Fraser River: An Introduction
Fraser River is the longest river in the entire British Columbia and the 10th longest in Canada (\"Rivers of Canada - Fraser River: Can Geo Education,\" 2018). The river starts from Black Mountain at Fraser pass and flows 1375 kilometers up into the Georgia Strait at Vancouver. The annual discharge is estimated to be 112 cubic kilometers per second with estimated ocean sedimentation of 20 million tonnes a year (\"Rivers of Canada - Fraser River: Can Geo Education,\" 2018). The river was named after Simon Fraser who led an expedition for the North West Company in 1808. Seemingly, the Fraser River is used overwhelmingly by the Vancouver inhabitants. All industrial economies depend on the river. For instance, fishing, logging, papermaking, construction, farming, and mining activities involve the use of the Fraser River. Therefore, there is a need to protect the ecology of the river rather than focusing on industrial applications. Thus, the paper highlights some ecological factors to consider in saving Fraser River and industrial impacts on the ecology of the river.
Ecological Decline of the Fraser River
The Fraser River estuary is the world's largest salmon habitat and a destination for about one million migratory birds (Gurd et al., (2018). Urban development and industrial effluents have threatened both aquatic and terrestrial plants and animals as well as humans due to the gradual loss of habitat. Thus, the complex food web is being broken down. Deforestation within the area threatens migratory birds as well (Gurd et al., (2018). Since the birds both attract tourists and fulfill the need for a complete food chain for ecological balance, their absence signifies an environmental breakdown and thus biodiversity insufficiencies (Gurd et al., (2018).
Impact of Economic Development
British Columbia is a prosperous region characterized by rapid development and attractive areas for a living (\"Rivers of Canada - Fraser River: Can Geo Education,\" 2018). Therefore, Fraser is under intense use in the developing area. For instance, economic activities both recreational and industrial make use of the river. However, the impact of economic development has led to more catastrophic impacts through overuse and misuse of the river. For instance, the Fraser River is known for being a rich source of Salmon fish (\"Rivers of Canada - Fraser River: Can Geo Education,\" 2018). However, excessive fishing is a threat to the survival of fish in the river. Overfishing gradually depletes mature fish thus slowing down the breeding rate. The outcome of slow-breeding is low production and reduction of salmon population in Fraser River.
Effects of Logging
On the other hand, silt produced from logging wastes and washed down into the river clog the gravel bed of the river that serves as the breeding area for Salmon (\"Rivers of Canada - Fraser River: Can Geo Education,\" 2018). Therefore, lumbering wastes are responsible for inefficient spawning of Salmon in the Fraser River (Doyle, (2018). The impact is justifiable enough to catalyze river ecological stewardship, cautious resource utility and focus on sustainable development rather than constant industrialization and private profitability (\"Rivers of Canada - Fraser River: Can Geo Education,\" 2018).
Water Quality and Mercury Pollution
Consequently, there is a gradual increase in the dissolved inorganic matter and dissolved carbon in Fraser river waters. Samples indicate that the concentration of dissolved inorganic carbon increases by 550µm per liter of water daily (Voss et al., (2015). Therefore, there is an indication of subsequent increase towards an even high molecular concentration since industrial activities are always in operation. Both dissolved and solid organic carbon impact the respiration process of water species (Voss et al., (2015). Under extremes, non-tolerant species such as fingerlings succumb to low oxygen due to deterioration in their resilience.
Nonetheless, mercury in the form of monomethyl mercury is biomagnified within aquatic food webs (Voss et al., (2015). The toxic substance contributes to the biogeochemical processes which hamper natural hydrologic processes and associated physical processes since water is drained from a variety of sources contaminated by pulp and mining effluents which contain a significant amount of both synthetic mercury and carbon (Voss et al., (2015). Therefore, the water is meant to have a higher concentration of toxicities which impact the food web through microbial degradation. The outcome of microbial degradation is an ecological imbalance which may render species instinct. For instance, Salmon fish is known to feed on aquatic micro-organisms. Thus, extinction of the microbes makes Salmon a victim of hunger hence low breeding rates and eventual extinction.
Impact of Climate Change
Logging has also resulted in a decrease in precipitation in the catchment areas (Kang, (2016). There is sufficient data that suggests climate change in Vancouver. The hydrologic regime set to impact the headwaters and volume flux of the river was observed to be evident in the 20th and 21st centuries with temperatures warming up by 1.4 degrees Celsius. The temperatures led to a 19% reduction in snow water which significantly resulted in a decline in the river volume (Kang, (2016). Therefore, the anticipated impacts on both terrestrial and aquatic species are apparent and need no prejudice since the economy shifted towards industrialization rather than sustainable development. Studies indicate that major tributaries at Thompson Nicola, Quesnel sub-basins, Stuart, Nutley as well as Chilko are on a decline. However, eastern sub-basins exhibited an increasing trend (Kang, (2016). The pattern is associated with a decrease in vegetation cover in the former and the presence of adequate vegetation in the latter.
