State of the Watershed Report - SEAWA
Project Description:
SEAWA, a non-profit organization created in 2007 as part of Alberta Environment's Water for
Life program, is a Watershed Policy and Advisory Council. Funded primarily by the Government
of Alberta, it also receives substantial contributions from irrigation districts, municipalities,
private industries and individual donors.
The Board of Directors has representatives from rural and urban municipalities, industry, nongovernment organizations, irrigators, provincial and federal government agencies, agriculture,
academic organizations and environmental groups.
The State of the Watershed Committee reports to the Board and is supported in turn by
volunteer experts on Steering and Technical Committees. Its initial task is to prepare a report
summarizing all information relevant to watershed issues in the South Saskatchewan River Basin
from the confluence of the Bow and Oldman Rivers to the Saskatchewan border.
SEAWA has elected to make this available to the public through a web-based reporting tool.
SEAWA has hosted two workshops (agricultural practice and working wells) and a major
conference (on groundwater) in the past year and is planning future events.
Why is this important?
Water quantity and quality are crucial issues for everyone living in the South Saskatchewan
River Basin. No new water licenses will be issued, so it is important for both urban and rural
residents of the SSRB to pay attention to the water resources we have, how they are used and
how we plan to protect them. Most of the water use in the basin is allocated for irrigation in
rural areas.
Who might be interested?
Everyone who lives or works in the South Saskatchewan River Basin should be interested. We
all use water and we must all be concerned with its quality and distribution. For more
information, contact Bob Phillips, Executive Director of the South East Alberta Watershed
Alliance.
For more information contact:
Name
Peter Wallis
Institution Medicine Hat College