NSERC Research Grants: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Many aquatic sites across Canada have been severely impacted by industrial activity resulting in legacy contamination, posing ecological risks to marine or freshwater ecosystems. Although academic literature is rich in sediment screening and ecological risk assessment technologies, many techniques are not applied in practice. Assessments at these sites, designed to inform management decisions (eg sediment dredging, disposal or remediation), vary widely and are often superficial with inconsistent protocols applied. This creates knowledge gaps and uncertainty related to magnitude and extent of contamination, raising serious concerns for custodians of aquatic sites on how to adequately manage environmental liability costs. Objectives of this research program are to identify major issues related to contaminated aquatic sites across Canada, improve management, reduce uncertainty, limit environmental liability costs and improve predictions of ecological risk. Short-term studies by my research group will include analysis of secondary datasets from aquatic sites across Canada that have been subject to contaminant inputs and develop new approaches for assessing contaminated aquatic sites currently undergoing monitoring or remediation. Long-term studies will be designed to enable technology and knowledge transfer to agencies responsible for managing contaminated aquatic sites. Partnerships have already been established with industrial partners (environmental consulting companies) and federal and provincial agencies (Transport Canada [TC], Fisheries and Oceans Canada [DFO], Nova Scotia Lands). For long-term studies, partnerships and agreements have already been established with provincial agencies and faculty across the Maritimes (eg the remediation of Boat Harbour, Nova Scotia which has been impacted by 50 years of pulp mill effluents). This research will engage researchers at several other Canadian universities and government agencies. Over the next 5 years, short-term goals of our research will develop preferred practices and techniques for characterizing contaminated aquatic sites across Canada. Our research will ensure approaches are followed that incorporate innovative tools alongside established frameworks for the benefit of aquatic site decision makers. Individual and overlapping studies will be developed by my research group, specifically geared toward Master's graduate students (5 thesis based and 5 interns), plus 1 PhD student, thus contributing to highly qualified personnel (HQP) training. Additionally, I will supervise undergraduate honours thesis students to support ongoing research, but no specific NSERC DG funds are requested for this. Long-term benefits of this research program will help a diverse group of stakeholders across Canada to remediate, restore and manage environmental and economic viability of these aquatic systems.