Potential Effects of Contaminants on Fraser River Sockeye Salmon

In the South Thompson River and Thompson River mainstem areas <strong>of</strong> interest,agricultural activities are also dominated by cattle ranching. However, production hay,forage crops, and tree fruit are also important commodities in this region <strong>of</strong> the province.Vegetable crops are also produced throughout the Southern Interior region (Verrin et al.2004). In addition to the water quality concerns identified for the central and northernFraser River basin, tree fruit production and other agricultural activities results inapplications <strong>of</strong> additional pesticides, such as Verrin et al. 2004) :• Glyphosate, paraquat, and pendimethalin (herbicides used on cherries, pears,peaches, grapes, and/or apples);• Abamectin, Bacillus thuringiensis, carbaryl, diazinon, dormant oil, andphosmet (insecticides used on cherries, pears, peaches, grapes, and/or apples);and,• Copper, iprodione, metiram, myclobutanil, sulphur, and lime sulphur(fungicides used on cherries, pears, peaches, grapes, and/or apples).Among the 15 areas <strong>of</strong> interest considered in this investigation, agricultural activities arethe most intensive in the Lower Fraser River Area <strong>of</strong> Interest (Figure 3.18; Table 3.21).This area is characterized by a proliferation <strong>of</strong> dairy operations, feed lots, and intensiveproduction <strong>of</strong> hogs, chickens, and turkeys. In addition, berries, grapes, vegetables, andginseng represent important crops in this region <strong>of</strong> the Fraser River Basin. In addition tonutrients and microbiological variables, water quality concerns associated with agriculturaloperations in the lower mainland are focussed on releases <strong>of</strong> such pesticides as (Verrin etal. 2004):• 2,4-D, bentazon, diquat, glyphosate, linuron, napropamide, simazine, andtrifluralin (herbicides used in berries, grapes, and vegetables);• Acetmapiprid, azinophos-methyl, chlorpyrifos, cyhalothrin-lambda,cypermethrin, deltamethrin, diazinon, dimethoate, methamidophos, methomyl,and pirimicarb (insecticides used in berries, grapes, and vegetables); and,• Captan, copper, chlorothalonil, iprodione, mancozeb, metalaxyl, and thiram(fungicides used in berries, grapes, and vegetables).Proximity to water and/or heavy pesticide application have resulted in crops such aspotatoes, cranberries, and ginseng being identified to be <strong>of</strong> particular concern relative topotential effects on aquatic organisms (Verrin et al. 2004). For example, control <strong>of</strong>wireworm infestations in potatoes <strong>of</strong>ten requires heavy applications <strong>of</strong> organophosphorus37