BOW RIVER BASIN COUNCIL SOCIETY
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Mission Statement
The Bow River Basin Council (BRBC) is a multi-stakeholder, charitable organization dedicated to conducting activities for the improvement and protection of the waters of the Bow River Basin, considering: o Riparian zones, o Aquatic ecosystems, o Quality and quantity of water, and o Effects of land use on surface and groundwater. In the Bow River Basin, the BRBC will: 1. Maintain a forum for all Council members to share perspectives and exchange information, 2. Prioritize water use management issues in the basin that may affect the quality and/or quantity of groundwater or surface water or riparian zones, 3. Participate in water use management and planning activities, 4. Develop and recommend improved water use management procedures and performance measures, 5. Encourage the implementation of cooperative water use management strategies, and 6. Participate in activities that promote and demonstrate increased awareness of water use management issues to its members, the governments of Alberta and Canada, and the public. In summary, the BRBC exists as a place for open collaboration, guided by science and welcoming to all who care for the beautiful Bow River Basin. We encourage cooperative and effective strategies for water use management and environmental stewardship, helping our basin to achieve the highest water quality of any highly populated watershed in Canada.
About This Cause
The Bow River Basin Council (BRBC) is a multi-stakeholder, charitable organization dedicated to protect and improve the waters of the Bow river basin. It has a rich history, spanning over 20 years and evolving with each of those years to help ensure the Bow Basin continues to be one of the best-managed watersheds in the world. We focus on: o the quality and quantity of groundwater and surface water, o the care and conservation of wetlands and riparian areas, o the effects of human activity and land use on water resources, and o the state of our aquatic ecosystems. The BRBC comprises of individuals and organizations that share a common vision that the water resources within the Bow Basin represent our lifeline and are to be conserved and protected. Representatives on the Council include urban and rural municipalities; irrigation agriculture; commercial and industrial companies; educational, recreational, and ecological interests; Indigenous Peoples; the provincial and federal governments; and the general public. The BRBC is celebrating 20 years as an independent charity seeking to ensure that multiple water uses are balanced, and the needs of all stakeholders are met. It has a broad mandate of encouraging cooperative and effective strategies for water use management and environmental stewardship. Protecting the Bow River Basin – why it matters: Generations to come……will follow our footprints, skipping rocks, floating homemade boats, and splashing around in local streams. These experiences ignore boundaries and transcend cultural differences. We work to preserve these experiences for the children of today and generations to come. Over 1.5 million people (33 percent of Alberta’s population) rely directly on the Bow River basin waters for sustenance, yet the basin represents only 4 percent of Alberta’s land mass and only 3 percent of its water supply. As the population in and around Calgary increases, pressures on our water supply will intensify. The waters of this magnificent basin sustain the region by replenishing groundwater and supplying local utilities, along with three large irrigation districts, provide hydroelectric power, support a world-class sports fishery, other recreation, and much more. An ecological necessity: The importance of this natural resource cannot be overstated. All forms of life – plants, insects, fish, birds, and mammals (including people) – over a very large area depend for their survival on the health and integrity of the Bow River Basin. The watershed naturally provides vital habitat and recycles nutrients, filters and recharges groundwater, and absorbs the effects of floods. Since nobody “pays” for these ecosystem services, they are often overlooked until it is too late. As a Watershed Planning and Advisory Council (WPAC) for the Bow river basin, the BRBC takes on many roles to further its vision of making the Bow one of the best managed watersheds in the world. These roles, encompass integrated planning, program and project implementation, stakeholder engagement, education and outreach, and many more! The past 20 years have seen the BRBC lead major projects, leverage resources through partnerships and collaboration, and provide direct financial support for on-the-ground community led stewardship activities. The BRBC pursues collaborative projects to advance Best Management Practices, watershed research & citizen science, data collection and sharing, implementation of Watershed management Plans, and State of the Basin reporting. These projects will make a lasting contribution to