Our Airshed
Our Airshed
An airshed is similar in concept to a watershed. It is an area where air and local pollutants tend to be confined. Like watersheds, the size and shape of airsheds are influenced by geographics features, such as mountains and valleys. Airsheds are also influenced by the weather.
The climate and geography of the Robson Valley make it susceptible to temperature inversions which trap local pollutants near the ground and can cause elevated concentrations, especially during the cold-weather months. This type of pollutant trapping along with local pollutant sources are a big part of the reason why Valemount regularly exceeds provincial and Canadian ambient air quality objectives and standards for fine particulate matter (PM2.5)
Common local sources of PM2.5 in Valemount include residential wood burning, open burning, dust and vehicle idling.
PRIORITY LOCAL EMISSION SOURCES
RED ZONE DESIGNATION
Air quality in Valemount has been cited to be amongst the worst in BC due to the presence of particulate matter less than 10 microns (PM10) and 2.5 microns (PM2.5) in size. The Village of Valemount was assigned a “red” management level for PM2.5 in the 2015-2017 reporting period, and continues to record emissions well above the Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standards (CAAQS) for fine particulate matter.
To improve air quality in our community, actions that aim to reduce local releases of fine particulate matter are needed.
Air Quality Management Plan
The Valemount air quality management plan (AQMP) was developed in 2022, and provides guidance to support local air quality improvement over the next five years (2022-2026)