Groundwater Monitoring in the Bow River Basin
Groundwater plays a vital role in sustaining freshwater ecosystems and providing drinking water for millions of Canadians, yet remains under-monitored in many regions. The Bow River Basin Council (BRBC) has launched a citizen science groundwater monitoring project to better understand how groundwater levels are changing over time—especially in the face of climate change and increasing drought. Building on the Rocky View WellWatch program led by Dr. Masaki Hayashi at the University of Calgary, the BRBC is expanding monitoring efforts across under-sampled counties in the Bow River Basin, including Foothills, Bighorn, Wheatland, Vulcan, and Newell.
The project supplies equipment and training to landowners who measure water levels in their wells. We are actively seeking well owners to participate in this growing initiative. If you’d like to get involved, please fill out the survey or get in touch.
Data gaps exist in groundwater well monitoring across the Basin. Particularly in the M.D. of Bighorn, Foothills County, Vulcan County, Wheatland County, and the County of Newell.
Resources and Additional Information
Webinar recording: Alberta CitSci Community of Practice - June 2024 - How About Drought? Citizen Scientists in Action
This project was made possible through a grant from the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation