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 (X was Twitter). Please note that news will not be distributed on Holiday Mondays and will be released the following Tuesday.
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Extremely dry spring leaves southern Albertan farmers on the road to ‘zero production’
Global News
Crops in southern Alberta that should be green are turning brown. With little to no measurable precipitation since mid-April in areas south of Calgary, some farmers are already predicting crop losses. According to the June 6 Agricultural Moisture Situation update a warm, dry fall and spring has failed to recharge soil moisture leaving many areas facing once in 50-year lows for this time of year. Click here to continue reading
How eDNA technology is changing the game for protecting ocean species
The Guardian
Over the past decade, the use of environmental DNA – known as “eDNA” – to monitor biodiversity has surged. As animals move through their environment, they shed fragments of genetic material: skin cells, waste products and other body fluids. By extracting these minute traces of DNA from samples of water, soil or air, scientists can determine the presence and diversity of species with unprecedented accuracy, providing a snapshot of the intricacies of an ecosystem. Click here to continue reading
Richmond, B.C., unveils west coast’s first river trash skimmer
Water Canada
The City of Richmond is taking its own steps to reduce the amount of waste in waterways with the installation of a new trash skimmer in the Fraser River – the first device of its kind to be installed on the west coast of North America. Click here to continue reading
River Valley Planning Modernization Survey
City of Edmonton
We invite you to share your thoughts and ideas to help the project team REFINE the future program and opportunities for the River Valley. This survey will take 15-20 minutes to complete and will close on July 4 at 11:59pm. Click here to continue reading
Industry knew about risks of PFAS ‘forever chemicals’ for decades before push to restrict them, study says
CBC News
Governments in Canada and the U.S. are now cracking down on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a class of more than 9,000 human-made chemicals produced since the 1940s. They have unique properties that make them heat-resistant, oil- and water-repellent and friction-resistant, and are found in products from cosmetics and take-out boxes to non-stick cookware and fire suppressants. Click here to continue reading
Dam collapse a global problem as waters may poison Black Sea, Zelenskiy says
The Guardian
The Ukrainian president said the flood waters raging through the lower Dnipro River valley brought with them sewage, oil, chemicals and possibly anthrax from animal burial sites. Click here to continue reading
Experts worry about Canadian water bomber expertise with rising demand, aging fleets
The Calgary Herald
Aviation experts say Canada is losing expertise in the manufacturing of water bombers — just as demand for them is increasing. The Canadair CL-415, a purpose-built water bomber, was last produced in 2015. That plane and its predecessor — the CL-215 — are the only water bombers used in Quebec and play major roles in the fleets of other provinces. Click here to continue reading
Volunteers mark World Ocean Day with cleanups
CBC News
World Ocean Day is celebrated every year on June 8. It was first proposed by two Canadian organizations at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, in 1992 as a way to celebrate our shared oceans, and to raise awareness about the important role it plays and how people can help protect it. Take a look at how people are marking the ocean today. Click here to continue reading
Lacombe Lake water levels have become contentious
Red Deer Advocate
Two groups of Lacombe Lake users are at odds over how high the water level should be. In May, representatives of the Lacombe Lake Watershed Stewardship Society came before Lacombe County council with concerns that falling lake levels threaten water quality and will promote algae and weed growth and hurt fish habitats. On Thursday, a group of residents with property on the lake took an opposite stance. They argued the lake is at historically high levels and is destroying the shoreline and killing trees. The water should be lowered at least a foot, they told council. Click here to continue reading
‘Exercise extreme caution’: Lethbridge officials issue summer water safety reminder
Global News
The Oldman River in Lethbridge, Alta., often turns into a popular destination for sun seekers during the hotter months. But as community members take to the water in their swim trunks, on floats or other devices, Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services is advising the importance of safety. Click here to continue reading