Latest news, blogs and publications http://www.water-matters.org/ en Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:33:11 +0000 Wed, 30 Nov 2011 21:03:49 +0000 http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/rss/rss.html rssadmin@water-matters.org rssadmin@water-matters.org http://www.water-matters.org/pub/values-and-voices http://www.water-matters.org/pub/values-and-voices Values and Voices is the report of the Southern Foothills Community Stewardship Initiative, a public engagement process led by the Pekisko Group and the Chinook Institute for Community Stewardship, to give voice to the values and priorities of local people for maintaining healthy ecosystems and watersheds in southwest Alberta. Carole Stark (Water Matters), Jacqueline Nelson and Christie McLaren Wed, 30 Nov 2011 21:03:49 +0000 http://www.water-matters.org/story/453 http://www.water-matters.org/story/453 The final report of the Southern Foothills Community Stewardship Initiative is ready, and the conclusions are clear – locals want to maintain the health and integrity of the region’s ecosystems, and they’re more than happy to lead the way. Carole Stark, Water Matters Tue, 08 Nov 2011 22:38:12 +0000 http://www.water-matters.org/story/454 http://www.water-matters.org/story/454 Alison Redford, Alberta’s new premier, ran on a platform that included significant changes to the way Alberta manages its land and water, including a promise to bring in cumulative effects and put the Alberta Land Stewardship Act on hold. Will she make good on her promises? If she does, what does it mean for the health of Alberta’s land and water? Joe Obad, Water Matters Tue, 08 Nov 2011 22:06:03 +0000 http://www.water-matters.org/story/456 http://www.water-matters.org/story/456 Despite failing grades from numerous independent assessments over the last five years, the Alberta government still does not have adequate monitoring systems in place to keep our rivers healthy in the lower Athabasca Watershed — and almost every major river in Alberta. William F. Donahue, Ph.D., LL.B., Director, Science and Policy Tue, 08 Nov 2011 21:52:02 +0000 http://www.water-matters.org/story/455 http://www.water-matters.org/story/455 Most of Alberta’s rivers are already dammed, and the challenge for governments and society is to figure out how to improve them and mitigate their negative impacts – or whether to remove some of them altogether. In the future, the challenge will be to decide whether to build them at all. Julia Ko, Water Matters Tue, 08 Nov 2011 21:46:10 +0000 http://www.water-matters.org/pub/annual-report-2010 http://www.water-matters.org/pub/annual-report-2010 In our 2010 annual report, we provide highlights of Water Matters' work in 2010 and revisit the fundamental motivations behind what we do. Water Matters Mon, 07 Nov 2011 23:00:55 +0000 http://www.water-matters.org/story/452 http://www.water-matters.org/story/452 julia Thu, 13 Oct 2011 16:30:27 +0000 http://www.water-matters.org/story/451 http://www.water-matters.org/story/451 Thu, 06 Oct 2011 19:47:29 +0000 http://www.water-matters.org/blog/448 http://www.water-matters.org/blog/448 Without real commitments to protecting water in the Lower Athabasca Regional Plan, the Plan will remain an exercise in appearances. Joe Obad and Julia Ko Mon, 29 Aug 2011 19:44:32 +0000 http://www.water-matters.org/story/445 http://www.water-matters.org/story/445 The large majority of oil sands in Alberta are not accessible via mining and must be developed via in situ wells that use vast quantities of steam to heat and liquefy bitumen found in deep deposits. The management of groundwater in the oil sands region has received little attention, despite the fact it will have to support in situ development that is expected to produce three times as much oil as surface mines. William F. Donahue, Ph.D., LL.B., Special Advisor on Water Policy Wed, 03 Aug 2011 14:59:12 +0000 http://www.water-matters.org/story/443 http://www.water-matters.org/story/443 Water and environmental resources in particular are as prone to be politicized by candidates jockeying to differentiate themselves within their party and with Albertans at large as they eye to follow Premier Ed Stelmach as the province's next premier. This puts Alberta's Land-use Framework (LUF) at risk, as well as the thousands of hours of work ordinary Albertans have invested to ensure we have healthy watersheds and other landscape values. Water Matters Wed, 03 Aug 2011 14:59:08 +0000 http://www.water-matters.org/story/444 http://www.water-matters.org/story/444 For those of you living in the South Saskatchewan River Basin, now's your chance to participate in the development of the South Saskatchewan regional land-use plan. Consider attending the public workshops planned for the fall, and fill out the on-line workbooks provided by the Government and Alberta to get feedback from Albertans. Wed, 03 Aug 2011 14:59:03 +0000 http://www.water-matters.org/story/446 http://www.water-matters.org/story/446 Registration is now open for the second annual Crown of the Continent conference, “Sustaining Our Heritage – Culture, Communities and Landscapes,” which will take place Thursday and Friday, Sept. 22-23, at the KwaTaqNuk Resort in Polson, Montana. Water Matters Wed, 03 Aug 2011 14:58:59 +0000 http://www.water-matters.org/story/442 http://www.water-matters.org/story/442 Drilling Down: Groundwater Risks Imposed by In Situ Oil Sands Development, released today by Water Matters, provides clear, achievable recommendations for improving groundwater management, assessment and monitoring in the oil sands region. William F. Donahue, Ph.D., LL.B., Special Advisor on Water Policy Thu, 21 Jul 2011 18:23:21 +0000 http://www.water-matters.org/blog/441 http://www.water-matters.org/blog/441 Bill Donahue and Julia Ko Thu, 21 Jul 2011 16:42:19 +0000 http://www.water-matters.org/pub/drilling-down http://www.water-matters.org/pub/drilling-down Drilling Down: Groundwater Risks Imposed by In Situ Oil Sands Development provides clear, achievable recommendations for improving groundwater management, assessment and monitoring in the oil sands region. Julia Ko and William F. Donahue (Water Matters) Thu, 21 Jul 2011 16:18:18 +0000 http://www.water-matters.org/blog/439 http://www.water-matters.org/blog/439 Bill Donahue and Julia Ko Wed, 06 Jul 2011 17:33:15 +0000 http://www.water-matters.org/story/447 http://www.water-matters.org/story/447 Julia Ko and William F. Donahue (Water Matters) Wed, 29 Jun 2011 05:27:04 +0000 http://www.water-matters.org/story/438 http://www.water-matters.org/story/438 In conjunction with our 2011 Annual General Meeting the Board and Staff of Water Matters invite you to an evening reception to mingle with friends and colleagues in Lethbridge on June 6th. joe Wed, 01 Jun 2011 20:42:01 +0000