River Monitoring

The problem

An extended drought (>10 years) in conjunction with increased community need and withdrawal of fresh water from the Medicine River, its tributaries and the Paskapoo aquifer for industrial purposes has resulted in water shortage advisories, the drying up of sloughs and dugouts and many reports of individual water wells going dry and needing to be lowered or re-dug. Despite the water advisory, temporary water diversion licenses continue to be issued to industry as the conditions for license issuing is based on data that does not adequately or appropriately reflect the actual water flow or availability within the watershed and its aquifer.

The Goal:

• To track changes in ground water levels and condition
• To support local and provincial decision making on water use and conservation
• To support public education on the need for conservation and protection of water sources.

The Plan (June 2026)

1. Monitor and sample the Medicine River for changing depth, temperature, dissolved oxygen content, pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, and Phosphates at six locations from the north to the south ends of the watershed.
2. Purchase equipment/supplies including an Optical Dissolved Oxygen (DO) meter and chemical test kits
3. Contract two trained individuals to monitor, sample and report results once a month for six months- (June-October)
4. Collect and report data. MRWS is registered with Water Rangers (a Canadian non-profit society) that provides international and standardized data reporting on river and lake conditions across Canada and 8 other countries.
5. Increase public awareness about status of river through shared presentations and open sharing of data and implications of same.
6. Advocacy. Utilize captured data to advocate to the government and industry for judicial use of fresh water from the MRWS

Locations selected for river testing include:

• Highway 53 and Last West ( .5 mile east of last west road)  at bridge
• Gilby- Highway 12 and 3-5 Gilby Hall  at the Bridge
• West Rainy Creek Road (1.5 miles west) and 766
• Eckville 766 and twp-392 South of Dark Horse Golf Course on west side (Last Hill Creek/Horseguard)- temperature meter installed
• Highway 11  East side of bridge (north side of highway)
• Highway 54 west of 781- on bridge 54 first bridge east of 781

Testing results will be made available on this website as they are completed.