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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Medicine River water sampling project underway
Red Deer Advocate
Water sampling has begun to get to the bottom of Medicine River’s distinctive brown colour and to assess its health. Medicine River Watershed Society recently received a $4,250 watershed stewardship grant to help fund the project and presentations to show the public the results later in the year. Click here to continue reading
Experts express concerns over less rainfall, early snowmelt in Alberta
CBC News
As Alberta continues to fight wildfires and deal with extreme heat warnings, climate experts are wondering what the next few months will look like for the province in terms of adequate water supply. Click here to continue reading
From hoses and shovels to water bombers: how wildfires are being fought across Canada
CTV News
The techniques used to put out the wildfires that are burning across Canada vary somewhat depending on geography, but ultimately they depend on people on the ground with hoses and shovels digging out hot spots one by one, experts say. As of midday Thursday, there were 430 fires burning across Canada, including 235 that were out of control, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. Click here to continue reading
Vancouver Island road closed, campfire bans, as drought raises wildfire risks in B.C.
Sylvan Lake News
A small but aggressive wildfire on Vancouver Island is burning beside the only major highway linking Port Alberni, Tofino and Ucluelet to the rest of British Columbia. The route is closed until further notice as the nearly one-square-kilometre blaze spreads in steep terrain south of Cameron Lake, not far from Cathedral Grove, home to some of Canada’s oldest and tallest trees. Click here to continue reading
In summer, it’s all about thunderstorms
The Western Producer
It’s thunderstorm season, so let’s take a look at the topic. Summer has moved in, so weather discussion across the Prairies turn to one of two topics: drought or thunderstorms. It’s too early to talk about drought, but with heat and humidity moving back into our region, thunderstorms become possible. Click here to continue reading
Compare and Contrast: Dry run: Australia’s ski season kicks off without snow and El Niño may be to blame
The Guardian
Australia’s ski season will start with no skiing, no snowboarding, no snow – and a drying El Niño may be to blame. Due to a “lack of snow,” Thredbo Resort has closed its mountain to skiing and snowboarding this long weekend, a spokesperson said – just as it kicks off its official winter season. Click here to continue reading
Maps show how Kakhovka dam collapse threatens Ukraine’s bread basket
The Guardian
The destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam has led to fears that a depleted reservoir will leave three critical regions in Ukraine’s bread basket without a key water supply. This has led to warnings about the region and wider world’s food supply, with Ukraine accounting for 40% of global trade in sunflower meal, 35% of sunflower oil, and 5% of wheat, barley and corn exports. Click here to continue reading
Largest Estuary Restoration Project on Vancouver Island starts work to revitalize crucial estuarine habitat
Water Canada
The Cowichan Estuary Restoration Project is the largest estuary restoration project to ever occur on Vancouver Island, aiming to restore vitally important estuary habitat and enhance estuary resilience against rising sea-levels. The project will rejuvenate habitat crucial for the survival of key fish and wildlife species, including wild Pacific Salmon, migratory and breeding birds as well as species-at-risk. Click here to continue reading
Compare and Contrast: Wild horse deaths in California sierra show a delicate ecosystem off balance
The Guardian
East of Yosemite national park, Mono Lake is an ancient body of water, home to millions of brine shrimp and waterfowl and providing stunning views. It’s also home to a herd of more than 500 wild horses that began arriving in the area around 2015. This spring, as snow drifts from a record-setting winter storm began to melt, officials were surprised to find the horses turning up dead. Click here to continue reading
Compare and Contrast: Panama Canal water levels are dangerously low because of a massive drought and it could mean bad things for global inflation
Fortune Magazine
If Gatun Lake levels keep falling as forecast, the market reaction will be higher shipping rates and a scramble to find alternative routes from Asia to the US, logistics experts said. The drought also risks undermining the Fed’s battle to get the rate of inflation closer to its 2% target. Click here to continue reading