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Bottled Water - not all it's cracked up to be

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).

Bow Basin Watershed Management Plan, Phase One: Surface Water Quality

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.

"Business as Usual" in southern foothills leads to slow but steady environmental degradation

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.

Buying and Selling Alberta's Water - To Whom, For What, and How Much?

By DANIELLE DROITSCH AND MEGHAN BEVERIDGE FOR AWA'S WILD LANDS ADVOCATE MAGAZINE — MAR 13, 2009

The February 2009 issue of AWA's Wild Lands Advocate magazine includes an article by Danielle Droitsch and Meghan Beveridge (both of Water Matters). The article examines Alberta's water rights transfer system and the shortfalls for Alberta's south — a region that is running dry. The article examines water trusts and other licensing systems that can help ensure that the environment retains a sufficient share of river flows.

Calling for water security for Prairie waters: Mixed reviews for Alberta

By WATER MATTERS — APR 6, 2009

Twenty-five organizations representing thousands of citizens from Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba recently released a vision for water in the Prairie Water Directive. The report conducted an assessment of each of the three Prairie Provinces and the federal government in a number of different areas.

CBC Radio: Discussing Water Management in Okotoks

JAN 9, 2007

The Town of Okotoks depends on the Sheep River for its water. Faced with a growing population, and limited water supply, the town took the progressive move to cap population growth, and live sustainably within its environmental realities.

CBC's The Current interviews our Executive Director on water rights trading

By WATER MATTERS — OCT 3, 2008

Hear CBC The Current's take of the Bow River with Danielle Droitsch, Water Matters' Executive Director.

Citizens issue call for greater water security across Canadian Prairies

By PRAIRIEWATERWATCH.CA — MAR 18, 2009

In recognition of World Water Day, 25 non-profit organizations, community groups, and water experts have joined together to challenge governments to ramp up water protection measures across the Prairie Provinces.

Climate change: How will it affect the Bow River?

APR 24, 2008

Climate change has hit mainstream media, even in Alberta. While sceptics may abound, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in its fourth assessment of the latest climate change-related literature expressed "very high confidence [a confidence rating of 9 out of 10 times] that the globally averaged net effect of human activities since 1750 has been one of warming" (IPCC 2007, 3). Many of us do believe it's happening, but do we understand how it will affect us—and our water sources? Do we understand that the state of our water cycle could drastically change, and is arguably changing already? Recent reports and a recent conference suggest how we might be affected and how we could proceed to improve our situation.

Commercial car washing facilities: Your decision can save water and helps the Bow River!

FEB 8, 2007

In the middle of winter, many of us find ourselves at the local car wash to rinse the grime and salt off our cars. Did you know that washing your car at a commercial car wash has less environmental impact than washing your car in your driveway? You will save more water and minimize the polluted water from washing the car at a commercial car washing facility.

Concerned about pesticides and live in Calgary?

AUG 21, 2007

Look up the Coalition for a Healthy Calgary. This is a new non-profit organization that is asking Calgary City Council to pass a bylaw in 2008 to phase out the use of unnecessary pesticides on private and public lands in Calgary. They're making this an election issue for the upcoming Municipal election in October 2007. Visit their website for how to take action to advocate phasing out pesticide use and for more information about the harms of pesticides and natural landscaping techniques and resources.

Concerns aired over dry conditions

MEDIA COVERAGE

By BILL KAUFMANN, CALGARY SUN — MAR 13, 2010

Conservation Leadership by Local Governments

JAN 19, 2007

We all have a role to play when it comes to water conservation in the Bow River basin and the local governments are no exception. Increasingly, municipalities are adopting innovative approaches to conserving water. For example, Calgary Transit recycles 95 percent of the water used to wash their buses - an annual water savings of approximately 2.2 million litres.

Controversy over oil and gas development in eastern slopes continues

By WATER MATTERS — DEC 11, 2008

The Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB) is currently in the midst of deciding on whether to allow two Petro-Canada pipelines to be built through a relatively pristine area of the southeastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains.

Cumulative effects management: Industrial Heartland Water Management Framework

By WATER MATTERS — AUG 5, 2008

Last December, the Government of Alberta released the Water Management Framework for the Industrial Heartland and Capital Region. On the premise that "ample capacity exists in the North Saskatchewan River to support a healthy industry and growing population" this integrated water management plan is meant to manage industrial use of water, and water quality and quantity issues on the North Saskatchewan River in this area slated for significant industrial growth (AENV 2007, 13 and 4). This plan acknowledges the cumulative impact on the watershed that this industrial growth will have, but it offers few specific and immediate solutions.

Diversions and brokering: A glimpse into Alberta's water future?

APR 24, 2008

A proposal to sell off vast quantities of Alberta's diminishing water resources — the first of its kind in Canada — and massive diversions between river basins pose a major threat to Alberta's remaining supplies of fresh water, according to a report published April 22, Earth Day, by two respected environmental organizations.

Draft land-use plan for Calgary region unveiled

By WATER MATTERS — APR 6, 2009

The Calgary Regional Partnership (CRP) draft land-use plan could have long-term ramifications for source water protection in the City of Calgary and across its surrounding region. The draft plan could represent a sea change in land-use direction for the Calgary area.

Drink Creemore Springs Lager at the Ship and Anchor for the month of August and contribute to the Bow!

By WATER MATTERS — AUG 5, 2008

For the month of August at the Ship and Anchor in Calgary, purchase a pint of Creemore Springs Premium Lager and contribute a dollar toward healthy water in Alberta. For each pint of Creemore sold, Creemore Springs Brewery and The Ship and Anchor will each donate 50 cents to Water Matters.

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.

Eco-friendly Recreation

JUL 30, 2007

Every summer recreationalists take to the outdoors for the pure pleasure of connecting with the environment. Over time, the cumulative impact of recreational activities can significantly impact aquatic ecosystems. Fish, birds, plants and other forms of aquatic life require a balance of nutrients, oxygen and clean water to survive. Even small quantities of toxic products and disruption of vegetation and watercourses can upset this balance.

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