Water Connections Story Map

Manmade Wetlands

The manmade wetland identified on this map serves to naturally filter stormwater by removing pollutants through the micro-organisms present in the wetland’s vegetation. It fulfills a number a functions, such as increasing biodiversity as an ecologically rich wetland, filtering water before it is discharged into another waterbody, and storing stormwater in the case of heavy flooding.

More Information: 
https://www.calgary.ca/parks/wildlife/wetlands-conservation.html

Cows and Fish

The Cows and Fish projects detailed on this map seek to protect riparian zones, restore streambanks, and build creek crossings for recreational use to restore fish habitats damaged by fording.

More Information:
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/a764b21cdf3d4cc0911cf18df82f9855

Fish Habitat Mitigation Projects

The fish habitat mitigation projects detailed on this map are part of the Fisheries Habitat Enhancement and Sustainability (FISHES) Program. This program aims to restore fish habitat by addressing factors that limit aquatic productivity, such as flood disturbance, which increases sediment inputs that can:

• irritate fish gills
• reduce light penetration into the water
• destroy mucous covering the eyes and scales of fish, which can make them vulnerable to infection and disease
• absorb warmth from the sun and increase water temperature
• dislodge fish food sources such as plants and insects
• carry toxic industrial or agricultural compounds, which may cause abnormalities or death.

More Information: 
https://www.alberta.ca/how-fishes-works.aspx

Businesses Using Municipal Wastewater for Some Operations

The businesses using municipal wastewater for some of their operations on this map aim to reduce their ecological footprints through using fewer freshwater resources in their operations. Each of the locations tagged using this icon either are responsible for treating wastewater for its reuse or are businesses using treated wastewater in their operations.

Nature Conservancy of Canada Commitments

Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) protects and restores natural habitats through large-scale land conservation. The locations identified on this map demonstrate such areas in Alberta and why their conservation is vital for the area’s ecological health and for Alberta. Wetlands, lakes, and rivers populate these properties, providing life-giving water to various beloved plant and animal species in Alberta, including those that are rare or at risk.

More Information: https://www.natureconservancy.ca/en/where-we-work/alberta/