Kristen Villebrun and Wendy Bush hoped they wouldn't have to pray for Chedoke Creek, but four years after they first raised alarm about the water's condition, they were part of an Indigenous full moon ceremony to do just that. About 50 people showed up near Princess Point on the dark and frigid Monday evening for the monthly ceremony, which was particularly special as it focused on Chedoke Creek. The body of water that runs into Cootes Paradise had about 24 billion litres of sewage and storm water runoff leak into it due to a gate being left open.
When Kevin McCleary and his wife cleared 160 acres of land to build their home in Pouce Coupe, B.C., two decades ago, they didn't expect a hydraulic fracturing gas well pad would be built less than half a kilometre from their front door. Now, McCleary says his family is bombarded by bright lights, foul smells and high-decibel industrial noise from the work site near the community, which is a few kilometres southeast of Dawson Creek in the province's northeast.
More than two decades after improperly treated water contaminated with bacteria from cattle manure killed seven people and sickened thousands in Walkerton, Canada’s worst-ever outbreak of E. coli contamination never fades for municipal officials responsible for supplying clean safe water. Town of Saugeen Shores councillors approved the final Environmental Study Report for the Southampton Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP) Class Environment Assessment (EA) at their April 25 meeting. The need to increase capacity at the plant to handle existing flows, allow for existing non-serviced areas to be serviced, plus future growth for the next 30 years led to the EA and a preferred option that was presented by Ainsley Group consultant Preya Balgobin during a virtual meeting April 25.
An agreement between Canada and the U.S. that has improved and protected the water quality of the Great Lakes and also improved the lives of millions across the basin celebrated its 50th anniversary recently. On April 15, 1972, the two countries signed a water quality agreement to collaborate on the restoration and protection of the Great Lakes. Under the water quality agreement, the two countries engaged state and provincial governments, municipalities and local authorities, First Nations, Métis and Tribal governments, industry, non-governmental organizations and the public in working together to achieve a healthy and sustainable ecosystem across the lakes for the benefit of present and future generations.
Much of southern Manitoba is dealing with overland flooding and high water warnings. The province says the Red River continues to rise, a situation only made worse by last weekend’s storm. Pumps are running around the clock in St. Jean Baptiste. Justin Heinrichs, who was working in town, had to stop to take in just how high the water is, noting he hasn’t seen it this high in a while.
Western Engineering researchers have teamed up with Core Geoscience Services Inc. (CoreGeo) in a project to investigate the use of cryopurification – water treatment by freezing – for treating contaminated water in a mine in Northern Canada. It is a nature-inspired technology based on physics pointing to ice crystals as essentially made up of pure water. “When contaminated water is gradually frozen, ice crystals of pure water grow while the contaminants are rejected from the crystal structure into the liquid phase. The technology has shown to be effective for the removal of contaminants from aqueous solutions and has the potential to decontaminate water resources to provide a safe and clean water supply,” explained Ajay Ray, professor, department of chemical and biochemical engineering.
What happens when Indigenous People lead resource decision-making on their own terms, across their own traditional territories? Communities in Tanzania and Canada are documenting and sharing their experiences, supported by a University of Victoria Department of Geography project that illustrates how partnerships can advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
The mayor of Conmee said Tuesday warmer weather is needed before repairs to roads damaged by weekend flooding can really get underway. The township, about 40 kilometres northwest of Thunder Bay, declared a state of emergency on Monday due to the flooding, Mayor Kevin Holland said. "We received significant rainfall over the weekend in the township, and that combined with the heavy snow load on the ground in the ditches and the watercourses caused some water backing up and flooding," Holland said. "It impacted our road infrastructure pretty heavily.
The Town of Prescott will receive $5.08 million in federal and provincial money to build a new water tower and tear down the old one. The money – about $2.7 million from Ottawa and $2.3 million from Ontario – will pay most of the estimated $6.9 million cost to replace the town’s aging water tower. The money was the largest share of $6.7 million in funds from the federal-provincial Investing in Canada Infrastructure Fund that will go toward three local municipalities for drinking-water projects. Edwardsburgh Cardinal will get $1.54 million toward replacement of a watermain and three fire hydrants to service 27 properties in Cardinal, including an apartment complex along Country Road 2. The Village of Westport will get $80,956 for a new propane generator for its water system.
The impacts of climate change on freshwater lakes are being studied through community-based water monitoring.
