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Gordon Water Group releases Blueprint for Federal Action on Freshwater

DEC 10, 2007

A new report released by the Gordon Water Group presents a compelling case for renewed federal action on water. Recent announcements by government supporting the concept of a national water strategy has resulted in valuable, but piecemeal, project announcements, such as $18 million to clean up Lake Winnipeg under the federal Action Plan for Clean Water. Such projects recognize the void left by the federal government's retreat from freshwater protection initiatives over the last two decades. While these projects are sorely needed, they lack comprehensive nation-wide action and leadership necessary to improve Canada's sustainable water management.

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.

Government report explores new dam opportunities for Alberta

By WATER MATTERS — OCT 3, 2008

Alberta Environment, under the auspices of Water for Life, released a report earlier this year to outline potential sites for on-stream and off-stream water storage across Alberta. In other words, where in the province would be good sites to build more dams?

Government System of Land-Use Planning Threatens Ability to Protect Environment

PRESS RELEASE

By WATER MATTERS AND PEMBINA INSTITUTE — APR 16, 2008

The Government of Alberta cannot effectively manage the growing impacts of development on Alberta's natural resources without a new law that considers cumulative impacts and provides tools to manage growth effectively, concludes a report released today by the Pembina Institute and Water Matters.

Green Technologies for Managing Stormwater

SEP 3, 2007

Green stormwater management technologies, designed specifically for managing excess stormwater, have proven to be effective in reducing infrastructure costs and protecting hydrological systems. In urban landscapes, these technologies can be integrated into site design and assist with stormwater management at the site-level.

Groundwater concerns prompts change to nuclear power plant siting

By WATER MATTERS — FEB 4, 2009

Concerns about potential impacts to an aquifer have resulted in a search for a new site for a nuclear power generation project on the Peace River. The Grimshaw Gravels aquifer currently supplies water to farmers, local ranchers, and approximately 30,000 people. Bruce Power has been considering two sites to build a $10 billion nuclear plant with two to four reactors near Peace River to supply up to 4000 megawatts (MW) to power the oil sands industry and local communities (Canadian Press 2008).

Groundwater Use for Residential Geothermal Heating - Approval in the Bow Basin

APR 23, 2008

Groundwater is an increasingly important resource in southern Alberta. Not only is groundwater becoming more important as a water source, but it is also a resource that can supply heat. In January 2008, Alberta Environment issued an "approval" under the Water Act to access the heat energy from groundwater for use in a geothermal heating system at the new Spring Creek Mountain Village development in Canmore. This use of groundwater did not require a water licence; rather it required an "approval" to use the groundwater for its heat and is unlikely to negatively affect the Bow River watershed.

Groundwater use in oil sands "unsustainable" — Natural Resources Canada sponsored report

PRESS RELEASE

By WATER MATTERS — MAY 11, 2009

A national report released today by the Council of Canadian Academies points out that groundwater use in the oil sands region is unsustainable. The report, commissioned by National Resources Canada, focuses on groundwater issues across Canada and evaluates current and emerging issues for groundwater protection. Over 90 percent of rural Albertans rely on groundwater resources.

Heating up in Alberta: new report on Alberta energy production and water use

By WATER MATTERS — MAR 3, 2009

A new report by the Pembina Insitute focuses on Alberta's troublesome relationship with water and energy. While many criticisms of Alberta's energy production and use have focused on greenhouse gas emissions, this report places water as the central issue.

Horseshoe Lands Development is allowed to plan...

OCT 9, 2007

Despite opposition from the environmental community, the Horseshoe Lands Area Structure Plan unanimously passed third reading in the MD of Bighorn Council on September 27, 2007. This is despite having no guaranteed source of water for the full community.

Hot weather gives fish warm water challenges

By WATER MATTERS — SEP 14, 2009

Warm weather brought warm waters this summer, making some rivers and lakes in Alberta lethal, and creating higher potential for fish kills. While lethal water temperatures have certainly occurred in Alberta in past years, climate change is likely to increase the occurrence of these incidents.

