| | Organizers are calling this years Alberta Water Quality Awareness (AWQA) Day a resounding success.
"We've tallied the final participation numbers, and pulled together the water quality findings," says Chris Hiebert, water quality program coordinator, Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, Edmonton. "It's obvious from the growing number of participants that Albertans care about protecting our waterways and want to know more about what they can do about keep them clean for people, plants and wildlife."
This year's AWQA Day kicked off Alberta's contribution to Canadian Environment Week, which began June 5, 2006. "However, volunteer water testers across the province were given an entire month to collect and test the waters of any lake, stream, river or pond and share their findings by July 15," says Hiebert. "Because our goal is awareness, we wanted to give as many people as we could the time they needed to get out there and test their local waterbodies."
That strategy worked.
This past June, close to 2,800 Albertans from Milk River and Pincher Creek to Peace River and Fort McMurray journeyed to the banks of major rivers, provincial parks and neighbourhood ponds to test four basic parameters of water quality: pH; dissolved oxygen; turbidity; and, water temperature. When compiled, these findings create a sort of 'snapshot' of water quality in the province.
"Most people submitted their results on-line, and gave us a lot of great feedback about what they got out of the experience," says Hiebert. "People know we're not collecting the data for scientific study. But the process of going out and testing local water sources leads to conversations about water quality issues ranging from recreational use to industrial pollution and, perhaps most importantly, stewardship."
"The kids really enjoyed it because it was a hands-on learning experience," says Susann McGowan, manager, marketing and special projects, 4-H Foundation of Alberta. "We'll definitely do this one again. It's a really good fit with the environmental programs we offer."
Parent Dana Charlton of Calgary says she and her daughter Honor, 9, tested the water in an urban wetland near their home in northwest Calgary. "My daughter really liked it," says Charlton. "And I liked the way she could figure out the results on her own. It was a very good introduction to science." Mother and daughter are already talking about doing the same tests next year, and even including their friends.
"It's definitely an activity kids like doing together," says Dixie Colter, visitor services specialist, Alberta Parks and Protected Areas, Lac La Biche. "I've led groups of Grade 5 students through the tests at Sir Winston Churchill Provincial Park near Lac La Biche for two years.
"I treat them like I've hired them to tell me if that particular wetland is healthy based on the results of their tests," says Colter. "We also talk about different water users and different kinds of wetland and how we're all impacted by water quality."
"The activity is a good one for adults, too," says John Reichert, who is a member of a watershed stewardship group at Wizard Lake, south of Edmonton. He, his wife, and another couple spent a day sampling water from the lake. "This lake is used by boaters, fishing enthusiasts and birders, and is becoming increasingly popular. Even though we live right here, the simple act of going out to sample the water gave us a good reason to talk about its long-term health."
Plans are already underway for next year's Alberta Water Quality Awareness Day. As in the past, people will be able to get more information about the program, or register for the testing kits via the website.
Funding and support for the 2006 program was provided by Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, Alberta Environment, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Shell Environmental Fund, the Alberta Lake Management Society and the Alberta Stewardship Network.
Contact:
Sarah Depoe
Water Quality Specialist
Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development
(780) 427-3770 |
|