Water News
Please note, the daily news can now be found at our new website, waterportal.ca . We will no longer be updating this page, as this website will be removed in the coming weeks. All of our content can be found at our new website, with a modern look and better functionality on all your devices.
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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Early harvest another side effect of drought for many Alberta farmers
CBC News
It’s yet another symptom of the drought conditions plaguing Western Canada this year. The harvest in south and central Alberta is progressing ahead of schedule, according to provincial data, with the crops having matured faster than usual in the hot, dry conditions. Click here to continue reading
Canada’s lakes are becoming less blue — but that could be good for fish
CBC News
If you drive the Icefields Parkway through the Canadian Rockies, you’ll pass multiple turquoise-coloured lakes that are popular with tourists for taking photos. The lakes get their iconic colour from rock flour, which is similar in appearance to baker’s flour used for making bread. Rock flour is made from glaciers grinding rocks into powder, which can take thousands of years. Click here to continue reading
Compare and Contrast: Climate crisis means quarter of European ski resorts face scarce snow
The Guardian
A quarter of European ski resorts will have scarce snow every other year with 2C of global heating, a comprehensive analysis has found. It calls into question whether such resorts have a future as the climate crisis intensifies. Click here to continue reading
Compare and Contrast: Rewetting peatland is good for the climate. Here’s why Europe is very slow at it
Euro News
Rewetting drained land could help in the fight against climate change but the EU’s agricultural subsidies scheme currently favours the use of drained land. Click here to continue reading
Visualizing the Global Population by Water Security Levels
Visual Capitalist
Most of the world’s population today lives in countries facing critical water security issues. Dealing with issues such as declining freshwater availability, demand from growing populations, insufficient infrastructure, or flawed water governance can impact how easily a country’s population can access water. A combination of multiple factors quickly makes problems with water security a lived reality. A recent Global Water Security Report by the United Nations University assessed the water security of different countries across the world. Click here to continue reading
B.C. crop yields up in the air amid drought
The Western Producer
Crops in British Columbia have gone from bad to worse as a grave wildfire situation compounds drought problems. B.C. Premier David Eby called a state of emergency for the entire province last week. B.C.’s Peace Country near the Alberta border, has dealt with fire and drought this year, but cereal, pulse and oilseed crops are being harvested, according to B.C. Grains spokesperson Jennifer Critcher. Click here to continue reading
Return of El Nino and a warmer ocean bring uncertainty
The Western Producer
Weather extremes in recent months have so far had limited impact on global crop production but the prospects for the coming year are uncertain as the world faces the return of El Nino, coupled with exceptionally warm ocean temperatures. El Nino and La Nina are the two ends of the Pacific Ocean oscillation and we know their usual impacts. Click here to continue reading
‘Double-whammy’ of wildfires and low river levels disrupting barge travel to N.W.T. communities
CBC News
Extremely dry conditions in the Northwest Territories is causing havoc both on land and in its waterways. Amidst wildfires that have forced the evacuation of more than two-thirds of the N.W.T.’s residents, low water levels in the Mackenzie River have caused problems for barges that supply fuel and cargo to some northern communities. Click here to continue reading
Brock University researchers analyzing toxic algae blooms in local waterway
Water Canada
A team of Brock researchers is gathering samples at the Wignell Drain in Port Colborne this summer as part of a study on factors contributing to algae blooms, which can be toxic to humans. Vaughn Mangal, Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry, and Kelly Biagi, Assistant Professor in the Department of Earth Sciences, are collaborating with the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (NPCA) and local residents on the project. Click here to continue reading
Compare and Contrast: Indonesia’s tropical Eternity Glaciers could vanish within years, experts say
The Guardian
Two of the world’s few tropical glaciers, in Indonesia, are melting and their ice may vanish by 2026 or sooner as an El Niño weather pattern threatens to accelerate their demise, the country’s geophysics agency has said. Click here to continue reading