Friisvall states that it\u2019s difficult to pin down a single primary responsibility considering there are so many factors at play. Still, he highlights, \u201cI think the primary responsibility for me as a water quality tech would be preservation for generations to come.\u201d He continues, \u201cIn the area I work in–I\u2019m lucky enough to have such a pristine area where it\u2019s almost not really touched by the pollution of humans and that, I would say, is the goal and responsibility–keeping it as natural and pure as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
Friisvall works within the KBIC\u2019S NRD, which shares its mission with many other Natural Resource Departments, \u201cMaking sure nature is as pollutant-free as possible for the next generation to enjoy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Why Water Pollution is Important<\/span><\/h3>\nIt\u2019s easy to take advantage of water if you live in a community that consistently has access to clean water, but water pollution can make pure water toxic. Water pollution is not a niche concern of scientists but should instead be a concern for all people, regardless of proximity to water.<\/p>\n
Friisvall explains, \u201cEverything needs water and not just any water, pollutant\/contaminant-free water to thrive. Even if we think about ourselves and wanting to make sure the water is clean and pure, as it is supposed to be, it helps out the whole ecosystem because not only do we consume the water, nature does so as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Water pollution<\/a> is a problem because everything needs water. Water pollution contaminates drinking water, negatively impacts plant and animal biodiversity and can permanently change an environment\u2019s ecology.<\/p>\nThe repercussions of water pollution are not isolated to aquatic organisms and instead ripples out from the site of contamination. The KBIC relies on both residential wells and Lake Superior for their water, and if groundwater<\/a> is contaminated, the entire community\u2019s health may be at risk.<\/p>\nFriisvall and other water quality technicians sample groundwater to ensure the well water is contaminant-free. The data gathered is then supplied to residents, followed by recommendations on how to treat their wells so that residents have a healthy drinking water supply.<\/p>\n
If water quality is compromised, the entire community could be negatively impacted. \u201cFor compromised water quality, we would resample the site to double check our findings, check field notes to see what was going on in the area that day of sampling, since we note weather from prior days as that makes a difference in our results, and then investigate the area and find out what could have happened,\u201d says Friisvall. He elaborates further, \u201cFor example, if it happens to be a flood event we would look upstream to see what could cause it and find the responsible party to see if it was intentional or accidental.\u201d<\/p>\n
One such incident in 2016 was a flooding event at a textile factory that created a white film that flooded the surrounding waterways. Thanks to the continuous sampling done through the Surface Water Monitoring (SWM) project, Friisvall explains, \u201cWe tested the site and streams as best we could and the incident created no harm or lasting effects, but it easily could have if it was anything else.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"water](\"https:\/\/www.fondriest.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/KBIC_Sampling-3.21.jpg\")
Crew packing up sampling equipment into field bags (Credit: Lindsay Bean)<\/span><\/p><\/div>\nHow Water Pollution Affects the Environment<\/span><\/h3>\nPollution can enter ecosystems in a multitude of ways and in various forms. Chemicals like mercury<\/a> and PCBs enter water often in a liquid state as a form of runoff from industrial sites; plastic debris has plagued waterways and every stretch of the ocean for years; mining waste can also enter the water in solid forms.<\/p>\nFriisvall has spent a lot of time studying the impacts of mercury and its influence on groundwater. In particular, how mercury contamination resulting from the copper mining boom in the Keweenaw Peninsula has impacted groundwater health.<\/p>\n
