Let's stop wasting water before shortages force us to

Let's stop wasting water before shortages force us to

by Karin Klassen, for the Calgary Herald, July 27, 2015 

One can’t help but notice, in this particularly hot, spectacular summer in Calgary, how water shortages are wreaking havoc on communities elsewhere. 

“Ugly year leaves many crops dying and left dead in fields,” reads one B.C. headline, where parched forests are tinder to lightning fires that are ravaging the province. “Dry conditions bring need to conserve but also lead to much finger pointing,” reads another, where signs of green lawns pit whistle-blowing neighbour against water-ban-shirking, garden-greedy neighbour in Vancouver. 

And then there’s California. When it gets bad, it gets bad fast.

So how does the water supply fare in Calgary? Is this imminent? Is there something we should be doing to avoid this fate? 

We can answer these questions with some degree of certainty, thanks to an unlikely soothsayer.

Read more: bit.ly/1U3lzus

Conservationist calls on province to manage eastern slopes for water

A young female grizzly feeds near the Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Course in Banff National Park on June 11, 2014.
Photo, Leah Hennel / Calgary Herald

Conservationist calls on province to manage eastern slopes for water

by Colette Derworiz, Calgary Herald, Feb 25, 2015

Alberta needs to stop managing the Eastern Slopes of the Rockies for timber and start managing the landscape for water, says a well-known local conservationist, biologist and author, noting it would also improve the habitat for grizzly bears.

Kevin Van Tighem, who retired as superintendent of Banff National Park in 2011, will speak Friday night at Wild Soiree: Bears & Water, hosted by the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society in Calgary.

 Read more here: http://bit.ly/1ESpqCH

“Re-fresh: The Confluence of Ideas & Opportunities on Water Reuse"

“Re-fresh: The Confluence of Ideas & Opportunities on Water Reuse" - Calgary June 25/26, 2014

Early-bird pricing ends on May 9th.

Details & Registration here: http://bit.ly/1mvxh48

Water Docs International Film Festival - Mar 21-29, 2014

Water Docs International Film Festival - Mar 21-29, 2014

The Water Docs Film Festival is presented by Ecologos and showcases documentary films from around the world. Come to see feature-length and short films about all things water, screened with guest speakers and directors who inspire discussion and debate. Taking place in downtown Toronto March 21-29, Water Docs is a film festival that entertains, informs and educates about water issues -- always with the aim to provide a channel for action.

http://ecologos.ca/waterdocs/

Why Wilderness and Water Protection Matter

“Why Wilderness and Water Protection Matter --
and how are we doing in southern Alberta?” - Feb 25, 2014

Featuring Brittany Verbeek and Carolyn Campbell,
Conservation Specialists

Tuesday Feb 25 2014
7:30 pm
Scandinavian Centre, 739 20 Ave, N.W.
Non-members, $10, members, free
http://www.apeironsociety.org/

Increased fracking sparks fear of water use, pollution

Image, courtesy National Energy Board

Increased fracking sparks fear of water use, pollution

by Stephen Ewart, Calgary Herald, Friday, February 07, 2014

.... "It's increasing on a dramatic scale without any understanding of what the potential consequences will be," [Mason] said.

The licences potentially amount to more than 17 million cubic metres of fresh water that would be used in a province with longstanding drought concerns in its southern regions. It would equal almost half of the fresh water used for conventional oil and gas production in Western Canada in 2012.

Including the oilsands, overall fresh water consumption by the industry was 244 million cubic metres.

Oil and gas activity accounts for about 10 per cent of water used in Alberta - farming is allocated more than 40 per cent - but much of the water industry pumps deep underground is effectively lost to human use forever....

Read article here: http://bit.ly/1aSTZh5

Calgary Run for Water - (Sept 07, 2013)

Calgary Run for Water - (Sept 07, 2013)

http://calgary.runforwater.ca/

Calgary’s Run for Water is more than a run. Over two years participants have raised $125,000 for clean water projects in Ethiopia through participation in our 10K and 5K walk/run and our Learn program.

This event brings together a diverse group of individuals, families and schools to actively assist in creating solutions to the world water crisis.

Ewart: What took pipeline safety report so long?

Stephen Ewart is the Calgary Herald's Energy and Economics editor and columnist. 
Photograph by: Gavin Young, Calgary Herald

Ewart: What took pipeline safety report so long?

By Stephen Ewart, Calgary Herald columnist August 24, 2013

"One of the priorities is to define what constitutes a body of water - seriously.

They've been regulating oil and gas development in Alberta for 75 years, there is 400,000 kilometres of pipelines in the province that cross under tens of thousands of water courses that swell each spring with snow melt and rain and yet they can't define one of the industry's "high-risk, high-consequence" geographical challenges. It would seem to confirm there are still a lot of unknowns about pipeline safety."

Read entire article here: http://bit.ly/14zquMg

The ‘Wild West’ of groundwater: Billion-dollar Nestlé extracting B.C.’s drinking water for free

Sheila Muxlow, pictured outside Nestle's bottling plant near Hope on Aug. 12, 2013, has concerns about Nestle withdrawing millions of litres of water without payment. Photograph by: Wayne Leidenfrost , PNG

The ‘Wild West’ of groundwater: Billion-dollar Nestlé extracting B.C.’s drinking water for free

Nestlé Waters Canada takes 265 million litres a year of fresh water from a Fraser Valley well

By Dan Fumano, The Province August 14, 2013

The price of a litre of bottled water in B.C. is often higher than a litre of gasoline.

