Bow Riverkeeper Applauds Government Proposal

November 23, 2005

Bow Riverkeeper applauds the Alberta government's recent proposal to close the Oldman and Bow River basins to further water licenses. However, we caution the government and the public that this closure will not translate into the assurance of river health - including fish protection, water quality, waste assimilation and recreational enjoyment.

Bow Riverkeeper encourages the public to participate in the consultation process. There is a public meeting in Calgary on November 29 with a comment period ending December 9th.

Need For Science-Based Objectives To Protect River Health Into the Future

Unfortunately, the plan stopped short of adopting science-based instream flow objectives for fish protection, river health, waste assimilation, and recreation. Instead, the government proposes to increase itscurrent objectives by 10 percent.

10% is a step in the right direction. But the government's own science suggests that our current instream flow objectives are significantly lower than what is advisable. At times, this river needs ten times more water than is allocated to it. So, while 10% is a step in the right direction, true river health will require increases in the neighbourhood of 500% to 1000% percent.

Alberta law requires the government to set objectives to protect fish health, recreation, water quality, and even waste assimilation. So why are they ignoring their own scientists and expensive studies?

The new objectives will not affect licenses issued through 2005 - including the big licenses held by the irrigation districts. So why care? The purpose of these objectives is to identify where we want to be in the future. With this information, we can work with water users to identify strategies for restoring water to the Bow River - strategies such as incentive-based mechanisms and water markets. We think progressive tools and solutions like these can play an important role an in river restoration.

Closing the basin is the first best step; It was critical that we stop allocating away an already over-allocated river. But the next step is to set a benchmark that is supported by science. The proposed instream flow objective is simply too low. Meeting inadequate objectives simply reinforces complacency. It is important to set objectives for true river health, and strive to meet those goals - even if solutions aren't immediately tenable.