Toxins like mercury can harm fish health, increase mortality rates, and lower the production of an ecosystem. PCBs, mercury, and other harmful chemicals that are often a result of industrial runoff<\/a> make fish sick, and chemicals traverse up through the food chain to humans that rely on fish as a resource.<\/p>\nFriisvall warns, \u201cThe mercury levels bio-accumulate<\/a> which messes with the entire food web and gets built up as it goes up the food chain\u00a0 and when we finally consume the fish, we could be consuming a dangerous amount of mercury.\u201d<\/p>\nFor the KBIC, stamp sands<\/a>, a solid form of pollution, started washing up on the shore in the 50s and have only multiplied in size. The copper found on the Keweenaw Peninsula was mined through a stamping method that led to the expulsion of the stamped material into Michigan\u2019s waterways, impacting ecosystems like Buffalo Reef<\/a> and communities residing along the shore.<\/p>\nThe debris is sharp, black, and contains contaminants that quickly disbursed across the peninsula. The stamp sands are a particular problem for surrounding ecosystems. Friisvall explains, \u201cMost plants cannot grow on it as it\u2019s either too hot from the sun or too sharp it destroys the roots.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"water](\"https:\/\/www.fondriest.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/KBIC_20211116_101833-EFFECTS.jpg\")
Big Bay outside of Eagle Mine early in the morning prior to sampling that day (Credit: Dylan Friisvall)<\/span><\/p><\/div>\nHow to Monitor Water Pollution<\/span><\/h3>\nLiving right along the shoreline, monitoring water pollution is essential for the KBIC NRD. As such, the tribe has put into place several years-long monitoring projects to keep watch for changes in water quality.<\/p>\n
The oldest project, the SWM project, began in 2001 and continues to this day. Friisvall began his work as a water quality technician in 2015 and continues to be a part of the project now. Friisvall states that positions like his exist to keep the SWM project operational by sampling \u201clocal lakes & rivers for contaminations as well as other parameters.\u201d<\/p>\n
Friisvall explains that the project\u2019s goal is to \u201chelp determine the health of the water system and if there is any pollution.\u201d The program has been ongoing since 2001, and the long history of the project allows technicians to have \u201ca pretty good guess on how a water system may be or is supposed to be in its natural state\u2014before humans.\u201d<\/p>\n
The KBIC NRD is also interested in examining water temperature and depth trends for fish stocking purposes. Friisvall uses Onset Level Loggers<\/a> in streams during the spring, summer, and fall to measure these parameters.<\/p>\nClimate change has led to unexpected temperature variability, which harms wildlife. Stocking cold water fish in a habitat that is too warm destroys population-stabilizing efforts. Recognizing the high and low points of the stream is important to note when stocking fish and can impact other critical water quality parameters.<\/p>\n
Friisvall also states that they\u2019ve been able to detect trends<\/a> that reflect how the environment has shifted over time in the eyes of the community. He recalls, \u201cIn recent years there\u2019s been more of a drought going on and water levels have been going down in the streams that I sample at, especially when I compare them to memories of my childhood growing up and fishing. Now, some of them seem to not have really any water in them when comparing them to the stories of my father\u2019s childhood and his fathers.\u201d<\/p>\n
The repercussions of water pollution are not isolated to aquatic organisms and instead ripples out from the site of contamination. The KBIC relies on both residential wells and Lake Superior for their water, and if groundwater<\/a> is contaminated, the entire community\u2019s health may be at risk.<\/p>\n Friisvall and other water quality technicians sample groundwater to ensure the well water is contaminant-free. The data gathered is then supplied to residents, followed by recommendations on how to treat their wells so that residents have a healthy drinking water supply.<\/p>\n If water quality is compromised, the entire community could be negatively impacted. \u201cFor compromised water quality, we would resample the site to double check our findings, check field notes to see what was going on in the area that day of sampling, since we note weather from prior days as that makes a difference in our results, and then investigate the area and find out what could have happened,\u201d says Friisvall. He elaborates further, \u201cFor example, if it happens to be a flood event we would look upstream to see what could cause it and find the responsible party to see if it was intentional or accidental.