December 8-10, 2008
Improving Water Security Through Integrated
Observation and Prediction Networks
A Major Workshop on Expanding and Integrating Predictive and Observational
Capacity while Building Scientific Knowledge through Partnership In Canada’s
Western Mountains
Canmore, Alberta
Improving Water Security Through Integrated
Observation and Prediction Networks:
A Major Workshop on Expanding and Integrating Predictive and Observational
Capacity while Building Scientific Knowledge through Partnership In Canada’s
Western Mountains
The Sponsors of the Conference:
Host Sponsor
Partners in Presenting the Conference:
On behalf of the Alberta Water Institute, it is my pleasure to both welcome you, and to thank you, for
sharing your ideas on how we can work together to enhance our ability to gather and share information on
mountain weather patterns to better manage our water supply.
The Alberta Water Research Institute was established in the spring 2007 to coordinate world class and
leading edge research to support Alberta’s provincial water strategy, Water for Life: A Strategy for
Sustainability. Administered through the Alberta Ingenuity Fund, we are both a leader and facilitator of
knowledge. Dedicated to seeking the best solutions and ideas, our scope is not limited by geographic
boundaries. We seek out both the best thinkers and the best information provincially, regionally,
nationally and internationally to help secure the long term safety, quality and sustainability of Alberta’s
water resources.
The Institute’s goal is perhaps best articulated in our slogan as we strives to be a place “where ideas flow”
– at all levels and in all ways – in order to seize every possible opportunity to advance science, water
management and public policy decision-making around the goals and objectives of Water for Life.
That is where you come in. By participating in this conference, and by sharing your knowledge,
experience and expertise, you are making a difference. Much can be accomplished when a group of smart
people, of goodwill, come together in the spirit of cooperation, to find solutions to some of the world’s
greatest challenges.
The contribution of your time is as valuable as your knowledge. I urge you to use this time to exchange
ideas, to seek solutions, and to open doors to future conversations.
As Ben Franklin said, “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”
May you all reap the rewards of that investment this weekend and well into the future.
Dr. Lorne Taylor
Chair, Alberta Water Research Institute
Monday, December 8th, 2008
1:00 PM Ladyslipper/Orchid Ballroom
Welcome
by
conference
organizers,
recognition of sponsors, introductions, and
outline of the workshop goals. John Pomeroy
& Bob Sandford
1:30 PM
observations associated with an expanded
hydrological
predictive
capacity. This
presentation will describe what an IHOP
Network is, how it fits into international science
initiatives; what an IHOP Network can do for
users; and how an IHOP Network can enhance
energy and water supply security now and in
the future in Canada’s western provinces and
northern territories.
John Pomeroy
Keynote presentation by the conference’s
principal sponsor, the Alberta Water Research
Institute, explaining their interest and Group discussion to follow.
activities in western Canadian water resources
3:30 PM
management.
Break
Dr. Lorne Taylor: Chair, Board of Directors, 4:00 PM
Alberta Water Research Institute
The economic benefits of improved
2:00 PM
monitoring and predictive capacity. These
three presentations will outline the benefits
SESSION 1: Setting the Context:
from monitoring and prediction in the Rocky
Chair Bob Sandford
Mountains on multiple-objective operation of
hydroelectric facilities for power generation,
Establishing the Conference Context. This the security of municipal water supply, and on
presentation will identify the range of current food security through downstream irrigation of
and emerging users of hydro-meteorological agricultural lands.
information with a clear focus on what
can be done through improved monitoring Stephanie Smith, BC Hydro
and predictive capacity networking in the Wolf Keller, City of Calgary
Canadian West to serve users better with the Doug Johnson, Saskatchewan Watershed
goal of improving water security now and in Authority
the future.
Bob Sandford
Hydrologic benefits of climate monitoring
2:30 PM
and prediction. The future of water in
Pacific North America depends on the climate
An
Integrated
Hydrometeorological variability and change, particularly in the
Observation and Prediction (IHOP) Canadian Rockies of Alberta and BC.
