Alberta seeking public input regarding water quality protection

CALGARY (660 NEWS) — Alberta’s minister of environment and parks says it’s good news Alberta’s population grew by more than one million over the past 20 years.

However, Jason Nixon explains an uptick in residents can also present challenges.

“Alberta’s growth has led to an important question. How do we make sure clean, high-quality water is available to support healthy communities and a strong economy?” said Nixon.

“This question has been addressed in other areas of our province through surface water quality management frameworks.”

Tuesday, the government announced it launched two new frameworks for the North Saskatchewan, Battle, and Upper Athabasca rivers.

“Effectively managing our water resources requires thought, commitment, and the active participation of Indigenous communities, interested Albertans and other stakeholders,” said Nixon, encouraging everyone to provide feedback online, or through one of the webinars scheduled for early July.

Nixon explains the North Saskatchewan River is a “critical natural resource” serving many Alberta communities, as well as those at the Alberta and Saskatchewan border and beyond.

“It’s clean and reliable flows are the source of drinking water for well over one million Albertans,” he said.

“The North Saskatchewan also offers a healthy aquatic ecosystem, that is home to more than 25 fish species, which is almost half of all the native fish species in Alberta.”

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“Alberta’s aquatic ecosystems, including rivers, lakes, and wetlands, are foundational to the well-being of people and wildlife in this province,” said Thorsten Hebben, provincial operations manager with Ducks Unlimited Canada.

Part of a larger regulatory system, Nixon says these frameworks will help manage development activity and protect water quality.

“[They] establish clear regional objectives. They include thresholds that require a management response when exceeded to ensure our rivers can support water needs for communities, aquatic habitat, and a vibrant economy,” he said.

“Similar frameworks are already in place to monitor and manage long-term, cumulative changes in water quality in the Lower Athabasca, Bow, South Saskatchewan, Oldman and Milk rivers.”

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At the same time as feedback is being gathered in the surface water quality management frameworks, Nixon says there will also be another survey underway, with results expected in the fall.

“The selenium management review will examine current requirements within the regulatory lifecycle of coal projects, with the aim to identify any findings that could pose a threat to water quality,” he said.

“The management review will be led by Environment and Parks, with support from the Alberta Energy Regulator. The review will also examine relevant policy tools used in comparable jurisdictions and how they might be applied in Alberta.”

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