This presentation describes our project to create a tool to communicate climate change in the Okanagan Valley. I will explain the design philosophies, challenges, and iterative processes involved in making the indicators and graphs as intuitive as possible._x000D_ _x000D_ Climate change communication is critical but complex. By its nature, climate change is full of complex interactions, variability, and uncertainty; Thus, many graphs meant to inform only confuse. Even for highly educated non-subject matter experts, it is difficult to keep track of and understand the ever-increasing research on climate. The disconnect can be even worse when communicating with the public in a time of increasing misinformation and distrust of experts. Tools like our indicators dashboard useful to develop across Canada. Local communities face local implications for climate change and water management issues, and subject matter experts must invest in creating accessible communication tools tailored to their communities._x000D_ _x000D_ The talk will explore communication in the context of the Okanagan Valley, which has numerous water management issues that are made more acute by climate change. As heatwaves, fires, floods, cold snaps, and droughts intensify, conflict over water management priorities is increasing. After looking for a tool that could help communicate climate change at a regional and local level and failing to find one, we decided to create our own. The result was a dashboard where residents, decision-makers, and local experts can view how their communities have changed over the past 100+ years. _x000D_
What is the status/state of our water resources and how are they changing? Understanding streamflow conditions throughout a jurisdiction, if they are changing over time, and being able to communicate this information to managers and the public is important. Although historical and real-time streamflow data are publicly available, there are few examples of public-facing reporting frameworks related to status and trends in water resources. Such frameworks need indicators best suited to assess status and trends in those hydrologic characteristics most relevant to decision making such as knowing and effectively communicating “how large/small is x”, “how does x compare to ‘normal’ conditions”, “is x increasing/decreasing” and “is there a significant trend in x”? Building such a framework needs to balance supporting informed decisions for non-hydrologists without the scientific knowledge of the [1] sensitivity of indicators to data quality, [2] spatial focus on change (i.e. occurring locally or more broadly), [3] appropriate temporal scope for the analysis (i.e. period of record, climate standard normals, or smaller windows), [4] analytical methods best for calculating change, [5] methods that are robust, reproducible, and transferrable, and [6] visualization of results. We present ideas to address these questions and to stimulate a discussion for development of a trustable framework for reporting status and trends in Canadian waters.
The Clean Water Act, 2006 (CWA) and its associated regulations aim to safeguard current and future drinking water sources before they enter municipal systems. By establishing a locally driven, science-based, multi-stakeholder framework, a collaborative approach to protecting both municipal and designated private drinking water sources has been established. This process emphasizes shared responsibility among stakeholders to mitigate threats to water quality and quantity. Complementing the Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002, which mandates the monitoring of municipal drinking water quality to meet provincial standards, the CWA focuses on proactive source water protection._x000D_ Key parameters such as sodium (Na), chloride (Cl), and nitrate (NO3) are prioritized for monitoring due to their mobility in groundwater systems and their role as indicators of surface activities impacting the quality of groundwater resources. Regular sampling and analysis of these and other parameters inform water quality trend analysis, a critical tool for identifying and addressing deteriorating source water conditions. _x000D_ Water quality trend analysis, supported by visual plots, serves as a critical tool in proactively identifying deteriorating source water quality conditions before they escalate into significant drinking water issues. By examining changes in water quality parameters over time, these analyses enable early detection of future risks, facilitating timely intervention. Additionally, trend analysis helps isolate factors contributing to identified issues, offering insights into the origins of contamination or degradation. Furthermore, this approach aids in assessing the effectiveness of existing Drinking Water Source Protection Plan policies, providing valuable feedback for improving strategies to safeguard source water quality. _x000D_ By leveraging a collaborative groundwater management database and encouraging continuous monitoring and data collection, status and trend analysis tools enhance our ability to maintain sustainable and safe water resources.
The Bow River Basin Council (BRBC) has recently released the State of the Bow River Watershed Report. To help develop this report, a Water Quality Technical Committee (WQTC) was formed to develop a scope of work, retain a qualified consultant, and subsequently report on water quality across the Bow River Basin in five reaches. The Bow River Basin is one of the most heavily utilized watersheds in Alberta, serving a population of 1.6 million people. This also includes the irrigation of agricultural crops as the primary consumptive water use as well as over 15 dams and weirs. Consequently, the Bow River Basin is a unique case study in collaborative water management. The WQTC included 15 water quality experts and representatives from a range of affiliations to determine the reporting method that would best meet everyone’s needs. _x000D_ Water quality data spanning 2002 to 2022 from the Bow River mainstem and tributaries was compiled primarily through Parks Canada, Alberta Environment and Protected Areas, and the City of Calgary. Fifteen parameters were selected as primary indicators within the overall South Saskatchewan Region Surface Water Quality Management Framework, and their concentrations were compared against applicable surface water quality guidelines. Parameter fluxes were reported at stations where water flow data were available. Overall water quality and trends are presented in an online platform, with boxplots and percentile values used to highlight notable trends over time. _x000D_ This presentation will summarize the work of the WQTC and present results of surface water quality across the watershed.
