Aquatic Receiving Environment Monitoring Program Design & Execution

project overview

Integrated Sustainability developed a risk-based aquatic receiving environment monitoring program was developed and executed for a paper and pulp mill. The program supported the mill in maintaining compliance by identifying effluent-related risks, documenting aquatic health, and delivering defensible monitoring results.

project deliverables

• Developed a regulator-reviewed aquatic receiving environment monitoring program to characterize aquatic conditions upstream, at-discharge, and downstream of effluent outfall.
• Executed year-one monitoring including water quality, periphyton, sediment, and benthic invertebrate sampling at 15 defined stations with low-flow seasonal timing.
• Evaluated monthly monitoring results for nutrients, resin acids, and fatty acids and weekly sampling results of key effluent indicators.
• Provided a draft and final aquatic receiving environment monitoring program document detailing monitoring methods, triggers, and condition-response strategies for permit compliance.
• Incorporated historical interpretive report data and developed solutions to streamline field effort and integrate multiple compliance programs.