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Hello <<First Name>>,
Good morning. Lots of announcements today: the deadline for submitting abstracts to #CWRA2022 has been extended, the deadline for scholarship applications is rapidly approaching, and we've got lots of webinars and courses on tap! We'd also like to thank the CWRA BC Branch for hosting a thought-provoking flooding workshop, and acknowledge the dedication of our national board members who gave up a good portion of last Saturday to attend our biannual Board of Directors meeting. High fives all around.
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CWRA Saskatchewan Branch 2022 Webinar Series
February 8, Noon CT: Drought assessment in the prairies. Trevor Hadwen, Agriculture and Agri-food Canada.
This presentation will review the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada drought assessment process, review the 2021 drought, look at how the 2021 drought compares to other historical droughts in the region and provide an outlook for spring conditions. Learn more and register here.
Single webinar:
CWRA Member $10.00
CWRA Non-member $15.00
Five webinar series:
CWRA Member $25.00
CWRA Non-member $50.00
Student $20.00
Corporate $100.00
CWRA SYP McMaster Chapter
February 9, 11 am ET. The Sir Adam Beck Hydroelectric Dam. Ben LeBlanc, Ontario Power Generation.
Ben will be focusing his talk on how the Sir Adam Beck Hydro Dam was built, including the underground tunnel construction that diverted the Niagara River to the Dam. The Sir Adam Beck Hydroelectric Generating Stations were the first large-scale hydroelectric generation project in the world and is classified as a National Historic Site of Canada. The entire generating complex produces about 12,300 gigawatt-hours of energy each year – about 40 percent of OPG’s hydroelectric production, or about nine percent of Ontario’s energy needs.
This event is free and open to all interested attendees. Learn more and register here.
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CWRA Ontario Branch
February 15, 11 am ET: Flood resilience challenge game. Heather Murdock and Evalyna Bogdan.
The Flood Resilience Challenge Game (FRC game) is a serious game that is an educational tool that builds understanding of flood resilience decision-making between stakeholders. The game was co-developed by sociologist Dr. Evalyna Bogdan and the presenter for this webinar, hydrotechnical engineer Heather Murdock. Learn more and register here.
CWRA Members: Free
CWRA Non-members: $15
All Students: Free
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CSHS Workshop
February 18, 1-4 pm ET: PAVICS-Hydro: Open-source Hydrological Modelling as a Service
This afternoon workshop will consist of a one-hour presentation introducing the function and application of PAVICS-Hydro followed by two hours of demonstrations and exercises. Participants are expected to have basic knowledge of hydrology/hydrologic modelling, ideally with some experience using the python programming language.
CWRA+CSHS Member: Free
CWRA Non-member: $60
Student/SYP CWRA+CSHS Member: Free
Student/SYP Non-member $20
More information and register here.
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Please note that our paid webinars have a two-step registration process. After checking out through the payment website, you will receive a link to finish your registration for the webinar with your payment confirmation email. You must sign up through the confirmation email link to receive attendance information for the event.
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Heads up!
April 13-15, 10 am - 3 pm ET each day. CWRA Ontario Branch HEC-HMS Training.
The training will be delivered virtually through a mix of lectures and hands-on workshops, with the opportunity to follow up with the instructor following the course.
Learn more here. Registration will open shortly.
May 9-13, 2022. CSHS Principles of Modelling Short Course (CIVE 781)
This course addresses the development of computational models of watershed hydrology in support of water resources management and scientific investigation.
More information here. Registration will open shortly.
Oct. 31-Nov. 10, 2022. Kananaskis Short Course on Principles of Hydrology (GEOG 827)
The University of Saskatchewan Centre for Hydrology with the assistance of the Canadian Society for Hydrological Sciences is once again offering this popular (and intensive) course on the physical principles of hydrology with particular relevance to Canadian conditions. The course is led by Dr. John Pomeroy, Canada Research Chair in Water Resources & Climate Change, and taught by Dr. Pomeroy and a team of subject-matter experts.
Further details about this course can be found here. Registration will open shortly.
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Reminder: Enter our Photo Contest!
CWRA is hosting a photo contest in honour of our 75th anniversary. We're looking forward to seeing Canadian water through your eyes, showcasing your photos, updating our collection of water images, and selecting some favourites to feature in a special print edition of Water News and spotlight at our 2022 National Conference.
From now until March 15th, submit up to five photos in each of our four contest categories: Work, Play, Rest, and Respect. This contest is open to anyone in Canada, and CWRA Members are encouraged to enter. Please visit our website to enter your photos and read the contest terms and conditions.
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BC Government Seeks Input on Watershed Security Strategy and Fund
On January 25, the BC Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy announced the province’s first Watershed Security Strategy and Fund, with an opportunity for public feedback on its development. The provincial government’s Watershed Security Strategy and Fund Discussion Paper outlines various opportunities and outcomes, as well as strategic themes for safeguarding BC’s watersheds. As described in the discussion paper, the Strategy could facilitate a number of outcomes, including creating a Watershed Security Fund; supporting reconciliation with Indigenous peoples; supporting and enabling watershed governance; and achieving healthy waters for everyone.
