Dataset Information

Stable isotope data (oxygen-18 and deuterium) from surveys of lakes, wetlands, rivers, and input waters across the South Athabasca Oil Sands region, Alberta, 2007-2009.

ABSTRACT: Oxygen-18 and deuterium analyses of water samples are provided from a regional survey of lakes, wetlands, soil waters, groundwaters, and snowpack samples collected in the Southern Athabasca Oil Sands (SAOS) region, Alberta, Canada, mainly during 2007-2009. Lake, wetland, and river sampling were conducted by helicopter during late summer, capturing conditions close to peak evaporative enrichment. Shallow soil water from the unsaturated zone was also collected in late summer, whereas deeper groundwaters from Quaternary aquifers, Quaternary channels, and uppermost Cretaceous strata, were collected primarily as part of winter drilling programs by industrial partners. Snowpack samples were collected in late March/early April, prior to significant spring melt. This dataset includes 1576 isotopic analyses made on 788 water samples as well as selected isotope mass balance model outputs (lake evaporation/inflow and water yield to lakes). These basic model data are provided to facilitate evaluation of the method as a tool for spatial mapping of water yield and its interannual variability. Details and further discussion on the isotope mass balance approach are provided in "Mapping water yield distribution across the southern Athabasca Oil Sands area: baseline surveys applying isotope mass balance of lakes" (Gibson et al., 2019). Overall, the data are expected to be useful, in comparison with local and regional datasets, for water resource management and planning, including design of monitoring networks and environmental impact assessments for oil sands projects.

SUBMITTER: Gibson JJ

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6362867 | biostudies-other | 2019 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other

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Publications

Stable isotope data (oxygen-18 and deuterium) from surveys of lakes, wetlands, rivers, and input waters across the South Athabasca Oil Sands region, Alberta, 2007-2009.

Gibson J J JJ Birks S J SJ Moncur M C MC

Data in brief 20181231

Oxygen-18 and deuterium analyses of water samples are provided from a regional survey of lakes, wetlands, soil waters, groundwaters, and snowpack samples collected in the Southern Athabasca Oil Sands (SAOS) region, Alberta, Canada, mainly during 2007-2009. Lake, wetland, and river sampling were conducted by helicopter during late summer, capturing conditions close to peak evaporative enrichment. Shallow soil water from the unsaturated zone was also collected in late summer, whereas deeper ground ...[more]

PMID: 30766899

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Project description:We synthesize the information available from the peer-reviewed literature on the ecological status of lakes and rivers in the oil sands region (OSR) of Canada. The majority of the research from the OSR has been performed in or near the minable region and examines the concentrations, flux, or enrichment of contaminants of concern (CoCs). Proximity to oil sands facilities and the beginning of commercial activities tend to be associated with greater estimates of CoCs across studies. Research suggests the higher measurements of CoCs are typically associated with wind-blown dust, but other sources also contribute. Exploratory analyses further suggest relationships with facility production and fuel use data. Exceedances of environmental quality guidelines for CoCs are also reported in lake sediments, but there are no indications of toxicity including those within the areas of the greatest atmospheric deposition. Instead, primary production has increased in most lakes over time. Spatial differences are observed in streams, but causal relationships with industrial activity are often confounded by substantial natural influences. Despite this, there may be signals associated with site preparation for new mines, potential persistent differences, and a potential effect of petroleum coke used as fuel on some indices of health in fish captured in the Steepbank River. There is also evidence of improvements in the ecological condition of some rivers. Despite the volume of material available, much of the work remains temporally, spatially, or technically isolated. Overcoming the isolation of studies would enhance the utility of information available for the region, but additional recommendations for improving monitoring can be made, such as a shift to site-specific analyses in streams and further use of industry-reported data. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2022;18:361-387. © 2021 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).

Dataset Information

Stable isotope data (oxygen-18 and deuterium) from surveys of lakes, wetlands, rivers, and input waters across the South Athabasca Oil Sands region, Alberta, 2007-2009.

Publications

Stable isotope data (oxygen-18 and deuterium) from surveys of lakes, wetlands, rivers, and input waters across the South Athabasca Oil Sands region, Alberta, 2007-2009.

Similar Datasets

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