1 / 37

Surface Water Challenges on the Canadian Prairies Risk and Adaptation

This presentation outlines the vulnerability of water resources on the Canadian Prairies, the exposure and adaptation experience of the prairie region, climate variability and change projections, and opportunities for adaptation to drought. It also discusses the extent and impact of the 2001-2002 drought in the prairie region and the history of water development and adaptation measures taken, including irrigation projects and rural water supply systems.

osbornea
Download Presentation

Surface Water Challenges on the Canadian Prairies Risk and Adaptation

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Surface Water Challenges on the Canadian Prairies Risk and Adaptation Prairie Water Policy Symposium International Institute for Sustainable Development September 2005, Winnipeg, Manitoba Dave Kiely, P.Eng. Ag Water Directorate Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada

  2. Presentation Outline:Prairie Surface Water(Ag Focus) • Vulnerability of the Water Resource • Prairie Exposure / Vulnerability /Adaptation Experience • Climate Variability (CV) /Climate Change (CC) Projections • Opportunities

  3. Canadian Prairies: Drought Risk

  4. Prairie Vulnerability & Adaptation to Drought… (Economic/Environmental/Societal) • CV on Prairies – Drought of the 1930’s • - Major economic impacts • - Federal response… • Canada established the PFRA in 1935 to assist in the “rehabilitation of the drought and soil drifting areas … and to develop and promote systems of farm practice, tree culture, water supply, land utilization and land settlement that will afford greater economic security”

  5. Prairie Vulnerability & Adaptation to Drought…… (Economic/Environmental/Societal) • PFRA activities: • - Migration to wetter agricultural areas • - Formation of 1.0 M ha of Community Pastures • - Rural Water Development Program • - Large scale irrigation projects • Provision of trees (shelterbelts) to reduce soil erosion / trap snow • Irrigation research and demonstration - centres

  6. EXTENT OF 2001– 2002 DROUGHT IN THE PRAIRIE REGION OF CANADA

  7. Drought of 2001 / 2002… • The 2001 and 2002 droughts were unusually severe, spatially extensive and long-lasting • 2001 national in extent • - More severe in west than east • Climatic evolution and persistence different from other Canadian droughts – was difficult to predict and identify the cause. • Multi-year drought (started in 1999 in parts of the prairies) compounded severity • Losses in Agricultural Production of $2B (2002 - Alberta & Sask) - $3.6B for Canada • Loss of GDP $3B (Alberta & Sask) - $5.8B for Canada • Areas like Northern Alberta & Northern Sask had little experience with this type of event – particularly vulnerable

  8. Adaptation • history of water development – small scale to large scale • dugouts to Gardiner Dam to regional pipelines • Agencies involved (railways (early) to Canada to provinces) • Irrigation development

  9. Prairie Vulnerability & Adaptation to Drought… (simple case of on-farm water supplies) • Rural water supplies extremely vulnerable • Rural water supply adaptation: • - constructed dugouts / small reservoirs • - groundwater – deep wells • - rural water pipelines • - pasture pipelines

  10. AgriculturalAdaptation

  11. Irrigation in Canada

  12. Water development projects for individuals and communities begin in 1936. Farmers are paid up to $50 for the construction of dugouts. Reservoirs and irrigation works are built or repaired in southwest Saskatchewan. Eastend, Val Marie and West Val Marie dams are completed, providing water for irrigation, livestock and domestic uses

  13. Prairie Dugout… • For 70 years, designed for a 2 year supply-“coping range” • Must provide 100% availability for livestock • Stakeholder feedback: Recent droughts have shown this design criteria is no longer appropriate • Now consider that a 3 year supply design criterion is more appropriate

  14. In 1943, construction was completed on a number of significant structures in Saskatchewan including: • Duncairn Dam on Swift Current Creek in southwestern Saskatchewan • Control structures on Echo, Crooked and Round Lakes in the Qu’Appelle River system In 1946, investigations for dam sites along the Red Deer, South Saskatchewan, and St. Mary Rivers; and construction on the St. Mary Irrigation Project began.

