Backgrounder: Water Use by Thermal In Situ Oil Sands Operations

By WATER MATTERS — MAR 3, 2009

Only seven percent of all the bitumen in oil sands can be reached through mining operations. The remainder is extracted in situ by injecting steam into drilled wells. This backgrounder provides an overview of the processes of extracting bitumen, the use of water in those processes, and the policies surrounding water use by thermal in situ oil sands operations. More...

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Changing Landscapes

By ALAN GARDNER, SALTS — OCT 9, 2007

A compelling new report shows that maintaining the status quo in land-use planning in the Southern East Slopes of the Rocky Mountains will lead to slow but certain environmental degradation of the region — and we are not well-equipped to cope. More...

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Comments on Alberta Environment's Draft Policy Statement: Water Licence Change of Purpose

By WATER MATTERS AND ECOJUSTICE — OCT 31, 2008

A letter to Dave McGee, Senior Policy & Implementation Manager with Alberta Environment with comments on a draft policy that addresses water licence transfers in which the purpose of water use would change as a result of the transfer. More...

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Curing Environmental Dis-Integration: A Prescription for Integrating the Government of Alberta's Strategic Initiatives

By DANIELLE DROITSCH, STEVEN A. KENNETT, DAN WOYNILLOWICZ — APR 16, 2008

This report discusses the challenges and offer solutions to integrated regional planning for Alberta. Government of Alberta lacks the regulatory ability to manage the cumulative environmental impacts of the industrial development and other human activities now occurring across Alberta's landscapes. A new approach to environmental decision-making is needed to avoid continued decline in key indicators of environmental quality and depletion of Alberta's natural capital. More...

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Factsheet: Alberta's Proposed Wetlands Policy

By WATER MATTERS — OCT 7, 2008

This fact sheet discusses the importance of wetlands, the history of wetlands policy in Alberta and possible plans for new wetlands policy. More...

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Factsheet: Shared Watershed Governance

By WATER MATTERS — OCT 30, 2008

No longer is water management simply about water allocation but about balancing ecological, social, and economic needs within watersheds. Complexity, multiple dimensions, and multiple players in watershed planning necessitate a shift from government to governance. More...

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Factsheet: Source Water Protection

By WATER MATTERS — OCT 15, 2008

Source water protection takes a preventative and comprehensive approach to water treatment for drinking water. It goes beyond the traditional water treatment option that treats water at the treatment plant. In very simple terms, protecting the ‘source’ of drinking water is the next major advancement to assuring safe drinking water. More...

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Factsheet: Westslope Cutthroat Trout

By WATER MATTERS — OCT 3, 2008

Westslope cutthroat trout (WCT) are an important part of Alberta's aquatic ecosystems and natural heritage. Alberta's WCT populations have declined dramatically since the early 1900s due primarily to human activities within watersheds. More...

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Fight to the Last Drop: A Glimpse into Alberta's Water Future

By BOW RIVERKEEPER AND ECOJUSTICE — APR 22, 2008

This report reviews Alberta's framework for dealing with water scarcity and examines some recent, highly controversial water supply schemes that may offer a glimpse into Alberta's future. Two case studies of water scarcity from 2007 in southern Alberta illustrate the troubling public policy issues to be addressed.

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Lay of the Land: A Survey of Watershed Leaders in Alberta

By WATER MATTERS — JUL 15, 2008

This survey of watershed leaders in Alberta was conducted by Water Matters. It highlights the key concerns and perceived gaps in watershed protection. Respondents identified where Water Matters should put its energy and best contribute to watershed protection in Alberta. More...

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Making the Connection: Water and Land in Alberta

By WATER MATTERS — MAR 12, 2010

This report comprehensively details the special role of watershed features, such as forests, riparian areas, and wetlands, in an effort to further that understanding. With a better awareness of the value of watersheds, decision makers will understand how land use impacts water quality and quantity.

