• November 2007 - NSWA submits response to Alberta Water Council Wetland Consulation Workbook
The NSWA has prepared a response to the Wetland Consulation Workbook (PDF - 76kb) that was distributed by the Alberta Water Council. This response represents the viewpoint of the NSWA Board of Directors.
• August 2007 - Partners FOR the Saskatchewan River Basin releases new Educational Game
The Partners FOR the Saskatchewan River Basin (PFSRB) in Saskatoon has released a new educational game called Moophers Amazing Journey to the Sea (PDF - 857kb). This game is available at no charge by contacting PFSRB at (306) 665-6887 or partners@saskriverbasin.ca - the NSWA will also have limited quantities available. The PFSRB also has a Click on Climate Kit (PDF - 170kb)and a Water Watchdog Kit (PDF - 196kb) that you can order.
• April 2007 - NSWA hires new Office Administrator: The NSWA is pleased to welcome Teresa Hick on board as their new office administrator for the next year. Visit the Contact Us and Staff sections of the web site for more information.
• January 2007 - New Executive Director joins NSWA: The NSWA welcomes Dave Trew to the organization as their new Executive Director. Visit the Contact Us and Staff sections of the web site for more information.
• May 2006 - NSWA presents Heritage River Nomination Document to the Canadian Heritage Rivers Board at their meeting in Kananaskis, Alberta. Following the acceptance of the Nomination Document, members of the Heritage Rivers Board and NSWA Board, staff and members held a voyageur celebration in Rocky Mountain House in conjunction with a local ceremony, which saw the "Queen's Rent" donated to the Town and County for public display.
• September 2005 - NSWA Receives Minister’s Municipal Excellence Award (partnership category)
NSWA received this award for their partnership in the Beaver Hills Initiative. Located in central Alberta (immediately east of Edmonton), the Beaver Hills/Cooking Lake Moraine is an upland, mixed-wood forest habitat that supports diverse wildlife and vegetation. In 2000, Elk Island National Park called attention to the increased recreational demands and urban development threatening the Beaver Hills ecosystem. Driven by the need to preserve the natural habitat, Strathcona County, Beaver County, Leduc County and Lamont County joined forces with 15 provincial, federal and non-government organizations, including the North Saskatchewan Watershed Alliance to develop a strategy for managing its use.
• August 2005 - The Heritage River Background Study: North Saskatchewan River, Alberta presented to and accepted by the Canadian Heritage Rivers Board at their annual meeting in Inuvik. The NSWA was commissioned by Alberta Community Development’s Parks and Protected Areas Division to prepare a background heritage values of the North Saskatchewan River. This report forms the basis for nominating the North Saskatchewan River as part of the Canadian Heritage Rivers system.
The initial draft of the report was completed on March 31, 2002 and after lengthy review and revision, the final background study was presented to the Canadian Rivers Board in August of 2005. For more information see the Heritage Rivers Program portion of the web site.
• June 7, 2005 - NSWA Receives an Emerald Award for Environmental Excellence
The Alberta Foundation for Environmental Excellence was founded in the fall of 1991 to recognize outstanding initiatives and leadership in the face of many environmental challenges. The Emerald Awards were created by the Foundation to celebrate these achievements. The 2005 awards were presented at the EPCOR CENTRE for the Performing Arts, Calgary.
• May 11, 2005 - Integrated Watershed Plan Underway
The North Saskatchewan Watershed Alliance announced the beginning of an important new initiative, designed to develop an integrated watershed management plan (IWMP) for the North Saskatchewan Watershed. The goal of this five-year initiative is to produce a plan that will protect, maintain and restore a healthy watershed. The NSWA wants to develop a plan that balances environmental needs with social and economic needs. For more information see the IWMP section of the web site.
• April 21, 2005 - State of the North Saskatchewan Watershed Report Released
In its first comprehensive watershed-wide review, the North Saskatchewan River watershed has received a “generally fair” grade of health. The North Saskatchewan Watershed Alliance (NSWA) released their State of the North Saskatchewan Watershed Report 2005 – A Foundation for Collaborative Watershed Management on April 21, 2005, noting several areas for improvement, along with 18 recommendations to address these needs. The 15 criteria used in their assessment were selected and ranked by NSWA members, which include environmental and recreation organizations, First Nations groups, oil and gas companies, agriculture, health authorities, local residents and key government offices. For more information see the State of Watershed section of the web site.