State of the Watershed

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

State of the Watershed MIGHTY PEACE DRAFT STATE OF THE WATERSHED THE MIGHTY PEACE WATERSHED ALLIANCE STATE OF THE WATERSHED A DRAFT FOR CONSULTATION WITH REGIONAL STAKEHOLDERS Prepared by: CPP Environmental D R A F T MIGHTY PEACE STATE OF THE WATERSHED - 2 0 1 4 i D R A F T MIGHTY PEACE STATE OF THE WATERSHED - 2 0 1 4 Executive Summary The Peace River, or Mighty Peace, is the largest river in Alberta. It meanders nearly 2,000 kilometres from its source in the Rocky Mountains of BC until it joins the Slave River in northeastern Alberta. At some points approaching two kilometres wide, the river drains nearly a third of the water flowing through Alberta. Eventually, it flows through the longest river in Canada, the Mackenzie, and into the Arctic Ocean. Like all rivers, the Peace is a finite resource. The global supply of water, whether in the form of water vapour, ice, snow and rain, is constant. But expanding populations and economies mean the need for freshwater only grows. These trends necessitate cooperative and effective water stewardship. The Mighty Peace Watershed Alliance (MPWA) is a multi-sector, not-for-profit society charged with planning for the ecological health and economic sustainability of Alberta’s portions of the Peace and Slave River watersheds. It reports on the state of the watershed, promotes beneficial management practices, and develops educational programs. The MPWA commissioned three technical reports and a directory on the water quantity and quality and aquatic ecosystems of the Peace River Watershed. Based on that research and consultations with stakeholders, the Alliance chose indicators of the health of the watershed divided into six categories: Landscape, Biological Community, Surface Water Quantity, Surface Water Quality, Groundwater Quantity, and Groundwater Quality. Landscapes Land Use Human influence on watersheds can be measured using a land-cover product developed by the Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute called the Human Footprint (HFP). The HFP combines data on several variables to describe the extent of the impact. By updating the index over time, researchers can identify trends, which can then feed management plans and practices. According to the Human Footprint from 2010, the Peace and Slave watersheds are largely undisturbed. Only 15.1% of the entire watershed (31,534 km2) is represented by the Human Footprint, most of which occurs in the Upper Peace and Smoky/Wapiti watersheds. Agriculture is the leading contributor to the Human Footprint. It plays a critical role in the watershed’s economy and is expected to expand with growing populations. Other activities include forestry, mining, and oil and gas extraction. Development and recreational activities also play a role. Land Cover Wetlands and riparian areas are critically important for water filtration and purification, erosion mitigation, biodiversity and wildlife. In the Peace and Slave Watershed, the health and change in cover of wetlands and riparian areas provide a good measure of watershed integrity. ii D R A F T MIGHTY PEACE STATE OF THE WATERSHED - 2 0 1 4 Wetlands cover slightly more than 29% (52,898 km) of the watershed (not including national parks, for which information was unavailable). The health of riparian areas is largely determined by human disturbance. To estimate riparian health for the entire watershed, computer mapping was used, along with a combination of data sets selected for their compatibility. Based on this assessment, the land cover in riparian areas associated with streams varied, ranging from 53% to 100% within the sub-watersheds. Areas with the greatest natural cover – such as the Slave River – were found to have low levels of disturbance and high forest cover. In the Smoky/Wapiti and Upper Peace watersheds, where both agriculture and development are widespread, the riparian areas have much less natural cover. Biological Community Wildlife can reveal much about the health of a watershed. While a complete inventory of the Peace/Slave watershed is unfeasible, fish act as a useful indicator of aquatic ecosystem health. Fish populations are valuable to people, sensitive to disturbance, and often have a recorded history. Fish can be affected by the addition of harmful substances to the water, and by the habitat fragmentation that results from removing vegetation along waterways or constructing stream-crossings and water-control structures. The Peace and Slave watershed has a variety of native fishes. The presence or absence of sensitive species serves as an indicator of the quality of overall fish habitat. Comparing the density of sensitive fish species between sub-watersheds can help managers prioritize conservation activities. The densities of two species sensitive to human activities, arctic grayling and walleye, suggest fish populations in the Peace River are relatively healthy. They are also healthy in the larger mainstem tributaries, such as the Smoky, Little Smoky, and Wabasca rivers. These populations benefit from a cool to cold-water water habitat. Densities in smaller tributaries – where fish