-0.00632 0.00008
Below Expected
Zinc 0.003 0.006 0.0031
In-between
*When calculating averages, 0.5 of the method detection limit values were used.
7S WQ (2015-16 Averages)
Parameter
Expected Case
(mg/L)
Worst Case
(mg/L)
Actual
(mg/L) Result
Fluoride N/A N/A N/A
Sulphate 6.49-7.80 15.4-17.8 4.3 Below Expected
Aluminum 0.043 0.055-0.056 0.03960 Below Expected
Arsenic 0.0002 0.0003 0.00015 Below Expected
Boron 0.052-0.063 0.061-0.063 0.02700 Below Expected
Cadmium 0.000010 0.000013 0.000004 Below Expected
Cobalt
0.00046-
0.00047
0.00062-
0.00065 0.00025 Below Expected
Copper 0.001 0.001 0.00055 Below Expected
Iron 0.020-0.021 0.030-0.031 0.00980 Below Expected
Manganese 0.0026-0.003 0.007 0.00050 Below Expected
Nickel 0.001 0.001 0.0005 Below Expected
Selenium
0.00028-
0.00030
0.00070-
0.00075 0.00006 Below Expected
Zinc 0.005 0.005 0.00250 Below Expected
*When calculating averages, 0.5 of the method detection limit values were used.
Expected and Worst Case Predicted Water Quality Model
34
35
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
1000.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
3.5
4.0
4.5
5.0
Apr-
14
Ma
y-1
4
Jun-1
4
Jul-1
4
Aug-1
4
Sep-1
4
Oct-
14
No
v-1
4
De
c-1
4
Jan-1
5
Feb
-15
Ma
r-1
5
Apr-
15
Ma
y-1
5
Jun-1
5
Jul-1
5
Aug-1
5
Sep-1
5
Oct-
15
No
v-1
5
De
c-1
5
Jan-1
6
Feb
-16
Ma
r-1
6
Apr-
16
Ma
y-1
6
Jun-1
6
Jul-1
6
Aug-1
6
Sep-1
6
Oct-
16
No
v-1
6
DA
ILY
PR
EC
IPIT
AT
ION
(mm
) D
ISC
AH
RG
E (
L/s
) DAILY AVERAGE DISCHARGE VS PRECIPITATION
7SSD
Daily Precipitation (mm) Discharge (L/s)
36
0.00
0.75
1.50
2.25
3.00
3.75
4.500.00
0.05
0.10
0.15
0.20
0.25
0.30
Ap
r-1
3
Jun
-13
Au
g-1
3
Oct
-13
De
c-1
3
Feb
-14
Ap
r-1
4
Jun
-14
Au
g-1
4
Oct
-14
De
c-1
4
Feb
-15
Ap
r-1
5
Jun
-15
Au
g-1
5
Oct
-15
De
c-1
5
Feb
-16
Ap
r-1
6
Jun
-16
Au
g-1
6
Oct
-16
7SSD
Disch
arge (L/s) A
l-D
(m
g/L
) 7-South Area [Al-D] vs Discharge
7SSD Q 7SSD Al-D 7S Al-D LWO Al-D WQG-Max
37
0.00
1.50
3.00
4.500.000
0.002
0.004
0.006
0.008
0.010
0.012
Ap
r-1
3
Jun
-13
Au
g-1
3
Oct
-13
De
c-1
3
Feb
-14
Ap
r-1
4
Jun
-14
Au
g-1
4
Oct
-14
De
c-1
4
Feb
-15
Ap
r-1
5
Jun
-15
Au
g-1
5
Oct
-15
De
c-1
5
Feb
-16
Ap
r-1
6
Jun
-16
Au
g-1
6
Oct
-16
7SSD
Disch
arge (L/s)
Cu
-T (
mg
/L)
7-South Area [Cu-T] vs Discharge
7SSD Q 7SSD Cu-T 7S Cu-T LWO Cu-T WQG-Max
38
0.00
1.50
3.00
4.500.0
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
7.0
8.0
9.0
Ap
r-1
3
Jun
-13
Au
g-1
3
Oct
-13
De
c-1
3
Feb
-14
Ap
r-1
4
Jun
-14
Au
g-1
4
Oct
-14
De
c-1
4
Feb
-15
Ap
r-1
5
Jun
-15
Au
g-1
5
Oct
-15
De
c-1
5
Feb
-16
Ap
r-1
6
Jun
-16
Au
g-1
6
Oct
-16
7SSD
Disch
arge (L/s)
Fe-T
(m
