1. Water Matters has a new website!
Check out our new website! Our new website contains a wealth of
information on the wide range of issues facing Alberta's watersheds, past news articles and more.
February 2009
In this issue
2. Oil sands diversions and the lower Athabasca River
In
January 2009, low flows in the Athabasca River triggered the
implementation of a recent agreement between Alberta Environment and
oil sands operators to limit water diversions. Despite a recent
direction from government for oil sands operations to reduce water
withdrawals, mechanisms to enforce the agreement are still lacking. The
overall impact of the oil sands mining industry\'s large and constant
water diversions on the aquatic ecosystem has been researched for close
to a decade. This research found that the instream flow needs (the
quantity, quality, and timing of water flow required to sustain a
healthy aquatic ecosystem) of the Lower Athabasca River are considered
to be particularly at risk during the winter low flow period.
3. Hydroelectric dam project approved on the Peace River
Glacier Power's proposed hydroelectric dam on the Peace River near
Fairview, Alberta, received a green light from the Joint Review Panel
following a public hearing in late September 2008. The approval was
made despite arguments from conservation groups that the environmental
impact of the dam would outweigh the benefit of generating a very small
amount of electricity estimated to be only 3 percent of the estimated
1310 megawatts (MW) electricity demand in the northwest region during
winter months (CEAA 2008b). The Panel approved the project with a
series of 21 recommendations in December 2008 reversing an earlier
decision in March 2003 to reject the 100 MW run-of-river hydroelectric
dam due to concerns about flooding in Peace River and fish migration.
Since then,
Glacier Power adjusted its proposal and completed additional studies on
the Peace River ice regime and the fishery.
4. Groundwater concerns prompts change to nuclear power plant siting
Concerns about potential impacts to an aquifer have resulted in a
search for a new site
for a nuclear power generation project on the Peace River. The Grimshaw
Gravels
aquifer currently supplies water to farmers, local ranchers, and
approximately
30,000 people. Bruce Power, based in Ontario, filed an application in
March 2008 with the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission to prepare a
site for construction of reactors in the Peace Country on
Lake Cardinal near Peace River. Bruce Power has been considering two
sites to build a $10 billion nuclear plant with two to four reactors
near Peace River to supply up to 4000 megawatts (MW) to power the oil
sands industry and local communities (Canadian Press 2008).
5. Proposed water transfer to bring new development to Springbank Alberta
With the approval of a water transfer Springbank, a sparsely populated community
west of Calgary, has a new development on its horizon. One developer described
it as "basically big-box commercial" (Cryderman 2008). Bingham Crossing
promises to bring entertainment and retail opportunities to the many acreage
owners dotting the rolling, once-agricultural fields west of Calgary as well as
attract those traveling between Calgary and Banff. It will also include new
residential development on one third of the site. Together with existing and
approved development, it will change the face and feel of Springbank if
approved.
6. New Report calls for smart spending on sustainable water infrastructure - quick, clean and green
A new report, asking the federal government to invest $4.5 billion in
Canadian water and wastewater infrastructure, water efficiency
programming, and green infrastructure, was submitted to the federal
government in anticipation of the January 27 budget. The report, Clean
Water, Green Jobs: A Stimulus Package for Sustainable Water Infrastructure
Investments, highlights the economic benefits of investing in water and
wastewater infrastructure.