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.
Subscribe here for the free service Weekly Newsletter, or follow the WaterPortal on your preferred social media platform.
Funding for SRD ecosystem restoration planning
Water Canada
The Strathcona Regional District (SRD) has received $1,150,052.62 through the 2023 Disaster Risk Reduction / Climate Adaptation grant program to fund five unique ecosystem restoration initiatives. First Nations and local governments throughout the regional district will benefit from funding to help strengthen resilience against climate-related hazards, such as flooding, drought, wildfires and heat. Click here to continue reading
Showers for much of B.C., but evacuation orders, alerts grow in drought-ridden south
Sylvan Lake News
For the first time in more than a month, showers and cooler weather are reaching parched sections of British Columbia, potentially bringing some respite for crews battling hundreds of wildfires. Environment Canada says about 20 millimetres of rain should dampen Vancouver Island and Metro Vancouver. Click here to continue reading
Sask. irrigation interrupted due to concerns over pump
The Western Producer
Pumping capacity from Lake Diefenbaker was restored along Saskatchewan’s main irrigation canal last week after mechanical issues at the Eastside pumping station. Irrigators agreed to not water their crops from about July 7-10, leaving at least 48,000 acres without water, so that the Water Security Agency could fix the problem. Click here to continue reading
Prairie crops in trouble
The Western Producer
Crops in southern and central Alberta and western Saskatchewan are in particularly rough shape because of drought. There are good crops in eastern Saskatchewan and Manitoba, but even in those regions yields will be down from last year and closer to the long-term average. Click here to continue reading
Have we reached peak fish?
The Guardian
Humans are eating more seafood than ever, and we are removing fish from the ocean at a far greater rate than they can replenish. What can be done? Click here to continue reading
Ontario investing $6M in local projects to protect the Great Lakes
Water Canada
The Ontario government is investing $6 million to support 30 multi-year projects to help protect, conserve and restore the Great Lakes. These investments will help reduce plastic litter, excess nutrients and road salt entering lakes, rivers and streams, advance climate resiliency, and make significant progress on restoring environmentally degraded areas of the Great Lakes. Click here to continue reading
Manitoba Government $8M investment in Winnipeg wastewater projects
Water Canada
The Manitoba government is supporting the City of Winnipeg by providing approximately $8 million for wastewater infrastructure projects to help protect Manitoba’s precious freshwater resources, Environment and Climate Minister Kevin Klein has announced. Click here to continue reading
Compare and Contrast: NOAA’s 1-in-100 year flooding can now be expected every 8 years
Smart Water Magazine
First Street Foundation released their peer-reviewed precipitation model that captures climate-driven changes in heavy rainfall events for the United States and describes the implications for flood risk across the Nation in their report, The 8th National Risk Assessment: The Precipitation Problem. Click here to continue reading
Alberta hail seeding operation protects against severe storm damage
CTV News
When massive storm clouds build, pilots at the Springbank and Red Deer airports scramble into action in their twin engine King Air C90 cloud seeding aircraft. The teams are supported by meteorologists on the ground at the Didsbury/Olds Airport who monitor the building storms on their radar. Click here to continue reading
Manitoba Government invests $40M in Rivers Dam
Water Canada
The heavy rainfall event in the summer of 2020 caused record flooding on the Little Saskatchewan River, impacting the dam at Rivers. During the rainfall, the water level at the dam reached record-high levels, affecting surrounding communities including Brandon, Riverdale and Whitehead. Approximately 83 people had to evacuate from their homes in the Rivers Dam flood zone area. Click here to continue reading