How can we rejuvenate Alberta's Water for Life Strategy?

OCT 9, 2007

Alberta's Water for Life Strategy is under review. As part of this review process, a coalition of citizen-based organizations came together and submitted a report to the Alberta Water Council outlining its analysis and review of the strategy. Issues addressed in this report include: funding, protection of drinking water sources, progress made on protecting healthy aquatic ecosystems, watershed planning, shared governance, and water conservation.

How does sewage affect river ecosystems?

JUL 18, 2007

We all know that flooding is a needed event for healthy aquatic ecosystems. But flooding can also lead to negative consequences for rivers — due to human development. In Canmore, Alberta, a combination of events nearly flooded Canmore streets with sewage and required an emergency discharge of raw but diluted sewage into the Bow River for 19 hours from June 8 to 9. While it appears the discharge of sewage to the Bow River was short-lived, there was still a need to warn local citizens of the potential health threat. But we also wanted to know what kind of impact sewage has on river and lake ecosystems and wanted to share this information with you.

How does stormwater affect freshwater ecosystems?

By WATER MATTERS — JUN 9, 2009

Spring brings heavy rains, high river flows, flood warnings, and stormwater which poses considerable risk to water quality at this time of year.

How Much Water Are You Showering Away?

FEB 8, 2007

Brrrrr, it is cold out and there is nothing like a long hot shower to warm you up. But did you know that the shower is guilty of being the second heaviest water user in the house? Without a low-flow shower head, average water flow rates of 15 to 20 litres per minute turn a 5-10 minute shower into a daily event of washing clean water and money down the drain.

How will the Government measure up? A checklist for land-use planning

APR 23, 2008

Last year, government and many others were busy discussing how Albertans should manage their use of land—where, who, how, when, what. After numerous public consultation sessions and the efforts of a number of working groups made up of people from differing interests, the government took this input and pulled together to a Land Use Framework—a document to guide how we make land-use decisions in the future. Where should we allow forestry, roads, oil and gas activities, urban development, and so on, how much, and when?

Human activities cause dwindling numbers of the westslope and bull trout

By WATER MATTERS — JUN 9, 2009

A new report, Improving the Ecological Function of the Upper Bow River: Bow Lake to Kananaskis Dam, challenges the perceived natural state of the Bow River upstream of Kanaskis Dam.

Hydroelectric dam project approved on the Peace River

By WATER MATTERS — FEB 4, 2009

Glacier Power's proposed hydroelectric dam on the Peace River near Fairview, Alberta, received a green light from the Joint Review Panel following a public hearing in late September 2008. The approval was made despite arguments from conservation groups that the environmental impact of the dam would outweigh the benefit of generating a very small amount of electricity estimated to be only 3 percent of the estimated 1310 megawatts (MW) electricity demand in the northwest region during winter months (CEAA 2008b). The Panel approved the project with a series of 21 recommendations in December 2008 reversing an earlier decision in March 2003 to reject the 100 MW run-of-river hydroelectric dam due to concerns about flooding in Peace River and fish migration. Since then, Glacier Power adjusted its proposal and completed additional studies on the Peace River ice regime and the fishery.

Hydropower Legislation Inquiry: Will instream flow needs play a central role?

By JULIA KO, WATER MATTERS — JUN 28, 2010

Alberta's Ministry of Energy did not mention instream flow needs in its March 26^th announcement that the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) would hold an inquiry into laws concerning hydropower generation. But the scope of the inquiry is still being shaped, so there may still be opportunity to place instream flow protections up front where they belong.

In Situ oil sands – get ready for massive water demands in northern and central Alberta

By WILLIAM DONAHUE, WATER MATTERS — AUG 26, 2010

As in situ operations roll out over approximately 140,000 square kilometers that contain oil sands deposits in northern and central Alberta, water use will continue to increase dramatically — with little understanding of effects of oil sands development and upgrading on surface- and groundwaters.

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