The public is invited to provide feedback via the Engage BC website. This can be done through an online questionnaire or via written submission. The deadline is March 18, 2022 at 4 pm PT.
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Call for abstracts #CWRA2022 extended to February 18
We are still accepting abstracts for oral presentations and poster sessions in preparation for the 2022 National Conference. All submissions must comply with guidelines outlined here. If you have questions or problems with your submission, please contact CWRA2022@cwra.org for assistance.
A COVID-safe Conference
The CWRA2022 conference organizing team is committed to the highest possible health and safety standards. Therefore, regardless of protocols in place for the Province of Alberta at the time of the conference, we will be requiring in-person conference attendees to:
- Be fully vaccinated (proof of vaccination required at the time of registration),
- Be masked throughout the event, and
- Sign a liability waiver at the time of registration acknowledging health protocols in place for the in-person event.
This is in accordance with National and International guidance for attending in-person gatherings, and the protocols expected by CWRA National.
Sponsors and Exhibitors
Sponsorship and exhibitor details and benefits are now available on our website. Additional details can be found within the Conference Prospectus. If you would like to become either a sponsor or exhibitor please email the conference planning committee at Chair.CWRA2022@cwra.org
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This February edition of the CWRA BWPS is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Eric Wood, a well-known and influential hydrologist, researcher, and professor who passed away last year. The paper by Ryken et al. (2022) was co-authored by Eric. Many of Eric’s students and colleagues can attest to the brilliance of Eric’s personality, kindness, and generosity. He is greatly missed.
Hussain et al. (2022) shows how to select an indicator for quantitative assessment of water scarcity. Vergopolan et al. (2021) introduce SMAP-HydroBlocks as an accurate gridded soil moisture dataset. Upadhyaya et al. (2021) show how machine learning can be used for identification of precipitation presence and type. Ryken et al. (2022) and Mai et al. (2022) contribute to a better understanding of hydrological processes: Ryken et al. (2022) provide insight into how surface hydrological processes in the mountains are related to groundwater processes, whereas Mai et al. (2022) show how simulations of streamflow are sensitive to hydrological processes on a continental scale.
1. Hussain Z, Wang Z, Wang J, Yang H, Arfan M, Hassan D, Wang W, Azam MI, Faisal M. 2022. A comparative appraisal of classical and holistic water scarcity indicators. Water Resources Management DOI: 10.1007/s11269-022-03061-z
How to assess 12 water scarcity indices: a review of older and newer conceptualizations; assessment of limitations including data scarcity; and why one indicator is not always applicable.
2. Mai J, Craig JR, Tolson BA, Arsenault R. 2022. The sensitivity of simulated streamflow to individual hydrologic processes across North America. Nature Communications 13 (1): 455 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28010-7
Understanding hydrological process sensitivity on the continent-level scale for numerical simulations: a dataset with > 3000 locations; spatial and regional variability; and the importance of quickflow.
3. Ryken AC, Gochis D, Maxwell RM. 2022. Unravelling groundwater contributions to evapotranspiration and constraining water fluxes in a high‐elevation catchment. Hydrological Processes 36 (1) DOI: 10.1002/hyp.14449
Understanding linkages between snow, groundwater and evapotranspiration in mountain catchments: eddy covariance and water budgets; partitioning of energy and water fluxes; and energy balance closure and seasonal differences.
4. Upadhyaya SA, Kirstetter P, Kuligowski RJ, Searls M. 2021. Classifying precipitation from GEO satellite observations: Diagnostic model. Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society 147 (739): 3318–3334 DOI: 10.1002/qj.4130
Machine learning can provide insight into identifying precipitation presence and type: identifying important predictors and improving accuracy; the need for multiple channels; and optimal selection of predictive measurement inputs.
5. Vergopolan N, Chaney NW, Pan M, Sheffield J, Beck HE, Ferguson CR, Torres-Rojas L, Sadri S, Wood EF. 2021. SMAP-HydroBlocks, a 30-m satellite-based soil moisture dataset for the conterminous US. Scientific Data 8 (1): 1–11 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-021-01050-2
Introducing the SMAP-HydroBlocks dataset: gridded soil moisture at 30 m resolution from remote sensing, mathematical models and sensor fusion; a rigorous validation scheme; and applications for process characterization and water management.
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Call for Submissions: Canadian Water Resources Journal
The editors of the Canadian Water Resources Journal are seeking individual or group suggestions for both quarterly and special issues of the journal. Over a dozen special issues have been published in the past and they represent key references on topic that are relevant to water science, management, and policy in Canada. Learn more about the journal on our website, and please do not hesitate to contact co-editors Chris Spence (chris.spence@ec.gc.ca) or André St-Hilaire (andre.st-hilaire@inrs.ca) if you have questions or suggestions.
