Sediment and Water Testing at Maple Bay

Copper MiningDams & HydropowerLogging & Forestry
Written By Jordan River WAC

In March 2023, Jordan River Watershed Awareness collected sediment and water samples at Maple Bay as part of ongoing efforts to better understand environmental conditions in this part of the watershed.

Located 1 kilometre east of the Jordan River was the site of a village in an area referred to as ?i?i:bic'aqpi?s which translates to “Maple Tree Beach”. The beach extends east from West Coast Road (Highway 14) to Sandcut Beach and is currently referred to as Maple Beach.

This location was not chosen at random. Maple Beach sits adjacent to a site that has been used for industrial activity and waste disposal since the 1950s, including aggregate extraction, milling operations, general dumping and a permitted wood waste landfill. Historical records also show that mine tailings from the Jordan River (Sunro) Mine were transported through this area and discharged at the beach and offshore during the 1960s and 1970s.

The site is situated above the shoreline on an unstable slope, with small drainages flowing directly into the marine foreshore. Evidence of past dumping remains visible, and previous investigations have identified contamination in soil and groundwater.

Taken together, these factors point to Maple Bay as a location where contaminants may be present and actively moving into the nearshore environment. Sampling here provides an opportunity to better understand what is currently in the system.

Together, the results offer a snapshot of what was present at the time of testing, capturing both what was moving through the water and what had settled below it. Looking at both layers helps build a more complete picture of how materials exist and move through the system.

Why sediment and water both matter

Water reflects conditions in the moment. Sediment reflects what has accumulated over time.

These systems are connected. Materials stored in sediment can remain stable, or, under changing conditions, be reintroduced into the water column. This relationship is key to understanding how metals behave in coastal environments.

Sediment Sample Findings

Three sediment samples were analyzed for a range of elements.

Copper Results

Copper stands out clearly. Across the samples, it was measured between 158.35 ppm and 959.91 ppm. 

Other metals were also present, including:

  • Nickel: 9.3 to 110.2 ppm

  • Cobalt: 9.3 to 98.2 ppm

  • Zinc: 15.3 to 53.4 ppm

Arsenic, uranium and mercury were reported at very low levels or below detection.

Copper Provincial Standard

To understand what these values mean, they can be compared to established sediment quality guidelines. For marine and estuarine environments, the Canadian guideline for copper is 18.7 mg/kg, with a probable effect level of 108 mg/kg.

All three Maple Bay samples exceed both of these values. The highest result, 959.91 ppm, is nearly nine times the probable effect level.

These guidelines are used as screening tools. They help identify where concentrations may be elevated, but they do not confirm ecological impact or identify a source.

Water Sample Findings

Water samples collected from the same area show that copper is also present in the water column.

Copper Results

Across the Maple Bay samples, copper ranged from 0.73 µg/L to 15.43 µg/L. Most samples were below 2 µg/L, but several were higher, including results around 4.46 µg/L and 15.4 µg/L.

Other metals were present at lower concentrations:

  • Nickel: 0.15 to 1.85 µg/L

  • Cobalt: 0.02 to 0.19 µg/L

  • Zinc: 0.32 to 2.44 µg/L

Arsenic was detected at low levels, and selenium was below detection.

Copper Provincial Standard

In British Columbia, the guideline for copper in marine and estuarine waters recommends:

  • 2 µg/L as a 30-day average

  • 3 µg/L as a maximum at any time

Because these samples represent a single moment in time, they cannot be used to assess the 30-day average. They can, however, be compared cautiously to the maximum value. Some Maple Bay results fall below 3 µg/L, while others exceed it.

Reading the Results Together

Taken together, the sediment and water results show that copper is present in both the bottom material and the water column at Maple Bay.

The sediment reflects longer-term accumulation. The water reflects what was dissolved and available at the time of sampling. The highest sediment value, in particular, points to a strong copper signal in the system, even as water concentrations vary between samples.

Watershed context: a history of copper

Maple Beach is not an isolated location. Immediately adjacent to the shoreline is a site that has been used for industrial activity and waste disposal since the 1950s, including aggregate extraction, milling operations, general dumping and a permitted wood waste landfill.

Historical records also show that mine tailings from the Jordan River (Sunro) Mine were transported through this area via a 4-kilometre pipe and discharged at the beach and offshore during the 1960s and 1970s. The pipe was known to be prone to breakage during operation.

The site sits above the shoreline on an unstable slope, with multiple small drainages flowing directly into the marine foreshore. Evidence of past dumping remains visible, and previous investigations have identified contaminants in soil and groundwater, including petroleum hydrocarbons and phenols.

Recent sampling by Jordan River Watershed Awareness has also identified elevated metals in water draining from the site, including manganese, iron, cobalt, zinc and lead.

This context is important for interpreting the Maple Bay results. The copper concentrations measured in sediment and water are consistent with previously documented contamination in the area, including mine tailings that were historically discharged at this location.

What this data can and cannot tell us

This dataset shows that metals, including copper, are present in both sediment and water at Maple Bay, and that some concentrations exceed commonly used screening benchmarks.

It does not determine:

  • where those metals are coming from

  • how levels change over time

  • whether there are direct ecological impacts

Answering those questions would require repeated sampling, comparison to site-specific background conditions and an ecological study.

Why this matters

Watersheds reflect both natural processes and human history.

This testing adds site-specific evidence to a broader understanding of the Jordan River watershed. In a system where copper contamination from past mining has already been documented, these results highlight the importance of continued monitoring, careful interpretation and transparency in sharing findings.

Copper and other metals play a dual role in aquatic systems. They occur naturally and are essential in small amounts, but at higher concentrations they can affect ecological processes. From an ecological perspective, copper is known to impact aquatic life, particularly fish and invertebrates. Even at relatively low concentrations in water, it can interfere with functions such as olfaction in salmon, which they rely on for navigation and survival. In sediment, elevated copper levels may influence organisms living in or interacting with the seafloor, depending on how those metals are bound and whether they become bioavailable.

From a human perspective, the Jordan River mouth and surrounding coastline are actively used for recreation, including surfing, where people are regularly in contact with the water. The concentrations measured in these samples do not suggest an immediate health risk from that type of exposure. However, for people who spend time in the water consistently (such as surfers), exposure is repeated rather than one-time. These results show that metals are present in a system that people interact with, but they do not capture how concentrations may change over time, across seasons or during different flow conditions.

At this stage, the data speaks to presence and distribution rather than direct effects. It highlights where further work is needed. Continued monitoring, along with studies that look at seasonal variation, ecological response and potential pathways through the food web, would help build a clearer understanding of what these conditions may mean over the longer term for both ecosystem health and the people who spend time in these waters.

Maple Bay Site Chronology

  • Pre-1950s: Area transitions from Crown land to industrial ownership, including logging and hydroelectric interests

  • 1950s–1970s: Active disturbance, including sand and gravel extraction, milling operations and dumping. During this time, the Sunro Mine tailings pipe discharged at Maple Beach and was later relocated

  • 1980s–1990s: Continued industrial use, including expanded extraction and evidence of ongoing dumping

  • 2001–2013: A permitted wood waste landfill operated on site

  • Post-2013: Landfill permit abandoned; site investigations identified soil and groundwater contamination, with no evidence of remediation or ongoing monitoring

Copper Testing & Guideline Sources

Jordan River WAC
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