News & Events @ Centre for Hydrology

Canada has vast reserves of water – yet only 7% of the world’s renewable supply. Water is of critical economic and strategic importance—a resource, a commodity and an essential element in health, agriculture, energy, urban, commercial and industrial development. What is happening to our water resources? What have we learned about changing water conditions across Canada over the last few years—and what questions remain? The Canadian Foundation for Climate and Atmospheric Sciences and Environment Canada invite you to find out.

Since 2000, the Foundation has invested $14.4 million in water related research. The workshop will look at what has emerged from this work and its relevance to safety, security, ecosystems, health and economic development. The Symposium will provide a forum on water security for policy and decision makers, in cooperation with researchers.

Why: Water is essential to our existence. While Canada appears to have infinite supplies, only a very small proportion of it is renewed annually. Most of Canada’s rivers flow north, away from major population centres and there is increasing pressure on the reserves we do have. Scientists predict an acceleration of changes in water supply, which will impact on water use for consumption, production and development. To what extent can we foresee, forestall or adapt to the changes? Speakers will report on what we’ve learned and on what we still need to know.

Where: The Drawing Room, Fairmont Château Laurier Hotel, 1 Rideau Street, Ottawa.

When: 09:00–17:30, Thursday May 27—09:00-15:00 Friday May 28, 2010
A reception will be held from 17:30-18:30 on Thursday May 27.

Who: Participants from federal, provincial and private sector organizations, universities, non-governmental organizations and the media.

Registration: There is no fee; however, delegates must confirm their participation to bellerive@cfcas.org (tel.: 613 238-2223 ext. 201).

For more information: contact conway@cfcas.org (tel.: 613 238-2223 ext. 202).

Posted by G. Lilbaek at 12:31 PM | Permalink

from Revelstoke Times Review
A distinguished panel of glacier scientists was in Golden on Feb. 1 week to present information about the state of water reserves in the Columbia Basin, and to discuss the impacts of shrinking water supply.
Kindy Gosal, Director of Water and Environment for Columbia Basin Trust, said the evening was intended to be an information session for the citizens of the area about glacial recession.
“I think it’s important information to fill in the knowledge gap that people have in this basin about what’s going to happen for the future of water supply in the face of climate change and the recession of our glaciers,” said Gosal.
“The reason we need this information is because those glaciers are our banks and reserves of water. And really, we don’t have a good idea what’s happened to those bank accounts of water and what the future impacts might be as those bank accounts become depleted, or how fast we’re depleting their funds.”
Speaking at the event, Brian Menounos, from University of Northern British Columbia, commented on the potential political ramifications of this research. Part of this involves striking a balance between the electricity and water needs of the people in the Columbia Basin, southern British Columbia, and exports to the United States.
“One of the reasons we are studying these glaciers – and this is also why BC Hydro finds this interesting – people are going to consider the renegotiation of the Columbia Basin Treaty. When it was actually first set, at the turn of the last century, people assumed the glaciers were at their extent, that climate was more or less stable. We know that is not the case now. So we have to have a better understanding of how those glaciers have changed and how surface flows have changed.”

Read more here

Posted by G. Lilbaek at 01:11 PM | Permalink