Metadata
Phosphorus risk has been increasing on agricultural lands in Canada, with the majority of agricultural land at moderate risk in 2011. From 1981 to 2011, the level of risk increased on 50% of agricultural land, primarily due to an increase in the area treated with fertilizers, an intensification of livestock production in some regions and unusually wet weather and high snowmelt runoff rates in the Prairies in 2011.
Use the interactive map below to zoom in and explore different regions. Note that in the Prairies, risk is considered to be moderate, with pockets of low and very low risk in north and central regions as well as pockets of high and very high risk in southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba as well as in central Alberta. The pockets of higher risk can be attributed to a combination of phosphorus source—where phosphorus levels in the soil have been increasing as a result of mineral fertilizer use and manure from livestock production—and phosphorus transport to surface water bodies. Risk of contamination is also high in the Lower Fraser Valley Region of British Columbia and is attributed to a higher concentration of livestock production in that area. Risk is lower, but increasing steadily, in Eastern and Atlantic Canada.
In addition to exploring the 2011 values, click the play button to view changes over time. From 1981 to 2011 there has been an increase in risk in all agricultural regions of Canada. This has been especially evident in the Prairie Provinces, along with significant increases in parts of Eastern Canada, the Peace River Region of northern Alberta and the Lower Fraser Valley Region of British Columbia.
Use the interactive map below to zoom in and explore different regions. Note that in the Prairies, risk is considered to be moderate, with pockets of low and very low risk in north and central regions as well as pockets of high and very high risk in southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba as well as in central Alberta. The pockets of higher risk can be attributed to a combination of phosphorus source—where phosphorus levels in the soil have been increasing as a result of mineral fertilizer use and manure from livestock production—and phosphorus transport to surface water bodies. Risk of contamination is also high in the Lower Fraser Valley Region of British Columbia and is attributed to a higher concentration of livestock production in that area. Risk is lower, but increasing steadily, in Eastern and Atlantic Canada.
In addition to exploring the 2011 values, click the play button to view changes over time. From 1981 to 2011 there has been an increase in risk in all agricultural regions of Canada. This has been especially evident in the Prairie Provinces, along with significant increases in parts of Eastern Canada, the Peace River Region of northern Alberta and the Lower Fraser Valley Region of British Columbia.
Summary
The Phosphorus Indicator evaluates the relative risk of surface water contamination by phosphorus at the watershed scale across agricultural areas in Canada
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