Publications
ERWP Publications
Articles from 'Eyes on the Elbow newsletter'
December 2020 Eyes on the Elbow newsletter articles
- pdf The Not-So-Frozen Elbow River (236 KB)
- pdf What do Fish do in the Winter? (292 KB)
- pdf Calgary River Valleys Takes Experimental Approach in West Nose Creek Project (259 KB)
- pdf Snorkelling the Elbow River (1.20 MB)
Articles from 'Water's Edge newsletter'
October 2020 Water's Edge newsletter articles
- pdf Silvester Creek Pipeline Right of Way Restoration Project - October 2020 update (2.76 MB)
- pdf Living and Working with Beavers in Fish Creek Provincial Park (1.71 MB)
- pdf Provincial Grant Supports Friends' Partnership with Alberta Parks (985 KB)
- pdf Growing Restoration with Soil Bioengineering (1.90 MB)
- pdf West Bragg Creek Riparian and Wetland Enhancement Project (4.39 MB)
June 2020 Water's Edge newsletter articles
- pdf Riparian Areas and Fish (422 KB)
- pdf Restoration of Riparian Areas (913 KB)
- pdf Recreational Rock Dam Research in Fish Creek Park (314 KB)
- pdf Living Harmoniously with our Furry Friends (935 KB)
- pdf Calgary Captured: Spreading Awareness of Urban Wildlife in YYC (1.04 MB)
- pdf Putting Beavers to Work for Watershed Resiliency and Restoration (812 KB)
September 2019 Water's Edge newsletter articles
- pdf Lend a Hand to Urban Riparian Areas along Fish Creek (352 KB)
- pdf CRV Continues Riverbank Makeover Project (503 KB)
- pdf Silvester Creek Pipeline Right of Way Restoration Project (10.74 MB)
June 2019 Water's Edge newsletter articles
- pdf Native Trout Species' Survival is Linked to Our Activity on Land (263 KB)
- pdf Project Follow-Up: Reconnecting Piper Creek (648 KB)
- pdf Get Your Feet Wet: The Essentials of Riparian Areas (616 KB) 2018
- pdf Calgary's Healthy Rivers Story-Map (1.47 MB)
Groundwater
- pdf Groundwater Evaluation and Monitoring Plan Elbow River Watershed Subregion (6.00 MB) 2011 Report prepared by Waterline Resources Inc. for Alberta Environment.
- Chloride as an Indicator of Non-point Source Contaminant Migration in a Shallow Alluvial Aquifer (2006)
This article investigates non-point source pollution in the context of the interaction between the groundwater in the alluvial aquifer that runs sub-parallel to the Elbow River and the surface water of the river. pdf Click here for the full text (265 KB)
Flood
- pdf Pomeroy et al Bow River Flood 2013 (684 KB)
- pdf UAS-based remote sensing of fluvial change following an extreme flood event (4.34 MB)
Land Stewardship
- The Lay of the Land: An Inventory of Federal and Provincial Stewardship Policy in Western Canada (2007)
This report was prepared by Canada West Foundation's Land Stewardship Initiative. The following is an excerpt from the Executive Summary: "This report presents an overview of current federal and provincial government land stewardship policies in western Canada. Land stewardship is the practice of responsible land usage to ensure that natural capital is maintained or enhanced for future generations. Natural capital includes a wide range of ecological goods and services...Land stewardship policies are actions taken by government that require, enable or encourage land users to manage land in ways that maintain or enhance natural capital for future generations." Click here for the link to the entire executive summary, background information on the Land Stewardship Initiative, and downloadable pdf version of the report. - Legal Tools for Municipalities to Conserve Environmentally Sensitive Areas
This document provides a general summary of some of the tools available for conservation. Taken from Kwasniak, A. 2001. Alberta Wetlands - A Legal & Policy Guide. Environmental Law Centre and Ducks Unlimited Canada. Adapted by the City of Calgary. Click here for the summary. - Running Pure - The Importance of Forest Protected Areas to Drinking Water (2003)
Prepared by the World Bank and the WWF Alliance for Forest Conservation and Sustainabe Use, this report provides an excellent, easy-to-understand overview of watershed protection, and in particular the role of protected areas in helping to maintain water supply. It outlines case studies from around the world and provides perspectives on water quality, hydrology, and the social and economic aspects of watershed protection. Click here to access the full report.
Riparian
Environmental Reserve Setback Guidelines (2007)
These guidelines for the City of Calgary were adopted by City Council on May 7, 2007. The development of the ER setback guidelines and related policy stemmed from the city’s Wetland Conservation Plan and recognition that 6-metre minimum environmental setbacks as per the Municipal Government Act (MGA) might not be sufficient to adequately protect adjacent waterbodies from pollution. The guidelines are in accordance with the MGA and only deal with new sub-divisions. Click on the following for (1)Environmental Reserve Setback Guidelines, (2)Draft Riparian Policy and Literature Review(prepared by Alpine Environmental), or (3)Summary of the Benefits of Protecting Riparian Areas.
- Review of Riparian Management Policy in Alberta's Forests (2005)
Produced by Alberta Sustainable Resource Development's (SRD's) Riparian Management Committee. The Committee's stated objectives in undertaking the review were to1) establish SRD goals for riparian management in forested areas in the green zone, 2) describe current riparian management policy and its implementation, 3) assess consistency of policy implementation, 4) assess success of current policy in meeting SRD goals, 5) provide direction for future revisions to riparian management policy, and 6) identify knowledge gaps. pdf Click here to download the report (151 KB)
Stormwater Management
Stormwater Management Guidelines for the Province of Alberta (1999)
Produced by Alberta Environment. This 196-page document covers planning for stormwater management, drainage systems for urban areas, stormwater quantity and quality, stormwater best management practices, and operation and maintenance considerations.Click here to access the document. (Stormwater management requires the approval of Alberta Environment under the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act and the Water Act.)
Watershed Management
Heart Waters - Book on Headwaters Management by Kevin Van Tighem 2015
Watershed Stewardship
- Municipal Guide - Planning for a Healthy and Sustainable North Saskatchewan River Watershed (2006)
Anyone who is interested in voluntary stewardship of watersheds in Alberta will find this comprehensive guide, prepared by the North Saskatchewan Watershed Alliance, useful. Although the primary focus is on the North Saskatchewan watershed, the guide provides a wealth of information ranging from the components and values of a healthy watershed and issues facing watersheds in general to legislation and government bodies relevant to watershed health. pdf Municipal Guide: Planning for a Healthy and Sustainable North Saskatchewan River Watershed (2.01 MB) You can also access individual chapters on the NSWA website.
Wetlands
- "Connectivity to streams and wetlands to Downstream Waters"
Report prepared by United States Environmental Protection Agency
The report reviews more than 1,200 peer-reviewed publications and summarizes current scientific understanding about the connectivity and mechanisms by which streams and wetlands, singly or in aggregate, affect the physical, chemical, and biological integrity of downstream waters. The focus of the report is on surface and shallow subsurface connections by which small or temporary streams, nontidal wetlands, and open waters affect larger waters such as rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and estuaries.
- Alberta Wetlands - A Law and Policy Guide (2016) pdf Click here for the full report (1.44 MB)
- pdf Wetlands Working Flood Mitigation in the Bow River Basin (152 KB)
- pdf Wetland Conservation and Restoration as Flood Mitigation Tools in the Bow River Basin (2.73 MB)
- pdf A Business Case for Wetland Retention and Restoration (398 KB)