At the 2022 CWRA National Conference in Canmore, Living Lakes Canada introduced the Columbia Basin Water Monitoring Framework (CBWMF). This presentation marked the launch of a community-informed hydrological monitoring project that has since been operationalized. This coordinated water monitoring network uses a novel methodology that addresses scientific data gaps in conjunction with community concerns and priorities collected via public outreach and engagement. The resulting monitoring network currently includes more than 100 sites ranging from stream flow to meteorological stations and groundwater observation wells. This substantial increase in monitoring activity within the Columbia Basin is mitigating data scarcity in the region. The CBWMF was featured in the peer-reviewed journal Water International in 2024 as a case study for integrated watershed management. _x000D_ _x000D_ While Living Lakes Canada recognizes the necessity of longer-term data records for trend analyses and to capture hydrologic variability, near-term applications of CBWMF data have already been initiated. These include monitoring water supply in collaboration with several municipalities and First Nations to inform climate action plans, supporting community climate adaptation strategies such as identifying water sources for wildfire suppression, and assessing sustainable water usage. Additionally, the data is informing restoration projects in several watersheds and water licensing decisions. Program data is also contributing to the development and validation of regional water models, extending the program's benefits beyond the monitored streams. _x000D_ _x000D_ This presentation will detail the methods behind the development of this community-driven project and share some of the preliminary findings and outcomes for water security and climate resilience. _x000D_
Information regarding the spatial and temporal distribution of water resources is critical for effective water management. This information can be partly obtained through a carefully designed network of hydrometeorological and stream gauging stations. However, comprehensive spatial measurements are often lacking, and in sparsely instrumented regions, obtaining such observations becomes even more challenging._x000D_ _x000D_ Launched in 2022, the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) satellite provides valuable data to support water management. These data include observations of water surface elevations in rivers more than 100 m wide and lakes more than 250 m x 250 m at a global scale._x000D_ _x000D_ This research assesses the value of SWOT data for hydrological modelling. We first compare the SWOT observations with data collected by the Water Survey of Canada (WSC). This comparison is performed systematically by looking at: i) data extracted at locations within the SWOT River Database (SWORD) obtained from the high-rate stream pixel cloud vector product; and ii) data extracted from the high-rate stream raster product. The SWOT observations are then assessed to be used in a data assimilation framework using the MESH (Modélisation Environnementale communautaire - Surface Hydrology) model.
Streamflow monitoring is critical for effective water resource management, environmental monitoring, flood mitigation, and ecosystem services. However, there is an increasing decline in streamflow measurements in Canada. In 2023, the total hydrometric stations operated by Water Survey of Canada were 20% lesser than in 1980s, owing to funding constraints, aging infrastructure and competing interests. At the same time, advances in new technologies, such as remote sensing and drones, and focus on data analytics through predictive modelling and machine learning are believed to be able to compensate for lack of streamflow measurements. In this study, we implement hydrological modelling, machine learning and statistical approaches to generate a proxy streamflow data for a catchment, where we have long-term observed data available. Then we perform several analyses, including flood frequency analysis, flow duration curve, trends and indicators of hydrological alterations to show that field observations can be complemented, but not substituted by alternative approaches.
Climate change is reshaping global hydrological patterns in higher-latitude regions, intensifying floods and droughts. In Canada, it has made runoff timing and quantity more unpredictable and altered the balance between snowmelt and rainfall-driven flow, while shifting the seasonality of peak discharges. Our collective field-based research seeks to improve understanding and prediction of mountain headwater runoff generation. This is accomplished through systematic monitoring of snow accumulation, ablation, melt, soil moisture, and other observed variables while integrating high-frequency monitoring of stable isotopes in water (2H, 18O) tied to advanced hydrological models. Central to this work is deployment of state-of-the-art equipment to collect water isotope samples from precipitation, snowpacks, snowmelt, and runoff in headwaters of the South Saskatchewan River Basin. This monitoring builds upon the well-established hydrometeorological observations of the Canadian Rockies Hydrological Observatory. These tools will generate high-frequency data on snowmelt flux, isotopic composition, and soil moisture critical for enhancing model accuracy. Furthermore, since cold remote environments pose several challenges for standard monitoring techniques, we test and refine methods for improved data collection. By integrating water isotope data with concurrent hydrometeorological measurements, this research aims to refine traditional snowmelt models, reduce uncertainty in peak flow prediction, and provide early indicators of climate change. This study is linked with Global Water Futures Observatories and broader networks of snow and water isotope research across Alberta, the Canadian Prairies, and the pan-Arctic, enabling cross-scale analyses with the aim of making local monitoring and modelling takeaways more broadly applicable.
