A water quality monitoring program was initiated in 2006 in partnership with the Milk River Watershed Council Canada, Alberta Environment, Cardston County, County of Warner, County of Forty Mile, Cypress County and Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park.  The program forms the baseline for long-term water quality monitoring in the Milk River watershed.

Water samples are collected from the headwaters of the Milk River (the entry point of the North and South forks into Canada) and from 8 other locations (view map, 351 KB JPG) downstream every two weeks from April through October. Tributary sites include Verdigris Coulee, Miner's Coulee and Red Creek when they are flowing.  These tributaries often dry up by mid June.

Water samples are analyzed for fecal coliforms, E.coli bacteria, nutrients, salts and sediment.  The results of the monitoring are being summarized in a brief report that will be available soon.

Acknowledgements:

We would like to thank Wendell Koning, Ray Walker (AENV), Tim Romanow (Cardston County), Keston Prince (County of Warner), Warren Burgevitz (formerly of County of Forty Mile and Cypress County), and Mark Willms and Paul Avery at Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park for their assistance in 2006.  We look forward to another successful year in 2007!