Nicole Hancock
Indigenous community hosts full moon ceremony ...

Kristen Villebrun and Wendy Bush hoped they wouldn't have to pray for Chedoke Creek, but four years after they first raised alarm about the water's condition, they were part of an Indigenous full moon ceremony to do just that. About 50 people showed up near Princess Point on the dark and frigid Monday evening for the monthly ceremony, which was particularly special as it focused on Chedoke Creek. The body of water that runs into Cootes Paradise had about 24 billion litres of sewage and storm water runoff leak into it due to a gate being left open.

Indigenous community hosts full moon ceremony to heal Chedoke Creek

tributaries

90% of Great Lakes water samples have unsafe microplastic levels – report

90% of Great Lakes water samples have unsafe microplastic levels – report

About 90% of water samples taken over the last 10 years from the Great Lakes contain microplastic levels that are unsafe for wildlife, a new peer-reviewed paper from the University of Toronto finds. About 20% of those samples are at the highest level of risk, but the study’s authors say the damage can be reversed if the US and Canada quickly act. “Ninety per cent is a lot,” said Eden Hataley, a University of Toronto researcher and study co-author. “We need to answer some basic questions by monitoring … so we can quantify risks to wildlife and humans.”

Months worth of rain expected over the weekend near southern Mackenzie Mountains

Months worth of rain expected over the weekend near southern Mackenzie Mountains

The bulletin says it's not known exactly where the heaviest rainfall will happen, but that Wrigley and the South Nahanni River Basin "could see very significant rainfall." The South Nahanni River may also see a quick rise and possibly affect residents in Nahanni Butte. "It is always important for individuals to be ready for emergencies. That means having an emergency plan for you and your household, having an emergency kit ready to go, staying up-to-date with the latest information from your community, and following instructions from local officials should the time come," reads the bulletin. 

'Exercise extreme caution': Heavy rainfall causes rising water on North Saskatchewan River

'Exercise extreme caution': Heavy rainfall causes rising water on North Saskatchewan River

Edmontonians are being asked to “exercise extreme caution” as water levels rise on the North Saskatchewan River and its tributaries following continuous rainfall this week. City officials in a Thursday news release warned that the river, shorelines and trails directly near the river may be unsafe due to rising water levels and increased current flow following a rain storm that dumped a large amount of rain on the province over the last 24 hours. The city said flooding may occur in some areas along the North Saskatchewan River and other natural waterways.

BC Hydro, Site C dam contractor charged after acid rock drainage flows into Peace River

BC Hydro, Site C dam contractor charged after acid rock drainage flows into Peace River

BC Hydro and the Site C dam’s main civil works contractor have been charged under the federal Fisheries Act for failing to immediately report the discharge of four million litres of potentially contaminated acid rock drainage water into the fish-bearing Peace River. The contractor, Peace River Hydro Partners, was also charged with depositing a harmful substance into the Peace River, according to BC Hydro’s latest quarterly Site C dam report. The report, released in late December, says the public utility learned of the charges in late October following an investigation by Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Why Canada’s inaction on the oil sands toxic tailings might cost us more than our biodiversity

Why Canada’s inaction on the oil sands toxic tailings might cost us more than our biodiversity

Canada cultivates a misleadingly good reputation abroad. I would know; I moved here because of it. However, this advantageous position is increasingly under threat as Canada keeps putting industry interest over environmental stewardship. September 4th marked the second anniversary of when the international Commission for Environmental Cooperation’s (CEC) Factual Record documented overwhelming evidence that Canada’s oil sands tailings “ponds” are leaking toxic pollutants into groundwater and tributaries of the Athabasca River.

Snowpack levels show no concern for Gleniffer Reservoir, Dickson Dam

Snowpack levels show no concern for Gleniffer Reservoir, Dickson Dam

As the snow pillows in the mountains above the Red Deer River basin begin to melt in May and June, feeding the Red Deer River and its tributaries, the annual fill cycle of the Gleniffer Reservoir begins. Water from the Red Deer River basin will flow into the Gleniffer Reservoir to be captured and stored, and released into the Red Deer River watershed via the Dickson Dam located approximately 180 kilometres northwest of the Town of Drumheller.

N.W.T. hydrologist explains why flooding is so severe in Hay River

N.W.T. hydrologist explains why flooding is so severe in Hay River

The Hay River has spilled over its banks, and N.W.T. hydrologist Anna Coles says hydrometric gauges installed to measure water levels in the river and its tributaries are showing record high water levels. "The provisional data are showing that we are seeing the highest water levels that those gauges have recorded," said Anna Coles, a hydrologist with the N.W.T. government.

Southern Manitoba faces risk of major spring flooding along Red River and its tributaries

Southern Manitoba faces risk of major spring flooding along Red River and its tributaries

As southern Manitoba remains enveloped in freezing temperatures and seemingly endless snow flurries, there's another "F" word that keeps coming to mind — flooding. The province's Hydrologic Forecast Centre released its first flood outlook for the season on Friday and is predicting major flows along the Red River and its tributaries, including the Roseau, Rat and Pembina rivers.

Cowichan River Temperature Rises to Levels Usually Seen in August

Cowichan River Temperature Rises to Levels Usually Seen in August

The hot weather has the water temperature in the Cowichan River now at a level that is not normally experienced until late summer. On Monday, the temperature of the river in Duncan reached 23.6 degrees Celsius, and as of at 4 pm Tuesday afternoon it had edged above 24 degrees.

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