are strongly affected by land use – are moderate to low. Abundant populations are found only in the Rocky Mountains and the foothills in the southern part of the watershed (typically in areas designated as Protected), and the remote areas of the northern part of the watershed, such as in Wood Buffalo National Park. Fish populations in some lakes are under stress from fishing pressure, loss or alteration of habitat, and lack of oxygen resulting from nutrient loading. Fish population status in lakes is typically correlated with proximity to urban development (representing fishing pressure) and surrounding land use. Surface Water Surface Water Quantity Each year, about 48.6 billion m3 of water flows into Alberta via the Peace River, or roughly three times the combined amount of all the rivers in southern Alberta. Much of this water originates in the mountains and foothills where tributaries like the Smoky and Wapiti rivers begin. The sidebar map shows high water-yield areas for the Peace/Slave watershed (those with the top 25% yields per square kilometre in the entire Peace River watershed). These areas generally have a surplus of water, which benefits downstream rivers and lakes. Less than 1% of the iii D R A F T MIGHTY PEACE STATE OF THE WATERSHED - 2 0 1 4 natural flow of the Peace is allocated for use because the river is large and the population relatively small (approximately 165,000 or 4% of the provincial total). The Peace River flows at Dunvegan (above the confluence with the Smoky River) show a change following dam commissioning in 1968. Otherwise, there is no long-term change in Peace River flows. Surface Water Quality In the Peace/Slave watershed, the source and the quantity of flow are the biggest factors influencing surface water quality. When flow volumes change, as they typically do with the seasons, the water quality also usually changes. Large volumes of water have a greater capacity to move soil particles that have chemicals bound to them, such as nutrients and metals. By contrast, low flow conditions have a reduced dilution capacity, accentuating point sources of pollution. This is particularly evident in the Wapiti River as it flows past Grande Prairie. The Alberta River Water Quality Index (ARWQI) combines multiple measurements of the metals, nutrients, bacteria and pesticides that influence water quality. Measurements used in the RWQI all come from sites forming part of the Long-Term River Network (LTRN). Within the Peace/Slave watershed, there are five LTRN monitoring sites. Over the years from 1996 to 2010, all of these sites had good to excellent scores. But this index is a broad overview of water quality in major rivers; it does not represent conditions in smaller tributaries, which are typically much worse in areas with high human footprint. Groundwater Groundwater Quantity Groundwater cannot be described by sub-watershed boundaries, since it does not respect topographically defined watershed boundaries. Rather, in the Peace River Watershed, groundwater is placed in western and eastern groupings of sub-watersheds. In general, the western grouping has a shortage of high-yield freshwater aquifers. Highyield aquifers are typically associated with permeable sand and gravel deposits in the surficial geology, which allows groundwater to flow at significant rates. Groundwater resources in the eastern grouping appear to be abundant, but mapping in this area has limited feasibility. The watershed has less groundwater monitoring information available compared to the province’s southern watersheds. But the water resource issues facing the Peace River watershed are also less urgent. Currently, the most comprehensive regional groundwater- monitoring program in place is ESRD’s Groundwater Observation Well Network (GOWN). Twelve groundwater observation wells are active within the Peace River watershed, the majority of them located near Grande Prairie and the town of Peace River. Groundwater allocations have increased 10% in the watershed between 2011 and 2013. The total allocated in 2013 was 20,940,065 m3. Groundwater use is greatest in the Wabasca and Smoky/Wapiti sub-watershed, which together account for more than 80% of groundwater allocations in the entire watershed. iv D R A F T MIGHTY PEACE STATE OF THE WATERSHED - 2 0 1 4 Groundwater Quality Little monitoring data is available on groundwater quality in the watershed. Most information exists in baseline data that describe aquifers in their natural state between the late 1960s and early 1980s. Data are unavailable on the impacts of climate change and various land uses on groundwater quality and aquifers. Municipal growth, along with agricultural, industrial and commercial activities could all have an effect. In some areas, the groundwater quality faces stress due to development pressures associated with mining. The Peace and Slave watershed could benefit from a monitoring program. There is much variability in the depth, extent and quality of surficial aquifers. They tend to have the best water quality, but are also the most vulnerable to contamination because they are near the surface and often covered by material that has high infiltration rates.
