near Part of Keeping the river clean Bow River basin the South Out on the range Vegetated buffer strip along canal What is the Bow River basin? Saskatchewan Bow RivRiver BasinBasin WWaterscape A river basin or watershed is high at its edge and low in the centre where the river flows. The Bow River basin Native trees Planted Livestock grazing 3 Riparian or watershed includes all the land that feeds water to 9 shelter belt of riparian areas

1 and shrubs - Healthy area damaged Managing range land 5 managed with fencing the Bow River and its tributaries. 0 provide riparian 0 by overgrazing

2 River family wildlife habitat. area for both cows and M C Protecting and conserving the shared waters of our Bow River oun Mountains, foothills, S t G ain , s Fo r healthy streams ot and prairies e Lake h n ills r 1 Louise u T

Most Bow River waters come from the . Our family of rivers W

Airdrie . Riparian areas occur along streams

s Rocky Mountains, an area largely J rie .

i R The Bow, Red Deer, and Oldman rivers are tributaries of the Pra protected within parks. East of the and wetlands where moist soils and Cochrane . This family of rivers carries water Overgrazed Banff ver Healthy shallow water tables allow water- Ri mountains, the Bow River flows through Hudson uplands ow from the Rocky Mountains across the dry southern prairies of uplands B Strathmore foothills and then through rolling prairie. Churchill Bay loving plant communities to Canmore 1 and Saskatchewan. Nelson establish. These ‘green zones’ are Calgary The Bow River also flows through the City Eroding Edmonton River Bragg of Calgary, home to most of the basin's Nort Lake stream vital ecosystems in the prairie and 9 h Saska 0 tche Winnipeg 2 Creek wan banks - human residents. River foothills that provide habitat for 5 0 0

Red Deer wildlife, stabilize stream banks, and 2 River Lake Louise Saskatoon W Bow Bassano ate C

r S Banff Calgary Winnipeg table protect water quality. Cattle grazing Drumheller G Regina , M Okotoks r Bow Riv in riparian areas must be managed e o Turner e n r Brooks r u Valley Boundary of u n carefully so that these delicate T

ta Brooks Bow River . Doing it right W i landscapes are not degraded. .

n basin J s Nanton Doing it wrong . High Riparia R River Medicine n area P Who lives here? Hat We live in the basin of the Bow r B a o Lethbridge i w Over a million r River, a remarkable tract of land i R e iv people...and s e 0 50 r 1 Medicine Where does the Bow go? that extends from the Rocky Hat growing fast! Kilometres The Bow River joins the near Medicine Hat to form The Bow River basin the South Saskatchewan River. Bow River waters flow all the way Mountains, across foothills and the w er is the most densely tche an Riv ka to Hudson Bay. Downstream communities that use these waters, s a rapidly growing City of Calgary, to the broad prairie. populated river basin S In the city — stormwater dman such as Medicine Hat and Saskatoon, depend on us to care for Ol th in Alberta. Less water u River So the quality of the water as it passes through the Bow River basin. is available per This land has been home to First Nations for thousands of years. person here than in An ancient homeland Oldman Bow River South Within this basin, all waters flow into the Bow River. We share this water River Saskatchewan Doing it right Doing it wrong any other river basin The lands of the Bow River basin have been home to First 4 9 Hazardous

1 River Rooftop - in the province. And 5

Nations people for thousands of years. Today, the Stoney 5 9 with plants and animals. Without this water, nothing could live. With this water, a household Excessive 0 runoff is 1 - 0 5 yet, in the last ten Nakoda Nation has reserve lands throughout the foothills of 2 waste to use of Rooftop

0 directed C 0 herbicides 2 S waste depot stormwater Water-wise years, the population the Bow River basin. Tsuu T'ina Nation reserve lands extend great diversity of life, including humans, can thrive. As residents of the Bow River to street G C

, plants and

r onto gardens S drain.

