Overview of Freshwater Fish Studies from the Pulp and Paper Environmental Effects Monitoring Program

Abstract The second cycle of the pulp and paper environmental effects monitoring (EEM) program reported its results on April 1, 2000, and preliminary analysis of the fish survey results have been conducted. The EEM program is a cyclical evaluation of the receiving water impacts associated with the discharge of effluent, consisting of evaluations of fish populations, benthic invertebrate communities, effluent toxicity and other components. This paper represents a summary of the preliminary evaluations of 114 EEM surveys for the fish survey results, as reported by the consulting companies to the mills. Less than 10% of the cases failed to find a statistical difference in the key measurements of gonad size, liver size and condition factor. When effects were seen in a sex of one species, 67% of the time, a similar effect was seen in the opposite sex and when a difference was seen in one sex of one species, 54% of the time, the same difference was seen in the same direction in a second species sampled at that site. This reflects that differences were often consistent between sexes and consistent between species. Results, problems encountered, and lessons learned will be compared for cycle 1 and 2 data, and general response patterns and national trends in reported data will be presented. A summary of research needs is presented, as are recommendations for cycle 3 pulp and paper. New developments in the program reflect some of the adaptations developed for metal mining EEM, including a) setting alpha and beta equal, and its consequences for study design and interpretation, b) discussion of the role of effect size in power analysis and study design, and c) non-lethal sampling protocols for EEM.

Download Full-text

Principles and Challenges for Multi-Stakeholder Development of Focused, Tiered, and Triggered, Adaptive Monitoring Programs for Aquatic Environments

Diversity ◽

10.3390/d11090155 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (9) ◽

pp. 155

Author(s):

Kelly R. Munkittrick ◽

Tim J. Arciszewski ◽

Michelle A. Gray

Keyword(s):

Environmental Effects ◽

Monitoring Program ◽

Lessons Learned ◽

Aquatic Environments ◽

Paper Mills ◽

Monitoring Programs ◽

Adaptive Monitoring ◽

Working Groups ◽

Multi Stakeholder ◽

Environmental Effects Monitoring

In Canada, there is almost 30 years of experience in developing tiered and triggered adaptive monitoring programs focused on looking at whether environmental concerns remain when pulp and paper mills, or metal mines, are in compliance with their discharge limits. These environmental effects monitoring programs were based on nationally standardized designs. Many of the programs have been developed through multi-stakeholder working groups, and the evolution of the program faced repeated frictions and differing opinions on how to design environmental monitoring programs. This paper describes key guidance to work through the initial steps in program design, and includes scientific advice based on lessons learned from the development of the Canadian aquatic environmental effects monitoring program.

Download Full-text

Pulp and Paper Environmental Effects Monitoring in Canada: An Overview

Water Quality Research Journal ◽

10.2166/wqrj.2002.003 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 37 (1) ◽

pp. 7-19 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Sherry L. Walker ◽

Kathleen Hedley ◽

Edward Porter

Keyword(s):

Environmental Effects ◽

Fish Habitat ◽

Monitoring Program ◽

Research Priorities ◽

Pulp And Paper ◽

Paper Mills ◽

Fisheries Resources ◽

Pulp And Paper Effluent ◽

Receiving Environments ◽

Environmental Effects Monitoring

Abstract Environmental effects monitoring (EEM) is a requirement for pulp and paper mills in Canada discharging effluent directly into receiving environments under the Pulp and Paper Effluent Regulations of the Fisheries Act. The objective of the EEM program is to assess effects on fish, fish habitat and the use of fisheries resources by humans, potentially affected by the deposit of mill effluent in aquatic receiving environments. The information provided by the monitoring program will contribute to assessing the adequacy of the regulations. Difficulties encountered in the first round of monitoring led to an extensive science review of key components and resulted in improvement to process, scientific defensibility of the monitoring data and site-specific flexibility of the EEM program. The second cycle of EEM was, overall, markedly more successful than Cycle 1. However, problems were still evident for fish surveys conducted in marine and estuarine environments. The adoption of improved alternative monitoring approaches (e.g., caged bivalves, mesocosms) should alleviate many of these problems. An overview of the EEM program, results to date, alternative monitoring approaches, and research priorities to fill data gaps are presented.

Download Full-text

A Tier-Testing Strategy for Managing Programs of Environmental Effects Monitoring

Water Quality Research Journal ◽

10.2166/wqrj.1996.013 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 31 (2) ◽

pp. 215-224 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

P.V. Hodson ◽

K.R. Munkittrick ◽

R. Stevens ◽

A. Colodey

Keyword(s):

Environmental Effects ◽

Monitoring Program ◽

Pulp And Paper ◽

Testing Strategy ◽

Tiered Approach ◽

Systematic Strategy ◽

Choice Of Studies ◽

Level Of Effort ◽

Environmental Effects Monitoring

Abstract A good environmental effects monitoring program (EEM) provides answers to clear, well-defined questions. The answers should be quantitative and lead directly to decisions about the effluent being studied and about further EEM studies. Preliminary studies should trigger more in-depth monitoring only when predefined thresholds are exceeded. When in-depth work suggests that further studies are unnecessary, there should be a return to a lower level of effort. These criteria lead directly to a tiered strategy for managing EEM that defines the sequence and choice of studies through successive cycles. The benefits of a tiered approach are (1) rules that all stakeholders can understand and comply with; (2) monitoring limited to that which is essential; and (3) assurance that all appropriate elements are included, but only when necessary. Within the context of the new pulp and paper EEM program, tier testing is an efficient, logical and systematic strategy for managing monitoring.