Recommended publications
  • C E M E T E R I E S Located Within the M.D
    C E M E T E R I E S LOCATED WITHIN THE M.D. OF GREENVIEW P. O. Box 1079, Valleyview, AB T0H 3N0 Phone: 780-524-7600 Fax: 780-524-4307 Name of Cemetery Legal Description Size Active for Veteran Colum- Proximity to what Town / Contact Burial? Graves? bariums? Landmark? Cornwall SW 34-70-26-W5 2.0 yes yes no 4 miles south of Hamlet of Bob Viravek 780-957-2613 (owned by Mennonite acres Ridgevalley RR 1, Site 4, Box 8 Brethren Church) Crooked Creek, AB T0H 0Y0 Crooked Creek NE 23-71-26-W5 2.0 yes yes no 1 ½ miles east of Hamlet of Doreen Klassen 780-957-2525 (owned by La Corp acres Ridgevalley Box 389 Episcopale RC) DeBolt, AB T0H 1B0 DeBolt Part of 2.0 yes yes no 1 mile east of Hamlet of DeBolt Al Perkins 780-957-3752 (owned by United SW 07-72-26-W5 acres Box 488 Church) DeBolt, AB T0H 1B0 Goodwin Plan 912-2183 5.16 yes yes no 6 miles west of Hamlet of DeBolt George Morrison 780-957-2594 (owned by Synod Block 1, Lot 1 acres RR 1 Diocese of Athabasca) SE 11-72-02-W6 DeBolt, AB T0H 1B0 Grovedale Plan 912-3443, 10 yes yes yes ½ mile south of Hamlet of Gwen Smith 780-538-1525 (owned by M.D. of Lot 1 acres Grovedale; 15 kms south of City Margaret Basnett 780-532.6356 Greenview) SW 33-69-06-W6 of Grande Prairie General Delivery Grovedale, AB T0H 1X0 Little Smoky Plan 5181 TR 2.75 yes yes yes 1 ½ miles north of Hamlet of Little Connie Amundsen 780-524-2242 (owned by M.D.
    [Show full text]
  • SFM Plan Grande Prairie
    ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Canfor wishes to express appreciation to all members of the Canfor Forest Management Advisory Committee, Ainsworth Engineered Canada LP and Alberta, Environment and Sustainable Resource Development for the time, effort and expertise contributed toward the development of this Sustainable Forest Management Plan. Canfor would also like to thank the many individuals who provided information or contributed to specific components of this document. Canadian Forest Products Ltd. 9401 – 108 Street Postal Bag 100 Grande Prairie, Alberta Canada, T8V 3A3 Phone: (780) 538-7749 Fax: (780) 538-7800 www.canfor.com The majority of the literature cited in this document is available for viewing at Canfor’s Grande Prairie office. TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES ......................................................................................................... IV LIST OF FIGURES ....................................................................................................... IV VISION STATEMENT .................................................................................................... V EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................. VII 1.0 INTRODUCTION & OVERVIEW ............................................................................... 1 2.0 GUIDING PRINCIPLES ............................................................................................ 2 3.0 THE DEFINED FOREST AREA ...............................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Wapiti River Water Management Plan Summary
    Wapiti River Water Management Plan Summary Wapiti River Water Management Plan Steering Committee February 2020 Summary The Wapiti River basin lies within the larger Smoky/Wapiti basin of the Peace River watershed. Of all basins in the Peace River watershed, the Wapiti basin has the highest concentration and diversity of human water withdrawals and municipal and industrial wastewater discharges. The Wapiti River Water Management Plan (the Plan) was developed to address concerns about water diversions from the Wapiti River, particularly during winter low-flow periods and the potential negative impacts to the aquatic environment. In response, a steering committee of local stakeholders including municipalities, Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation, industry, agriculture, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and the Mighty Peace Watershed Alliance (MPWA), supported by technical experts from Alberta Environment and Parks (AEP), was established. The steering committee initiated the development of a water management plan that includes a Water Conservation Objective (WCO) and management recommendations for the Wapiti River basin from the British Columbia border to its confluence with the Smoky River. A WCO is a limit to the volume of water that can be withdrawn from the Wapiti River, ensuring that water flow remains in the river system to meet ecological objectives. The Plan provides guidance and recommendations on balancing the needs of municipal water supply, industry uses, agriculture and other uses, while maintaining a healthy aquatic ecosystem in the Alberta portion of the Wapiti River basin. Wapiti River Water Management Plan | Summary 2 Purpose and Objectives of the Plan The Plan will be provided as a recommendation to AEP and if adopted, would form policy when making water allocation decisions under the Water Act, and where appropriate, under the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act by establishing a WCO for the Wapiti River.