of the basin has west from Calgary to Bragg Creek, and Siksika Nation e G

n pesticides , r The Bow and Oldman rivers join Rooftop require less r

u basin, we must protect the land that produces the life-giving waters. We face many grown by over a e

reserve lands straddle the Bow River valley near Bassano. T n at ‘The Grand Forks’ to form stormwater water. . r u W T quarter of a million . into rain the South Saskatchewan River. . J . challenges. Our rapidly growing population demands much of the land and water. W R barrel people. So we are . J

. Rain

facing a challenge! R barrel A new subdivision near Cochrane overlooks the Bow River valley. w Our climate is changing and the future of our water supplies is uncertain. at Car er Wash your sh Crossfield washing ed To act wisely, we need first to understand our basin. The car at car Lake Louise C b N wash. a oun s dary o Oil and gas ca s purpose of this poster is to introduce us to the local Collect d e Sweep driveway residues e R C dog Excessive i r dirt to lawn or garbage, from cars ve e waste. r e water cycle, to how humans use the basin not road. use of The water cycle in the Bow River basin k fertilizer Stoney B waters, and to how we can live Moist air o Nakoda w Reserve Airdrie R well on the land. iv Prairie lands: living in the rain shadow e r W So effective are the Rocky Mountains at stripping moisture from e st N eastward-moving air masses that little is left for the prairie areas, o Moist air se C Down the drain: creating a ‘rain shadow’. This is why irrigation is vital to agriculture. r ee The Bow River is the only dependable source of water. Reservoir k how bad stuff can Cochrane get into the river Vermillion Banff Stormwater Snow Stoney B Cattle on dry grasslands near Bassano Lakes is not treated. There is a widespread myth that water Storing our water: Nakoda o Standard In newer parts of Calgary, ! Morley w Deadhorse that goes down storm drains flows to Ice field Reserve R Western Irrigation District wetlands or retention ponds, nature's water towers and S Lake View westward up the Bow River Rain p iv (water from the Bow River is used water treatment plants. This is not true. r like this one, store and filter 6 a e across the city of Calgary to the 9 y r throughout this district) Storm drains are only meant for rainwater Snow Plant transpiration 1 runoff during rainstorms and - cisterns R Rocky Mountains. Photo courtesy 5 i Bearspaw Calgary and evaporation 0 v rapid snowmelt. and snowmelt. Many street drains flow 0 Water flows the entire length of the Bow e of the City of Calgary

2 Dam r Chestermere Rain shadow C River in less than two weeks. Why then through pipes straight to the river. Glacier S

G Strathmore

, meltwater r doesn't the Bow River dry up between Canmore Snow e Chestermere n Snow r rainstorms? Because nature stores and meltwater u Lake C T r

o . meltwater w y slowly releases water throughout the r fo r W a

. e o

t g J v C l . i basin. Water is stored in snowpacks, re a Municipal R R e Inf Calgary k C ilt ration Plant transpiration w f water o glaciers, wetlands, and o Namaka Lake y

Spray Lakes b t supply and evaporation l Tsuu T'ina Glenmore i groundwater. E C rain Reservoir Spring Reserve Reservoir e

Diverted h + Stobart Lake t

f

Bragg Creek o G irrigation ground-

Meltwater from the feeds y r water s water e o the headwaters of the Bow River. k t + Fish Cree r u u n glacier Gleichen o d Cluny C w melt a Wastewater t er Diverted ~20% The f Bassano lo Infiltr irrigation sources K w ation a water n Bow Riv of Bow a er n a

S a d

a p s Siksika

River n ry k

~80% a a Siksika Reserve i Reserve

C Bassano s

water s R R k Dam r

i i a v v

P e e f r r o

Native prairie grassland east of Brooks y Eastern Irrigation District w s Okotoks a Well e

t t Late spring snowpack at Bow Lake, r (water from the Bow River is used e extraction u k rs o e throughout this district) h Icefields Parkway, . C re ed Black Diamond C Mountain snowmelt feeds water to the Siksika Nation d Irrigation: watering the Bow River during spring and summer. No glaciers? What then? o Cowoki Lake o Our b Many people wonder what will happen to the river if the glaciers melt away. In fact, glacier w o Tide Lake u r w n meltwaters contribute less than 1% of the total annual flow to the Bow River so their overall p Rive Turner Valley o d mountain ee r Brooks Sh r a Kananaskis ry contribution is small. However, the portion of Bow River water derived from glaciers rises A Louisiana Lakes cloud catchers t prairie for food Lakes during the summer as snowmelt wanes. During a drought year with reduced snowfall and High River s Almost all the water in the Bow e