g/L
) 7-South Area [Fe-T] vs Discharge
7SSD Q 7SSD Fe-T 7S Fe-T LWO Fe-T WQG-Max
39
0.00
0.75
1.50
2.25
3.00
3.75
4.500.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
Ap
r-1
3
Jun
-13
Au
g-1
3
Oct
-13
De
c-1
3
Feb
-14
Ap
r-1
4
Jun
-14
Au
g-1
4
Oct
-14
De
c-1
4
Feb
-15
Ap
r-1
5
Jun
-15
Au
g-1
5
Oct
-15
De
c-1
5
Feb
-16
Ap
r-1
6
Jun
-16
Au
g-1
6
Oct
-16
7SSD
Disch
arge (L/s)
Fe-D
(m
g/L
) 7-South Area [Fe-D] vs Discharge
7SSD Q 7SSD Fe-D 7S Fe-D LWO Fe-D WQG-Max
Agenda Item 6.8:
Lower Wetland Outlet (LWO) Exceedances
Parameter 5-in-30 (Oct./Nov., 2015) Water Quality Guidelines LWO Baseline
(June, 2011) Average Maximum Average Maximum
Al-T 0.219 0.352 - - 0.248
As-T 0.00062 0.00081 - 0.005 0.00178
Cu-T 0.00395 0.00530 0.002 0.007 0.0014
Al-D 0.184 0.276 0.05 0.1 0.101
Fe-D 0.277 0.471 - 0.35 2.52
40
• Water quality results are similar to baseline results from 2011.
• Wetland has limited to no flow during summer/ fall causing elevated metals to occur
• Sampling occurs three times per year (when water is present) on a 5 and 30 day
monitoring schedule
• Sampling location is situated behind a beaver dam
• Metals naturally accumulate in the sediment and are elevated at surface
Lower Wetland Outlet Sampling Location
Parameter Oct. 2016 Result (mg/L) WQG-Max
Dissolved Aluminum (Al) 0.157 0.1
Dissolved Copper (Cu) 0.00215
Total Copper (Cu) 0.00580 0.007
Dissolved Iron (Fe) 0.328 0.35
Total Iron (Fe) 0.635 1
41
42
2016 ETRC Stakeholder Meeting
Lower Quinsam Lake
- reference drawing
Agenda Item 6.9: Lower Quinsam Lake Iron Exceedances (and Thermocline
Relationship)
Lower Quinsam Lake Baseline Monitoring (Norecol: May, 1983 to July, 1984)
43
Lower Quinsam Lake Iron Exceedances (and Thermocline Relationship)
Lower Quinsam Lake Baseline Monitoring (Norecol: May, 1983 to July, 1984)
44
Lower Quinsam Lake Iron Exceedances (and Thermocline Relationship)
Lower Quinsam Lake (Bottom) 5-in-30 Monitoring: 2013 to 2016
45
Agenda Item 6.9:
Lower Quinsam Lake Iron Exceedances (and Thermocline Relationship)
Lower Quinsam Lake (Bottom) 5-in-30 Monitoring
Zone of rapid temperature decline
= Thermocline (or metalimnion)
[is a barrier to the mixing of surface
and bottom waters]
Bacterial decomposition
of organic matter consumes
oxygen.
46
Lower Quinsam Lake Iron Exceedances (and Thermocline Relationship)
• During summer months (warm weather and low precipitation) the dissolved oxygen
(DO) in the deep points in the lake is depleted to near zero concentrations (anoxic
conditions) due to inadequate mixing of atmospheric oxygen and decomposition of
organic matter.