\u201d<\/p>\n One such incident in 2016 was a flooding event at a textile factory that created a white film that flooded the surrounding waterways. Thanks to the continuous sampling done through the Surface Water Monitoring (SWM) project, Friisvall explains, \u201cWe tested the site and streams as best we could and the incident created no harm or lasting effects, but it easily could have if it was anything else.\u201d<\/p>\n Crew packing up sampling equipment into field bags (Credit: Lindsay Bean)<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n Pollution can enter ecosystems in a multitude of ways and in various forms. Chemicals like mercury<\/a> and PCBs enter water often in a liquid state as a form of runoff from industrial sites; plastic debris has plagued waterways and every stretch of the ocean for years; mining waste can also enter the water in solid forms.<\/p>\n Friisvall has spent a lot of time studying the impacts of mercury and its influence on groundwater. In particular, how mercury contamination resulting from the copper mining boom in the Keweenaw Peninsula has impacted groundwater health.<\/p>\n Toxins like mercury can harm fish health, increase mortality rates, and lower the production of an ecosystem. PCBs, mercury, and other harmful chemicals that are often a result of industrial runoff<\/a> make fish sick, and chemicals traverse up through the food chain to humans that rely on fish as a resource.<\/p>\n Friisvall warns, \u201cThe mercury levels bio-accumulate<\/a> which messes with the entire food web and gets built up as it goes up the food chain\u00a0 and when we finally consume the fish, we could be consuming a dangerous amount of mercury.\u201d<\/p>\n For the KBIC, stamp sands<\/a>, a solid form of pollution, started washing up on the shore in the 50s and have only multiplied in size. The copper found on the Keweenaw Peninsula was mined through a stamping method that led to the expulsion of the stamped material into Michigan\u2019s waterways, impacting ecosystems like Buffalo Reef<\/a> and communities residing along the shore.<\/p>\n The debris is sharp, black, and contains contaminants that quickly disbursed across the peninsula. The stamp sands are a particular problem for surrounding ecosystems. Friisvall explains, \u201cMost plants cannot grow on it as it\u2019s either too hot from the sun or too sharp it destroys the roots.\u201d<\/p>\n Big Bay outside of Eagle Mine early in the morning prior to sampling that day (Credit: Dylan Friisvall)<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n Living right along the shoreline, monitoring water pollution is essential for the KBIC NRD. As such, the tribe has put into place several years-long monitoring projects to keep watch for changes in water quality.<\/p>\n The oldest project, the SWM project, began in 2001 and continues to this day. Friisvall began his work as a water quality technician in 2015 and continues to be a part of the project now. Friisvall states that positions like his exist to keep the SWM project operational by sampling \u201clocal lakes & rivers for contaminations as well as other parameters.\u201d<\/p>\n Friisvall explains that the project\u2019s goal is to \u201chelp determine the health of the water system and if there is any pollution.\u201d The program has been ongoing since 2001, and the long history of the project allows technicians to have \u201ca pretty good guess on how a water system may be or is supposed to be in its natural state\u2014before humans.\u201d<\/p>\n The KBIC NRD is also interested in examining water temperature and depth trends for fish stocking purposes. Friisvall uses Onset Level Loggers<\/a> in streams during the spring, summer, and fall to measure these parameters.<\/p>\n Climate change has led to unexpected temperature variability, which harms wildlife. Stocking cold water fish in a habitat that is too warm destroys population-stabilizing efforts. Recognizing the high and low points of the stream is important to note when stocking fish and can impact other critical water quality parameters.<\/p>\n Friisvall also states that they\u2019ve been able to detect trends<\/a> that reflect how the environment has shifted over time in the eyes of the community. He recalls, \u201cIn recent years there\u2019s been more of a drought going on and water levels have been going down in the streams that I sample at, especially when I compare them to memories of my childhood growing up and fishing. Now, some of them seem to not have really any water in them when comparing them to the stories of my father\u2019s childhood and his fathers.\u201d<\/p>\nHow Water Pollution Affects the Environment<\/span><\/h3>\n
How to Monitor Water Pollution<\/span><\/h3>\n
![\"Field](\"https:\/\/www.fondriest.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/KBIC_equipment_merged.jpg\")