Government of Alberta
News release
The Government of Alberta is safeguarding water resources with nearly $12 million in new multi-year grants for watershed planning and advisory councils and the Alberta Water Council.
Each year for the next three years, 11 local watershed councils will receive $3.2 million per year to assess watershed health and plan for water management. The Alberta Water Council will receive $750,000 per year for the next three years to preserve water resources.
“World Water Day challenges us to think about how we protect this extraordinary economic and environmental resource. We are taking steps to protect Alberta’s water through partnerships and collaboration.”
– Shannon Phillips, Minister of Environment and Parks, Minister Responsible for the Climate Change Office
Each watershed planning and advisory council represents a major river basin in Alberta. The non-profit organizations work with the public, First Nations, governments, industry and conservation groups to support community flood- and drought-resiliency planning. They also evaluate the health of local watersheds and support water planning and management frameworks.
“The Alberta Government is making a solid commitment to protect an essential Alberta resource. Together with the Alberta Water Council, each water planning and advisory council will leverage this investment into improvement and conservation that benefits Albertans now and into the future.”
– Mark Bennett, Executive Director, Bow River Basin Council.
The Alberta Water Council is a non-profit organization with 24 members from governments, industry and non-government organizations. Its primary task is to monitor and steward implementation of the Alberta’s Water for Life strategy. Members work with major water users to improve efficiency and productivity and work to improve water literacy in the province.
“Water-management issues affect all Albertans. The Government of Alberta’s commitment to predictable funding will support sound, consensus-based advice on important water management issues. We need to work together to tackle flooding and drought, headwater protection and the threat posed by aquatic invasive species and whirling disease.”
– Andre Asselin, Acting Executive Director, Alberta Water Council.
Water for Life
Water is not only a resource, it is a life source. We all share the responsibility to ensure a healthy, secure and sustainable water supply for our communities, environment, and economy – our quality of life depends on it. The Government of Alberta has released the Water for Life action plan, the roadmap that the government and its partners will follow over the next 10 years. The action plan supports the goals and directions in Alberta’s renewed Water for Life strategy.
To view our videos and for more information, go to http://aep.alberta.ca/water/programs-and-services/water-for-life/strategy/downloadable-information-about-the-water-for-life-strategy.aspx.
The renewed strategy better reflects the population increase and economic growth Alberta has seen over the past years, and Albertans’ changing water needs. As in the original, the renewed Water for Life strategy has three main goals:
. Healthy aquatic ecosystems.
. Reliable, quality water supplies for a sustainable economy.
. Safe, secure drinking water.
These goals will be met through knowledge and research, partnerships, and water conservation
The renewed strategy and corresponding action plan reaffirms Alberta’s commitment to the Water for Life approach: the wise management of our province’s water resources for the benefit of all Albertans.