    [Show full text]
  • British Columbia Coal Industry Overview 2014
    British Columbia Geological Survey Ministry of Energy and Mines www.em.gov.bc.ca/geology British Columbia Coal Industry Overview 2014 Ministry of Energy and Mines, British Columbia Geological Survey Information Circular 2015-03 British Columbia Coal Industry Overview 2014 Ministry of Energy and Mines British Columbia Geological Survey Information Circular 2015-03 Ministry of Energy and Mines Mines and Mineral Resources Division British Columbia Geological Survey Front Cover: Folded coal seam-bearing strata in the lower part of the Gething Formation, Brule Mine (Walter Energy, Inc) Northeast Region. Hammer lower right for scale. Photo by Paul Jago. Back Cover: Mining coking coal from the Gates Formation at the Perry Creek (Wolverine) operation (Walter Energy, Inc). Photo by Paul Jago. This publication is available, free of charge, from the British Columbia Geological Survey website: www.em.gov.bc.ca/geology Victoria British Columbia Canada January 2015 British Columbia Coal Industry Overview 2014 British Columbia Geological Survey Ministry of Energy and Mines Introduction British Columbia coal industry trends in 2014 In 2014, the number of operating coal mines in the province Global coal prices continued to fall in 2014. Premium hard dropped from nine to six as operations at three mines in the coking coal (HCC) dropped to $121 from $155 in 2013, PCI Peace River Coalfi eld were suspended. However, production coal to $107 from $125, and thermal coal to $82 from $95. at the fi ve coal mines in the southeastern part of the province (All prices are per tonne, in $US, Estimated, West Coast port remained steady, and total coal production dipped only slightly price.) Three metallurgical/PCI coal mines in northeast British from 2013 levels.
    [Show full text]
  • Northwest Territories Territoires Du Nord-Ouest British Columbia
    122° 121° 120° 119° 118° 117° 116° 115° 114° 113° 112° 111° 110° 109° n a Northwest Territories i d i Cr r eighton L. T e 126 erritoires du Nord-Oues Th t M urston L. h t n r a i u d o i Bea F tty L. r Hi l l s e on n 60° M 12 6 a r Bistcho Lake e i 12 h Thabach 4 d a Tsu Tue 196G t m a i 126 x r K'I Tue 196D i C Nare 196A e S )*+,-35 125 Charles M s Andre 123 e w Lake 225 e k Jack h Li Deze 196C f k is a Lake h Point 214 t 125 L a f r i L d e s v F Thebathi 196 n i 1 e B 24 l istcho R a l r 2 y e a a Tthe Jere Gh L Lake 2 2 aili 196B h 13 H . 124 1 C Tsu K'Adhe L s t Snake L. t Tue 196F o St.Agnes L. P 1 121 2 Tultue Lake Hokedhe Tue 196E 3 Conibear L. Collin Cornwall L 0 ll Lake 223 2 Lake 224 a 122 1 w n r o C 119 Robertson L. Colin Lake 121 59° 120 30th Mountains r Bas Caribou e e L 118 v ine i 120 R e v Burstall L. a 119 l Mer S 117 ryweather L. 119 Wood A 118 Buffalo Na Wylie L. m tional b e 116 Up P 118 r per Hay R ark of R iver 212 Canada iv e r Meander 117 5 River Amber Rive 1 Peace r 211 1 Point 222 117 M Wentzel L.
