Current Projects

PDK Projects, Inc. is pleased to be collaborating with Poplar River First Nation on several aspects of boreal peatlands. The most recent focus is the estimation of the total amount of carbon stored on the Poplar River Traditional Territory. A report by P. Cooley, G. Eaton and D.F.Malley (2009). Above and below ground carbon inventory of Poplar River First Nation Traditional Territory provides a first estimate of the carbon inventory for a First Nation in Manitoba.

A previous study in 2007 began to monitor the rich peatlands on the east side of Lake Winnipeg with NIRS. The First Nation was the proponent for the project funded by the Manitoba Climate Change Action Fund. Dr. Jim McLaughlin, peat expert with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources was also a partner. The purpose is to build capability for on-going monitoring by the community of the moisture status of their peatlands and the associated potential for dangerous fires. It is planned that later stages of the project will involve other scientists in above-ground studies of biodiversity and terrestrial response to climate change.

Informal Progress Report on Sampling Peatlands on Poplar River First Nation Traditional Lands, July 2007.

Eastside Boreal Peatlands Carbon Monitoring, March 2008.

New Publications

Conference Presentations

Williams, P. 2009. Near-infrared instrument networking: Design and implementation. Presented at NIR2009, 7-13 November 2009, Bangkok, Thailand

Malley, D.F., O.O. Akinremi, and D.V. Ige. 2009. Feasibility of predicting several forms of phosphorus and phosphorus retention capacity in Canadian Prairie soils by NIRS. Presented at NIR2009, 7-13 November 2009, Bangkok, Thailand

Report:

Malley, D.F., P.D. Martin, and P. Williams. 2005. Performance of a field-portable, in-stream hog manure nutrient sensor prototype in the laboratory. Rev. April 2006, US units, 33 pp. (Executive Summary)

Special Projects

In 2008, Diane Malley and Dr. Paul Watts co-supervised an informal internship for Andrea Ulrich, a graduate student from Germany. The project focuses on water security, particularly from the perspective of aboriginal peoples and on the emerging global issue of “peak phosphorus”. The project received funding from the Lake Winnipeg Foundation and the Thomas Sill Foundation. The report from the project is:

D.F. Malley, A.E. Ulrich and P.D. Watts. 2009. Food and Water Security in the Lake Winnipeg Basin: Transition to the Future. Unpublished report. 64 pp.

In 2009, Andrea Ulrich presented the poster "Peak Phosphorus: A New Dimension for Food Security and Water Quality in the Lake Winnipeg Basin" co-authored by Andrea E. Ulrich, Paul D. Watts and Diane F. Malley at the 18th CIEC Symposium of the International Scientific Centre of Fertilizers "More Sustainability in Agriculture: New Fertilizers and Fertilization Management in Rome, Italy, 8-12 November 2009.

In 2005, Diane Malley served as technical writer for reports for the Lake Winnipeg Implementation Committee.

Lake Winnipeg Implementation Committee. 2005. Restoring the Health of Lake Winnipeg: Canada's Sixth Great Lake, 56 pp. (pdf)

This report was transmitted to the President of the Treasury Board of Canada, Honourable Reg Alcock, and the Minister of Water Stewardship for Manitoba, Honourable Steve Ashton, by Terry Duguid and Norm Brandson. Recommendations, the Draft-Federal - Provincial Agreement, Funding Formula, and Draft Healthy Lake Winnipeg Charter were prepared by Mr. Duguid and Mr. Brandson.

Lake Winnipeg Implementation Committee. 2005. Restoring the Health of Lake Winnipeg Technical Annex, 98 pp. (pdf)

These reports give an environmental context to a number of the innovations in NIRS by PDK Projects, Inc., such as analysis of nutrients in sediment and particulates in water; analysis of nutrients in hog manure for optimal nutrient managment; monitoring of biosolids applied to agricultural land for nutrients and heavy metals; and monitoring of peatlands for changes due to climate warming.