• During the period of summer anoxia a migration of iron occurs at the sediment-water
interface in the cooler bottom layer (hypolimnion).
• Ferric iron in the substrate reducing to the ferrous state and mobilizing into the water
column
47
Lower Quinsam Lake Iron Exceedances (and Thermocline Relationship)
48
Lower Quinsam Lake Iron Exceedances (and Thermocline Relationship)
49
Agenda Item 6.10
Iron River Baseline Study
50
51
Iron River Aluminum (dissolved) Concentration (mg/L)
Max. WQG = 0.10mg/L
Iron River Water Quality Monitoring Locations
52
Al (dissolved and total) values correlate positively with flow (high concentrations
during high flow), indicating association with Total Suspended Solids during high
flow conditions.
Iron River Aluminum (dissolved) Concentration (mg/L)
53
Iron River Arsenic (total) Concentration (mg/L)
Max. WQG = 0.005mg/L
54
As-T values correlate negatively with flow (high concentrations during low flow),
indicating association with groundwater (which, during low flow conditions, has a
greater relative contribution to stream flow) and/or a localized loading source.
Iron River Arsenic (total) Concentration (mg/L)
55
2016 ETRC Stakeholder Meeting
56
“242” Adit Area
- reference drawing
2016 ETRC Stakeholder
Meeting
“242”
Exploration
Adit
(reclaimed
in 2016)
Adit Sump
Iron River
Skarn
Deposit
Iron River
IRS1 Sump
Approximate
sedimentary
rock –
volcanic rock
boundary
57
242 Flooded Portal and Adit Water Quality 2014-2016
Site 242 Flooded Portal 242 Adit Sump
Pemit Limit
For Block
242
Date 2014-2016 2014-2016 2014-2016 2014-2016 2014-2016 2014-2016
Parameter Units Average Min Max Average Min Max
pH-F pH Units 7.13 6.46 7.95 7.352 6.77 7.76 6.0 -8.5
Cond-F uS/cm 341 202 680 244.8 148 308
H2S mg/L 0.013 0.005 0.036 - - -
SO4-D mg/L 63 53 77 58 55 62
Alk-T mg/L 75.0 44.7 90.9 45.3 11.1 61.7
Acidity 8.3 mg/L 3.38 0.5 9.32 1.815 0.5 3.84
Al-D mg/L 0.005 0.001 0.016 0.034 0.005 0.065 0.5
As-D mg/L 0.0010 0.0004 0.0025 0.0012 0.0004 0.0028
As-T mg/L 0.0345 0.0009 0.1480 0.0047 0.0031 0.0060
Cu-D mg/L 0.000289 0.0002 0.00099 0.000584 0.00022 0.00114 0.02
Fe-D mg/L 0.006 0.005 0.012 0.010 0.005 0.023 0.3
Pb-D mg/L 0.0002 0.0001 0.0002 0.0002 0.0002 0.0002 0.05
Zn-D mg/L 0.010 0.005 0.047 0.098 0.010 0.407 0.1
58
IRS1 Arsenic (total) Concentration (mg/L)
59
Conclusion
Water quality in the Middle Quinsam Sub-Basin remained consistent with previous years and is considered to be in
good condition.
The majority of parameters of concern were below Provincial guideline and objective levels indicating minimal health
risk to sensitive aquatic receptors.
Permit Limit Exceedances for 2015-16:
• 2 Total Suspended Solids (TSS) samples at Settling Pond 1 and 4 resulting in 30.5 mg/L and 26 mg/L,
respectively, QCC permitted for 25 mg/L.
• Annual Average Discharge from Settling Pond 4 resulted in 0.1018 m3/s, QCC is permitted for 0.08 m3/s
The levels recorded for TSS were not detectable at downstream monitoring stations and, therefore, not considered
detrimental to the receiving environment.
Quinsam Coal will continue to focus on site wide water management with a target of mitigating concentrations of
parameters of interest in the receiving environment.
To date, Quinsam has demonstrated that the existing mine related controls and features implemented have been
effective at reducing concentrations of certain parameters.
This trend is expected to persist and will be highlighted by future monitoring programs. 60