This is how we're caring for the land.

Genesee Wabamun Region Biomonitoring Program

The environmental biomonitoring in the Genesee Wabamun region in west-central Alberta determines what environmental impacts, if any, have occurred as a result of power generation. We have been working with TransAlta Generation Partnership (TGP) on this comprehensive biomonitoring program since 2004.

The results collected to date show no appreciable trends associated with contaminant concentrations in the majority of the sampled media across all of the sampling locations.

The biomonitoring program measures and assesses potential changes in environmental concentrations of several chemicals of potential concern (COPC) associated with aerial and water emissions from the generating plants, in addition to the monitoring of wildlife populations and habitat. The program uses ten designated terrestrial sampling locations across the geographic area, four air monitoring stations, and obtains surface water samples from three local lakes, the cooling ponds and three locations on the North Saskatchewan River.

The COPC chosen for this biomonitoring program are relatively stable, have the potential to accumulate, and are measurable in environmental media, such as water, soil, sediment and biota (plant and animal life of a region). We test for COPC such as arsenic, barium, cadmium, lead, manganese, mercury and selenium.

Results of air monitoring of power plant emissions, including nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, PM2.5, ozone and mercury, are monitored through an Acid Deposition, a Mercury Assessment and an Ambient Air Monitoring Program.

Monitoring Mercury

We have been working with the Mercury Deposition Network of North America in establishing, at the Genesee Air Monitoring Station, one of only two mercury wet deposition monitors in Alberta. We have also worked with Environment Canada to reconstruct a multi-species mercury deposition assessment.

Expert environmental consultants complete routine monitoring of environmental media, including air, soil, vegetation, small mammals, fish, lake and river water, groundwater, sediment and benthic invertebrates.

Wildlife Surveys

Wildlife biologists survey local bird, ungulate and amphibian populations. Our 2012 annual wildlife report included a vehicle-wildlife collision count, a peregrine falcon study and overwintering waterbirds surveys to monitor the population of ducks and geese on the Genesee Cooling Pond. Specific programs have also been designed for the sampling of traditionally used vegetation and the monitoring of rare mosses and lichens. The results of all sampling and monitoring are submitted to Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development, and the results of the Ambient Air Monitoring Program are posted on the website of the West Central Airshed Society.

• Data collected from wildlife surveys by biologists compared the ungulate populations at Genesee to the surrounding Provincial Wildlife Management Units. The deer, elk and moose populations were found to be at comparable levels to those elsewhere in the region.
• The overwintering waterbirds program followed similar patterns as noted since 2001 with high numbers of waterbirds in fall and spring and relatively low numbers during the winters. Fewer than 2,000 waterbirds have been present overwintering on the cooling pond since 2004.
• Three ungulate and three ‘other wildlife’ vehicle collisions were reported in 2012.

We continue working with regulators to maximize the scientific impact of this extensive biomonitoring program.

Falcons in the valley

As land services manager at our Genesee operations, George Greenhough is very familiar with the interplay of people and the enviroment.

George grew up on a farm near the Genesee facility, so he knows the land and its animals. One of these, the Peregrine falcon, was close to extinction; a breeding pair had not been seen in the North Saskatchewan river valley near Genesee since 1969.

Today, the Genesee Generating Station now has resident falcons that return each year and breed. Many factors contributed to their successful return; one of these has been the partnerships George and Genesee crews have cultivated with provincial wildlife experts. What started as the construction of a safe nesting area on the Genesee station's south stack has grown to include tracking, egg incubation and, in the summer of 2012, an opportunity to introduce chicks to two nearby river valleys. In 2012, four eggs were laid and hatched.

The story was captured for TV viewers by a crew from the Let's Go Outdoors program, featured here.

During nesting season, the Peregrine falcons can be followed live on our Genesee falcon cam.

Wildlife monitoring