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NRBS - Home Table of Contents		Northern River Basins Study Final Report 2.0 Study Organization 2.1 Overview The Northern River Basins Study formed Phase II of a three-phase approach to basins management. Phase I, which was completed in preparation for the Study, identified what was known about the river basins and what information was still required (see Section 7.1 for more information on events leading to the NRBS). The NRBS has attempted to fill these knowledge gaps and make recommendations for future management and research. In the future, Phase III will enact management strategies based on the recommendations contained in this report. The NRBS Agreement (see Section 7.2) articulated three broad objectives for the Study: 1) to provide a scientifically sound information base for planning and management of the water and aquatic environment of the Study area so as to ensure its long-term protection, improvement and wise use; 2) to collect and interpret data and develop appropriate models related to hydrology / hydraulics, water quality, fish and fish habitat; and 3) to ensure that technical studies undertaken in the basin are conducted in an open and cooperative manner and that their purpose, progress and results are reported regularly to the public.   A 25-member Board was responsible for the overall management of the Study. The Board included representatives from funding governments, municipal governments, First&nbps;Nations, industry, education, agriculture, health, environmental groups and the affected public. This diverse membership attempted to ensure that the concerns of area stakeholders and the public were reflected in the Study design and implementation. Two additional seats were reserved for observers representing the governments of British Columbia and Saskatchewan (see Section 7.3 for more information regarding Study organization and Section 7.4 for Board and committee memberships). The Study Board stated its vision for the Study (see Section 7.3), which was later refined into a set of principles. The Board also generated 16 questions that would fulfill the Study's objectives and respond to public expectations and concerns. None of these questions can be answered in their entirety by any single study or research program. Rather, they represent long-term research goals that were intended to guide the direction of the Study's science program. Fourteen of these questions require a strong foundation in science, while the last two are mainly societal in nature. The Sixteen Questions:
NRBS - Home Table of Contents Top of Page		a) How has the aquatic ecosystem, including fish and / or other aquatic organisms, been affected by exposure to organochlorines or other toxic compounds? b) How can the ecosystem be protected from the effects of these compounds? What is the current state of the water quality of the Peace, Athabasca and Slave River basins, including the Peace-Athabasca Delta? Who are the stakeholders and what are the consumptive and non-consumptive uses of water resources in the basins? a) What are the contents and nature of contaminants entering the system and what is their distribution and toxicity in the aquatic ecosystem with particular reference to water, sediments and biota? b) Are toxic substances such as dioxins, furans and mercury, etc. increasing or decreasing and what is their rate of change? Are the substances added to the rivers by natural and man-made discharges likely to cause deterioration of the water quality? What is the distribution and movement of fish species in the watersheds of the Peace-Athabasca and Slave Rivers? Where and when are they most likely to be exposed to changes in water quality and where are the important habitats? What concentrations of dissolved oxygen are required to protect the various life stages of fish, and what factors control dissolved oxygen in the rivers? Recognizing that people drink water and eat fish from these river systems, what are the current concentrations of contaminants in water and edible fish tissue and how are these levels changing through time and by location? Are fish tainted in these waters and, if so, what is the source of the tainting compounds (i.e., compounds affecting how fish taste and smell to humans)? How does and how could river flow regulation impact the aquatic ecosystem? Have the riparian vegetation, riparian wildlife and domestic livestock in the river basins been affected by exposure to organochlorines or other toxic compounds? What traditional knowledge exists to enhance the physical science studies in all areas of enquiry? a) What predictive tools are required to determine the cumulative effects of man-made discharges on the water and aquatic environment? b) What are the cumulative effects of man-made discharges on the water and aquatic environment? What long-term monitoring programs and predictive models are required to provide an ongoing assessment of the state of the aquatic ecosystems? These programs must ensure that all stakeholders have the opportunity for input. How can Study results be communicated most effectively? What form of interjurisdictional body can be established, ensuring stakeholder participation for the ongoing protection and use of the river basins?

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