Water Matters News — Balzac Water Transfer

sort by title • sort by date — previous 20 • top • next 20

What's in your water? Understanding Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals

By WATER MATTERS — SEP 14, 2009

A 2008 study from the University of Calgary indicates that the sex of fish have changed as a result of endocrine disruptors found in the Oldman and Bow River water supplies. If these chemicals can change the sex of fish, what effects can they have on you and the water you drink?

Learning from Balzac: Report highlights need for new policy on intra-basin water diversions

PRESS RELEASE

By WATER MATTERS — NOV 24, 2008

Improved policy to address diversions between sub-basins would help avoid negative impacts on the environment and communities.

Balzac appeal denied: What’s the future for the Calgary region?

APR 24, 2008

Towards the end of last year, the last remaining roadblock on the quest for water was removed for the developers of the mega-entertainment complex near Balzac. The Environmental Appeal Board, after a hearing in Calgary on December 17, 2007, declared Westridge Utilities Inc. to not be "directly affected" and thereby dismissed the utility's appeal of the $15 million deal to transfer water from the Western Irrigation District (WID) to the Municipal District (MD) of Rockyview. The approved water for the MD will ensure the entertainment complex, among other developments, has enough water to begin its operation. This assurance of water now allows the MD to nail down a deal with EPCOR to build and operate the water supply infrastructure for the East Balzac development (Massot 2008).

Water transfer to Balzac development appealed

DEC 10, 2007

The water woes of the mega-entertainment development near Balzac, Alberta, are not yet over. Westridge Utilities Inc. filed an appeal of the water allocation transfer of almost 2000 acre-feet per year (or 2,220,268 cubic metres), approved by Alberta Environment earlier this fall.

Government Honours Conservation Holdback in Balzac Water Licence

OCT 9, 2007

On Friday September 28, 2007, Alberta Environment announced its approval of the water allocation transfer from the Western Irrigation District (WID) to Municipal District (MD) of Rocky View for 6700 m3 per day. However, Rocky View and the mega-entertainment complex will not receive all of this water. As a minor victory for the environment, 10% of the 6700 m3 per day will be held back, as a conservation holdback, for the Bow River.

Unique pressures on the Red Deer Watershed

OCT 9, 2007

What makes the Red Deer River Watershed Unique? The Red Deer River Watershed is a watershed under pressure — but unique pressures from those in other watersheds in Alberta. Because the Red Deer is considered a healthy river, it is being propositioned by surrounding watersheds that are running low on water. Various proposals have and are seeking water from the Red Deer to quench the thirst of the economic boom — proposals from both the south and the north.

Balzac water deal open for public comment

SEP 7, 2007

Until September 20, you can have your say about whether scarce water should be transferred to an entertainment complex under construction near Balzac, Alberta. The mega-entertainment complex under construction a few miles north of Calgary, near Balzac, is one step closer to procuring water. The Western Irrigation District (WID), with the approval of 57% of its membership who voted, agreed to transfer 2000 acre-feet a year, or about 6700 m3 per day, to the MD of Rocky View. To gain the water, the MD would apply water conservation measures to 50 km of the WID's irrigation canals (D'Aliesio 2007). This deal, however, hinges on further public input and Alberta Environment's approval of this water allocation licence transfer—the first in the Calgary area watershed.

Living within the limits of the watershed: water for the mega- entertainment complex may now come from the Bow River

JUL 18, 2007

A newly proposed deal may resolve a major controversy over piping water from the Red Deer river basin to the Bow River basin. Following Drumheller's recent refusal to allow use of its water intake and infrastructure from the Red Deer River for a mega-entertainment complex located in the Bow River basin, a deal emerged with the Western Irrigation District (WID) who draws water from the Bow River. The WID is now offering to sell a portion of its water allocation — about 2000 acre-feet per year — for $15 million. The money will enable the irrigation district to convert 50 km of their open canal system to pipelines. But the deal must first be approved by WID members.

Drumheller says no to supplying water to the Balzac development

APR 20, 2007

A controversial proposal to pipe water from the Red Deer to a development in the Bow River basin has run into a major stumbling block. On April 3, 2007, Town of Drumheller Council denied Municipal District of Rocky View's request to use Drumheller's water intake structure and works to withdraw water from the Red Deer River that would supply the United Horsemen's new development near Balzac, a few miles north of Calgary. The vote was unanimous. This decision places a significant, if not fatal, obstacle in front of the development already under construction. If Alberta Environment decides to approve the MD of Rocky View's licence application, the development will still be without a full water supply. Only if Rocky View finds another water intake from Red Deer (e.g., near Innisfail), or if it renegotiates with the City of Calgary, will the development be viable.

sort by title • sort by date — previous 20 • top • next 20