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Vermilion River Aquatic Ecosystem Assessment
2016 | Studies/ Reports | Aquatic Health and Water Quality | Vermilion

Vermilion River near Holden photo: Bill Trout

The Vermilion River is a small, slow-moving mud-bottom prairie river in Alberta. Except for the lowest reach, the river ceases to flow in mid to late summer, which dictates many ecosystem processes. This study reports poor macroinvertebrate FBI score, which shows the Vermilion River to be an unhealthy system, which is consistent with the widespread degradation of riparian areas and wetlands.

Aquatic ecosystem health is much improved near the mouth of the Vermilion River due to the presence of physical habitat diversity, improved hydraulic connectivity with the regional fish species pool (i.e., the North Saskatchewan River), and improved water quality.

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