Upper Athabasca Region Water Supply and Allocation Study
Client
Alberta Environment & Parks
Location
Alberta
Project Duration
January 2018 – April 2018
Background
In support of scoping the possible application of a Surface Water Quantity Management Framework for managing water withdrawals from rivers and lakes in the Upper Athabasca Region (UAR) of Alberta, a Water Supply and Allocation Study (Study) was completed by Hatfield in collaboration with Alberta Environment and Parks (AEP). The objective of the Study was to provide an assessment of surface water supply, allocated water demands, and water stress (proportion of available surface water allocated) in the UAR over the last 30 years. The Study also included a statistical analysis of streamflow trends in the UAR.
Services Provided
Hatfield completed a Water Supply and Allocation Study for Alberta Environment and Parks (AEP), to gain a better understanding of the current and projected state of surface water resources in the Upper Athabasca Region (UAR).
Hatfield led the study, in close collaboration with AEP. Available data were reviewed and synthesis/infilling/filtering of data were conducted as required to generate representative runoff conditions, continuous 30-year precipitation records, and a complete quality-checked allocation dataset.
- Compilation of hydrologic, climate data and water use data for several distinct subcatchments within the larger watershed.
- Development of R scripts and tools to analyze data and visualize trends, and provision of tools to AEP.
- Statistical and trend analysis of climate change (e.g., precipitation) and streamflows.
- Assessment of potential risks for water use and water stress, and provision of recommendations to AEP.
- Consultation with multi-disciplinary team members and AEP, and delivery of a training webinar to over 20 staff across various AEP branches.
