Water News
Alberta Water News is a free, subscription-based service that provides the latest information on water news across Alberta and upcoming events.
The news is distributed weekly on Mondays via a collated email and Monday to Friday via WaterPortal social media (Twitter).
Subscribe here for the free service, or follow the WaterPortal on your preferred social media platform.
Real-time flood plain mapping for improved forecasting
Water Canada
The International Lake Champlain-Richelieu River Study Board (Study Board) has published a new technical report, Development of a Binational Flood Forecasting and Real-time Flood Plain Mapping System for Operational Implementation as part of its multi-year study into finding solutions to flooding in the Lake Champlain-Richelieu River (LCRR) basin. Click here to continue reading
Water Security Agency invests in new weather and soil monitoring stations
Water Canada
The Water Security Agency (WSA) has invested nearly $600,000 in new weather and soil monitoring stations in a dozen locations across the province. Starting in fall 2021, with the cooperation of local landowners, and in partnership with the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA), WSA installed twelve weather stations in areas where gaps in data gathering networks exist. Click here to continue reading
Nature Conservancy of Canada expands freshwater wetlands in Nova Scotia
Water Canada
The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is announcing the expansion of an important private land conservation area in southcentral Nova Scotia. The not-for-profit conservation organization has purchased 51 hectares of intact forest, freshwater wetlands, lakes and a one-kilometre section of river frontage along the Musquodoboit River. The new parcel of land brings NCC’s conservation area to 317 hectares in the Musquodoboit River Valley. Click here to continue reading
Bi-national Circular Great Lakes strategy and action plan released by CGLR
Water Canada
The Council of the Great Lakes Region (CGLR), as part of its Circular Great Lakes initiative, released an innovative five-year circular economy strategy and action plan for plastics. The organization worked in collaboration with a number of corporate stakeholders in the plastics value chain as well as government, academic, and NGO partners to develop the plan. The aim is to forge a future without plastic packaging waste and litter in the bi-national Great Lakes region, the engine of the North American economy and guardian of the largest freshwater system in the world. Click here to continue reading
Eddy Smart Home Solutions Ltd. and Tridel partner for water control in the Well
Water Canada
Eddy’s system protects the project with a comprehensive system of real-time monitoring, smart sensors, and remote and automatic shutoffs that identify and action issues from the construction phase when the water is first initiated and extended to all functioning areas of the finalized building post-occupancy, including the risers, hydronics, in-suite, and common areas. The system will be installed in Well C, D, and E in Tridel’s project, and all ongoing projects in the GTA. Click here to continue reading
Investment in upgrades to water and wastewater infrastructure for Sussex and Riverside-Albert
Water Canada
More than $1.8 million has been announced by three levels of government for upgrades to water and wastewater infrastructure in Sussex and Riverside-Albert. The installation of a new wastewater pumping station in Sussex will replace aging infrastructure and improve the community’s ability to treat and manage wastewater. Click here to continue reading
B.C. flood victims fear losing their homes — again — after Red Cross unexpectedly ends support
CBC News
The provincial and federal governments have been working with the Red Cross to provide personalized recovery support for flood relief, including interim housing and basic needs assistance. While the Red Cross says it has supported thousands of flood victims, struggling residents are calling for more flexibility in financial support and better communication for victims of natural disasters. Click here to continue reading
Data Meets Action: The Riparian Web Portal
Water Canada
In 2002, Alberta farmer Don Ruzicka was facing the worst drought in recent history. Fortunately, five years earlier, Ruzicka had worked with Ducks Unlimited Canada to restore a wetland on his property which was now functioning as a natural reservoir to retain water. As the drought worsened, his neighbours whose man-made dugouts had dried-up, asked if they could use water from Ruzicka’s still-saturated wetland. Click here to continue reading
Compare and Contrast: Kenya devises coral reef nurseries to restore dying coral
Canada’s National Observer
Minutes away from the Kenyan mainland, the densely forested island of Wasini is one of several starting lines for coral reef restoration efforts in the western Indian Ocean. On a rare calm day during the normally turbulent monsoon season, four divers, carrying measuring equipment, shoes and toothbrushes descended in turns to the sea−bed reef restoration site on the Shimoni channel. Click here to continue reading
Compare and Contrast: California’s largest reservoirs at critically low levels – signaling a dry summer ahead
The Guardian
California’s two largest reservoirs are at critically low levels, signaling that the state, like much of the US west, can expect a searing, dry summer ahead. This week, officials confirmed that Lake Oroville, the state’s second-largest reservoir, was at just 55% of its total capacity when it reached its highest level for the year last month. Meanwhile, Shasta Lake, California’s largest reservoir, was at 40% capacity last month – after the state endured its driest start to a year since the late 19th century. Click here to continue reading