Perceptions of ecological risks associated with eutrophication sources in the lower fraser river basin, British Columbia

Abstract

In this paper we examine lay and expert perceptions of the ecological risks associated with four human activities that contribute to the eutrophication of fresh water bodies. A written survey was administered to 183 lay subjects in four communities within the Lower Fraser Basin. Sixteen experts participated in a portion of the survey. The results show that the lay respondents generally perceive that agricultural waste disposal and fertilizer use pose a high degree of risk, while sewage treatment and septic systems pose a lesser, yet inherent risk. In general, expert perceptions concur with the lay perceptions. However, there was disagreement amongst the experts as to the severity of the potential risk to surface water bodies from septic systems. It is speculated that this lack of agreement is the result of a relative scarcity of documented information regarding the long-term, cumulative effects from this source. Accordingly, experts are more inclined than the lay group to advocate greater regulation of septic systems. The results indicate that there are key issues regarding regulatory policy developments, the direction of environmental research and monitoring, and risk communication that should be addressed. Further discussion regarding the lay perceptions of each eutrophication source completes the paper. © 1997 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.