Defining Effluent Cycling and Impacts in an Economically Important Watershed in Southern Alberta

Stakeholders in the Upper Little Bow watershed are concerned that the Frank Lake wetland may be experiencing habitat degradation due to effluent processing and may contribute to water quality loss in downstream Twin Valley Reservoir (TVR). To enhance water management, the project will 1) quantify sediment phosphorus retention in Frank Lake; 2) pinpoint nutrient inputs to the TVR; 3) build a greenhouse gas emissions budget for the river network; 4) link it to a carbon budget for Frank Lake; and 5) apply genomics techniques to define microbial controls on wetland emissions, nutrient cycling, and other ecosystem services.