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Nurture, Renew, Protect: A Report on the State of the Bow River Basin

By BOW RIVER BASIN COUNCIL — MAY 1, 2005

This comprehensive report provides up-to-date information on the current state of the Bow (water quality, quantity), and the health of its ecosystem. The report examines the many water uses — hydroelectric generation, irrigation, municipal, etc. — and describes the impacts these uses are having on the river. More...

Piping Water Between Watersheds: An Analysis of Basin-to-basin and Sub-basin-to-sub-basin Diversions in Alberta

By WATER MATTERS — NOV 24, 2008

This report examines basin-to-basin and sub-basin-to-sub-basin water diversions in Alberta. It takes a brief look at current law, policy, and practice in Alberta and then turns to a discussion of the key considerations that need to be considered to mitigate the potentially harmful effects — namely, environmental considerations, considerations of scale, socio-economic considerations, and cumulative effects considerations. More...

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Recommendations for Renewal of Water for Life

By COALITION OF CITIZEN-BASED ORGANIZATIONS — JAN 15, 2008

A coalition of citizen-based organizations came together and submitted a report to the Alberta Water Council outlining its analysis and review of the strategy. Issues addressed in this report include: funding, protection of drinking water sources, progress made on protecting healthy aquatic ecosystems, watershed planning, shared governance, and water conservation. More...

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Report of the Rosenberg International Forum on Water Policy to the Ministry of Environment

By ROSENBERG INTERNATIONAL FORUM — FEB 15, 2007

This report comes from a Regional Rosenberg Workshop held at the request of the Minster of Environment. This report provides recommendations as to how Water for Life could be strengthened (strategically and in implementation). The report also examines how ground water management could be strengthened in Alberta. More...

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Share the Water: Building a Secure Water Future for Alberta

By WATER MATTERS AND ECOJUSTICE — OCT 7, 2009

For the first time in 12 years, the Alberta government is considering whether to update their water allocation system. Alberta's current system to allocate water among all users is no longer able to fully respond to population growth, opportunities for industrial growth, reduced water flows, and the coming challenges of climate change. This report outlines a proposed blueprint for addressing these water challenges, and aims to inspire Albertans to participate in the discussion about Alberta's water future.

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Source of Opportunity: A Blueprint for Securing Source Water in Southern Alberta

By WATER MATTERS — NOV 30, 2009

Source of Opportunity makes the case that a vibrant social and economic landscape in southern Alberta is derived in large part from the landscape's ability to maintain abundant, clean supplies of water at their origin — the Southern East Slopes. The report offers a new direction, a blueprint for source water protection.

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Tailings Plan Review: An Assessment of Oil Sands Company Submissions for Compliance with ERCB Directive 074

By WATER MATTERS AND PEMBINA INSTITUTE — DEC 1, 2009

A comprehensive review of regulatory documents filed with the Alberta government, conducted by the Pembina Institute and Water Matters, found that only two oil sands operations reported they would meet the rules to reduce toxic tailings between 2011 and 2013 (the start date for binding rules to capture and start solidifying liquid tailings).

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Video: Bow River, Low Water

AUG 11, 2006

This short video, shot on August 8th & 9th 2006, shows the Bow River below the last major irrigation diversion at Bassano Dam. On August 9th, the river flow in this location was reduced to 9 m3/s. By contrast,the flow in Calgary (above all irrigation diversions) was 82 m3/s, and the average natural flow — the flow we would expect with no dams or diversions — for this time of year at Bassano Dam is 103 m3/s. More...

Watered Down: Overcoming Federal Inaction on the Impact of Oil Sands Development to Water Resources

By WATER MATTERS — NOV 23, 2009

Watered Down highlights some of the most compelling testimony from the recent federal hearings by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development. From its testimony, Watered Down derives the recommendation that the Government of Canada should live up to its legislative responsibility and substantially increase its role in protecting human health and the environment through the oversight and regulation of the oil sands industry's impact on fresh water resources and aquatic ecosystems.

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