EDUCATORS IN RESIDENCE HI-KANANASKIS
Kananaskis and Bow Rivers
On a warm summer day, deep within the Rocky Mountains of Kananaskis Country, the glacial ice of longago, snows begin to melt on the north face of Mt. Joffre. As the water trickles down the barren rock of
the mountain, it connects with other tiny flows to form a small creek that descends into Aster Lake.
Smaller glaciers and seasonal snow packs also trickle into the lake that lies above tree line. These
multiple sources lead to a substantial creek flowing out of the lake and into the forested valley below.
The trees block direct sunlight from reaching the forest floor and ground water from the recent storm
continues to slowly seep into the creek. As the unnamed creek continues down into the valley, it feeds
into Foch Creek. Other feeder streams add to the volume of Foch, before it flows into Hidden Lake.
Hidden Lake is one of many sources feeding the much larger Upper Kananaskis Lake, which in turn feeds
Lower Kananaskis Lake.
Lower Kananaskis Lake is considered to be the source of the Kananaskis River, but the river does not just
begin at the lake. Mt. Joffre lies at the southernmost point of the watershed or region where all water
ultimately flows into the Kananaskis River. A great number of small sources unite to form a creek and
many creeks produce a river. A river then needs a fairly large land base or water shed in order to
maintain its water supply.
Many more creeks flow down the mountains and into the valley, feeding the Kananaskis. The village of
Kananaskis draws water from the river to supply its guests and maintain its facilities. A short distance later
the river is dammed to provide water storage and regulated release. These scheduled releases offer
recreational opportunities for canoeists, kayakers, and rafters who enjoy whitewater paddling in the
modified stream channel. The Kananaskis then flows into the Bow River.
The Bow River is surprisingly clear and cold as it leaves its source in the Rocky Mountains and meanders
towards Calgary. This is the most densely populated watershed or river basin in all of Alberta. With the
explosive growth of Calgary and the surrounding area, the demand for water is increasing. This is why the
Kananaskis and many other rivers feeding the Bow are dammed. The Bow River is also extensively
dammed for water storage and to control water flow for Calgary and further downstream. These
reservoirs store and control the release of water to meet the demands of over 1.2 million people.
On a hot summer day in Calgary, people are floating down the Bow River in canoes, rafts, inner tubes
and light wetsuits. The water is very clear and it is possible to fish in the river. Despite heavy water
demands on the Bow from the city, about 90% of the water taken from the river goes back to the river.
The discharge from homes, schools, businesses and car washes is treated and returned to the Bow River.
It sounds a bit unsavory, but if you continue downstream from Calgary you can see the results.
Beyond Calgary, the Bow River is
world famous for Rainbow and
Brown trout fishing. Granted,
the fish are not native to the
river, but the water quality
needs to be good in order to
support the population. Riparian
habitat (the lush green
vegetation characterized by
cottonwood trees along the
banks of the river) is prime
nesting habitat for many of the
province's songbirds. If you ever
get tired of looking at
mountains, float down the Bow
River south of Calgary. The
landscape is completely
different, but it is incredibly
beautiful. And then, just when
you think it couldn't get any
better, you are proven correct.
The last third of the Bow River takes on a completely different character due to the Bassano Dam. The
dam creates a reservoir, primarily for irrigation. During low water or drought years, very little is released
downstream. In some years the water levels on the Bow River, past Bassano Dam, are so low that
canoes become stuck in the mud. In 2006, water levels below Bassano were so shallow that an adult
could walk across the entire river without getting their knees wet. The fish are essentially gone, the riparian
vegetation is disappearing, and the river becomes warm and smells foul.
The rules regarding how much water any one person or business can take from the Bow River is
managed through water licenses. Each water license is currently based on preset amounts of
withdrawal, regardless of how much water is actually in the river. In 2001, the region experienced a very
dry year and the licensed water withdrawals exceed the amount of water that was actually in the river.
