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Southwest Alberta groundwater monitoring program seeks community feedback

Alberta – Communities in the province’s southwest have been grappling with the impacts of prolonged drought, leading to historically low water levels in certain areas. Water restrictions, ecosystems strained by low river and lake levels, and water supply challenges for crops are some of those impacts. Some communities have had to resort to trucking in water, such as the Municipal District of Pincher Creek, which spent more than $1 million between August 2023 and April 2024 on water delivery services.

Living Lakes Canada and Oldman Watershed Council (OWC) are inviting Southwest Alberta residents to share their water concerns and priorities for a new groundwater monitoring initiative. This program aims to raise awareness of groundwater, enhance water management, and ensure sustainable water use for future generations. Community feedback gathered through public meetings and an online survey will help guide the selection of groundwater monitoring sites throughout the region.

“Collaboration is key to addressing the water challenges we face,” Shannon Frank, executive director with OWC, said. “By coming together to share local knowledge and concerns, we can build a monitoring program that reflects the needs of local communities and helps support a water secure future.”

Groundwater plays an important role in ensuring water security. It serves as a critical freshwater reserve for communities and industry, while also replenishing wetlands, streams, rivers, and lakes to sustain healthy ecosystems.

Living Lakes and OWC are collaborating with the Piikani Nation Lands Department and BGC Engineering to implement this groundwater mapping and monitoring initiative. 

“Our goal is to ground this program in the shared values of the community while aligning with scientific priorities,” Maggie Finkle-Aucoin, program manager with Living Lakes, said. “The data collected will offer crucial insights into groundwater levels to help guide sustainable water management and support adaptation planning.”

Members of the public are invited to register for the following community meeting:

• In-person meeting at the Heritage Inn in Pincher Creek, AB: March 5, 7-8:30 pm MT REGISTER HERE

• Online meeting via Zoom: March 13, 12- 1:30 pm MT REGISTER HERE

These interactive sessions will provide an opportunity for participants to share their perspectives on local groundwater concerns and monitoring priorities, and ask questions about the Alberta Groundwater Program led by Living Lakes and OWC.

Feedback is also being collected through an online survey. 

“We encourage folks to complete the survey even if they plan on attending a meeting,” Finkle-Aucoin said.

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