7 rain, the relative contribution of glacier meltwater to the Bow River is higher. Without glaciers W 9

1 River comes from the Rocky Mountains. - 5

in the Bow River basin, water supply during drought years would be much more challenging. 2

0 Transforming the prairie: dry grasslands to watered prairie

r 9

0 This mountain chain forces air to rise and cool, e 1 - 2 v However, as long as it snows and rains every year, we can expect the river to keep moving. i w 5 When European settlers first came to the prairie country of the Bow River basin, they found First C causing moisture to condense and fall as rain or snow. This 0 ) 0 S a dR l >3400

t 2 G e Longview o Nations peoples living in a vast grassland with few lakes and streams. Early in the last century, It takes w Lake e , o C r precipitation, together with the meltwaters from glaciers that release r Tilley

s v a

e w 3200–3400 Newell S 8400 litres

n h h irrigation districts were established to move Bow River water out onto the prairie. Through a t G e r

g e e l

ancient snowfalls, feed the Bow River through its many mountain i , u r Map legend of water to d r T H e

3000–3200 s system of canals and storage reservoirs, water was supplied to farmers. Over time, communities .

a n h tributaries. Even groundwater that feeds the Bow River begins its life r produce half W e u . e T J

s and industries also grew on the prairie, and the irrigation system supplied water for their needs.

. 2800–3000 d a kilogram b . as rain or snow. Stoney R o

Groundwater: the hidden reservoir W e u Nakoda Cites and towns . of steak. 2600–2800 J v

n . d R

o Diversion A hand pump provides a Reserve

r b 2400–2600 Evapotranspiration y dam groundwater for drinking at Big Water diversion a Bow River Vulcan b o Rolling Hill Springs Provincial Park, s 2200–2400 for irrigation 7 First Nations u 0 e Diversion n Hills Lake 2 near Cochrane. Stoney r - iver t 2000–2200 d A windmill d R reserve boundary 5 canal e hwoo Nakoda a 0 Hig r 0 Water supply

pumps y 2 Return flow

m 1800–2000 Irrigation Reserve ( to industries C groundwater to Bow River Groundwater Irrigation S What is groundwater? n 1600–1800 G

for cattle , o r 0 10 20 30 40 50 i Water supply to e Rain and snowmelt infiltrate the ground. Soil and rock act as n t district io southeast feeds the river 1400–1600 n t r ra a communities filt u Reservoir v boundary giant sponges full of tiny pores and cracks that are usually less Spring In of Calgary. T

Groundwater and 1200–1400 . e l W than millimetres in size. Below the water table, these holes n Kilometres . e io surface water are one J

t . 9 a 1000–1200

ig 9 rr w Watershed R Tributary of I o d are full of water. This is groundwater. Groundwater slowly fl 1 Map by M. Parry, Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration rn - connected water n etu r 5 800–1000 Bassano dam Bow River r e 0 boundary iv a travels through connected pores and cracks, just centimetres o r 0 t 2 system. Water wells on the Bow River L

8 <800 9 to hundreds of metres per year. Any rock or sediment that ter table C Bow River Irrigation District 1 a S - l W intercept groundwater G 5 ve Dugout Dam or weir (water from the Bow River is used Bow , 0 ra Riv yields useful amounts of water is an aquifer. The volume of G r er 0

that may be on its way 8 e 2 0 n throughout this district)

r 2 C - groundwater below us dwarfs the volume of water stored in el u to springs that feed Wheel-move T 5 S v

. ra The Glenmore water treatment plant 0 G sprinkler irrigation

G 0

glaciers, lakes, wetlands, and rivers. , k W r 2 c . streams and rivers.