improve water quality and watershed health and are sparked collaboratively with our members, community groups, youth groups, educational institutions, or interested individuals. The BRBC seeks opportunities to leverage our investments through extensive volunteer commitment and support. The BRBC partners with other stakeholders to implement projects that will benefit the watershed. These collaboratives are diverse and inclusive. Over the years, the BRBC has contributed to over 35 partnership projects. The following is the summary of ongoing partnership projects: - Nose Creek WMP implementation: The Nose Creek Watershed Partnership (NCWP) is a collaborative comprised of the City of Airdrie, The City of Calgary, Town of Crossfield, Rocky View County, Calgary Airport Authority and the BRBC. Primary goal of the NCWP is the full implementation of the Nose Creek Watershed Management Plan. The collaborating partners commit funds annually to the project. The BRBC serves as a managing partner within this group and contributes to the Technical Committee. - Jumping Pound Creek Watershed Management Plan Implementation: This project is an excellent example of collaboration between the surrounding municipalities (Rocky View County, MD of Big Horn and Town of Cochrane) and the BRBC. As part of the watershed management plan implementation, it's activities include engagement/outreach with landowners, riparian area fencing, relocation of livestock facility, riparian signage, and lower reach restoration. - Bow River Forest Watershed Stewardship Project: This project is a multiyear project being implemented in collaboration with watershed stewardship groups in the basin and Spray Lakes Sawmills. The BRBC and affiliated Watershed Stewardship Groups (WSG’s) namely Elbow River Watershed Partnership, Ghost Watershed Alliance and Jumping Pound Creek Watershed Partnership implement collaboratively a wide range of watershed monitoring and improvement activities within the area of B10 Forest Management Unit. Bow River State of the watershed Project is the major ongoing initiative. This project will engage stakeholders within the basin to develop an online State of the Watershed (SoW) assessment report for the Bow River Basin. The information developed will cover the current state of the watershed, including all relevant peer-reviewed, science-based data. The report will, where possible, indicate trends and gaps in data. The target audience are ‘key stakeholders’ who influence watershed conditions. The information will be publicly available to all. Our Significant Milestones… A river begins as a trickle and becomes stronger with every added drop of water. The evolution of an organization occurs in much the same way. Nourished by volunteers, donors and staff members, our list of accomplishments continues to grow. Membership in the BRBC steadily increases each year with more and more individuals, municipalities and corporations seeing value in the work we are doing. Here are some of the few highlights of accomplishments and recognitions the BRBC has received over the years for its work in the basin. Please visit www.brbc.ab.ca to learn more. - Bow Basin Watershed Management Plan (BBWMP) Phase I & BBWMP Phase II (2012): The BBWMP (2012) focuses on four interconnected themes: land-use, headwaters, wetlands and riparian areas. Its purpose is to provide recommendations and guidance for natural resource managers and municipalities regarding land- and water-related decisions. The BBWMP Phase I focuses on Water quality. State of the Basin Report: State of the Basin reporting is one of the BRBC’s signature initiatives. Our aim is to provide reliable information to guide water management decisions, improve our understanding of the watershed and increase public awareness. In 2010 and 2015, the report was produced using a web-based GIS platform, allowing users to view and download maps and data based on specific interests and indicators. Please visit http://wsow.brbc.ab.ca for details. The new online edition of the State of the Basin Report project is underway and is expected to go live in the Fall of 2024 Recognitions: The BRBC has been a proud recipient of the following awards and recognitions for its work in the Bow basin. o Federation of Canadian Municipalities, Sustainable Communities for Water Award for Okotoks Riparian Absorptive Landscape Pilot Study in 2018 o Alberta Emerald Award: The BRBC was recognized in 2010 for its success in the development and implementation of the Bow Basin Watershed Management Plan (Phase One – Water Quality Objectives). o Grassroots Environmental Stewardship Award: In 2010, the Alberta Stewardship Network recognized the BRBC as a support agency in the field of environmental stewardship. o Calgary Award: In 2008, the City of Calgary recognized the BRBC for environmental achievement as a not-for-profit organization. o NALMS Technical Excellence Award: In 2008, the North American Lake Management Society recognized the BRBC for public outreach in lake restoration, protection, and management.