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A. Simms
combination of sand and weeds. All three areas have one or two hectares compose of
mostly gravel or weed substrate.
The hills surrounding the potential sites are sparsely vegetated with exposed
bedrock. Given the lack of vegetation cover and the distribution of lakes, streams and
rivers in the region there is a possibility of high fresh water runoff during sustained
periods of rainfall. Since a majority of the cottages are a known pollution source the
freshwater runoff may cause water quality problems (Fig. 3). There are also cottages
located upstream on the Grandy Brook. The seaside and river cottages are usually
occupied frequently from May to October. This coincides with the summer spawning
and harvesting periods and could present a potential contamination problem. Finally,
field observations indicate that a majority of the sand flats in Big Barasway is subject to
predation by gulls and seals while the areas in Indian Hole and Little Barasway appear
to experience much less predation.
Water Quality
The location of cottages in the study area (Fig. 3) introduces the possibility of
contamination from faecal coliform. This may affect the commercial viability of a clam
bed because there are government regulations that control the closing or opening of a
contaminated area for harvesting clams. In Canada, if the faecal coliform density
exceeds 13.99 MPN/100 ml the area is closed to harvesting until the density falls below
this value. During the field surveythe water quality monitoring stations were sampled at
regular intervals from May 28 to Sept. 13, 1995. During this period fecal coliform
densities ranged from 1.9 to 920 MPN/100 ml. During a majority of the time the
densities were at 1.9 MPN/100 ml, which is below the standard set by the Department
of Fisheries and Oceans. However, during extended rainfall events (e.g. 52.4 mm over
72 hours from Sept. 17 to 19, 1995) the fecal coliform densities range from 17 to 920
MPN/100 ml. This event is presented in Fig. 4.
Prior to the rainfall event the fecal coliform densities were at acceptable
levels, however by Sept. 19, 1995 all areas were highly contaminated (Fig. 4). Two days
later (Sept. 21, 1995), most of Big Barasway had returned to acceptable levels except
for an area in the north, however, Indian Hole and Little Barasway remained highly
contaminated. A survey of the water quality stations on Sept. 21 indicated that fecal
coliform levels at Big and Little Barasway had returned to acceptable levels, while
Indian Hole still had areas that were contaminated (Fig. 4). The time series graph in Fig.
4 suggests that the maximum contamination occurred on Sept. 19. Big and Little
Barasway appear to flush completely within 5 days while Indian Hole may take longer
because of contamination from upstream sources.
A. Simms
combination of sand and weeds. All three areas have one or two hectares compose of
mostly gravel or weed substrate.
The hills surrounding the potential sites are sparsely vegetated with exposed
bedrock. Given the lack of vegetation cover and the distribution of lakes, streams and
rivers in the region there is a possibility of high fresh water runoff during sustained
periods of rainfall. Since a majority of the cottages are a known pollution source the
freshwater runoff may cause water quality problems (Fig. 3). There are also cottages
located upstream on the Grandy Brook. The seaside and river cottages are usually
occupied frequently from May to October. This coincides with the summer spawning
and harvesting periods and could present a potential contamination problem. Finally,
field observations indicate that a majority of the sand flats in Big Barasway is subject to
predation by gulls and seals while the areas in Indian Hole and Little Barasway appear
to experience much less predation.
Water Quality
The location of cottages in the study area (Fig. 3) introduces the possibility of
contamination from faecal coliform. This may affect the commercial viability of a clam
bed because there are government regulations that control the closing or opening of a
contaminated area for harvesting clams. In Canada, if the faecal coliform density
exceeds 13.99 MPN/100 ml the area is closed to harvesting until the density falls below
this value. During the field surveythe water quality monitoring stations were sampled at
regular intervals from May 28 to Sept. 13, 1995. During this period fecal coliform
densities ranged from 1.9 to 920 MPN/100 ml. During a majority of the time the
densities were at 1.9 MPN/100 ml, which is below the standard set by the Department
of Fisheries and Oceans. However, during extended rainfall events (e.g. 52.4 mm over
72 hours from Sept. 17 to 19, 1995) the fecal coliform densities range from 17 to 920
MPN/100 ml. This event is presented in Fig. 4.
Prior to the rainfall event the fecal coliform densities were at acceptable
levels, however by Sept. 19, 1995 all areas were highly contaminated (Fig. 4). Two days
later (Sept. 21, 1995), most of Big Barasway had returned to acceptable levels except
for an area in the north, however, Indian Hole and Little Barasway remained highly
contaminated. A survey of the water quality stations on Sept. 21 indicated that fecal
coliform levels at Big and Little Barasway had returned to acceptable levels, while
Indian Hole still had areas that were contaminated (Fig. 4). The time series graph in Fig.
4 suggests that the maximum contamination occurred on Sept. 19. Big and Little
Barasway appear to flush completely within 5 days while Indian Hole may take longer
because of contamination from upstream sources.