o J e supplies water to Calgary from the

R . C n r R S

u on the . G T Wetland

er , . Riv r Centre pivot Return e W

. Urban water Vauxhall n r J n sprinkler irrigation

. flow a u Reservoir R T

Shallow groundwater: w . e W

h .

c J Soil the precious drinkable part t . Irrigation canal south of Brooks a R Water table k In , oil and gas drilling has shown s Climate change: a Gravel S that groundwater is found to depths of four Groundwater

h a t kilometres or more. However, most of this d u a return flow

il n Sharing our waters y o o r S Much of a Groundwater

groundwater is very salty. Only shallow a S C

g l

Calgary's d flow a

Groundwater e groundwater is potable or fit to t C i

what is the future n sewage is o f

ti Calgary m i o

ra l ilt drink. n f le y treated at the In t

b i a Water treatment plant Bow Island U t Irrigation r C s te Bonnybrook k a e r

near Vauxhall e c W h v t i wastewater u R

f

n D o a

treatment m f y k ld o

c le o s O for our water? l y b How irrigation works e R e ta plant 6 t R o Ghost Lake dam s

P e r

n 0 av ok o e t z u 2

Gr c r e r

Calgary and - ate n o (foreground) Irrigation starts in May and continues until October.

o u

w z 5 r ) C Water-filled 200 m e r o at ate Bow River before Water storage in wetland near Brooks 0 C th y w aw 0 Irrigation water is diverted from the river into a fractures lt e 2 Reduced water wi Sa nt s discharge

ck C 5 ie ,

c Bearspaw r

0 system of canals and reservoirs. These provide and pores Ro n S y (a R 1 e 2 Snowpack .J 20 r into the Bow

supply from G - .W 5- n

. 0

T 0 R 2 a urn C 2 0 water treatment r e S . , Glacier melt in rock fractures 200 to r, G J.W -2 5 5 r g . T 00 u important wetland habitat for waterfowl and fish.

u 2 l rner, GSC River. 0 e shrinking glaciers Bow T a 0

4000 m plant n . 2 r f C

u Improved irrigation techniques have greatly reduced o W River f

. C T o

y J

. S .

There are many s y

Forest fires t R G

e the water required to grow crops, allowing more crop

i Bow River water enters our lives in R 0 Calgary W

. 0 t J.W -2 . . 05 r T 0 C ur n e SC 2 J

r, G . u

e Irrigation spray near Vauxhall

o Bow River ways we depend on many ways. Experiments show that R production while using the same amount of water. Water-filled h C Warmer, drier t pores in Piping plover Bearspaw your body's water is completely A hay harvest north of Brooks

summers and earlier the Bow River 1 gravel 9 Elbow dam

1 replaced every four weeks. If you live springs may lead to - Calgary:

There are many, many users of the 5 River Glenmore water Food 0 in the Bow River basin, you are largely increased forest fires. 0

2 treatment plant Bow River water and all are a big city on a small river

C made up of Bow River water. So, dependent on this shared water S

G Calgary is a big, rapidly growing city on a relatively

, when you turn on the tap, drink a pop, r Co da supply. These many users — wildlife, e ur na small river. The Bow River, a world-class trout n te Ca Extreme weather r sy o ent or eat bread, locally grown vegetables, u f J.P. G vironm Beverages industry, municipalities, hydropower, T oossen, En

A possible increase stream, has a limited capacity to assimilate A possible reduction . You or beef, think ‘Bow River’. W

in extreme weather agriculture, and recreation — . Bonnybrook and

J wastewater without reducing are of snowpack could . 90% return Drinking

R Fish Creek waste- change water supply. e.g. tornadoes, commonly have no other source of its water quality. Because of water hail storms, heat waves, Glenmore water treatment 60% water. So, we must protect and this, the standard of Calgary's water droughts, dust storms, reservoir plants Bow Want to know more? share this water. Ghost Lake River wastewater treatment is floods, blizzards Concrete Bow River marina among the very highest in plant, Calgary The Bow River Basin Waterscape poster is on the internet at Agriculture south of Brooks Water . s Calgary's municipal supply te www.geoscape.nrcan.gc.ca and www.brbc.ab.ca Largely Bo was water use dy Calgary non-consumptive