The collection of streamflow data in northeast BC (NEBC) by the Water Survey of Canada has declined in recent decades, with ~20 active hydrometric stations in NEBC today, compared with over 50 historically. The active stations are primarily collecting streamflow data for larger systems, leaving a data gap for the smaller, tributary systems. This data gap represents a challenge with applying the provincial Environmental Flow Needs policy on water authorization requests on many of these smaller watersheds which have little to no hydrologic data to support decisions. _x000D_ _x000D_ The BCER and various other users, rely on the Northeast Water Tool (NEWT) to support water licence and short-term use approval application decisions. It is widely accepted and acknowledged that NEWT is not without limitations, which includes a higher degree of uncertainty for smaller basins, due to limited data for calibration. _x000D_ _x000D_ First Nation communities within Treaty Eight have expressed water as their highest priority and concern. A specific concern relates to water withdrawals from small watersheds, the lack of data, and the reliance on NEWT for water management decisions given its limitations. _x000D_ _x000D_ To help address the small watershed data gap and FN concerns, the BCER established this program, collecting streamflow data in smaller watersheds in NEBC. The long-term objective is to build stronger relationships with FNs and gather streamflow information in smaller watersheds to inform future water allocation and watershed management._x000D_ _x000D_ An overview of how the BCER manages water authorizations through applying the provincial EFN policy will also be covered in this presentation.
Stage-discharge rating curves are the workhorses of hydrometric data production and review. They are a fundamental concept to understand for any hydrometric data collector, reviewer, or user. Many applications are available to assist in the development and validation of rating curves yet there are challenges among these applications in their modelling assumptions, costs, and transparency. _x000D_ _x000D_ The BC Provincial Hydrology Program presents a newly developed and free to use Hydrometric Rating Application (HydRA). HydRA can be used to develop and verify stage-discharge rating curves. Its primary outputs are a rating curve equation and rating development report. Other features include a guided tour on rating curve theory and HydRA’s functionality. HydRA has been used by governments, consultants, First Nations, NGOs, and academia with positive results. This presentation will introduce and demo the tool including key considerations for rating curve development. Open discussion may ensue regarding rating curve development best practices and approaches._x000D_
Hydrometric data production is a lot like cooking: you go to the field to collect your groceries before bringing them back to the office to start cooking. Yet while aspiring home-chefs find the act of cooking more fun than shopping, hydrometric practitioners tend to think the opposite. Data review is a challenging and time intensive process filled with uncertainty. Using standard methods to correct, publish, and grade data is vital for producing data sets that are reliable for end users._x000D_ _x000D_ This presentation will present data from recent BC Provincial Hydrology Program hydrometric review activities to highlight sources of uncertainty and discuss the net result on the output discharge dataset. From measurement and reference of stage, rating curve development, shifting to a base curve, and grading final discharge results, the entire data production process will be assessed. _x000D_ _x000D_ Results from a recent data review noise audit will be presented. Preliminary results from different operational data collection and review techniques will also be demonstrated. Intrinsic to all of these discussions is the application of BC Provincial RISC Standards for hydrometric data collection and review._x000D_
The National Hydrological Service (NHS) is overseen by the Meteorological Service of Canada (MSC) within the Department of Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). The NHS monitors the water level and water flow of rivers and lakes across Canada and provides technical support and expert advice for international and domestic transboundary water management. Monitoring of water levels and water flow also known as hydrometric monitoring is conducted through a partnership with provinces and territories. Since 1975, the federal, provincial and territorial governments have established bilateral hydrometric agreements to co-manage the funding and provision of water quantity monitoring services on a cost-shared basis under the authority of the Canada Water Act. The NHS is one of the main operators of the National Hydrometric Program, operating approximately 2200 of the 2800 hydrometric stations across Canada. With aging infrastructure and emerging technologies and innovations, NHS will discuss the recent program revitalization and upgrades to hydrometric infrastructure, including gauging stations, hydrometric cableways, controls, and others across hundreds of hydrometric stations. NHS will also discuss upgrades in design considerations to further safety and resilience in hydrometric infrastructure amidst today's changing climate, enforcing NHS' continued commitment to deliver timely, quality hydrometric data.
