About the Program
About
The Coordinated Aquatic Monitoring Program (CAMP) was established in 2006 with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Province of Manitoba (MB) and Manitoba Hydro (MH). CAMP is a long-term aquatic monitoring program to study and monitor the health of water bodies (rivers and lakes) affected by Manitoba Hydro’s generating system. Monitoring began in 2008.
Mandate:
CAMP’s mandate is to study and monitor the health of any bodies of water affected by Manitoba Hydro’s generating system. Its aim is to create synergies between Manitoba Hydro and the Province of Manitoba thereby to:
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avoid duplication;
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combine critical portions of similar programs;
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develop a more complete understanding of the state of Manitoba’s aquatic environment.
Objectives
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CAMP’s objective is to determine the health of aquatic environments and track them over time by:
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Monitoring the important physical, chemical and biological components of selected water bodies within Manitoba Hydro’s generating system,
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Monitoring water bodies outside of Manitoba Hydro’s hydroelectric generating system. These off-system water bodies will help determine how other factors, like climate, affect the aquatic environment.
Monitoring Components
Over the last 35 years, Manitoba and Manitoba Hydro have conducted numerous environmental studies and monitoring programs on waterways affected by hydroelectric development in Manitoba. CAMP is an evolution of these environmental monitoring programs in that it combines critical portions of previous programs and the implementation of standardized sampling protocols. Components currently monitored under CAMP include:
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Water flow and level information is collected by long-term and newly established hydrometric gauges located in the CAMP study area.
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Sampled four times per year (spring, summer, fall and winter) and analyzed for more than 50 individual parameters.
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Includes annual sampling of bottom dwelling inhabitants such as insects, worms and snails.
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Includes annual sampling of small- and large-bodied fish using standard gang index and small mesh index gillnets.
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Every three years, tissue from select fish species are collected during fish community surveys and submitted for mercury content analysis.
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Every three years, water samples from select CAMP water bodies are collected and submitted for algae community analysis.
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Every six years, bottom sediment samples are collected from select CAMP water bodies and submitted for analysis of more that 30 parameters.
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Monitoring of the physical environment is conducted at various locations across the CAMP system using field sampling that includes continuous monitoring stations during the open water season and development of remote sensing using satellite image methods.
Program Participants
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The Manitoba government and Manitoba Hydro are partners in the development and delivery of the Coordinated Aquatic Monitoring Program. The program would not be possible without the extensive technical collaboration from scientists and specialists from various Federal and Provincial agencies (Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Manitoba Fisheries, Manitoba Environment and Climate Change, Manitoba Hydro, International Institute for Sustainable Development – Experimental Lakes Area, and North/South Consultants Inc.)
The program has also benefited greatly from the valuable input provided by a host of Resource Management Boards, First Nations, community members and stakeholders. As CAMP evolves in the future, we look forward to collaborating with Indigenous communities across Manitoba.
CAMP Expansion
CAMP is expanding! Since it was established in 2006, the program has been focused on conducting aquatic monitoring activities throughout the province. We are excited to soon be expanding to include shoreline monitoring, which will be developed in partnership with Indigenous communities through an approach inclusive of both Indigenous and scientific knowledge.
The expansion will begin in northern Manitoba with a staged roll out to other regions across the province.