Pacific and Yukon Region's long term water quality monitoring stations

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has been conducting surface water trawl surveys since 1992 in the coastal waters of British Columbia, Washington, Oregon and Alaska and in the high seas of the Gulf of Alaska. Data collected in shelf and slope waters of Alaska to depths less than 400 meters are part of this larger survey series, but are limited to 1995-2011. These surveys focused on determining the migratory patterns (1992-2002) and on the growth and physiology (2003-2011) of juvenile Pacific Salmon. The surveys had funding support from the Bonneville Power Administration as part of the 1995-2011 Canada-USA Salmon Shelf Survival Study. The intent of that study was to monitor and evaluate the effects of ocean conditions on the distribution, migration, growth, and survival of Pacific salmon during their first ocean year, and estimate the subsequent impacts on abundance of Chinook salmon adults returning to the Columbia River system.

This project combines water quality (ENVIRODAT) and water quantity (HYDAT) data to compute annual chemical loads in Pacific and Yukon Region. Chemical loads are estimated based on several statistical estimators. A module has been developed to guide which statistical estimators is used to predict annual chemical loads for a given location. Chemical loads are estimated where water quantity and quality stations are co-located. This project enhances the use of water quality and quantity data, and increases the abilities of the individuals to predict the loading estimates of chemicals. It provides direct access to integrated data and information at the station level. This loading estimates information can then be used to as the input to models such as nutrients and sediment transport to provide further water quality and/or water quantity information at the regional level. This project also provides OGC compliant Web Mapping Service layers for both water quality and quantity stations in Pacific and Yukon Region. Through these layers, users can easily get access to both annual loading estimates and real-time or archived hydrometric data. A number of web services are also made available for users to download station level metadata, water quality and quantity data.