News from SEAWA

Merry Christmas!

December 2012

In This Issue

Home Energy IQ

Did you know?

The Medicine Hat Water Treatment System is designed to produce 180 million litres per day for a residential population of 62,000 people.

In comparison, the City of Calgary Water Treatment System is designed to produce approximately five times the volume of Medicine Hat yet service a population nearly 18 times larger than Medicine Hat.

The primary reason?Residential lawn irrigation within the semi-arid Palliser Triangle.

Water conservation activities outside your home (such as drought tolerant plant selection or water retaining soil amendments) can have a dramatic impact on your water use footprint.

Click here for more information regarding water conservation inside, and outside, your home.

Worth repeating...

"Water which is too pure has no fish"

Afghan proverb

SEAWA Quicklinks

Newsletter Archive

Alberta WPACs

More About SEAWA

We are sending the newsletter a little early this month. Why? Alberta's Land Use Framework and the South Saskatchewan Regional Plan...

On December 5th, Medicine Hat and area residents will have the opportunity to offer input on recommendations made by an advisory council for development of the South Saskatchewan Regional Plan. This is the second of seven regional plans that will be developed based on the province's major watersheds. Read more here.

The top five items picked up at 1600 Shoreline Clean-up sites across Canada this year...

1. Cigarette Butts - 416,955

2. Food Wrappers - 98,835

3. Plastic Bags - 69,790

4. Caps/Lids - 69,725

5. Plastic Bottles - 38,202

A Snowflake Primer

At SEAWA we love ALL forms of water, so in the spirit of the season here's a link to an "everything you ever wanted to know about snow crystals and snow flakes" website. Info (and beautiful photos) here.

Watering your Christmas tree

Most experts insist that good old water is all you need to keep your tree fresh through Christmas. But IS there an additive that will increase both fire resistance and needle retention? Read more here.

Test your home energy IQ

Sad but true... there are only a few weeks left until winter is officially here. Do you know how to weather proof your home and keep your utility bills in check? Read about energy efficiency and take the quiz here.

SEAWA is proud to announce that the Strategic Plan for the IWMP is now available online and the Steering Committee for the IWMP has begun to prepare the Terms of Reference for the first phase. Read or download the PDF here.

Quick! Grab your calendar! Save these dates!

The Alberta government invites the public, stakeholders and municipalities to offer input on recommendations made by an advisory council for development of the South Saskatchewan Regional Plan. The local session will run from 4 pm to 8 pm at the Medicine Hat Lodge on December 5. This is the second of seven regional plans that will be developed based on the province's major watersheds.

On January 14 SEAWA is hosting a half-day workshop on Watershed Hydrology and Risk Management. For more information and to RSVP please email maggie@seawa.ca

Would you like to know more about SEAWA? All members are welcome to attend Board meetings. The next meeting will be held in the afternoon of January 16. Please email maggie@seawa.ca to reserve your spot at the table.

PS: Only three weeks until the days start getting longer! Woohoo!

Join the Conversation

Please, feel free to contact us with any comments or questions you have about SEAWA, about land and water issues in the region, or about your personal connection to the watershed.

Contact Info

Maggie Romuld M.Sc., P.Biol.

Watershed Project Coordinator

maggie@seawa.ca