Water News
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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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‘Significant rain’ in Hay River, N.W.T., expected to reduce fire activity for next 2 days
CBC News
Significant rainfall and favourable winds are expected to reduce the fire risk around Hay River, N.W.T. for the next few days. After two days of gusting winds and heat that whipped up the wildfire burning around the community, rain began to fall in Hay River Saturday night. N.W.T. Fire said Sunday around 8 p.m. that about 20 millimetres of rain fell in the last 24 hours. Click here to continue reading
Crews battling Okanagan fires are in it for the ‘long haul’ as heat, drought continue: wildfire service
CBC News
British Columbia’s wildfire service says fire activity could pick up in the Okanagan Valley in the short term and crews are preparing for a “long haul” to contain the destructive McDougall Creek blaze amid ongoing dry, warm weather. Click here to continue reading
WSA launching infrastructure crossing replacement program
Water Canada
The Water Security Agency (WSA) is launching a new $500,000 cost-sharing pilot program that will assist rural municipalities (RMs) and irrigation districts with the cost of replacing aging infrastructure. RMs and irrigation districts replacing infrastructure like bridges or culverts that cross WSA channels are eligible for 50/50 cost sharing. Click here to continue reading
Compare and contrast: Why the UK government is relaxing rules for river pollution
The Conversation UK
The UK government has announced plans to enable the delivery of 100,000 new homes by 2030 that are currently being held up by a controversial EU law designed to protect water bodies from pollution. To re-start many of those stalled applications, the government is proposing an amendment to the law. Click here to continue reading
Compare and contrast: As the Mississippi Swerves, Can We Let Nature Regain Control?
Yale Environment 360
After the lower Mississippi began pouring through and enlarging Neptune Pass in 2019, sediment began flowing into a sand-and-silt-starved Delta bay. Now the Army Corps of Engineers — breaking with tradition — is considering letting at least part of the river have its way. Click here to continue reading
Compare and Contrast: El Nino should benefit South American crops
The Western Producer
South American crop production should benefit from the El Nino weather phenomenon that is expected to be in place through the northern hemisphere winter, says an analyst. It will be a welcome reprieve from three consecutive years of La Nina, especially in Argentina, which is still recovering from the worst drought in 60 years. Argentina’s corn production fell 31 percent year-on-year in 2022-23, while its soybean output plummeted 43 percent. Both crops are expected to rebound in 2023-24. Click here to continue reading
Coastal fisheries show surprising resilience to marine heat waves
Science Daily
New research found that marine heat waves — prolonged periods of unusually warm ocean temperatures — haven’t had a lasting effect on the fish communities that feed most of the world. The finding is in stark contrast to the devastating effects seen on other marine ecosystems cataloged by scientists after similar periods of warming, including widespread coral bleaching and harmful algal blooms. Click here to continue reading
Compare and Contrast: Residents return to find homes gone, towns devastated in path of Idalia
CTV News
Hurricanes and tropical storms are nothing new in the U.S. South, but the sheer magnitude of damage from Idalia shocked Desmond Roberson as he toured what as left of his Georgia neighbourhood. Roberson took a drive through Valdosta on Thursday with a friend to check out damage after the storm, which first hit Florida as a hurricane and then weakened into a tropical storm as it made its way north, ripped through the town of 55,000. Click here to continue reading
Himalayan avalanches are increasing risk for climbers in warming climate
The Guardian
Avalanches in the Himalayas are causing an increasing number of deaths and threatening the safety of climbers, research suggests. While high-altitude mountaineering comes with an inherent avalanche risk, global heating is exacerbating the danger during the climbing season in the Himalayan mountain range, experts warn. Click here to continue reading
Saskatchewan communities can now apply for Flood Damage Reduction Program
Water Canada
The Water Security Agency (WSA) is offering a cost-sharing rebate to help communities implement proactive flood damage prevention and reduction measures. The Flood Damage Reduction Program (FDRP) supports cities, towns, villages and hamlets at risk of recurrent flood damage. Click here to continue reading