Join us on The “Ditch Rider’s Road”, an exploration of irrigation in Alberta and its effect on the environment with wildlife ecologist and fishing guide Eric Grinnell. This walk along the Carseland canal will give you an insight into irrigation in Alberta, and loss of fish (entrainment) in irrigation canals. We will also have the opportunity to see prairie wildlife and learn more about prairie vegetation, and discuss prairie ecology.

Starting at the Carseland irrigation diversion weir, we will hike the “Ditch Riders Road” along the main irrigation canal flowing east. This road is closed to public vehicles. The canal follows the base of the north facing valley of the Bow River. At the end of the adventure hikers will be shuttled back to the starting point. Details of meeting place will be emailed to registered participants a few days before the event.

Eric Grinnell is a graduate in Wildlife Ecology, a naturalist and an Alberta Fishing Guide/Outfitter. He lives in the river valley neighbourhood.

Distance:  5 km
Difficulty: easy

Register via the event link and donate.

We provide Canadian educational resources on water practices to promote conservation and sustainability. Our team crafts current and relevant content, while encouraging feedback and engagement.

The Canada WaterPortal is a registered charity, #807121876RR0001

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Photograph of WaterPortal Board Member Ross Douglas

Ross Douglas

Board Member

Ross has extensive executive experience in Operations, Governance, Information Technology and Strategy at the board and senior management level including Mancal Corporation, Mancal Energy, Highridge Exploration and Atlantis Resources. He has worked in Oil and Gas, Coal, Commercial Real Estate, Portfolio Management, Recreation, Retail and Water and Wastewater Treatment. His experience is also geographically diverse having overseen operations in Canada, the United States, United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. Additionally, he has been on the board of companies with operations in Argentina, Azerbaijan, Barbados, Kazakhstan, and Russia. He has served on numerous Public, Private and Not for Profit Boards across a number of industries.

Ross has been active on several industry Boards and committees including the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) and The Schulich School of Engineering Industry Advisory Council at the Schulich School of Engineering.

Photograph of WaterPortal Board Member Brian Mergelas

Brian Mergelas, PhD, ICD.D

Board Member

Brian is a seasoned Cleantech entrepreneur with a proven history of successfully bringing complex water technologies to the market.   With over 25 years of experience, he has led various organizations to achieve significant milestones in the industry. 

Having started as the founding CEO of the Pressure Pipe Inspection Company (PPIC) and later taking the helm at the Water Technology Acceleration Project (WaterTAP), Brian’s entrepreneurial spirit has been instrumental in driving innovation and growth within the sector. 

He is an active investor in the cleantech sector and has served on many boards including the Ontario Clean Water Agency. 

Actively engaged in industry associations like AWWA, WEF, IWA, and ASCE, Brian enjoys collaborating with fellow professionals to promote advancements in the field. 

Brian holds an undergraduate degree and a PhD in Physics from Queen’s University, which has provided him with a solid technical foundation.   As a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors, he brings valuable insights to corporate governance.