The Role of Technology in Sustainable Development of Oil Sands

Managing Water to Safeguard Albertas FutureAthabasca River Basin Research Institute14-March-2012

David Hill, Executive Director, Water ResourcesWater is Unique ...Water is ...LIFE ... all living things need waterPersonal, EmotionalEconomic, PoliticalEmbedded in everything we do and everything we need (want)In most instances there is no replacement for it!

Water for Life (2003, 2008) Goals & Outcomes Safe, secure drinking water supplyHealthy aquatic ecosystemsReliable, quality water supplies for a sustainable economy

Key Directions & Actions Knowledge and researchPartnershipsWater conservation

Alberta Water Facts ...Diverse landscape ...AlpineBoreal forestsParklandSemi-aridDiverse water uses ...Irrigation (71%)Commercial & Industrial (15%)Cities, Towns (5%)Water Management (4%)Habitat (2%)Agriculture (2%)Other (1%)

Alberta has 2.2% of Canadas freshwater.80% of the water is in the north, while 80% of the population is in the south.Alberta Water Facts ...Fund and coordinate water research in support of Water for Life (2003, 2008) and Albertas Water Research Strategy (2006)Serve as a knowledge broker ... provide analysis and context about water research to decision and policy makers, water practitioners, and ensure the information is understandable, relevant and accessibleEmploy a global view ... seek out the best research, information & knowledge regionally, provincially, nationally and internationallyWhere ideas flow ...Role of Water Resources in AI-EES ...Role of Water Resources in AI-EES ...VISION:Alberta is globally recognized as a leader in managing its water resources for people, the environment and the economy.Water Security, Risk & VulnerabilityWatershed Stewardship & Ecosystem ManagementConservation, Efficiency & Productivity of Water UseMISSION:To promote an integrated and collaborative water research and innovation system focused on providing science and evidencebased analysis and technologies to inform decisions and support actions needed for effective, adaptive and sustainable water management.Started operations in October 2007, with $30 million investment by Alberta, leveraged to $50 millionAttracted Dr. Alexander (Sascha) J. B. Zehnder as Scientific Advisor [Global Reach]More than 35 initiatives completed or underwayAlmost 50% of portfolio with research teams at Alberta universities & more than 10 international30% focussed on water issues in oil sands region10% of portfolio on knowledge mobilization *

Research Portfolio Wetland Health: Challenges and Opportunities in Implementing Albertas Wetland PolicySuzanne Bayley, Lee Foote, Naomi Krogman, University of Alberta; Irena Creed, University of Western OntarioBring together leading natural and social science disciplinesDevelop a pragmatic sciencebased approach to wetland classificationDeveloping new tools to assess wetland function and wetland valueSupport decisions made by governments (provincial & local) in responding to developments that may impact wetlands

Key Initiatives ...Key Initiatives (IBI) ...

Key Initiatives (IBI) ...

Exceptional = NeverGood = 10Fair =5Poor =3

Key Initiatives (LiDAR +) ...Compliance (provincial government & Proponent)

Approvals (provincial government)

Site Planning(Proponent & Local Government)

Compensation Plan &Compensation Site SelectionMonitoring of permit conditionsCalculation of compensation ratiosStandardized Wetland Assessment & ScoringRegional Planning (provincial government & relevant stakeholders)

Wetland InventoryRegional Mapping Products Exceptional WetlandsHigh Value WetlandsRestoration PotentialPerformance of Compensation SitesMunicipal Policy/BylawsDensity Bonuses, TDCApproval Modification & DenialsPriority Setting(ecological/social/economic metrics)Enforcement

Remote monitoring of losses through updated inventoriesImproving Outcomes13Key Initiatives ...The Dynamics of Albertas Water SuppliesAlexander Zehnder, David Hill, AI-EES; Jon Fennell [Project Manager], Worley Parsons Ltd., Shawn Marshal, University of Calgary; Stefan Kienzle, University of Lethbridge; Jungou Lui, Beijing Forestry University (China); Karim Abbaspour, EAWAG (Switzerland), Tara Hadler, University of Basel (Switzerland)How much water is there?Where is it?When is it?How is it used?What are the risks and vulnerabilities?

Water Yield (m3/km2/yr x 1000) ...

% of Watershed Contribution ...

Blue & Green Water (SWAT) 174 to 320 billion m31,225 to 1,637 billion m330 to 128 billion m3

Blue & Green Water (SWAT) 174 to 320 billion m31,225 to 1,637 billion m330 to 128 billion m3

Calibration to stream gauging stationsAquifers Types & Water Volumes Storage volume:Pore volume:16 to 55 billion m3