Water and Sediment Quality in the Athabasca River Basin

The ability of a river system to support life depends in part on the quality of the water and sediment found in the aquatic environment. Water and sediment quality depend on the characteristics of the river drainage basin and the processes—both natural and human—that occur there. In this section, water and sediment quality, and the links between these aspects of the aquatic environment and the river drainage basin, are discussed in the following sections:

• Factors Affecting Water and Sediment Quality
• Water Quality Indicators
• Sediment Quality Indicators
• Water and Sediment Quality Guidelines