    [Show full text]
  • Preliminary Soil Survey of the Peace River-High Prairie-Sturgeon Lake
    PROVINCE OF ALBERTA Research Council of Alberta. Report No. 31. University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta. SOIL SURVEY DIVISION Preliminary Soi1 Survey of The Peace River-High Prairie- Sturgeon Lake Area BY F. A. WYATT Department of Soils University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta (Report published by the University of Alberta at the request of Hon. Hugh W. Allen, Minister of Lands and Mines) 1935 Price 50 cents. LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. , DR. R. C. WALLACE, Director of Research, Resedrch Cowuil of Alberta, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta. Sir:- 1 beg to submit a report entitled “Preliminary Soi1 Survey of the Peace River-High Prairie-Sturgeon Lake Area,” prepared in co- operation with Dr. J. L. Doughty, Dr. A. Leahey and Mr. A. D. Paul. A soi1 map in colors accompanies this report. This report is compiled from five adjacent surveys c,onducted between the years 1928 and 1931. It includes a11 of two and parts of the other three surveys. The area included in the report is about 108 miles square with McLennan as the approximate geographical tenter. Respectfully submitted, F. A. WYATT. Department of Soils, University of, Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, April 15th, 1935. .-; ‘- TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE Description of area ...............................................................................................................................................1 Drainage ........................................................................................................................................................................2 Timber
    [Show full text]
  • High Prairie
    9 10 11 12 18 17 16 15 24 19 20 21 22 23 3 2 1 7 8 9 14 13 18 24 19 20 82-20-W5 6 5 10 11 17 16 15 21 22 23 4 3 12 7 8 14 13 18 24 19 20 2 1 6 9 10 11 17 16 15 21 5 4 12 7 14 13 18 82-19-W5 3 2 82-17-W5 8 9 17 16 34 1 6 10 11 15 14 35 5 12 13 18 36 4 7 8 82-13-W5 17 31 82-18-W5 3 2 82-16-W5 9 16 15 32 33 1 10 11 14 13 34 6 5 82-15-W5 12 7 18 17 35 36 4 8 9 16 31 3 82-14-W5 10 32 2 1 11 12 33 34 6 5 7 8 35 4 9 10 36 3 11 27 26 31 32 2 1 12 25 33 6 7 8 9 82-10-W5 30 34 5 4 10 29 35 36 3 11 28 27 31 2 1 82-12-W5 12 7 26 32 33 6 5 8 9 25 34 4 30 29 35 36 3 2 82-11-W5 28 31 1 6 27 26 32 33 5 4 22 25 30 34 35 3 2 23 29 36 1 6 24 28 31 32 5 19 27 26 33 4 3 20 21 25 34 35 2 1 22 30 29 36 31 6 5 23 24 28 32 4 81-20-W5 19 27 26 33 34 20 21 25 35 36 22 30 29 31 23 28 32 33 34 81-19-W5 24 27 26 35 15 19 25 36 14 13 20 21 30 31 32 18 22 29 28 33 34 17 81-18-W5 23 27 35 36 16 24 19 26 25 31 15 14 20 30 32 33 13 21 29 28 18 22 23 27 17 24 26 25 16 81-17-W5 19 30 M 15 20 29 i 14 21 28 n 13 22 27 k 10 18 23 26 R 25 i 11 17 24 v 12 16 81-16-W5 19 20 30 29 7 15 21 28 e 27 14 r 8 9 13 22 23 26 25 10WILLIAM 18 17 24 19 30 29 11 12 16 81-15-W5 20 28 7 15 14 21 22 MCKENZIE 8 13 23 24 UTIKOOMAK RENO 9 10 18 17 81-14-W5 19 11 16 20 21 I.R.#151K 12 7 15 22 23 LAKE 3 2 8 14 13 24 1 9 18 81-13-W5 19 20 6 10 17 16 21 22 I.R.#155B 5 11 12 15 23 4 3 7 8 14 13 24 19 2 9 18 81-12-W5 20 1 10 17 16 21 6 11 15 14 5 4 12 7 13 81-11-W5 3 8 9 18 17 81-10-W5 2 10 16 34 1 6 11 15 14 35 5 12 7 13 18 36 4 3 8 17 16 31 32 2 9 10 15 14 33 1 11 12 13 34 6 5 7 18 17 35 36 4 8 9 16
    [Show full text]
  • Little Buffalo Alberta Interview Location
