Love Your Headwaters

We rely on the headwaters of the Rocky Mountains for 90% of Alberta’s drinking water. Fed by rain, snow, and glacier ice, these landscapes absorb, clean, and release our water into streams and river systems — eventually reaching our homes in communities across the province.

The goal of Love Your Headwaters is to protect Alberta’s headwaters and the landscapes that provide them.

Learn about our work through our current project regions: The Castle, The Bighorn, Livingstone-Porcupine Hills and Kananaskis/Ghost, or read on to explore the importance of headwaters.

In 2017 Water, Website

Lac La Biche Shoreline Management

The Sensitive Habitat Inventory Mapping (SHIM) project for Lac La Biche was initiated in 2016 to respond to community concerns expressed by the Stewards of the Lac La Biche Watershed, over the health of the lake. This project characterizes the physical and biological features of the lake’s foreshore so that sensitive areas can be identified and subsequently protected during shoreline development. The SHIM methodology was developed by Fisheries and Oceans Canada in British Columbia, and while it has been successfully incorporated into land use planning for several lakes there, the Lac La Biche SHIM project will be the first example of its use elsewhere in Canada.

 

In 2016 Conservation, Environment, Publication, Rural, Water

Lac La Biche Foreshore Inventory and Mapping Report

Lac La Biche is a large lake situated in the Boreal Mixedwood Ecoregion of northeastern Alberta. It has numerous bays and rocky offshore islands, as well as wide areas of shallow littoral habitat characterized by extensive submerged and emergent vegetation. The lake provides important habitat for many fish species, as well as colonial and migratory waterbirds and aquatic mammals. It supports sport and domestic fisheries and is a popular recreational destination for swimming, boating, fishing, hiking, and nature appreciation.

In recent years, Lac La Biche has experienced declines in water quality and fish populations, leading to widespread blue-green algal blooms and fishery closures. The Sensitive Habitat Inventory Mapping (SHIM) project for Lac La Biche was initiated in 2016 to respond to community concerns over the health of the lake. This project characterizes the physical and biological features of the lake’s foreshore so that sensitive areas can be identified and subsequently protected during shoreline development. While this method has been applied to several lakes in British Columbia and successfully incorporated into land-use planning there, the Lac La Biche SHIM project, once completed, will be the first example of its use elsewhere in Canada.

In 2016 Conservation, Environment, Publication, Rural, Water

Advancements in Irrigation Agriculture with Implications for Economic Development and Environmental Stewardship in Southern Alberta

The final report of a study investigating the adoption of technological advancements in irrigation agriculture found irrigators are actively adopting these technologies, generating benefits for irrigators, the broader communities that depend on irrigation, and the environment. Often referred to as “precision agriculture”, the technologies improve crop yield and quality, as well as reduce farm inputs. Examples of such technologies are GPS systems, satellite imagery, auto-steer technology, and weather monitoring sensors.

The study, entitled “Advancements in Irrigation Agriculture with Implications for Economic and Community Development and Environmental Stewardship in Southern Alberta”, surveyed Taber Irrigation District irrigators. The findings were recently released by researchers Drs. Lorraine and Chris Nicol of the University of Lethbridge.

The study found:
– 81% of irrigators have adopted some form of precision agriculture;
– yearly crop yields have increased an average 20% and yearly crop quality has increased an average 16%;
– yearly reductions in irrigation water, fertilizer, herbicides and pesticides have ranged from 14% to 24%;
– precision agriculture technologies are being applied largely to specialty crops;
– for 85% of adopters, precision agriculture has affected their overall farm management approach;
– 89% of adopters are highly satisfied with the technology;
– 92% of adopters plan to adopt additional precision agriculture technologies in the future;
– non-adopters indicate small operations, high investment costs, and incompatibility of machines are the main reasons for their non-adoption of precision agriculture technologies.

In 2018 Academic Research, Land Stewardship, Landowners, Water

Nexus Water Brochure

Founded in 2006, in the spirit of the Water for Life strategy, the Alberta WaterPortal provides inclusive research, community engagement, and educational activities to improve the public’s understanding of the importance of water in Alberta, as well as providing Albertans with the knowledge needed to make better water management decisions.

Today’s water challenges and opportunities clearly cross many different jurisdictions, stakeholders and communities. Addressing the protection, allocation and management of our water resources and water systems requires creative mechanisms for dialogue and networking, as well as coordinated efforts to explore and share data and experiences among water users, managers, and researchers.

In 2016 Community, Conservation, Primer/brochure, Water

The Alberta Water Nexus: Energy, Food, People

Water is the nexus between food, energy, and people. Water is required to meet the demands of our growing population, to maintain and improve environmental health, and to support the production of food and energy. As the availability of water changes and our population grows meeting the demands in the Nexus will become increasingly challenging.