2006 was another dry year that came very close to repeating the drought of 2001. As the population
continues to grow in the Bow River Basin, and the climate continues to change, the odds are getting
smaller that any water melting from the glaciers of Mt. Joffre will ever reach the ocean.
Bow River Facts
The Bow River begins at the Bow Glacier in Banff National Park. The glacier has been steadily receding for
over a century and today it is nearly gone. Some experts will point out that this is not a major concern
since glacial ice only contributes a few percent of the total annual flow of the river. This however is not
an accurate picture of the glacier's contribution. On particularly hot dry summers, glaciers act as
reservoirs to sustain the river. The additional heat increases the rate of ice melt and adds a surge of
water to the parched river basin. During a hot dry summer about half of all the water in the Bow River
leaving Banff National Park, came from a glacier. Glaciers and icefields are about the most efficient
drought protection/water storage systems we have, and they are free. Currently almost every glacier on
earth is receding rapidly, which is adding to the increased severity of water shortages and droughts
around the world.
In 1951, there were about one million
people living in Alberta. In 2001, (fifty
years later) there are over three million. In
the last ten years the population in the
Bow River Basin has increased by 250,000
people. The population within the basin
will continue to grow, but the volume of
water in the Bow River is expected to
decline 10% by 2050. The provincial
government has already allocated water
licenses for more water than even exists in
the river on a bad year. Where do we go
from here?
Irrigation accounts for just over 75% of the water licenses on the Bow River. In average years they
withdraw between 25% and 50% of the water flowing in the Bow River during the spring and summer.
During a dry year or drought, they can withdraw as much as 90% of the water in the river. Why does this
area need so much water, when lands to the north use no irrigation to grow crops? The answer lies at
least in part with the railroad. If you draw a line from the Canadian border straight up to Calgary and
then a diagonal down to the very southeast corner of Saskatchewan you have the rough outline of the
Palliser Triangle. It is not boats and planes that disappear from this region; it’s water.
From 1857-1861, John Palliser led an expedition to survey the land of western Canada and determine its
suitability for agriculture and other resource developments. In his report to the British Government he
indicated that this region (later called the Palliser Triangle) should not be used for agriculture, as it
appeared to be too arid. When Canada began searching for possible routes to build a railroad across
the country, they recruited a botanist, John Macoun, to determine the agricultural potential for proposed
routes. Macoun made five journeys west between 1872- 1883. His travels through the Palliser Triangle
corresponded to a period of exceptionally high precipitation, which led him to believe this was excellent
land for farming. The company building the railroad (the Canadian Pacific Railroad) was granted five
miles of land along each side of the tracks, tax-free and theirs to sell to cover the expense of
construction. It was in the CPR's best interest to secure the most valuable land along their line. Macoun
helped convince them that the Palliser Triangle was the place to build the line. For a few years after the
railroad was built the rains were good and crops seemed reasonable, but the weather proved unreliable.
When the droughts of the 1930s hit, the land was a dust bowl and farmers suffered horribly. Since then,
the Palliser Triangle has become the most intensively developed region in Canada for irrigation. In some
parts of the triangle, more water evaporates than falls down in precipitation. This sounds impossible until
you remember that the Bow River provides (or did provide) a reliable water source to the region.
Some scientists have pointed out that if you remove the subsidies to irrigation agriculture and charge
even a small amount for water withdrawal from the Bow River, agriculture just isn't viable in much of the
Palliser Triangle. As the old saying goes, “whiskey is for drinking, water is for fighting over”.
References:
Bow River Basin: Natural Resources Canada
Temperature and Precipitation Maps from: Impacts to Adaptation: Canada in a Changing Climate
lead authors: Dave Sauchyn1and Suren Kulshreshtha
Palliser Triangle: Wikipedia
River Photos: Bow Riverkeepers
Bow Riverkeeper fact sheets
Interviews with Dr. David Schindler, water ecologist, University of Alberta