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Open Letter: Water for Alberta's Rivers

OCT 13, 2011

Pembina and Water Matters React: Noncompliance with tailings directive 074 a growing concern

PRESS RELEASE

By WATER MATTERS AND PEMBINA INSTITUTE — AUG 11, 2010

CALGARY, ALBERTA — Simon Dyer, oil sands program director for the Pembina Institute, and Joe Obad, associate director of Water Matters, responded to today's announcement that the Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB) has approved Imperial Oil’s Kearl oil sands tailings plan.

2009 Federal Oil Sands Hearing Testimony

By WATER MATTERS — JUN 8, 2009

A summary of testimony and committee information for the House of Commons Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development hearings on Oil Sands Development.

A different perspective on proposals to expand Alberta’s water market

By WATER MATTERS — DEC 9, 2009

Our review and analysis of the Minister's Advisory Group's (MAG) Recommendations for Improving Alberta's Water Management and Allocation.

A Nervous Summer for the Land-Use Framework - You Can Help

By WATER MATTERS — AUG 3, 2011

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.

A stronger role for the federal government in the oil sands?

By WATER MATTERS — JUN 9, 2009

The impact of oil sands development on water and people reaches beyond Alberta’s borders. This message was delivered from non-governmental organizations, First Nations, and experts again and again to the House of Commons’ Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development during its fact-finding trip through Alberta this May.

Act Now to Protect the Bow River and Protected Areas in the Bow Valley

MAR 16, 2007

Albertans who care about protecting the Bow River, its aquatic ecosystems, and Bow Valley natural areas still have the opportunity to weigh in on the proposed Horseshoe Lands development at the extended public hearing on April 12, 2007 at 7 pm at the Exshaw Community Hall. Or contact politicians now and oppose the development until water availability and wastewater removal options are fully evaluated. Water decisions need to come before land decisions.

Advocate for safe drinking water: Roxanne Walsh

By WATER MATTERS — APR 4, 2009

Roxanne Walsh did not move to Turner Valley to be a water advocate. But moving to Turner Valley has made her one. A dedicated and articulate citizen, Roxanne has worked to protect the town's drinking water from the legacy of early oil and gas production.

Cumulative effects plan acknowledges problem, but comes up short on a specific solution

By WATER MATTERS — AUG 5, 2008

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.

Alberta land-use planning legislation introduced

By WATER MATTERS — MAY 14, 2009

The Alberta government tabled the Alberta Land Stewardship Act (ALSA), Bill 36 to implement Alberta's Land-use Framework. The proposed bill empowers the provincial government with new powers to guide regional land-use planning — a step away from conflicting decision-making bodies and the dominance of municipal planning on the landscape. ALSA in its current form is long on potential but short on actual commitment to manage the cumulative impacts of development.

Alberta Water Council recommends a new wetlands policy for Alberta

By WATER MATTERS — OCT 3, 2008

After three years of consultation and negotiation, the Alberta Water Council has submitted to the Government of Alberta its recommendations for Alberta's new wetland policy and implementation plan. This policy, once accepted by Alberta's government, will be a first for Alberta. In contrast to current wetland policy, which applies only to the "white" or settled areas of the province, the new policy will guide decisions on wetland destruction and wetland protection over the entire province, including the oil sands region.

Alberta's move to ban weed and feed from stores is good for watershed health

By WATER MATTERS — DEC 11, 2008

On November 13, 2008 Government of Alberta announced it would ban sales of what is known as "weed and feed" from stores.

Alberta's Urban Municipalities Set to Increase Water Conservation Efforts

By WATER MATTERS — JUL 24, 2009

As summer brings greater pressures on water use, Alberta communities are doing more to increase water conservation, through individual measures and comprehensive planning.

Albertans, not industry, will pay for lost wetlands – leaked policy document

PRESS RELEASE

By WATER MATTERS — APR 21, 2010

A leaked draft wetlands policy appears to betray the finding of a consensus of stakeholders invited by Alberta Environment to develop wetlands policy recommendations.

Alberta’s groundwater risk assessment – filling in the gap

By WATER MATTERS — FEB 11, 2010

A report from Alberta Environment, Groundwater Risk Assessment for Alberta (2008), suggests that a lack of knowledge about groundwater hampers the provincial government's ability to address water allocation issues and that some southern municipalities could be at risk for groundwater supply.

ALSA Closer to the Mark, but Bill 10 Still Needs Work

By JOE OBAD, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR — MAR 22, 2011

There has been mixed reaction to Bill 10, legislation that seeks to amend the 2009 Alberta Land Stewardship Act (ALSA). Water Matters believes Bill 10 is a step in the right direction, but the Alberta government should be mindful of the limits of its own imagination and reach out to the Alberta public to ensure that it changes ALSA for the better.

Another delay for the Wetlands Policy

By WATER MATTERS — DEC 9, 2009

Alberta Environment's new timeline for the completion of a province-wide policy to protect wetlands would delay its adoption and implementation until 2012. The original date for completion of the policy under the Water for Life strategy was 2007.

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).

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.

Battling gravel goliaths

By WATER MATTERS — FEB 11, 2010

Local citizens defend their community against the impacts of gravel mining on their watershed.

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