  15. In the spring of 1950, major flooding in the Red River Valley and other areas in Manitoba, lead to responsibility for the dikes and flood control works along the Assiniboine River from Portage la Prairie to Winnipeg being transferred to PFRA. Canada and Manitoba sign the Saskatchewan River Reclamation Project Agreement for diking and draining to reclaim 100,000 acres in the Pasquia area west of The Pas in 1953.

  16. The Buffalo Pound Water Supply Project starts pumping water from the South Saskatchewan River to Buffalo Pound Lake via the Qu’Appelle River in 1956. The additional water provides a more secure supply to Regina and Moose Jaw and opportunity for economic development. Opportunities - Kalium Solution Potash Mine and SAFERCO Fertilizer Plant

  17. In 1963, Canada and Manitoba agree to build the Shellmouth Dam on the Assiniboine River to provide flood control and water conservation. Construction began in 1965.

  18. On July 21, 1967, Prime Minister Pearson and Premier Thatcher officially opened Gardiner Dam (at that time Canada’s largest earthfill dam) signifying completion of the South Saskatchewan River project (started in 1958).

  19. The SNBB studies, which were completed in 1972, evaluate storage and diversion possibilities in the Saskatchewan and Nelson River basins including the investigation, design and costing of 55 possible dams and 23 possible diversions.

  20. CV / CC Projections that would Impact the Water Resource… • Our water resources are vulnerable… • Most of Canada would become wetter / warmer (less cold) • opportunity • Changes in rain / snow mix • Changes in timing of precipitation events • Longer agricultural growing season • More extreme weather events • Assumed increased rate of evaporation in many areas • Deteriorating water quality

  21. CV / CC Indications for Prairie Water Resources….. (Supply) • Higher rates of evaporation (?) increasing losses in surface waters, including reservoir storage • Changes in stream flow patterns • (higher spring and lower summer flows) • More frequent and severe droughts – dry spells • (Prairies, Southern Ontario, interior BC) • Glaciers retreating

  22. CV / CC Indications for Prairie Water Resources….. (Demand) • Increasing demands for water across many communities/sectors due to warmer temperatures • Increasing need for irrigation (currently the largest net consumer of water in Canada) • Increasing population pressures independent of climate change

  23. CV / CC Implications for Prairie Water Resources….. (Economic/Environmental/Societal) • Increased pressure for water diversions / inter-basin transfers of water • Impacts on economic activity and legal obligations (water availability / quality) • Increasing costs for water treatment • Increasing conflict around water allocations

  24. Prairie Vulnerability & Adaptation to Drought… (Needs)… • Factor CC into planning / design • Funding to improve infrastructure • Better understanding of groundwater • Improved water use efficiency • Better seasonal climate predictions to help broaden the coping range • Improve monitoring capability – trend analysis (water and climate)

  25. Effective Water Resources Management into the Future– Opportunities… • Design to ensure efficient use of existing supplies (includes educating our clients) • Support engagement of stakeholders & all levels of government in identifying & addressing the issues • Promote multi-barrier approach to water treatment; watershed as the first step (IWRM) • Apply CC scenarios in design / development of new supplies – no regrets option

  26. Opportunities…(Cont’d) • Integrate with social and natural sciences in addressing CC vulnerability of the water resource • Consider the real value of water • Cooperation – shared government and private sector leadership role

  27. Opportunities (cont’d)… • role in providing tools to incorporate CC …information for decision makers… • -develop better seasonal forecasts • -develop appropriate CC scenarios that address hydrologic and meteorological data requirements • -hydrologic analyses that include CC • -support development of adaptation options • -strengthen collaboration between departments and with the private sector

  28. Opportunities (cont’d)… • Develop and implement innovative technologies to facilitate adaptation • Educate ourselves and our clients about CC • Water is an integrator of communities in our society - an essential element that demands we work together to secure the resource… • …will be Key in Addressing CC Vulnerability Issues

  29. Continued Adaptation Water Supply Water Treatment Irrigation Efficiency Watershed Management

  30. Coping with Global Warming and Climate Variability requires … Continuing Adaptaion Short-term strategies … ...And long-term strategies

  31. QUESTIONS?

More Related