Living Lakes Canada has begun asking people to register to monitor their favourite lakes as part of the 2nd Annual National Lake Blitz. Anyone with a camera can participate, with free kits being sent out upon registration for the program. According to Lake Blitz Coordinator, Camille Leblanc, training for the program will begin on May 1 with the training also being available as a recording on the Living Lakes Canada website. There will be simple tools, support and background information that looks at the impact of temperature change, algae blooms and invasive species.
The Timmins flood advisory committee issued a flood watch Tuesday for the Mattagami River. "The committee reports that the most recent streamflow information for the Mattagami River watershed shows that the elevation of many area rivers and streams are still rising in response to the recent precipitation and continued snowmelt," the group said in a news release.
Water issues continued to plague southern Alberta farmers into Tuesday as few details were available as to why or what was happening, but officials later said a resolution had been reached. Those who rely on the Lethbridge Northern Irrigation District (LNID) to water their crops and animals were worried this blockage, and standoff between the government and the Piikani Nation, could cause detrimental results.
After a weekend of heavy rain, Manitobans have been busy cleaning up flooded basements and leaky roofs. That's meant tons of calls for service to local restoration companies. At Paul Davis Restoration in Winnipeg, general manager Ken Cruzat says they usually get four or five calls for service after a storm. But in the last two days, he says they've received 50 calls about water coming through everything from foundation cracks to windows.
Josie Osborne seems careful with her words as she talks about her new job. The former mayor of Tofino, turned MLA, is heading up the new B.C. Ministry of Land, Water and Resource Stewardship and is the minister responsible for fisheries. But through her political composure are glimpses of a lifestyle associated with the little west coast community on Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation territory — she lives on ten acres with her husband, dog, three goats and chickens and works out of a brightly coloured tiny house office.
Some Winkler residents narrowly avoided a flood evacuation Monday night after a broken culvert caused floodwaters to rise in the southern Manitoba city. Around 9 p.m., City of Winkler public works supervisor Terry Froese got a call that a culvert near Highway 32 had buckled, preventing water from flowing through it and putting extra pressure on the dike. When functioning, the culvert drains water east of the highway.
Excessive snowpack and high water levels have communities across the N.W.T. at risk of flooding once again this spring. This includes Hay River, Kátł'odeeche First Nation, Nahanni Butte, Fort Liard, Fort Simpson, Aklavik, Fort Good Hope, Tulita and Jean Marie River First Nation. The N.W.T. government released a technical report on Monday which said there is potential for spring breakup flooding once again this spring.
On Earth Day (April 22), Living Lakes Canada welcomed the Province of B.C.’s commitment of $30 million for projects that will strengthen B.C.’s watershed security. This is a timely announcement given the 2022 Earth Day theme is “Investing in our Planet.” This new funding is an essential step towards the creation of a long-term B.C. Watershed Security Fund, a provincial government commitment that has broad support from Indigenous Nations, local governments, community organizations and businesses.
As climate change persists, researchers and stakeholders are working together to come up with nature based solutions to damage in urban communities caused by extreme weather. Nature Force, a project led by Ducks Unlimited in partnership with 15 property and casualty insurance companies, aims to use natural infrastructure, such as wetlands, to restore and protect high-risk areas from flooding.
Heavy rain Friday night and Saturday morning resulted in a pumping station near the Memorial Sports Centre to fail. Town spokesperson Patrick Briere says crews have been working around the clock to keep water flowing. “It (got) to a point overnight last night where we had a critical infrastructure failure at one of our lift stations. We have crews on scene. They’ve been working all night, and they continue to work to alleviate the problems and the back-ups. We are pushing at 100% capacity for water right now,” says Briere. Briere says residents should ensure their sump pumps are flowing outside.
Indigenous scholars spoke of the need for water to be better protected and appreciated in an online symposium about the natural resource Friday. During a three-hour virtual discussion, hosted by the University of Windsor's Indigenous Legal Orders Institute and Windsor Law, Indigenous community members shared their relationship with water and the ongoing fight to keep it clean. In Anishnaabe tradition, women have held the primary caretaking role in looking after water and protecting it.
If you stand in the centre of the Tintamarre National Wildlife Reserve in New Brunswick near the Nova Scotia border, you get no hint of the art that surrounds you. But birds can see it: acres of sprawling circles, wandering waves, and crisscrossing chevrons, all carved into the wetlands. On Google Maps, the work looks like a child's drawings, or alien crop circles. "It probably looks very bizarre from the air," said Garry Donaldson of Environment Canada. "But guaranteed no aliens were involved in those."
