|
U of L, LC share research at watershed forum |
|
|
|
Written by Caroline Zentner
|
|
Tuesday, October 28 2008, 10:11 PM |
Lethbridge is home to many water scientists and researchers but they’re seldom all under one roof.
The Oldman Watershed Council, along with the University of Lethbridge and Lethbridge College, put an end to that Tuesday with its first science forum.
The goal of the forum was to bring water research efforts and findings into the public realm, said Stephanie Palechek, executive director of the OWC.
“To really care about and love something, you have to know about it,” she said.
The Oldman River watershed is part of a semi-arid ecosystem where droughts periodically occur. If that’s not enough, add an increasing population, more industrial development and agricultural activities and demand outstrips supply.
“We have a limited amount of water to do these activities,” Palechek said. “Forums like this help a lot. People need to be aware this is a limited resource. Some of the things we can do may not seem to be significant but as a collective, we can make a huge difference.”
Sessions during the forum covered topics like the effects of water quality on fish, high mercury levels in fish, snow and ice processes at the Oldman River headwaters and the various riverscapes along Oldman River tributaries.
Andrew Hurly, a U of L biological sciences professor, discussed birds’ responses to changed river flows. He and a fellow researcher, Katheryn Taylor, studied bird diversity above and below the dam on the St. Mary River and on the Bow River upstream and downstream of Calgary.
Water volume is nearly cut in half below the St. Mary River dam. The Bow River upstream of Calgary is highly controlled while flow increases downstream, especially where it meets the Highwood River. Researchers predicted reduced water flows would result in reduced vegetation and fewer birds. The prediction turned out to be accurate but Hurly said more research is needed to replicate the results on more rivers and to delve into the relationship between water volumes and the health of ecosystems.
Dennis Fitzpatrick, U of L vice-president research, said the forum provided a way for researchers to get together, exchange information and build relationships.
“We’ve got a whole host of people working in the basin,” Fitzpatrick said. “Quite often we communicate with everybody except the people who are closest to us.”
The OWC is a non-profit organization that was formed five years ago to work with communities and residents to improve the Oldman River watershed.
“We encourage everybody who lives and works in the basin to become a member,” Palechek said.
Membership is free and more information can be found online at www.oldmanbasin.org.
|
|
Last Updated ( Monday, August 10 2009, 2:34 PM )
|
