Congratulations to Centre for Hydrology Post Doctoral Fellow, Dr. Lousie Arnal for her win in the “Arts in Focus” category!
View Dr. Arnal’s entry at: Precious Freshwater – Research – University of Saskatchewan (usask.ca)
Category Archives: News
USask Images in Research Competition – Congratulations to Caroline Aubry-Wake
Congratulations to Centre for Hydrology PhD student, Caroline Aubry-Wake for achieving the standing of runner-up in the “From the Field” category!
View Caroline’s photo submission at: The Collapse – Research – University of Saskatchewan (usask.ca)
Radio interview – Snowpack Modelling
A University of Saskatchewan Professor Discusses Developing the Most Advanced Snowpack Modelling in the World
Vanese Ferguson
CJWW News
March 17, 2021
Listen to Dr. John Pomeroy’s interview here.
News article – predicting mountain snowpack
USask model for predicting mountain snowpack provides clearer picture of spring runoff, impacts of climate change
USask News
march 9, 2021
After decades of research, a new model was developed by University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers that for the first time successfully predicted mountain snowpack with a high degree of accuracy and detail—information of critical importance for water management, agriculture, mining, recreation, and flood forecasting worldwide. Snow cover in the mountains is the principal driver of spring runoff.
Read the article here: https://news.usask.ca/articles/research/2021/usask-model-for-predicting-mountain-snowpack-provides-clearer-picture-of-spring-runoff,-impacts-of-climate-change.php
New Article – Saskatchewan Wetlands
Peiris: Saskatchewan wetlands at critical point, protection policy needed
Sarath Peiris
The Star Phoenix
February 18, 2021
It’s astounding that Saskatchewan still doesn’t have a comprehensive policy to manage and preserve its wetlands, which have been steadily drained since the early 1900s to accommodate agriculture. More than 50 per cent of these invaluable sites have now disappeared while the rest are under threat.
With half of Canada’s arable land, Saskatchewan should be the leader in acting to preserve wetlands that provide a wide array of environmental services such as serving as wildlife habitats and carbon sinks, producing pollinators, recharging aquifers, purifying water, retaining nutrients, mitigating flooding, contributing to soil health, and providing water security in a drought-prone province.
Read the full article here.
New Water Towers Article in Chemistry and Industry Magazine
Water Towers Threatened
Anthony King
C&I Issue 12, 2020
“The earliest agricultural civilisations in the Middle East were built around managing mountain water supplies, holding back water to irrigate lowland areas. Mountain water is still critical in many regions. But it is increasingly threatened by the impacts of climate change.”
Read the C&I Article here: https://www.soci.org/chemistry-and-industry/cni-data/2020/12/water-towers-threatened
New Article – Alberta Coal Policy
Saskatchewan environmental groups welcome reinstatement of Alberta coal policy
Ryan Kessler, Global News
February 9, 2021
The Alberta government’s pledge to reinstate a ban on open-pit coal mining in a large section of the Rocky Mountains and foothills has alleviated some concern among Saskatchewan environmental groups.
The South Saskatchewan River receives 80 to 90 per cent of its water from runoff in the Rockies, according to Bob Halliday, board chair of Partners FOR the Saskatchewan River Basin.
“When you turn on a tap in Saskatoon, you’re actually drinking mountain water,” said Halliday, who is also a water resources consulting engineer.
On Monday, Alberta Energy Minister Sonya Savage said the province would reinstate the 1976 coal policy that was revoked last spring…..
Read the full article along with Dr. John Pomeroy’s comments here.
New CBC interview- Effects of coal mining on water quality
What effect could coal mining in Alberta have on water quality of Saskatchewan’s rivers?
Blue Sky with Garth Materie
CBCListen
February 4, 2021
A controversy is raging in Alberta over plans to allow open-pit coal mines on the eastern slopes of the Rockies. This could have an effect in Saskatchewan. Many of the rivers near the proposed mines eventually run into the Saskatchewan river system. This project has seen opposition from a wide range of groups including Indigenous communities and rancher/musician Corb Lund.
We spoke with Ian Urquhart, the Conservation Director for the Alberta Wilderness Association. We were also joined by John Pomeroy, the director of the Global Water Futures Project at the University of Saskatchewan and we heard from Garry Carriere, President of the Cumberland House Fisheries.
Listen to the episode at: https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-189-blue-sky
Read the corresponding CBC article:‘An abomination’: Sask. water expert warns of contamination following Alberta’s coal policy changes, by Mickey Djuric, CBC News, February 5, 2021
Centre Hydrologist discusses melting glaciers on CBC news
Melting ice and glaciers could lead to water crisis
Tashauna Reid, CBC News
January 28th
A new study finds that ice is disappearing around the globe at an alarming rate and glaciers represent a significant amount of ice loss. Researchers in Canada say the retreat of glaciers will have major impacts on water security in Canada.
Watch the video here: https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1849913411823
New Article- What Canada’s melting glaciers tell USask researchers
Chris Morin
University of Saskatchewan News
Jan 8, 2021
It may seem unfathomable, but these masses of ice are melting at an alarming rate. Canadian glaciers have shrunk 15 per cent since 1985, and estimated glacier loss in the Rockies could rise to 100 per cent by the end of the century, according to University of Saskatchewan (USask) hydrology PhD candidate Caroline Aubry-Wake.
One of the areas that Aubry-Wake conducts research at is the Peyto Glacier in Banff National Park and the Athabasca Glacier in Jasper National Park. It’s an area that’s a cause for alarm—not just the immediate region, but also those areas downstream—and a look at the region’s rapid ice loss makes this clear.
Read the full article at: https://news.usask.ca/articles/research/2021/what-canadas-melting-glaciers-tell-usask-researchers.php