In 2016 Environment, Video/podcast, Water

Challenges and Solutions in Acquiring Water for Housing Development

A study in 2015 found preliminary evidence that in some municipalities in the Calgary region, housing developers are facing challenges when it comes to acquiring licensed water allocations for new housing developments (Nicol & Nicol, 2015). This study explored the issue of water challenges and housing development in more depth. The study focussed on housing development in three of the most water-stressed municipalities in the Calgary region – the municipalities of Rocky View County, M.D. Foothills and the town of Okotoks, and involved personal interviews with 15 housing developers in the region. The study considered four main lines of inquiry: (a) developers’ views of water challenges; (b) the nature and source of the problem; (c) the consequence of water challenges; and (d) solutions. An additional dimension of the study involved a preliminary assessment of the potential impact a decline in housing construction could have on the real estate sector.

In 2016 Policy and Research, Publication, Water

A Sustainable Water Supply for Alberta: Managing the Water-Energy-Food Nexus

A nexus is the place where points intersect, linking many different parts of a system together. Water is the nexus between food, energy, and people. Water is required to meet the demands of our growing population, to maintain and improve environmental health, and to support the production of food and energy. As the availability of water changes and our population grows, meeting the demands in the Nexus will become increasingly challenging.

In 2015 Community, Environment, Publication, Water

Energy Poverty — An Agenda for Alberta

This paper grew from a demonstration project to prove the business case for energy efficiency upgrades to affordable housing properties in Calgary.

In 2013 Community, Energy, Water, Website

Traversing Terrain and Experience: Atlas of the Battle River and Sounding Creek Watersheds

The land that drains into the Battle River and Sounding Creek- these watersheds- provide a backdrop for the unfolding lives lived full of courage and tragedy, heroism and heartbreak. Over time, this landscape has witnessed the retreat of glaciers, Indigenous peoples and great herds of bison, the arrival of the Fur Trade and European settlers, the ploughing of fields, and the creation of modern cities. This book tells these stories, and many more.

Format: full hard copy available at AREF’s office

 

In 2014 Conservation, Environment, Water

The Canadian Water Innovation Lab 2010 – October 18-14 in Ekshaw Alberta Final Report

Waterlution’s ‘unconference’ brought together 250 young Canadians from diverse communities and sectors for a week of dialogue, field tours, and applied workshops around water issues.

In 2010 Convening, Water

Sustainable Action Canmore

This project was a pioneering community-based program designed to foster sustainable behaviour among the Town’s households. Combining door-to-door canvassing with the tools of Community-Based Social Marketing, the program enlisted residents to take action in one of four domains: water use, energy efficiency, waste reduction, and transportation impacts.

*FOR UPDATED VERSION CLICK HERE*

In 2009 Community, Energy, Environment, Primer/brochure, Water

Making the Connection: Water and Land in Alberta

A comprehensive analysis of how land use impacts the health of watersheds, Making the Connection points out the best – and often cheapest – way to maintain clean drinking water, healthy aquatic ecosystems, and abundant fisheries is not to allow them to be compromised in the first place.

In 2009 Environment, Land Stewardship, Publication, Water

Future of Alberta Land Use Customized Land Use Presentations for the Real Estate Industry by Brad Stelfox

This is a customized and interactive powerpoint presentation focused on the real estate industry in Alberta, with emphasis on residential growth.

o Comparison of growing out (sprawl) vs growing up. o Indicators on land footprint, infrastructural construction and maintenance costs, commuting time, fuel requirements, etc. o Projected population growth in urban, rural residential, and agricultural residential settings.

o Changes to family metrics (size, age, other demographics) and how they will influence demand side for different growth forms.

Grant #: 2008-14
Author: Alberta Real Estate Foundation
Year: 2008
Format: Alberta Land Use Presentation

In 2008 Community, Convening, Homeowners, Land Stewardship, Landowners, Water

Building Towards Water Efficiency: Policy Innovation and Education in New and Existing Homes

Residential builders and REALTOR®s have been neglected in water efficiency research. But these groups can be a highly influential and there are some exciting examples of innovation in Ontario, the Canadian West and in California. This two-year research project investigates the sample groups’ deep beliefs and values – their tacit knowledge. The results will be used to contribute to effective policy for residential water efficiency.

 

In 2008 Homeowners, Policy, Publication, Water

The Future of the South Saskatchewan River Basin

Water interviews with local experts for U of L water research. This resource is available as a hard copy in CD format in the AREF office.

In 2006 Publication, Water

On the Living Edge: Your Guide for Waterfront Living

On The Living Edge contains information specifically for lakefront and streamside properties in Alberta. REALTOR®S® use this publication as a gift for waterfront purchasers, information for consumers and for pre-purchase support. The publication includes information on erosion, septic systems, building by water and purchasing tips.

 

In 2003 Community, Homeowners, Realtors, Water

LawNow June/July 2004

LawNow Magazine with a feature on water. This resource is available in hard copy format in the AREF office.

In 2002 Publication, Water