    DOCUMENT NAME/INFORMANT: JOE NOSKIYE 2 INFORMANT'S ADDRESS: LITTLE BUFFALO ALBERTA INTERVIEW LOCATION: LITTLE BUFFALO ALBERTA TRIBE/NATION: BEAVER LANGUAGE: DATE OF INTERVIEW: INTERVIEWER: ERNEST CRANE INTERPRETER: TRANSCRIBER: JOANNE GREENWOOD SOURCE: OFFICE OF SPECIFIC CLAIMS & RESEARCH WINTERBURN, ALBERTA TAPE NUMBER: IH-311A DISK: TRANSCRIPT DISC 40 PAGES: 5 RESTRICTIONS: NONE HIGHLIGHTS: - Loss of treaty status after being accepted as treaty Indian for 40 years. Ernest: What is your name? Joe: Joe Noskiye Ernest: How old are you? Joe: Seventy-seven years old. Ernest: Where were you born? Joe: Loon Lake. Ernest: Have you been living here long? Joe: It's been quite a while now. I was raised at Peerless Lake, around the Trout Lake area. Ernest: Is that where you came from? Joe: That's where we're originally from, but we've been here for 32 years at Little Buffalo. Ernest: But before that, that's where you came from? Joe: Yes. Ernest: But before you came here, you were at Trout Lake? Joe: Before I arrived here? I went to Ft. Vermilion, I stopped at Peace River. I travelled along from there, and this is where I settled, I never went back to Trout Lake. I stayed here at Little Buffalo after I came from Peace River. That's where I got thrown out of treaty. Ernest: At Ft. Vermilion? Joe: Yes. Ernest: You were there for sixteen years? Joe: Yes, I was there for a long time. Ernest: What happened when you got thrown out of treaty? Did you miss any treaty payments? Joe: No, we're not the only ones who got eliminated; there were some other people from Trout Lake too, in fact, people from all around here.
    [Show full text]
  • A Review of Information on Fish Stocks and Harvests in the South Slave Area, Northwest Territories
    A Review of Information on Fish Stocks and Harvests in the South Slave Area, Northwest Territories DFO L b ary / MPO Bibliotheque 1 1 11 0801752111 1 1111 1 1 D.B. Stewart' Central and Arctic Region Department of Fisheries and Oceans Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N6 'Arctic Biological Consultants Box 68, St. Norbert Postal Station 95 Turnbull Drive Winnipeg, MB, R3V 1L5. 1999 Canadian Manuscript Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 2493 Canadian Manuscript Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Manuscript reports contain scientific and technical information that contributes to existing knowledge but which deals with national or regional problems. Distribution is restricted to institutions or individuals located in particular regions of Canada. However, no restriction is placed on subject matter, and the series reflects the broad interests and policies of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, namely, fisheries and aquatic sciences. Manuscript reports may be cited as full publications. The correct citation appears above the abstract of each report. Each report is abstracted in Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries Abstracts and indexed in the Department's annual index to scientific and technical publications. Numbers 1-900 in this series were issued as Manuscript Reports (Biological Series) of the Biological Board of Canada, and subsequent to 1937 when the name of the Board was changed by Act of Parliament, as Manuscript Reports (Biological Series) of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada. Numbers 901-1425 were issued as Manuscript Reports of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada. Numbers 1426-1550 were issued as Department of Fisheries and the Environment, Fisheries and Marine Service Manuscript Reports.