Network: What is it? What could it do?
In addition to working with government agencies,
An IHOP network can be defined as a region the Pacific Climate Impacts Consortium (PCIC)
of relatively intensive hydro-meteorological works with stakeholders such as BC Hydro and
Monday, December 8th, 2008
community organizations such as the Columbia 8:15 PM
Basin Trust.
Special Guest Speaker
Dave Rodenhuis, PCIC, Univeristy of Victoria
Doug Smith, BC Hydro, Burnaby
Mr. Jim Mattison
Kindy Gosal, Columbia Basin Trust
Assistant Deputy Minister
Ministry of the Environment
Improved Earth Observation and Prediction.
Province of British Columbia
The GEO (Group on Earth Observation)
Initiative. This brief presentation will outline
Collaborating On Western
current efforts being made on a network basis
to capture ever more relevant meteorological
Water:
and hydrological data.
The Structure & Function of the Provincial
& Territorial Premiers’ Newly Formed
Ken Korporal and Rick Lawford, Canadian
Western Water Stewardship Council
GEO Secretariat
5:40 PM
9:00 PM Ladyslipper/Orchid Ballroom
Discussion
Summary synthesis and next steps.
John Pomeroy & Bob Sandford
6:00 PM
Afternoon session comes to a close.
6:15 PM Ladyslipper/Orchid Ballroom
Locals Special
Brief meeting for Facilitators and Rapporteurs
7:00 PM Crocus-Arnica Ballroom
Reception and No-host bar
7:30 PM
Savour a glass of wine in a relaxed atmosphere
and enjoy a lively hour of original music and
song brought to you by “Locals Special”, a
group of Canmore musicians and story-tellers
who are passionate about where and how they
live and love to share it with their audience.
High In The Rockies: A Special Themed Dinner Sponsored by Lafarge North America
Celebrating Snow, Ice and Water in our
Western Mountain Headwaters
Tuesday, December 9th, 2008
8:30 AM Ladyslipper/Orchid Ballroom
iv) what is the role of intensive observation
sites and nested observations?
v) what new observations are desirable for
users and where and what should they be?
SESSION 2: Network Assessment and
Optimization Chair – Shawn Marshall
Breakout Group 1. Ladyslipper/Orchid
Ballroom
Cataloguing Current Monitoring
Networks:
A series of talks from representatives of the
university, provincial and federal sectors
examining who presently monitors what and
where for hydrology and climate and how
these networks evolved to their current state.
Facilitator: Paul Whitfield
7:30 AM Crocus/Arnica Ballroom
Breakfast
Rapporteur: John Diiwu
Breakout Group 2. Wapiti Boardroom
Facilitator: Ray Keller
Rapporteur: Doug Johnson
Presented by Dr. Shawn Marshall, Dr. Kate Breakout Group 3. Vic’s Private Room
Sinclair and Fern Shultz (B.C. Ministry of
Facilitator: Kevin Shook
Environment) in consultation with:
Brian Menounos, Ron Stewart and John
Pomeroy – WC2N, DRI, & IP3 Networks
Axel Anderson and Anil Gupta – Government
of Alberta
Mike Demuth – Natural Resources Canada
Dave Sauchyn - PARC
Tom Dixon – Government of Alberta
Mike Manore – Environment Canada
Rapporteur: Masaki Hayashi
Breakout Group 4. Caribou Room
Facilitator: Cherie Westbrook
Rapporteur: Tom Dixon
Breakout Group 5. Cougar/Grizzly Room
Facilitator: Julie Friddell
Breakouts with Facilitators & Rapporteurs Rapporteur: Mike Manore
Breakout Questions:
i) what hydrometeorological variables are
monitored that have not been identified?
ii) what is the quality, length, interval of
existing water and weather observations in
relation to the requirements of your use?
iii) what redundancies in observations are
apparent and what can be cut?
