Groundwater Protection

Beneath the immense landscape of the Bow River watershed lies vast amounts of groundwater. This groundwater is utilized by the rural community as a drinking water source for humans and livestock. The groundwater also serves to "recharge" the Bow River and its tributaries during the dry summer and winter months.

While most people are familiar with images of freshwater lakes and rivers, most of North America's water lies underground in aquifers. Some of this water has been underground - clean and slow moving - for 10,000 years!

As more research unfolds, we are learning there are significant hydrological connections between surface water and groundwater that indicate a need to better understand their interaction. For example: Wetland prairie sloughs are often fed by groundwater. In the meantime, we are forging ahead with new developments, and increasing our dependency on this water source.

The mismanagement of groundwater — through poor land-use planning, oil & gas development, deforestation, contamination (i.e. from sources such as agriculture), and withdrawals — is cause for concern.