Researchers from the University of Lethbridge will be conducting a five year study on the impact of effluent release in wetlands (Photo: University Of Lethbridge)

By Drew Stremick/LethbridgeNewsNOW

University of Lethbridge researchers to conduct five-year wetland study

Aug 10, 2022 | 3:05 PM

University of Lethbridge (U of L) researchers have received funding from Cargill Limited, and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada totalling approximately $1.5-million to study the impacts of land use on watersheds.

The study will be taking place at Frank Lake, a restored wetland six kilometres east of High River, which is currently managed by Ducks Unlimited Canada. The wetland is an important bird area, where treated effluent from both the Town of High River, and Cargill Limited is released in order to maintain water levels. The wetland doesn’t just provide habitat for birds, it adds another level of effluent treatment by further removing nutrients, salts and other chemicals. The concern stakeholders and researchers have is how long it can sustain current levels of treatment, and what actions can be taken to improve its functionality.

Researchers on the project will include, doctors Matt Bogard, Steve Wiseman, and Larry Flanagan from the U of L. They’ll be joined by doctors. Kerri Finlay from the University of Regina and Markus Brinkmann from the University of Saskatchewan.

Dr. Bogard says throughout the study, they hope to gain a better understanding on how to best manage wetlands, and watersheds.

“The goal of this project is to understand the impacts of land use on the health of the Little Bow watershed, with a focus on the role that the Frank Lake wetland plays in processing effluent in this economically important region,” says Bogard. “We want to provide all stakeholders with scientific knowledge and data to help manage the watershed as best as possible.”

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The Frank Lake wetland is one piece of the overall larger watershed “picture”. Bogard says by getting a clearer picture on how effluent waste impacts wetlands and the watersheds at large, there’s potential for major improvements to global water management.

“Part of the goal of this project is to tease apart the influence of different land uses on watershed health, so that future management decisions can better evaluate impacts of individual land uses,” says Bogard.

“Much of the water used by humanity is released back into the environment as wastewater, so this project has major implications for watershed and wastewater management worldwide.”