Breakout Group 6. Squirrel Room
Facilitator: Axel Anderson
Rapporteur: Brian Menounos
10:30 AM
Break
Tuesday, December 9th, 2008
11:00 AM
Rapporteurs from each of the three
breakout groups present a summary of
inputs.
Synthesis discussion
Chaired by Shawn Marshall
12:00 Noon Crocus/Arnica Room
Lunch
Special Luncheon Address
The Hon. Michael Miltenberger
Deputy Premier & Minister of Environment
and Natural Resources
Government of the Northwest Territories
Northern Voices Northern Waters:
Towards a Water Resources
Management Strategy
For the Northwest Territories
1:30 PM Ladyslipper/Orchid Ballroom
Hydrometeorology Programme, University
of Saskatchewan
Ray Keller – Alberta Environment
Breakouts with Facilitators &
Rapporteurs
Breakout Questions
i) what hydrological & meteorological
models are being run in the Rocky
Mountains and what are they used for?
ii) what types of predictions are desired
for your uses – hindcast, forecast, spatial
prediction, water balance simulation?
iii) what would you like predicted better, at
what spatial and temporal resolutions and to
what degree of accuracy?
iv) what observational and remote sensing
data should be assimilated to improve
prediction?
v) what sort of data management, QA/QC,
interpretation and data access interface
portal are required?
Breakout Group 1. Ladyslipper/Orchid
Ballroom
SESSION 3: Predictive Capacity and Data
Assimilation and Management
Chair - John Pomeroy
Facilitator: Gordon Young
Model Predictions of Water and Weather,
Data Assimilation Systems, and Data
Management Systems:
A series of brief talks on hydrometeorological
modelling, data assimilation, and data
management and interpretation.
Breakout Group 2. Wapiti Boardroom
Anne Sawyer - NOAA NORSC
Danny Marks & David Garen, USDA-ARS
and NRCS
Kevin Shook – SGI Canada
Rapporteur: Fern Schultz
Facilitator: Kevin Shook
Rapporteur: Masaki Hayashi
Breakout Group 3. Vic’s Private Room
Facilitator: Shawn Marshall
Rapporteur: Doug Johnson
Tuesday, December 9th, 2008
Breakout Group 4. Caribou Room
5:30 PM
Facilitator: Rick Lawford
Afternoon session comes to a close.
Rapporteur: David Garen
6:00 PM Crocus/Arnica Ballroom
Breakout Group 5. Cougar/Grizzly Room
Reception
Facilitator: Ken Korporal
6:30 PM Crocus/Arnica Ballroom
Talk to all your colleagues while enjoy a
revolving buffet dinner in the Crocus/Arnica
Ballroom
Rapporteur: Mike Manore
Breakout Group 6. Squirrel Room
Facilitator: Danny Marks
Rapporteur: Richard Fernandes
3:30 PM
Break
7:30 PM Ladyslipper/Orchid Ballroom
Dr. Gordon Young
The History of Glacial
Research in the Canadian
Rockies:
4:00 PM Ladyslipper/Orchid Ballroom
Rapporteurs from each of the three
breakout groups present a summary of
inputs.
Synthesis discussion chaired by
John Pomeroy.
5:15 PM
Summary synthesis and next steps.
Bob Sandford
Cold Regions Hydrology and its
relevance to Canada and the World.
Sponsored by Lafarge North America.
Join the mountain-loving residents of Canmore
for a glass of wine in a comfortable setting
and be introduced to the remarkable life and
amazing research of one of the world’s most
respected glaciologists. From pioneering work
on the Peyto Glacier to the high Himalaya and
beyond, this man has influenced the way the
world thinks about water. Please join us for a
presentation you will not soon forget.
