The need to balance resource usage is a challenge faced by every community in the world. In particular, our water resources are limited and they are being utilized by many groups including individuals, communities and industry.
To explore and understand the interconnectedness of water users in Alberta, the Water Nexus Project was launched by the now Canada WaterPortal Society.
The project was a first in Alberta. Starting with a pilot in the Bow River Basin, the Project aims to show how converging water use from different sectors and entities impacts water availability on a regional basis.
We recognize that there is no clear solution a specific sector, industry, or level of government, can implement on their own. We hope this project will reinforce that water-use decisions have multiple, potentially unpredictable impacts on other water users and the environment.
The Bow River Basin is affected by a number of converging factors making it a very interesting study area, including water resource distribution, significant agriculture industry, and that the available surface water is now fully allocated. Click here to learn more about the converging factors in the Bow River Basin.
Water management in the Bow River Basin is largely done through provincial government legislation and administered by government agencies. Because the water resources are already allocated, managing water licences to allow for new development activities is a significant challenge. Click here to learn more about water management decisions in the Bow River basin.
A stakeholder engagement workshop was held in July, 2017 to gain insight on further work needed to increase public understanding of the water Nexus in Alberta. Click here to see an outline the various activities from the workshop, a few of the creative and thoughtful ideas, and some of the key themes and outcomes.
The Alberta Water Nexus Project is being conducted in three phases.
Phase I was completed in 2016 and resulted in:
Phase I was made possible through the generous sponsorship of the Alberta Real Estate Foundation, Fondation Veolia, and Enbridge.
View the phase I simulation tool by clicking here.
Phase II was completed in early 2018. It focused on improving and expanding the work done in Phase I, including:
Phase II was made possible through the generous sponsorship of the Alberta Real Estate Foundation, Alberta Innovates, and an anonymous donor.
Try the phase II simulator tool for yourself to see how water is impacted by the actions of people, communities and industry!
Phase III commenced soon after the completion of Phase II and focused on:
Phase III was made possible through the generous sponsorship of the Nutrien, Enbridge and the Carlson Family Foundation along with the Government of Canada and the Government of Alberta through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership.
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
We recognize and respect the sovereignty of the Indigenous Peoples and communities on whose land our work takes place.
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