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Got a project you're excited about? Got something you'd like to share?
Drop us a line!
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CWRA would like to thank the following corporate members who have either just joined us or have recently renewed. We hope you enjoy the benefits of your CWRA corporate membership.
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Applications for CWRA graduate scholarships are coming in fast and furious and will continue to be accepted until February 14, 2022.
Please visit our website for more information.
Interested in volunteering for the scholarship committee? Send us an email!
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Saskatchewan Water Security Agency
(Senior) Planning Engineer
Location: Moose Jaw, Regina, or Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Application deadline: February 8th, 2022
The successful applicant will co-develop, implement and maintain the Infrastructure Asset Management Program to ensure the WSA is maximizing the value of water infrastructure assets while providing a required level of service in the most cost-effective manner. You will be involved with capital budgets and planning as well as operations & maintenance budgets and planning, life cycle costing, maintenance management programs, and many other aspects of infrastructure planning. You will work among a diverse and passionate team of professionals, both internal and external to WSA, in the fields of engineering, engineering technology, water quality, ecology, law, sociology, public policy, that are leading this exciting challenge in our province.
For more information, including how to apply for this job, please visit our job board.
FYI: check back often, jobs are posted on the website as soon as we receive them!
Did you know that CWRA members enjoy a 10% discount on job postings? If you would like to post a job on our website and have it announced through our bi-weekly eblasts, email info@cwra.org for rate information.
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Say hello to Nikou Jayaleri
To be honest, we don't always know where in western Canada Nikou is on any given day. We DO know, however, that wherever she is, she's found a CWRA Branch to volunteer with, and for that we are immensely grateful!
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1. What do you do as a career? What do you like about it?
I'm a hydrotechnical engineer with Hatch. I enjoy the day to day challenges that the different types of projects I work on brings.
2. When did you first join the CWRA?
I joined the CWRA Manitoba Branch in 2011.
3. Why do you like being a part of the CWRA?
I enjoy and am proud of being part of the group of volunteer individuals who work together as a team, committed to promote responsible, innovative and effective water resource management.
4. What are you most excited for once we return to a pre-pandemic normal?
I’m excited to be able to socialize with my colleagues and be able to attend in person events and network with others.
5. Tell us something new you have learned about yourself since the beginning of the pandemic.
I have learned that I enjoy travelling more that I thought I did!
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Request for Proposals: Intersectoral Scoping Workshops for the Project Nature-based Solutions to Address Flooding in Coastal Cities
The Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) facilitates environmental cooperation between Canada-U.S.-Mexico (the Parties) under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) and Environmental Cooperation Agreements (ECAs). Natural Resources Canada, National Research Council of Canada, Infrastructure Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada are part of a Canadian delegation supporting a CEC project titled Nature-based Solutions to Address Flooding in Coastal Cities.
The project will run from November 2021 to April 2024 and bring together practitioners from across North America to fill knowledge gaps and support the broader implementation of nature-based solutions (NBS) in coastal regions. The project will focus on three key areas: Socio-economic co-benefits of NBS; Retrofitting existing infrastructure with NBS; and, Monitoring efficacy of NBS.
To launch this work, the CEC is requesting proposals from prospective consultants to convene practitioners working on NBS in North America and scope needs and opportunities for broader implementation of NBS to address flooding in coastal cities. Specifically, the consultant will be expected to facilitate three virtual workshops with interdisciplinary practitioners from Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
The request for proposals is available in both English and French.
Deadline: February 16, 2022 5:00pm
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CWRA is pleased to once again partner with Rain It In. Rain It In is a non-profit that hosts competitions that challenge post-secondary students to create innovative solutions that will mitigate the impacts of intense rainfall and flooding.
Rain It In is seeking industry experts who can volunteer their time as team mentors to share their real-world experience and knowledge with students to help them create realistic and scalable solutions. After the competition, Rain It In will assist students interested in pursuing the development of their solutions by connecting them with resources, mentors, and programs. In supporting students with the transition from ideas to entrepreneurship and product commercialization, Rain It In hopes to create new career opportunities and ultimately support the implementation of solutions that will positively impact our communities and the environment.
If you are interested in this opportunity, please sign up here.
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The 55th annual International Conference on Water Management Modeling, being held virtually on March 2-3, 2022. The ICWMM brings together professionals from around the world to exchange ideas on current practices and emerging technologies in water management. Emphasis is on state-of-the-art computer modeling for resolving water quantity and quality problems in stormwater, wastewater, watershed, and water distribution systems.
Learn more here.
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This newsletter is being sent to you from alongside the Columbia Wetlands, in the Upper Columbia River basin, on the traditional lands of the Ktunaxa Nation.
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