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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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PRESS RELEASEBy 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.
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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.
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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.
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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).
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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.
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By WATER MATTERS — FEB 11, 2010
Local citizens defend their community against the impacts of gravel mining on their watershed.
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JUN 6, 2007
In May, the City of Calgary Council voted to provide better protection for riparian areas along Calgary's waterways. Riparian zones are areas along waterways and water bodies - the transitional zones between land and water - and are critical to the river's overall health. Specifically, the council voted to increase the zone (called a "setback") along wetlands and streams in the Calgary area from six metres to at least 30 metres - a significant improvement from current guidelines. The guideline affects future decisions to create environmental reserves. It may also prove to be a leading example for other Albertan municipalities, also experiencing urban growth pressures.
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By WATER MATTERS — MAR 3, 2009
Celebrate World Water Day with us! This Arusha Action Event, co-sponsored by Water Matters, Calgary Dollars, Council of Canadians, and Public Interest Alberta, will be showing Blue Gold: World Water Wars on World Water Day. The event will also feature a live satellite link to the World Water Forum in Istanbul, Turkey, an international gathering happening from March 16 to 22 that focuses on resolving global water issues.
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OCT 2, 2007
"There is no good reason for Canadians to buy bottled water". - David SuzukiThere is mounting criticism that bottled water wastes fossil fuels and contributes to global climate change. Around the world, factories are using more than 18 million barrels of oil and up to 130 billion gallons of fresh water a year to create the plastic containers for water (The Sierra Club).
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AUG 21, 2007
The Bow River emerges from glaciers in the Rocky Mountains and many might consider the river's water to be quite pure. Yet, quality concerns persist in the watershed. The Bow River Basin Council (BRBC) aims to improve water quality in the Bow River watershed by setting water quality objectives.
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