Skip to main content
Log in

Effects of the discharge of thermal effluent from a power station on Lake Wabamun, Alberta, Canada — Limnological features

  • Published:
Hydrobiologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The physical and chemical aspects of Lake Wabamum have been described. Modifications to the thermal and dissolved oxygen regimes through the discharge of thermal effluent into the eastern region of the lake are discussed. This discharge has, therefore, changed the environmental conditions under which the biota exists in the eastern portion of the lake. It was also shown that this discharge of heated water had no effect upon the water chemistry while the power station itself contributed silica, in the form of fly ash, to the system. Tables of the phytoplankton, zooplankton, aquatic macrophytes, and fish are provided. From a biological and limnological stand point the lake can be classified as a moderately eutrophic lake, especially in the eastern portion.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ackers, P. - 1969 - Modeling of heated-water discharges. In Parker, F. L. & Krenkel, P. A. (eds.) Engineering Aspects of Thermal Pollution, pp. 177–212. Vanderbilt Univ. Press.

  • Allen, E. D. & Gorham, P. R. - 1973 - Changes in the submerged macrophyte community of Lake Wabamun as a result of a thermal discharge. Proc. Symp. “Lakes of Western Canada”, Univ. Alberta, Water Res. Centre publication no. 2, Univ. Alberta Press: pp. 313–324.

  • American Public Health Association - 1965 - Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater (12th ed.). Amer. Public Healt Assoc., New York. 769 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barica, J. & Armstrong, F. A. J. - 1971 - Contribution by snow to the nutrient budget of some small northwest Ontario lakes. Limnol. Oceanog. 16: 891–899.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Coutant, C. C. - 1970 - Biological aspects of thermal pollution. I. Entrainment and discharge canal effects. CRC Critical Reviews in Environmental Control 1 (3): 341–381.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Happey, C. M. - 1970 - Some physico-chemical investigations of stratification in Abbot's Pool, Somerset: The distribution of some dissolved substances. J. Ecol. 58: 621–634.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hickman, M. - Effects of the discharge of thermal effluent from a power station on Lake Wabamun, Alberta, Canada. The epipelic and epipsammic algal communities. Hydrobiologia 45: 199–215.

  • Horkan, J. P. K. - 1971 - Some ecological effects of thermal pollution in Lake Wabamun, with special reference to the rotifers. M.Sc. thesis, Univ. of Alberta.

  • Hutchinson, G. E. - 1957 - A Treatise on Limnology. Vol. I. Geography, Physics And Chemistry. J. Wiley & Sons, New York, 1015 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hutchinson, G. F. - 1967 - A Treatise on Limnology. Vol. II. Introduction to Lake Biology and the Limnoplankton. J. Wiley & Sons, New York, 1115 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Keith, L. B. - 1955 - An ecological study of water fowl in an artificial impoundment in Southern Alberta. M.Sc. thesis, Univ. of Alberta.

  • Mortimer, C. H. - 1956 - The oxygen content of air saturated freshwater and aids in calculating percentage saturation. Mitt. int. Verein. theor. Angew Limnol., 6: 1–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moss, E. H. - 1955 - The vegetation of Alberta. Bot. Rev. 21: 493–567.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moss, E. H. - 1959 - Flora of Alberta. Univ. of Toronto Press, Toronto, 546 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nursall, J. R. & Gallup, D. N. - 1971 - The responses of the biota of Lake Wabamun, Alberta, to thermal effluent. Proc. of the Int. Symp. Ident. Meas. Environ, Pollut., Ottawa: 295–304.

  • Nursall, J. R., Nuttall, J. B. & Fritz, P. 1972 The effect of thermal effluent on Lake Wabamun, Alberta. Verh. Internat. Verein. Limnol., 18: 269–277.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rutherford, R. L. - 1928 - Geology of the area between North Saskatchewan and McLeod rivers, Alberta. Res. Coun. Alberta Report 19, 42 p.

  • Schindler, D. W. - 1971 - Light, temperature and oxygen regimes of selected lakes in the experimental lakes area, northwestern Ontario. J. Fish. Res. Bd. Canada 28: 157–169.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • United States Department of the Interior - 1970 - Physical and Ecological Effects of Waste Heat on Lake Michigan. U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Fish & Wildlife Service, 101 p.

  • Wheelock, J. M. - 1969 - Phytoplankton ecology in Wabamun Lake and the effect of thermal pollution. M.Sc. thesis, Univ. of Alberta.

  • Whitehouse, J. W. - 1971 - Some aspects of the biology of Lake Trawsfynydd; a power station cooling pond. Hydrobiologia 38: 253–288.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yoshimura, S. - 1930 - Seasonal variation in silica in Takasukamuna, Saitama. Jap. J. Geol. Geogr. 7: 101–113.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gallup, D.N., Hickman, M. Effects of the discharge of thermal effluent from a power station on Lake Wabamun, Alberta, Canada — Limnological features. Hydrobiologia 46, 45–69 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00038726

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00038726

Keywords

Navigation