Canadian Dredged Material Ocean Disposal Site Monitoring Data

Monitoring data for ocean disposal sites of dredged material in Canada, collected to assess compliance with the Ocean Dumping Control Act and the London Convention. The program is sponsored by Environment Canada and involves physical, chemical, and biological assessments of disposal sites. Activities are conducted annually based on available resources.

Use Cases

• Analyze sediment transport patterns from disposal sites using physical monitoring data on deposition area and site boundaries.
• Assess chemical contamination by comparing measured chemical levels in sediments against regulatory lower action levels from the Disposal at Sea Regulations.
• Evaluate biological impact by integrating biological assessment data with site size and dispersal characteristics.
• Track regulatory compliance over time by correlating permit review impact hypotheses with subsequent monitoring results.

Strengths

• Data collection is mandated by Canadian federal law (Ocean Dumping Control Act/CEPA), ensuring a regulatory framework.
• Monitoring design integrates physical, chemical, and biological parameters for a multi-faceted environmental assessment.

Limitations

• Specific sample size, temporal coverage, and geographic extent of the data are not provided.
• Data accessibility is unclear, with a note to contact an individual for access, which may be a barrier.

Provenance

Source

Environment Canada (sponsor), collected by SCIOPS.

Collection Method

Field monitoring involving collection of geological information and concurrent biological and chemical assessments at designated disposal sites.

Time Range

Program established in 1975; annual activities based on resources.

Freshness

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Geography

Canadian seas (ocean disposal sites within Canadian jurisdiction).