However, the price paid by the world’s largest bottled water company for taking 265 million litres of fresh water every year from a well in the Fraser Valley — not a cent.

Read article here: http://bit.ly/17N11vW

4 Year Old's Bucket List

4 Year Old's Bucket List

WaterIsLife.com
http://www.waterislife.com/

Water, Water Everywhere! - Exploring Engineered Wetlands (July 30)

Courtesy, Friends of Fish Creek

Water, Water Everywhere! - Exploring Engineered Wetlands (July 30)

Catch aquatic critters and learn about the important function of engineered wetlands.

Environmental Education Coordinator Roland Kirzinger leads the tour and will answer all your questions!

Friends of Fish Creek Provincial Park Society
http://friendsoffishcreek.org/

Location Fish Creek Environmental Learning Centre

Ticket/Registration Pre-registration is required, as there is limited space. Please call 403-297-7927 or email Roland.Kirzinger@gov.ab.ca

Date Jul 30, 2013 @ 07:00 PM

Fee $2.00 suggested donation

Rivers to Oceans Week (June 9-15)

Rivers to Oceans Week (June 9-15)

This special week is an opportunity to work together to create an understanding of Canada's watersheds, our connection to fresh- and salt-water environments and what everyone can do to protect and keep watersheds healthy for people and wildlife.

Learn more here: http://bit.ly/17SD2Bp (Take a moment to hover your mouse over the animated infographic at the top of the page.)

"CWF makes ocean health a freshwater issue during Rivers to Oceans Week" - OTTAWA, June 4, 2013 /CNW/ http://bit.ly/15E6yXm

Canadian Environment Week June 2-8, 2013

Canadian Environment Week June 2-8, 2013

Albertans Celebrate Environment Week: http://bit.ly/IdyGZM

Bowmont Park project to enhance urban oasis, cut pollution to Bow River

Judi Vandenbrink of the Silver Springs Community Association says the city’s proposal for the Bowmont Park Natural Area will “bring back the ecological integrity of the area.” Photograph by: Tijana Martin , Calgary Herald

Bowmont Park project to enhance urban oasis, cut pollution to Bow River

By Eva Ferguson, Calgary Herald May 24, 2013

“We have a world-class trout fishery, yet we are putting all this pollution into the river and it needs to stop,” said Chris Manderson, natural area management lead with the city’s parks department.

Read story here: http://bit.ly/132RpMQ

Bowmont Park Improvement Project (Provide Input): http://bit.ly/Ke5fRF

Take survey here: http://bit.ly/18tddER

Ottawa to fund $5M study of effects of climate change on western Canadian rivers

John Pomeroy, Canada research chair in water resources and climate change, said research into Western Canada’s river systems is especially important as Alberta aims to prove it is developing the oilsands responsibly. “It makes sense for Canada to be investing in this,” he said. Photograph by: Calgary Herald/Files, Calgary Herald

Ottawa to fund $5M study of effects of climate change on western Canadian rivers

By Colette Derworiz, Calgary Herald May 24, 2013

From the Rockies to the Prairies and the Arctic to the United States border, a $5 million investment will allow scientists to study Western Canada’s major river systems and how they are affected by climate change.

John Pomeroy, a professor at the U of S who conducts research out of the Marmot Creek Research Basin in Kananaskis Country, said the federal funding will have a tremendous impact across the Prairies.

“It provides some good core funding for the next five years for myself and a number of other people who are working in the Rockies, from Kananaskis right up into the icefields,” he said. “We’ll be looking at the impact of snowpack and changing glaciers and changing forest cover — which are all shifting in response to the changing climate — on our water supply.”

Read more here: http://bit.ly/19a7Njl

International Day for Biological Diversity - May 22

International Day for Biological Diversity

Water Matters (Alberta) writes: "Today is International Biodiversity Day, May 22nd, let's make sure aquatic habitat is preserved for some very sensitive species."

http://www.saveoursara.ca/

May 20-26 is Drinking Water Week.

May 20-26 is Drinking Water Week.

Make a pledge with other Canadians to save water in 2013!

http://www.drinkingwaterweek.org/challenge

China's Water Woes

Photo: A villager carries buckets of water from a white polluted stream which is used for his daily drinking water, in Dongchuan district of Kunming, Yunnan province. (Reuters/Stringer)

China's Water Woes

The Current/CBC May 10 2013

China's thirsty in its search for reliable aqua pura. Its farms and factories demand more, so Beijing seeks more control over its lakes and streams.

And that's bringing it into conflict with neighbouring countries that rely on waters that flow through China.

LISTEN HERE: http://bit.ly/197V8KP

Walk 4Water a success for double amputee

Spencer West, centre, is joined by friends David Johnson, left, and Alex Meers, along with students from Mountain Park School at the closing celebration for Free The Children’s We Walk 4Water campaign on Thursday. Photograph by: Stuart Gradon , Calgary Herald

Spencer West completes gruelling journey to raise funds for clean water

Walk 4Water a success for double amputee

By Tamara Gignac, Calgary Herald May 16, 2013

CALGARY — After 11 gruelling days and 300 kilometres of unforgiving Alberta highway, a jubilant but exhausted Spencer West crossed the finish line on his hands Thursday amid the cheers of Calgary schoolchildren.

READ MORE HERE: http://bit.ly/18U3bxB

Today along the Bow River - May 2013

All photos, Copyright Bow River Shuttles All rights reserved 2013

Surveying the water at midday
 
Today's High 17 °C , mostly cloudy, wind avg 8 max 15, Bow River at Calgary flow 125 cms.

Getting in some rescue practice prior to the May Long Weekend?