water uses Industrial Non-revenue The Bow River Basin Council website at www.brbc.ab.ca has s s e (e.g. leakage) e r R 03 commercial r links to government agencies, organizations, and corporations t municipal 4 .J. -2 t R.J.W 5-20 W. Tur n e SC 2005 e water supply . Turner, GSC 200 r, G infrastructure 12% Other Rooftop Wastewater e with information on water issues in the Bow River basin. m m

catchment To not 6 hydropower Largely 34% communities 6 2 2 It protects 2% conserve consumptive life in the Reduced flow Calgary water uses Not all water use is water is decreases power Residential ! ! wasteful. Bow River. irrigation ! Government Gouvernement generation. the same! 52% It saves of Canada du Canada Municipal oilfield injection Some water use occurs in An average Calgarian me money. Bow River Basin Waterscape water supply uses about 340 litres Increased demand for the river, such as by wildlife How we use Water-efficient Baths shower heads of water a day, or the It protects the Geological Survey of Canada, Miscellaneous Report 90, 2005 irrigation and a and for fisheries and Leaks equivalent of 85 Water treatment Irrigation 20% 2% our indoor 26 metres Why should I water supplies change in crop types recreation. Some water is Clothes 10% Low-flush ‘milk jugs’ of water. plant and sewage Production: R.J.W. Turner, R.G. Franklin, S.E. Grasby, and G.S. Nowlan Hydroelectric due to a longer return of downstream 90% return withdrawn from the river, used, washer water toilet Did you know? ! Illustration and graphic design: R.G. Franklin and R.J.W. Turner treatment power growing season Municipal communities. water use and returned (non-consumptive 20% Calgary's residential plant conserve water? Irrigation Water Advisory Committee 18% use). Municipalities return over softener water use rises by 50% ! expansions Bow River Basin Council: M. Bennett. Alberta Environment: J. Horgan. Natural Resources water use Non-consumptive 90% of the water they use as 9% during the summer, can be It reduces greenhouse Canada, Geological Survey of Canada: S.E. Grasby, G.S. Nowlan, R. Smith, R.J.W. Turner. Downstream Dishwasher WOW! Because... Lower river 76% water uses treated sewage. Some water is 1% largely due to garden deferred. gases that contribute to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration: M. Parry. Other users Environment Canada: R. Herrington. Parks Canada: H. Dempsey, C. Pacas. City of Calgary: flow reduces recreation withdrawn from the river and not Water- and lawn watering. climate change (treating Lower water water use Rain efficient ? M. Beeston, P. Fesko, S. Trosch. University of Calgary: C. Ryan. Climate Change Central: water supply, fisheries returned (consumptive use). In barrel and pumping tables cause some appliances It helps F. Walter. Calgary Board of Education: W. Campbell, S. Hollinshead, L. Johnston, D. Stretch. water quality, 6% wastewater dry years, irrigation returns about 20% of what it water uses Calgary Roman Catholic Separate School District No. 1: C. Szata, L. Morello. TELUS World of shallow wells to go dry. and recreation disposal Faucet communities withdraws. Most of the rest is used by plants, 16% ! electricity Science: B. Struble. SEEDS Foundation: D. Lunn. Rundle College Junior High: B. Ross. Warmer river WOW! grow without Groundwater activities. whereas some evaporates and a small amount sinks from coal- temperatures stress Licenced exceeding their burning Recommended citation: cold-water species into the ground. Withdrawal of water from the river Toilet ! Turner, R.J.W., Franklin, R.G., Grasby, S.E., and Nowlan, G.S. allowance of Habitat Water-wise power plants). such as trout. water use reduces river flow and can have an impact on wildlife habitat 29% Bow River water. 2005: Bow River Basin Waterscape; Geological Survey of Canada, in and along the river. drought- Miscellaneous Report 90. of the Bow River Shower resistant 13% garden River flow © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada 2005 Catalogue no. M41-8/90E ISBN 0-660-19523-2