All Resources

Guide to Water Act authorizations required for excavations (dugouts, borrow pits and other types of pits/excavations) [2024]

Description

This document clarifies authorization and application requirements under the Water Act and the Water (Ministerial) Regulation where excavations into the ground are proposed. Typically, excavations... More ≫

Description

This document clarifies authorization and application requirements under the Water Act and the Water (Ministerial) Regulation where excavations into the ground are proposed. Typically, excavations into the ground that may trigger Water Act authorizations are dugouts, borrow pits, pits, or other pits/excavations. This guide does not address excavations that may be created for the purpose of drainage, flood control, erosion control, or channel realignment. Also not addressed by this guide is the issue of whether evaporative loss is considered a "diversion of water" under the Water Act.

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Looking upstream : a 5-year review of Alberta’s monitoring, evaluation, and reporting (MER) plan for lotic systems

Description

This report provides a summary of activities conducted between 2016 and 2021 under A five-year provincial water quality monitoring, evaluation and reporting plan for lotic systems. An overview of... More ≫

Description

This report provides a summary of activities conducted between 2016 and 2021 under A five-year provincial water quality monitoring, evaluation and reporting plan for lotic systems. An overview of this first river water quality monitoring, evaluation and reporting plan is provided, along with an evaluation of key metrics of the program, including sampling details, parameters monitored, and quality assurance/quality control efforts. The report presents summary findings and identifies ongoing gaps related to MER plan scientific questions. Key issues and improvements are recommended for consideration in the development of the next MER plan.

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Status of surface water quality, South Saskatchewan Region, Alberta

Description

This report presents median and 90th percentile (peak) concentrations calculated from monthly water quality samples at Long-Term River Network stations across the South Saskatchewan River Basin.... More ≫

Description

This report presents median and 90th percentile (peak) concentrations calculated from monthly water quality samples at Long-Term River Network stations across the South Saskatchewan River Basin. The results of the report address whether there is a significant change in water quality parameters from historical concentrations, and whether there were any exceedances of limits as defined in the South Saskatchewan Region Surface Water Quality Management Framework. The data provided in this report fulfills the reporting requirements mandated by the Framework, which supports the South Saskatchewan Regional Plan. This publication informs appropriate management responses where necessary and provides reporting of ambient conditions to the Alberta public.

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Status of surface water quality, Lower Athabasca Region, Alberta

Description

This report was prepared to fulfill reporting requirements mandated by the Lower Athabasca Region Surface Water Quality Management Framework for the Lower Athabasca River, which supports the Lower... More ≫

Description

This report was prepared to fulfill reporting requirements mandated by the Lower Athabasca Region Surface Water Quality Management Framework for the Lower Athabasca River, which supports the Lower Athabasca Regional Plan. Each annual report communicates the status of surface water quality at the Athabasca River at Old Fort monitoring site for the calendar year indicated.

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The WaterSHED monitoring program : technical progress report 2018-2021

Description

This is the second technical report from the multistakeholder WaterSHED water quality monitoring program of North Saskatchewan River Basin tributaries. The report includes a summary of program... More ≫

Description

This is the second technical report from the multistakeholder WaterSHED water quality monitoring program of North Saskatchewan River Basin tributaries. The report includes a summary of program operation, results from water quality sampling and flow monitoring, assessments of water quality relative to surface water quality guidelines, and quantification of mass export of several water quality parameters from tributaries across the basin. The report concludes with a review of program learnings realized during operation of the WaterSHED monitoring program and descriptions of ongoing and future work.

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Respect our lakes : responsible lake recreation

Description

This brochure explains how to enjoy recreational activities on Alberta's lakes while minimizing the impacts of these activities, to ensure that our lakes remain healthy and safe for everyone to enjoy.

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Respect our lakes : agriculture around Alberta lakes

Description

This brochure explains how agricultural activities around a lake can affect the water quality of the lake, and what agricultural producers can do to keep sediments and nutrients resulting from... More ≫

Description

This brochure explains how agricultural activities around a lake can affect the water quality of the lake, and what agricultural producers can do to keep sediments and nutrients resulting from agricultural activity out of Alberta's lakes.

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Veterinary pharmaceutical analysis of irrigation water of southern Alberta

Description

This report provides information on the prevalence of veterinary pharmaceutical and synthetic growth hormone residues in irrigation water within Alberta's irrigation districts, as part of the... More ≫

Description

This report provides information on the prevalence of veterinary pharmaceutical and synthetic growth hormone residues in irrigation water within Alberta's irrigation districts, as part of the 10-year Irrigation District Water Quality project. The frequency of detection, concentration, potential toxicity and contribution to antimicrobial resistance of non-target species are detailed. This information is used by the agriculture and irrigation industry to be proactive in addressing environmental concerns and management of Alberta's land and water resources.

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Guide to groundwater authorization [2023]

Description

In Alberta, water is owned by the Crown and its use is regulated by Environment and Protected Areas under the Water Act. The goal of this guide is to clarify the process applicants must follow... More ≫

Description

In Alberta, water is owned by the Crown and its use is regulated by Environment and Protected Areas under the Water Act. The goal of this guide is to clarify the process applicants must follow when applying to conduct an activity that may impact groundwater or divert and use groundwater.

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Oldman River fish community, 2012 : Oldman River Dam environmental monitoring program

Description

The report describes the fish community of the Oldman River between the Oldman River Dam and the confluence with the Bow River, based on the results of field sampling conducted in 2012. Assessment... More ≫

Description

The report describes the fish community of the Oldman River between the Oldman River Dam and the confluence with the Bow River, based on the results of field sampling conducted in 2012. Assessment of the fish community was completed as part of the Oldman River Dam environmental monitoring program. Monitoring was intended to determine the environmental impacts of the construction and operation of Oldman River Dam and the effectiveness of environmental mitigation measures. In 2012, the fish community in the Oldman River was similar to the pre-dam fish community, but the range of fish had likely shifted downstream in response to changes in flow and water temperature. Stocked brown trout persist, but additional work is needed to determine if a sport fishery has developed.

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