1. Introducing Alberta's new champion for watersheds...Water Matters
As Alberta continues to chart its water
management path, strong leadership from an independent non-governmental
organization with expertise and resources dedicated to province-wide watershed
protection is vital. Established in October 2007, Water Matters is a champion
for watershed protection in Alberta.
Water Matters was officially launched in Calgary last May. Danielle Droitsch, Water Matters Executive Director, introduced the organization in front of friends, supporters, and members of the community. The event was a huge success and a great start for Water Matters.
To champion watershed protection, Water Matters:
i. Conducts and promotes timely and leading-edge research and investigation.
ii. Provides and supports outreach and education programs.
iii. Advances initiatives for watershed health.
iv. Works with others concerned about the protection of watersheds.
To learn more about Water Matters, visit our website at www.water-matters.org.
A pipeline rupture recently
leaked up to 200 barrels of sweet crude oil in the Red Deer River, causing a
popular recreation destination in Alberta, Gleniffer Lake, the reservoir of
Dickson Dam south of Sundre, to close for eight days while efforts were made to
contain and clean up the oil leak (Government
of Alberta June 24, 2008). Although the reservoir is
again open for swimming and withdrawing drinking water, the incident is not
unique in Alberta and brings into question the wisdom of placing oil pipelines
across water bodies.
In May 2008, the Government of Alberta
released a draft of its highly anticipated Land Use Framework. This Framework,
arguably the most important policy initiative in recent years, is meant to
address the sense many Albertans have that our activities on the land are
increasing, are increasingly damaging, and are happening without a plan. But,
will the Land Use Framework consider and address the effects land use has on
water?
As
a way to address rapid landscape change in Alberta, brought on by multiple uses
of the land by oil and gas, forestry, agriculture, recreation (e.g. off-road
vehicle activity), and urban and peri-urban development, the Alberta government
is using a new approach for the province called cumulative effects management.
This approach will be a central piece for implementing the Land Use Framework and
other proposed legislation.
The first "pilot" of the
cumulative effects management approach in Alberta is planning for the
industrial heartland, which includes water management for the area northeast of
Edmonton.
For the month of August at the
Ship and Anchor (534 17th Ave SW Calgary, AB), purchase a pint of
Creemore Springs Premium Lager and contribute a dollar toward healthy water in
Alberta. For each pint of Creemore sold, both Creemore Springs Brewery and The
Ship and Anchor will each donate 50 cents to Water Matters.