Defining effluent cycling and impacts in an economically important watershed of southern Alberta

Stakeholders in the Upper Little Bow watershed are concerned that the Frank Lake wetland may be experiencing habitat degradation due to its long history of effluent processing and may contribute to water quality loss in downstream Twin Valley Reservoir (TVR). The team has already conducted baseline monitoring, analyses, and identified existing datasets. To enhance water management, they will 1) map and quantify sediment phosphorus retention in Frank Lake; 2) build a nutrient budget to identify drivers of eutrophication in the TVR; 3) build a greenhouse gas emissions budget for the aquatic network; and 4) evaluate emissions from distinct wetland land-use regimes.