Photo: Contributed
UBC Okanagan researchers are examining the impact of construction on sensitive aquatic ecosystems.
Greg Courtice, a doctoral student in UCBO’s School of Engineering, is working with his supervisors, professor Deborah Roberts and instructor Bahman Naser, on the Bow River near Calgary to examine what kind of effects construction has on the waterway.
Construction in or adjacent to rivers can negatively impact aquatic ecosystems by disturbing sediment, which can be harmful to fish and fish habitat into the waterway.
“The harm from suspended sediment comes from a combination of how intense the release is and how long the exposure occurs,” Courtice said in a press release. “The more we try to control sediment, the longer we have to interact with these sensitive ecosystems.
“If we better understand these sediment releases, and the exposure risks they create for the aquatic environment, we can better assess our environmental risks. From there we can determine the most appropriate concentration and duration balance while designing more sustainable solutions that work better for both the community and the environment.”
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