Restoration Efforts
Despite the environmental degradation and destruction of habitats for natural species, there is a project aiming at regeneration and re-establishment of the natural habitat. For instance, riparian and marsh Habitat compensation programs in the actuary of Fraser River are underway (Lievesley et al., (2017). In a survey conducted on 54 wetland and 19 riparian habitat compensation programs, it was established that only a third were compliant as at 2015 (Lievesley et al., (2017). Therefore, most of the habitats lacked native natural vegetation cover in the form of indigenous plant species. For instance, Carex lyngbyei, a wetland plant species had a low dominance. Vegetation recession was observed the river (Gurd et al., 2018) upwards. Besides, the compensation assessment program identified that logging debris, grazing animals and associated invasive species were responsible for the scarce vegetation in and along the river. Therefore, further mitigation measures were recommended to combat the ever-growing menace.
Another notable move in restoration is the Port Metro Vancouver Habitat enhancement program initiated in 2011 (Williams, and Northrup, (2017). The program aimed at both creation, improvement, and restoration of the habit for fish and wildlife at the Fraser River Estuary and the Burrard Inlet. Therefore, Port Metro Vancouver entered a bank construction agreement with Canadian fisheries agency and Oceans Canada in 2012 (Williams, and Northrup, (2017). The project targeted habitat banking based on the landscape ecology concept by the use of anthropogenic ecosystem, physical and biological functions in the establishment of a productive fish and wildlife habitat. East coast areas with active fisheries and Aboriginal fishing were also considered in the program (Williams, and Northrup, (2017).
Nonetheless, the Port Metro Vancouver initiated the removal of accumulated log debris with the aim of restoring salt marsh in the Roberts Bank as well as the Boundary Bay banks (Williams, and Northrup, (2017). Brackish marsh construction involved the use of dredged material to prevent erosion and protect archaeological sites in the south of the Fraser River. Other projects were undertaken at the estuary to establish vegetation coverage of brackish marsh, especially on the banks (Williams, and Northrup, (2017).
Importance of Conservation Studies
Nonetheless, further studies have been carried out on the depletion of natural species of both plants and animals in the Fraser River Estuary. However, conservation studies primarily identify problems and their causes without coming up with optimization measures to curb the threats to biodiversity (Kehoe et al., (2018). Therefore, there is a need for formulating state-of-the-art scientific techniques in ecological conservation. Industrialization should prioritize environmental sustainability rather than economic productivity and profitability (Kehoe et al., 2018).
Conclusion
The primary cause of the ecological decline in Fraser River is industrialization. Effluents from industries and residential areas significantly contribute to the toxicities of the river, which seem to choke both aquatic plants and animals. Besides, the impact has resulted in an ecological imbalance evident through the recession of terrestrial plants and animals from the banks of the river. Therefore, concrete measures need to be undertaken to not only restore but also protect the river from inconsiderate investors and residents who aim at individual gains rather than a symbiotic relationship with the environment and occupying species.
References
Doyle, H. (2018). Doyle, H. to RW Clough, National Canners Association, regarding Fraser River spawning grounds.
Gurd, B., Boyd, S., Balke, E., Marijnissen, R., Mason, B., " Moore, K. (2018). Research into the cause of brackish marsh recession in the Fraser River estuary.
Kang, D. H., Gao, H., Shi, X., ul Islam, S., " Déry, S. J. (2016). Impacts of a rapidly declining mountain snowpack on streamflow timing in Canada’s Fraser River basin. Scientific reports, 6, 19299.
Kehoe, L., Lund, J., Baum, J., Chalifour, L., " Martin, T. (2018). Prioritizing management actions for the Fraser River estuary.
Lievesley, M. A., Stewart, D., Mason, B., " Knight, R. (2017). Assessing Habitat Compensation in the Lower Fraser River and Estuary.
Lievesley, M., Stewart, D., Knight, R., " Mason, B. (2016). Assessing Habitat Compensation and Examining Limitations to Native Plant Establishment in the Lower Fraser River Estuary.
Rivers of Canada - Fraser River: Can Geo Education. (2018). Retrieved from http://www.cangeoeducation.ca/resources/rivers_of_canada/fraser_river/default.asp
Voss, B. M., Peucker-Ehrenbrink, B., Eglinton, T. I., Spencer, R. G. M., Bulygina, E., Galy, V., ... " Gillies, S. L. (2015). Seasonal hydrology drives rapid shifts in the flux and composition of dissolved and particulate organic carbon and mercury in the Fraser River, Canada. Bio geosciences Discussions, 12(19).
Williams, G., " Northrup, S. (2017). Habitat Banking Component of the Port Metro Vancouver Habitat Enhancement Program to Benefit the Fraser River Estuary and the Salish Sea.
