Water DiversionWater Diversion

Friday March 26th

Water Quantity: Do we have Water Quantity: Do we have enough?enough?

Parts of Canada have a good supply of fresh water, but others don’t.

The prairie provinces Must divert water

Water diversionWater diversion

The moving of water from its natural watershed to another watershed, often using mechanical devices like dams and canals

The IJC (international Joint The IJC (international Joint Commission)Commission)

In 1909 a treaty was made: Boundary Waters Treaty: Signed in 1909, it provides the

principles and mechanisms to help resolve disputes and to prevent future ones, primarily those concerning water quantity and water quality along the boundary between Canada and the United States.

Created the IJC (6 people—3 Canadian, 3 American)

Milk River vs. St. Mary’sMilk River vs. St. Mary’s

Alberta vs. Montana Developed from melting mountain glaciers and sent water off in

new direction

Montana: Drought, poor infrastructure Both: used water for irrigation

Drought and IrrigationDrought and Irrigation

Drought: A period of months or years when an area does not have enough water supply.

Irrigation: An artificial application of water into soil. There are 3 ways to do this: surface, drip, and sprinkler.

Drip IrrigationDrip Irrigation

Devils LakeDevils Lake

The Problem…The Problem…

Devils lake is getting larger because of runoff We do not want Devil’s lake water running into Manitoba,

Canada Why not?

1. damage to the fishery in Lake Winnipeg, the fish industry, and tourism based on sport fishing

• Water contains many pollutants and invasive species •Why can this become an issue?

2. the effects of new species in the Red River

3. the effects of pollutants, especially salts and phosphorous, which add too many nutrients to the water and cause fish populations to decline

Toxins: PhosphorusToxins: Phosphorus

Coming from Devil’s Lake Also… Phosphorous was found in dish washer detergent and the government banned it in the 1980’s Unfortunately they did not ban it in all detergents, shampoo’s and soaps How does it affect our waterways? Phosphorus is a nutrient that plants love They grow very well in phosphorus Result is that we also use phosphorus as a fertilizer on farms

Effects…Effects…

Because plants thrive on phosphorus blue green algae starts to thrive in lakes choking out other species

It sucks the oxygen out of the water The algae also makes people sick The result is that government is now passing

legislation to ban phosphates in all detergents and soaps

However, they are not banning it on farms.

Blue-Green AlgaeBlue-Green Algae

America is running into trouble…America is running into trouble…

Should we export water to the Should we export water to the United States?United States?

Yes1. Provide jobs to people in the

water industry2. Make money selling water3. Provide power to everybody

and needed water4. Water we sell is not being

used by other people. For example it is just running into the Atlantic

No1. Under NAFTA if water is sold in

one province then all provinces must allow the sale of water. You lose control over your own natural resource.

2. Environmentalists see it as damaging the environment

3. Water is not infinite and Canada needs our water

4. Water belongs to everyone and should not be sold to the highest bidder

5. Water will not just end with U.S.. It will then be shipped all over the world. Only the rich can afford it.

6. Once you start selling it, how do you turn it off.

In what ways has America tried to In what ways has America tried to get our water?get our water?

One way is through NAFTA – The North American Free Trade Agreement.

Another is through NAWAPA.

NAFTANAFTA

North American Treaty Agreement Between 3 countries: Canada, US, Mexico If one province allows sale then all provinces must allow America or Mexico companies in to buy water

NAWAPANAWAPA

North American Water And Power Alliance 1950s and 1960s to capture and redistribute fresh water in

Alaska and Canada. NAWAPA would deliver large quantities of water to water-poor areas of Canada, the lower forty-eight states of the United States of America, and Mexico.

James BayJames Bay

Read & answer questionsDue end of period