    [Show full text]
  • South Saskatchewan River Legal and Inter-Jurisdictional Institutional Water Map
    South Saskatchewan River Legal and Inter-jurisdictional Institutional Water Map. Derived by L. Patiño and D. Gauthier, mainly from Hurlbert, Margot. 2006. Water Law in the South Saskatchewan River Basin. IACC Project working paper No. 27. March, 2007. May, 2007. Brief Explanation of the South Saskatchewan River Basin Legal and Inter- jurisdictional Institutional Water Map Charts. This document provides a brief explanation of the legal and inter-jurisdictional water institutional map charts in the South Saskatchewan River Basin (SSRB). This work has been derived from Hurlbert, Margot. 2006. Water Law in the South Saskatchewan River Basin. IACC Project working paper No. 27. The main purpose of the charts is to provide a visual representation of the relevant water legal and inter-jurisdictional institutions involved in the management, decision-making process and monitoring/enforcement of water resources (quality and quantity) in Saskatchewan and Alberta, at the federal, inter-jurisdictional, provincial and local levels. The charts do not intend to provide an extensive representation of all water legal and/or inter-jurisdictional institutions, nor a comprehensive list of roles and responsibilities. Rather to serve as visual tools that allow the observer to obtain a relatively prompt working understanding of the current water legal and inter-jurisdictional institutional structure existing in each province. Following are the main components of the charts: 1. The charts provide information regarding water quantity and water quality. To facilitate a prompt reading between water quality and water quantity the charts have been colour coded. Water quantity has been depicted in red (i.e., text, boxes, link lines and arrows), and contains only one subdivision, water allocation.
    [Show full text]
  • Science, Assessments and Data Availability Related to Anticipated
    Science, Assessments and Data Availability Related to Anticipated Climate and Hydrologic Changes in Inland Freshwaters of the Prairies Region (Lake Winnipeg Drainage Basin) David J. Sauchyn and Jeannine-Marie St. Jacques Fisheries and Oceans Canada Freshwater Institute 501 University Crescent Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N6 2016 Canadian Manuscript Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 3107 i Canadian Manuscript Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Manuscript reports contain scientific and technical information that contributes to existing knowledge but which deals with national or regional problems. Distribution is restricted to institutions or individuals located in particular regions of Canada. However, no restriction is placed on subject matter, and the series reflects the broad interests and policies of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, namely, fisheries and aquatic sciences. Manuscript reports may be cited as full publications. The correct citation appears above the abstract of each report. Each report is abstracted in the data base Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries Abstracts. Manuscript reports are produced regionally but are numbered nationally. Requests for individual reports will be filled by the issuing establishment listed on the front cover and title page. Numbers 1-900 in this series were issued as Manuscript Reports (Biological Series) of the Biological Board of Canada, and subsequent to 1937 when the name of the Board was changed by Act of Parliament, as Manuscript Reports (Biological Series) of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada. Numbers 1426 - 1550 were issued as Department of Fisheries and Environment, Fisheries and Marine Service Manuscript Reports. The current series name was changed with report number 1551. Rapport manuscrit canadien des sciences halieutiques et aquatiques Les rapports manuscrits contiennent des renseignements scientifiques et techniques qui constituent une contribution aux connaissances actuelles, mais qui traitent de problèmes nationaux ou régionaux.
    [Show full text]
  • The Skagit-High Ross Controversy: Negotiation and Settlement
    Volume 26 Issue 2 U.S. - Canada Transboundary Resource Issues Spring 1986 The Skagit-High Ross Controversy: Negotiation and Settlement Jackie Krolopp Kirn Marion E. Marts Recommended Citation Jackie K. Kirn & Marion E. Marts, The Skagit-High Ross Controversy: Negotiation and Settlement, 26 Nat. Resources J. 261 (1986). Available at: https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/nrj/vol26/iss2/6 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Law Journals at UNM Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Natural Resources Journal by an authorized editor of UNM Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]. JACKIE KROLOPP KIRN* and MARION E. MARTS** The Skagit-High Ross Controversy: Negotiation and Settlement SETTING AND BACKGROUND The Skagit River is a short but powerful stream which rises in the mountains of southwestern British Columbia, cuts through the northern Cascades in a spectacular and once-remote mountain gorge, and empties into Puget Sound approximately sixty miles north of Seattle. The beautiful mountain scenery of the heavily glaciated north Cascades was formally recognized in the United States by the creation of the North Cascades National Park and the Ross Lake National Recreation Area in 1968, and earlier in British Columbia by creation of the E.C. Manning Provincial Park. The Ross Lake Recreation Area covers the narrow valley of the upper Skagit River in Washington and portions of several tributary valleys. It was created as a political and, to environmentalists who wanted national park status for the entire area, controversial, compromise which accom- modated the city of Seattle's Skagit River Project and the then-planned North Cascades Highway.
    [Show full text]