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Indicator Type: Stewardship
Since the early 1900’s, a network of monitoring stations has tracked water supplies in Alberta’s rivers and lakes. This network is called the hydrometric monitoring network. This indicator shows the size of the network and how it has changed over time. A recent map shows the distribution of the stations throughout Alberta’s major river basins.
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Trend: Decreasing in recent years
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What does the indicator show?
As shown in the chart above, there have been considerable increases in the number of hydrometric monitoring stations over time. However, since the mid-1980's, the number of stations has been declining. This has been primarily due to funding restrictions.
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Why is this indicator important?
Good information about water supplies is very important to environmental managers and water users throughout Alberta. Information for flood forecasting is also provided by the stations. This helps to save lives and protect property. The stations and the data they collect are the backbone of any water supply analysis and other water-related research.
This indicator also allows Alberta Environment to target efforts on maintaining a proper monitoring network. The goal is to provide good information for environmental managers.
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What actions are being taken?
In spite of a reduction in the number of monitoring stations over the last few years, funding has been granted recently to expand the network to support the Alberta government's Water for Life Strategy. Alberta Environment is currently conducting a review of the existing and past network, to identify new sites, and resurrect important discontinued sites. This review will help us determine the best network of station to meet our current and future needs.
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Links to additional information
A more detailed map showing how the distribution of stations has changed from 1920 to 2000.
Some additional charts summarizing the stations and the station data.
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Feedback
E-mail the SOE Coordinator: SOE.Coordinator@gov.ab.ca or complete this short on-line questionnaire to provide your feedback: http://www.zoomerang.com/
survey.zgi?p=WEB224DW6P3E2K.
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