Water Pollution and Water Quality Assessment

Part A.   Water Pollution and Water Quality Assessment (35 marks)
Review the concepts of water quality using your course notes and recommended websites found at the end of Unit 5.
Based on this research, answer the following:
•    What are the key differences in the physical, chemical, and biological features observed in a comparison of oligotrophic with eutrophic water bodies?  Which condition is most desirable based on the concept of sustainability?  Why?  (10 marks)
•    Describe five natural and five human generated point and non-point sources of pollution that lead to eutrophication of water bodies.  Of these, which do you believe is the most difficult to regulate and why?  (10 marks)
•    Describe the relationship between eutrophication and biological diversity based on the key features of: (15 marks)
1.    Water chemistry involving the N/P ratio, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and dissolved oxygen (DO);
2.    Species richness, evenness, and dominance;
3.    Food web responses in producers, consumers, and decomposers

Part B.   Lake Winnipeg and Watershed Management (65 marks)
If you have not already done so, watch the Nature of Things production Save My Lake.
Using the video Save My Lake as your guide, you should note that there are numerous strategies to manage water quality and promote the sustainability of Lake Winnipeg.  Based on the video and your independent research, provide answers to the following:
4.    Describe in detail the key features of the Lake Winnipeg watershed that make this lake particularly vulnerable to eutrophication. 
(10 marks)
5.    Review water chemistry data from 1999 to 2010 for three rivers that discharge into Lake Winnipeg, as found in Figure 1 on the attached page. (10 marks)
a.    Describe the general trends in nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations that occurred over the years of the study;
b.    Describe the differences in nitrogen and phosphorus concentration between the three rivers examined in the study;
c.    What factors may have contributed to the variability observed in the data for some of the years?
d.    Based on these results, what conclusions can you make regarding the direction of management goals and priorities for Lake Winnipeg?
6.    Describe in detail how the following strategies offer improvements in water quality within the Lake Winnipeg watershed: (25 marks)
a.    Riparian zones
b.    Secondary and tertiary wastewater treatment options
c.    Alternative farming techniques
d.    Urban wetland retention ponds
e.    Lake level alterations
7.    Why are Cyanobacteria a key issue in Lake Winnipeg water quality management?  What problems are associated with the growth of Cyanobacteria?  (10 marks)
8.    Describe ten changes you can commit to making that will reduce eutrophication to Lake Winnipeg. (10 marks)