Water Management

The absence and presence of water is central to Prairie history–be it a multi-year drought or a 100-year flood. As a region that already experiences a great deal of seasonal variation, a reliable and predictable water supply cannot be taken for granted with the added stress of a changing climate.

Climate change carries significant implications for water resources by altering the quantity, variability, timing, and intensity of precipitation. The Prairies are anticipated to experience longer, hotter, and drier conditions punctuated by episodic heavy precipitation events.

Building climate resilience on the Prairies requires detailed flood and drought risk assessments as well as adaptation strategies that balance flood protection with conservation of water on the landscape.

Publications

A Snapshot of the Changing Prairie Climate

Author/s: Prairie Climate Centre, Matthew Loxley

Published on: April 30, 2022

A Snapshot of the Changing Prairie Climate is designed to be an accessible, timely, and accurate snapshot of the past, present, and future climate for those who live in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Prepared by...

AgricultureHealthIndigenous CommunitiesInfrastructureMunicipalitiesWater Management

Promoting Climate Resilience in Southern Alberta

Author/s: The Resilience Institute

Published on: December 15, 2021

This interactive booklet showcases some of the outcomes of the Promoting Climate Resilience in Southern Alberta Initiative. The booklet has three parts: The Significance of Water and Fish to the Blackfoot People Flood Adaptation –...

Indigenous CommunitiesWater Management

Flood Adaptation: Good Practices for Southern Alberta

Author/s: The Resilience Institute

Published on: December 15, 2021

This report looks at what it means to be resilient in the context of climate change and extreme flood events in Southern Alberta. It explores a range of structural and non-structural flood measures, while focusing...

Indigenous CommunitiesWater Management

Map of Adaptation Actions

Author/s: Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Centre for Climate Services

Published on: January 21, 2021

The Map of Adaptation Actions is an interactive map featuring a collection of climate change adaptation case studies. Featuring examples from Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, the Prairie focused case studies explore city adaptation plans, flood...

AgricultureIndigenous CommunitiesInfrastructureMunicipalitiesWater Management

Under Water: The Costs of Climate Change for Canada’...

Author/s: Climate Choices

Published on: September 29, 2021

This report looks at how a warming and increasingly volatile climate could damage infrastructure across Canada and what Canadian governments can do to prepare and to reduce damage, disruption, and costs. Given cities like Calgary...

InfrastructureMunicipalitiesWater Management

Climate Change and the Preparedness of 16 Major Canadian ...

Author/s: Intact Centre

Published on: February 2, 2021

Municipal governments of 16 major Canadian cities self-assess their efforts to reduce the severity of flood impacts on their jurisdictions and citizens. Response scores were determined and recorded during interviews with designated representatives of municipal...

MunicipalitiesWater Management

Prairie Provinces chapter of Canada in a Changing Climate...

Author/s: Natural Resources Canada

Published on: December 7, 2020

The Regional Perspectives Report highlights how climate change is impacting our communities, environment and economy, and how we are adapting across the many regions of Canada. The Prairie Provinces chapter of this report discusses climate...

AgricultureMunicipalitiesWater ManagementOther

Climate Change and the Preparedness of Provinces and Terr...

Author/s: Intact Centre

Published on: June 3, 2020

Evaluation of provinces and territories across 9 criteria for flood preparedness including flood mapping, hazard mapping, critical infrastructure assessments, land use planning, waterway management and emergency management. Canada scores “C” while Manitoba earns “C-”, Saskatchewan...

Water Management

Implementation Framework for Climate Change Adaptation Pl...

Author/s: Canadian Council of the Ministers of the Environment

Published on: April 28, 2015

Provides 7-step framework for watershed managers to identify and reduce climate vulnerability and risk, and build resiliency within the watershed. Envisions a group of individuals will come together to assess and manage vulnerabilities and risks...

Water Management

Sectors