Tuesday, December 9th, 2008
Wednesday, December 10th, 2008
7:30 AM Crocus/Arnica Ballroom
Breakouts with Facilitators & Rapporteurs
Breakfast
8:30 AM Ladyslipper/Orchid Ballroom
SESSION 4: Proposal for a
Hydrometeorological Observatory
Chair – Gordon Young
Proposing and Developing the Network
John Pomeroy – University of Saskatchewan
Defining the scope, goals and objectives
of a user-driven hydro-meteorological
network
David Hill – Alberta Water Research Institute
The role of the AWRI in advancing
improvements in monitoring, forecasting
and hydrological research in Alberta
Breakout Questions:
i.) what long-term goals and initial objectives
should the IHOP Network adopt?
ii) what Network characteristics will help to
better integrate prediction and observations?
iii) in what basins or regions should the
Network focus its efforts?
iv) what funding sources should be
approached to support the Network?
v) how should funding and the Network be
structured and integrated?
Breakout Group 1. Ladyslipper/Orchid
Ballroom
Facilitator:
Rick Lawford
Rapporteur:
John Diiwu
Breakout Group 2. Wapiti Boardroom
Facilitator:
Mike Demuth
Rapporteur:
Kate Sinclair
Breakout Group 3. Vic’s Private Room
Facilitator:
Danny Marks
Rapporteur:
Fern Schultz
Wednesday, December 10th, 2008
Breakout Group 4. Caribou Room
10:30 AM
Facilitator:
Break
11:00 AM Ladyslipper/Orchid Ballroom
Paul Whitfield
Rapporteur:
David Garen
Rapporteurs from each of the three
breakout groups present a summary of
inputs.
Breakout Group 5. Cougar/Grizzly Room
Facilitator:
Group Discussion
Kindy Gosal
12:00 PM Crocus/Arnica Ballroom
Rapporteur:
LUNCH & SUMMARY
PRESENTATION
Synthesis of discussion and agreement on
next steps, Chaired by Gordon Young.
Mike Manore
Breakout Group 6. Squirrel Room
Facilitator:
Cherie Westbrook
Rapporteur:
Alf Warkentin
John Pomeroy (strategy and scope of
observatory)
Bob Sandford (summary of directions)
1: 30 PM Wolverine Room
Organizers and major partners’ round table
to determine exact next steps.
List of Participants
Improving Water Security Through Integrated Observation and
Prediction Networks
December 8 – 10th 2008 Radisson Hotel & Conference Center Canmore, Alberta
Last Name
First Name
Affiliation
Allen Ron
Lake Louise Ski Area
Allison Dick
Water Management Services
Anderson Axel Alberta Sustainable Resource Development
Birks Jean
Alberta Research Council
Bladon Kevin University of Alberta
Boon Sarah
University of Lethbridge
Buckingham Ali Parks Canada
Campbell Carolyn Alberta Wilderness Association
Collins Tim
Acadia University-Applied Geomatics Research Group
Demuth Michael Natural Resources Canada-Geological Survey
Dibike Yonas Environment Canada-Water & Climate Impacts
Research
Diiwu
Dixon
Duncan
Erker
John
Alberta Sustainable Resource Development
Tom
Alberta Environment
Jim
Columbia Basin Watershed Network
Jordan Government of Alberta Sustainable Resource
Development
Fall Greg
NOAA/NOHRSC
Fennell Jon
Bow River Basin Council
Fernandes Richard Natural Resources Canada-Earth Sciences
Friddell Julie
University of Saskatchewan
Frigo Frank
City of Calgary-Water Resources
Gan Thian
University of Alberta
Garen David
USDA-National Water and Climate Center
Gilbride David Parks Canada
Gosal Kindy Columbia Basin Trust
Graham Irv
Columbia Wetlands Stewardship Partners
Gupta Anil
Alberta Environment
Hayashi Masaki University of Calgary
Herrera Werner Alberta Environment
Hill David
Alberta Water Research Institute
Hirose Jocelyn University of Calgary
Hood Jaime
University of Calgary
Humphries Shelley Parks Canada
Hussey Morna Alberta Environment
Hutchinson David Environment Canada
James Robert Western Watersheds Climate Research Collaborative
Jamieson Bob Columbia Wetlands Stewardship Partners
Johnson Doug Saskatchewan Watershed Authority
Kapphahn Nadine University of Northern British Columbia
Kargbo Gibriel Sillah Alberta Environment
Keller Ray
Alberta Environment
Last Name
First Name
Affiliation
Keller Wolf
City of Calgary
Knaga Paul
Parks Canada