Download Full-text

Investigation of Cause in Pulp and Paper Environmental Effects Monitoring

Water Quality Research Journal ◽

10.2166/wqrj.2005.032 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 40 (3) ◽

pp. 261-274 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

L. Mark Hewitt ◽

Monique G. Dubé ◽

Sandra C. Ribey ◽

Joseph M. Culp ◽

Richard Lowell ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Environmental Effects ◽

Pulp And Paper ◽

Sufficient Information ◽

Response Patterns ◽

Pulp Mills ◽

Metal Mining ◽

Scientific Disciplines ◽

Specific Stage ◽

Metabolic Disruption ◽

Environmental Effects Monitoring

Abstract Environmental Effects Monitoring (EEM) Programs in Canada have been developed for the pulp and paper and metal mining industries. The EEM Program conducts cyclical evaluations of receiving environments to determine whether effects exist when facilities comply with existing regulations. Investigation of cause (IOC) is a specific stage in the EEM Program that is used after environmental effects in fish and/or benthos have been detected, confirmed and their extent and magnitude have been documented. This paper presents an overview of the processes associated with this phase of monitoring. The objective of an IOC is to obtain sufficient information so that the source of the effect can be identified and removed, or its effects reduced to an acceptable level. The initial direction of an IOC is dependent upon the type of response patterns observed for fish and/or benthos during EEM cycles and extent/magnitude studies. The framework presented in this paper is based on an amalgamation of research projects conducted at Canadian pulp mills over the last decade and selected studies are summarized as examples. It also represents an integration of several research philosophies and scientific disciplines. The framework is based on national response patterns from the second cycle of pulp and paper EEM studies. IOCs are directed into either an eutrophication-based investigation or a contaminant-based investigation (including metabolic disruption in fish). The framework is constructed with a progression of investigative levels designed to provide more information on the causative factors. Each of these phases also represents a decision point for stakeholders to determine if sufficient information has been attained about the causal factor(s) and whether the IOC should be concluded. It is expected that the framework will evolve with a growing knowledge base of causal factors, as facilities enter into this phase of the EEM Program.

Download Full-text

Introductory Remarks: Scientific Concepts associated with the Development of the Canadian Environmental Effects Monitoring Program

Water Quality Research Journal ◽

10.2166/wqrj.2002.002 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 37 (1) ◽

pp. 3-6

Keyword(s):

Environmental Effects ◽

Monitoring Program ◽

Scientific Concepts ◽

Environmental Effects Monitoring

Download Full-text

Seasonal reproductive patterns and recommended sampling times for sentinel fish species used in environmental effects monitoring programs in Canada

Environmental Reviews ◽

10.1139/a10-004 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 18 (NA) ◽

pp. 115-135 ◽

Cited By ~ 33

Author(s):

Timothy J. Barrett ◽

Kelly R. Munkittrick

Keyword(s):

Fish Species ◽

Environmental Effects ◽

Reproductive Strategy ◽

Mining Industry ◽

Pulp And Paper ◽

Reproductive Pattern ◽

Metal Mining ◽

Reproductive Patterns ◽

Sampling Times ◽

Environmental Effects Monitoring

Canada’s environmental effects monitoring (EEM) program is currently in its fifth cycle of monitoring for the pulp and paper industry and second cycle of monitoring for the metal mining industry. More than 60 different sentinel fish species have been used in the EEM fish population surveys and reproductive impacts have been identified as an issue of concern in the pulp and paper program. A review of the literature was conducted to obtain details of the reproductive biology of each fish species that has been used in EEM studies in Canada. Using available data on seasonal changes in gonadosomatic indices, the seasonal reproductive patterns of Canadian fish species were divided into categories based on reproductive strategy and the timing of initiation of gonadal recrudescence. Recommended sampling times were developed for each reproductive pattern based on periods of temporal stability, minimum variability, and maximum value in gonadosomatic indices within a reproductive cycle. The reproductive strategy, spawning time, spawning temperature, and recommended sampling time were provided for the each sentinel fish species as well as life history characteristics including longevity, age and size at maturity, and mobility. Examination of the fish surveys using small bodied forage species from the EEM pulp and paper program revealed that approximately 72% of these studies were not conducted at the developed recommended sampling times and the magnitude of impacts may be underestimated by failing to sample at the recommended time.

Download Full-text