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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Saskatchewan government to offer $70 million to help drought-stricken producers
Ponoka News
The funds are to provide farmers with up to $80 per head to maintain breeding stock for beef cattle, bison, elk, deer, sheep and goats. The money was triggered through AgriRecovery, a federal-provincial framework that’s used to help producers recover from natural disasters, like drought. Click here to continue reading
Calgary sees ‘noticeable decrease’ in water use amid restrictions: city
Global News
A week into restrictions imposed by the City of Calgary on outdoor water use, city officials are noting a “noticeable decrease” in water demand. According to the city’s water services department, Calgarians reduced their daily water use between 57 million and 87 million litres during the hot and dry days following the declaration of Stage 1 outdoor water restrictions. Click here to continue reading
Compare and Contrast: Japan set to release water from Fukushima nuclear power plant into ocean later this week
CBC News
Japan said on Tuesday it will start releasing radioactive water from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant on Aug. 24, putting into motion a plan that has drawn strong criticism from China. The plan, approved two years ago by the Japanese government as crucial to decommissioning the plant operated by Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco), has also faced criticism from local fishing groups, who fear reputational damage and a threat to their livelihood. Click here to continue reading
Compare and Contrast: Water harvesting in Death Valley: Conquering the arid wilderness
Science Daily
Death Valley desert represents one of the world’s hottest and most arid regions. With persistently elevated temperatures reaching 40 degrees even at midnight, soaring to a scorching 57 degrees during day, and a relative humidity below 7%, the area experiences exceptionally dry conditions. Click here to continue reading
Why beaver-like dams can protect communities from flooding – new research
The Conversation – UK
Low cost, human-made river barriers, similar to those built by beavers, can protect communities at risk of flooding. Our new research has found that such natural barriers intentionally increase water levels upstream to slow down river flow. These flood barriers are made of materials like logs, branches, mud and leaves. They reduce downstream water levels by deliberately blocking the river and storing the water. They then slow down the river flow during a storm. Click here to continue reading
Compare and Contrast: ‘Escaping PFAS is nearly impossible’: Nearly half of US tap water tainted with forever chemicals
Euro News
Almost half of America’s tap water could contain toxic ‘forever chemicals’ known as PFAS, according to government data. Testing by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revealed that water for as many as 26 million people in hundreds of communities across the country had measurable levels of PFAS. Click here to continue reading
Blue-green algae advisory issued for Pigeon and Wizard lakes
Global News
Health advisories have been issued for two popular lakes in the Edmonton region. Alberta Health Services issued blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) advisories for both Wizard Lake and nearby Pigeon Lake, both located south of Edmonton in Leduc County and County of Wetaskiwin. Click here to continue reading
Marmot Basin sees August snowfall
CTV News
While central and north-central Alberta are soggy, it’s snowing hard at higher levels through the mountains near Jasper. Marmot Basin webcams from Friday afternoon show several centimetres of snow accumulation on the upper mountain and although there’s not much snow on the ground mid-mountain, snowflakes are falling. Click here to continue reading
Compare and Contrast: Hurricane Hilary threatens ‘catastrophic’ flooding in Mexico and California, now in a state of emergency
CBC News
Hurricane Hilary roared toward Mexico’s Baja California peninsula late Saturday as a downgraded but still dangerous Category 1 hurricane likely to bring “catastrophic” flooding to the region and cross into the southwestern U.S. as a tropical storm. Click here to continue reading
Dwindling water supply leaves some southern Alberta farmers dry
CBC News
Record-breaking high temperatures across southern Alberta, a lack of rain and evaporation in reservoirs have led to more than 30 water shortage advisories across the province. Farmers, ranchers, rural municipalities, cities, towns and villages have been told to cut back on water use. Click here to continue reading