Korporal Ken Canadian GEO Secretariat
Lawford Rick
Canadian GEO Secretariat
Leschied Heather Wildsight
Locky David Athabasca University-Athabasca River Basin Research
Long John
Western Watersheds Climate Research Collaborative
MacCulloch Greg Water Survey of Canada
Manore Mike Environment Canada
Marks Danny USDA Agricultural Research Service
Marshall Shawn University of Calgary
Martel Lynn
Rocky Mountain Outlook
Matis Dennis Alberta Environment
Mattison Jim
BC Ministry of Environment
Menounos Brian University of Northern British Columbia
Miltenberger Michael Government of Northwest Territories
Mutulu Phillip Manitoba Water Stewardship
Pacas Charlie Parks Canada
Petersen Derek Parks Canada
Pomeroy John University of Saskatchewan-Centre for Hydrology
Riewe Bob Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development
Rollins Karen Alpine Club of Canada
Sandford Bob UN Water for Life/WWCRC
Sauchyn Dave PARC
Sawyer Anne NOAA/NOHRSC
Scarth Mike Alberta WaterSMART
Schultz Fern
BC Ministry of Environment
Shea
Joseph University of British Columbia
Shook Kevin University of Saskatchewan-Centre for Hydrology
Sicart Jean
IRD-Montpellier
Silins Uldis University of Alberta
Sinclair Kate
University of Calgary
Skelton Jennifer Northwest Territories-Environment and Natural
Resources
Smith Stephanie BC Hydro
Taylor Alex
Parks Canada
Taylor Lorne Alberta Water Research Institute
Westbrook Cherie University of Saskatchewan-Centre for Hydrology
Whitfield Paul Meteorological Service of Canada
Warkentin Alf Manitoba Water Stewardship
Young Gordon International Association of Hydrological Sciences
Zell Darrel
Parks Canada
Why This Workshop Matters
Water managers in Canada face the increasingly complicated task of maintaining secure water supplies
for public use while at the same time conserving the ecological integrity of the freshwater ecosystems that
sustain our economy. This task requires strategic efforts that ensure that we understand and can predict the
availability and renewability of our water resources now and in the future.
The purpose of this workshop is to lay down the foundation for the further development of an integrated
hydrological and climatic observation and prediction network in Canada’s western mountains.
This conference brings together a diverse group of water resources experts and users from provinces and
territories that rely on water originating in the Rockies and other western mountain ranges for energy and
water supply security. The goal of this conference is to further assure that security by:
•
clarifying the direct benefits of expanding meteorological and hydrological observations and
predictive capacity in Canada’s western mountains;
•
determining how to avoid costly duplication while optimizing the effectiveness of current
monitoring networks;
•
determining the nature of the monitoring improvements needed in order to improve forecasting
and predictive modelling capacity in service of current and future energy and water supply
security;
•
recommending where potential new stations should be located and what these stations should
monitor so that predictive capacity is increased;
•
establishing a pathway for determining who will pay for the development and maintenance of
expanded hydro-meteorological monitoring and predictive capacity;
•
determining the next steps in bringing this model observation and prediction network into
existence.
As organizers of this conference, we hope that the time you spend with us in Canmore will be of value to
you, to the organization to which you belong and ultimately to everyone who relies on western water for their
well-being and their livelihood.
Your conference organizing committee:
Mark Bennett
Mike Demuth
John Diiwu
Wayne Dybvig
Julie Friddell
Anil Gupta
Masaki Hyashi
Doug Johnson
Nadine Kapphahn
Ray Keller
Mike Kelly
Danny Marks
Shawn Marshall
Brian Menounos
Al Pietroniro
John Pomeroy
Bob Sandford
Fern Schultz
Kate Sinclair
Stephanie Smith
Paul Whitfield
Gordon Young