Long-Term Monitoring Approach for an Extremely Remote Site

Transcription

1 Long-Term Monitoring Approach for an Extremely Remote Site Fort Conger, Quttinirpaaq National Park, Nunavut Nick Battye¹, Jeff Donald¹, Dr. Tamsin Laing¹, Dr. Daniela Loock¹, Dr. Ken Reimer¹ and Jane Chisholm² ¹ Environmental Sciences Group, Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, ON ² Parks Canada Agency, Nunavut Field Unit, Iqaluit, NU

2 Site Location How extreme is extreme? Fort Conger, Quttinirpaaq National Park

3 Site Location (cont d) Quttinirpaaq National Park (1988) plays a role in understanding global environmental change, protecting archaeological features and maintaining Canadian sovereignty. The extreme remoteness of the site and its location at the top of the world appeals to visitors interested in the ultimate wilderness trip and is an ongoing attraction for researchers. The remediation of contaminated sites has been an important component of improving ecological integrity in the park.

4 Site History Used as a base by three early Arctic expeditions associated with George Strong Nares, Adolphus Greely and Robert Peary. Nares overwinters at Discovery Harbour in Greely establishes a semi-permanent scientific research camp during the first International Polar Year in Peary dismantles the Greely house in 1900; constructs three wooden huts as a base camp for North Pole excursions. Visitation by early 20 th century expeditions, government and military, researchers, Inughuit and tourists.

5 Site Recognition The site s historical significance and wealth of artifacts has given it several heritage designations: Declared a site of Territorial Historic Significance under the Historical Resources Act in Peary huts are Classified Federal Heritage Buildings. One of only two places in the Canadian Arctic commemorated by a Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada plaque. It is a landmark site in the High Arctic.

6 Site Assessments Weathering of certain artifacts has created significant inorganic element soil contamination. Concentrations pose potential human (toddlers) and ecological (lemmings) health risks. Clear evidence of contaminant uptake by plants growing on site. Compounding problem: natural erosion of contaminated soil creates a potential Fisheries Act violation. Fort Conger classified Class 1 (NCSCS), a priority for action.

7 Marine Bank Erosion

8 Options Analysis A detailed assessment of the feasibility of all risk management approaches for the historical site was undertaken. Important considerations include: Can t treat inorganic element contamination on site. Removal dependent on aircraft by sea is currently not possible or practical. The airstrip is located 1.5 km from the site and can only accommodate Twin Otter type aircraft. It cannot be extended to accommodate larger planes, and planes cannot land on the ice, due to uneven ice. Based on volume estimates, 135 dedicated Twin Otter flights would be required to remove contaminated soil Currently no practical remedial options

9 Long-term Monitoring Plan Contamination must remain in place for now. Monitoring required so that if conditions change, risk management plan can be reviewed and adapted quickly. Primary objective: track contaminant movement by conducting yearly evaluations of the coastal erosion rates. Rationale: soil contamination well-delineated and not expected to change significantly, except as a result of coastal erosion. Tracking coastal erosion rates will allow calculation of contaminated soil volumes lost on the terrestrial side with subsequent loading into the marine environment. Three methods selected for this purpose: remote satellite imagery, on-site measurements and differential global positioning system (DGPS) surveys.

10 Remote Satellite Imagery Provides a cost-effective means of monitoring the rates of erosion at Fort Conger to be conducted yearly

11 Remote Satellite Imagery 10.1 cm/year 3.9 cm/year 8.5 cm/year 5.9 cm/year 7.0 cm/year

12 Remote Satellite Imagery All images geo-referenced using permanent features surveyed on site in Digitization of the upper bank edge was established manually based on professional judgement. The migration of the upper bank edge over time has consistently been landward over time. Interpretative results suggest a maximum estimate of upper bank edge erosion of approximately 10 cm/year. Sources of error: satellite resolution currently at 50 cm.

13 On-site Measurements To supplement the annual acquisition of satellite images. Pre-established measuring points (stakes); measurements recorded at all breaks in ground surface. Site visits/measurements made annually by Parks Canada, budget permitting. On-site measurements considered a quality assurance/quality control (QA/ QC) measure to the remote satellite imagery analysis (better resolution but still not perfect!).

14 On-site Measurements Previous measurement protocols established in 2007 and carried out until 2012 resulted in positive and negative fluctuations of up to 300 cm for the same line. The new protocol, consisting of metal stakes was established in Comparisons of 2013 and 2014 measurement data suggest the error has been reduced to +/- 15 cm.

15 On-site Measurements Point 1 Point 2

16 On-site Measurements On-site measurement results from 2013 to 2014:

17 On-site Measurements Break propagated to become new bank edge Loss of 23 cm from Line 4 from 2013 to 2014

18 DGPS Surveys Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) survey of bank edge every five years. Typically results in horizontal accuracies of +/- 0.1 m. Another QA/QC measure; results in the most accurate measurements of all three methods.

19 Routine Sediment and Water Sampling Previous attempts made to quantify marine risk. Sediment exceeded ISQGs but similar to background. Achieving sufficient numbers of benthic organisms for analysis was difficult due to naturally low productivity of the environment. Assessment of sediment and water samples every five years was added to the LTM plan. Discontinuation if three consecutive sampling rounds show that concentrations are not statistically different than background.

20 Significant Erosional Event Sediment and Water Sampling After the passage of sufficient time (~5 10 years), annual erosional averages will be established confidently. Marine trigger points can then be established on the basis of significant erosional events, set as three times normal annual erosional rates. To help gauge potential risks to the marine environment, the summer following a recorded significant erosional event, another sediment and water sampling program will be carried out.

21 Overall Site Status Review FCSAP LTM guidance highlights the need to examine risk management effectiveness by periodically re-evaluating the assumptions made in the risk assessment. This is especially pertinent for the Fort Conger site, which may see easier access and higher visitation in the future. Regular reviews, conducted every five years, have been made part of the LTM program. These include: Review of the risk management strategy. Review of the human health risk assessment assumptions. Review of the ecological risk assessment assumptions. If access increases to a point where it can be legitimately argued that remediation has become practical and feasible, a review of the remediation plan will be made.

22 Questions? Jordon Cooper