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	CRIEMP partner Fiona Mackay (Zellstoff Celgar) demonstrates the use of sediment sampling equipment to a budding scientist.

CRIEMP Technical Workshop: Emerging Contaminants – Developing a Strategy to Assess their Potential Impact on the Columbia River (Castlegar June, 2007)

There are a number of emerging contaminants which have been gaining attention in the media including flame retardants or polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and personal care products and pharmaceuticals (PPCPs). Many of the emerging contaminants are also known to be endocrine disrupting substances.

CRIEMP organized a technical workshop in June 2007 focussing on emerging contaminants. Speakers included:

Dr. Kelly Munkittrick (University of New Brunswick) Issues Surrounding the Design of Cumulative Effects Assessment Programs

Liz Freyman (Ministry of Environment) Lower Mainland Activities to Address Emerging and Micro-contaminants

Prajit Barn for Dr. Ray Copes (BC Centre for Disease Control) Contaminants in Fish: A Proposal for Integrated Consumption Guidelines

Dr. Mark McMaster (National Water Research Institute) Endocrine Disruption in Canadian Aquatic Ecosystems: A Reassessment of Canadian Areas of Concern

Following the presentations, a discussion centered on what strategy could be employed on the lower Columbia River with respect to emerging contaminants. The CRIEMP Steering Committee is considering how to use the information from this workshop and is pursuing the development of formal recommendations.

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	Dr. Mark McMaster makes a presentation on endocrine disruption in Canadian aquatic ecosystems.

On the following day, CRIEMP organized a technical session on the "Environmental Health of the Columbia River". Carrie Morita, of the Ministry of Environment and Session Chair, gave a presentation on a history and overview of CRIEMP. Bob Westcott from BC Hydro gave a presentation on impacts to fish and aquatic habitat from hydroelectric facilities. Fiona Mackay from Zellstoff Celgar gave a presentation about the mill’s Environmental Effects Monitoring (EEM) program and Bill Duncan from Teck Cominco spoke about the Trail Ecological Risk Assessment. The Ministry of Environment also displayed a poster at the conference focussing on work of CRIEMP.

In addition to the significant conference support from the CRIEMP partner organizations, CRIEMP sponsored water bottles for conference delegates and provided assistance for student or community members to register for the conference.

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	CRIEMP Co-ordinator Cathy Scott-May leads a discussion with the public about the health of the Lower Columbia River. (photo credit: Carrie Morita)

BC Rivers Day 2006 (Trail, September 2006)
(http://www.riversday.bcit.ca)

The region’s 4th Annual BC River’s Day saw hundreds of West Kootenay residents
and visitors from as far away as Ontario gather at Gyro Park in Trail to celebrate
the Columbia River on September 24th, 2006.

CRIEMP was busy - nearly 150 visitors signed our guest book and took time to
find out how government, industry, and agency partners are working together
to monitor and improve the health of the Columbia River.

A special congratulations to the winners of our hat draw: Joe McIsaac, Joseph
Horan, Tina Rorick, Aurora Bechard, and Rachel Chadwick of Trail; and Steve
Reitan of Castlegar. Wear the CRIEMP logo proudly!

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	Visitors sign the CRIEMP guestbook. (photo credit: VOX Communications)
	West Kootenay roots/rock band The Tuques entertain the crowd. (photo credit: VOX Communications)
	The CRIEMP display attracted hundreds of visitors throughout the day (photo credit: VOX Communications)
	The CRIEMP display attracted hundreds of visitors throughout the day (photo credit: VOX Communications)

CRIEMP article in the Lake Roosevelt Forum Newsletter (Winter 2006)
(PDF: 218 KB / 6 pages)

Poster presentation at the Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network National Science Meeting (Penticton, November 2005)
(PDF: 1.91 MB / 1 page)

Consultant Lee Schaeffer learns about CRIEMP

BC Rivers Day 2005

Hundreds of West Kootenay residents gathered to celebrate the Columbia
River on a beautiful sunny day, September 25, 2005. The region’s 3rd Annual
BC Rivers Day included live music, children’s games and activities, jugglers
and entertainers, educational displays and booths, and kayaking and
fly-fishing demonstrations.

CRIEMP had one of the busiest booths, attracting over 100 visitors between
10 am and 4 pm. Kids, adults, and seniors alike were keen to know more
about the health of the Columbia River, sign our guest books, enter a contest
to win a CRIEMP hat, and examine equipment used to monitor river sediment
and water quality. CRIEMP took centre stage and cranked up the celebration
at 1pm with the official release of our 2005 Environmental Status Report.
Rossland ceramic artist John Feesey shared his artistic vision of a future
Columbia that is home to wild salmon, and MLA Katrine Conroy spoke in
support of CRIEMP’s work over the past ten years toward a healthy, vibrant Columbia River. But the highlight of the day had to be the giant chocolate
cake that CRIEMP shared with the crowd!

BC Rivers Day is a province-wide event to celebrate our rivers and the
importance they hold in our lives. It is held every year on the last Sunday
in September. Since 1980 it has been proclaimed by communities across
BC and attracts over 45,000 people.

Congratulations to our contest winners Lorraine Bella of Trail;
Jessy Lakes of Trail; and Sarah Popoff of Nelson who each received
a CRIEMP hat. Wear it proudly!

CRIEMP Invitation to BC Rivers Day 2005
(PDF: 2.5 MB / 1 page)

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	Katrine Conroy (Kootenay-Boundary MLA), John Feesey (Rossland artist), Robyn Roome (Ministry of Environment and CRIEMP Co-Chair) and Gay Grant (Columbia Power Corporation) admire the the CRIEMP cake prior to cutting.
	BC Rivers Day visitors enjoy a kayak display at Gyro Park in Trail.
	Rossland ceramic artist John Feesey shares his artistic vision of a Columbia River of the future: the return of wild salmon.
	Visitors of all ages signed our guest books, took away CRIEMP magnets and tattoos, received copies of the 2005 Environmental Status Report, and entered a contest to win a CRIEMP hat.
	Carrie Morita, CRIEMP representative and Ministry of Environment biologist, explains how the ponar collects sediment samples.
	Robyn Roome, CRIEMP Co-Chair and Head of BC Ministry of Environment Environmental Quality Section, receives a recognition plaque from CRIEMP spokesperson and Teck Cominco biologist Bill Duncan.
	Robyn Roome (Ministry of Environment and CRIEMP Co-Chair) talks to visitors about the Columbia River.
	Kootenay-Boundary MLA Katrine Conroy speaks in support of CRIEMP’s work over the past ten years toward a healthy, vibrant Columbia River.