Calgary River Users Alliance (CRUA) directors met with the Alberta Environment & Park (AEP) senior water and fishery management group in September 2020 with regards to Alberta’s water management policies and the impact on the Bow River fishery. In particular, the existing and proposed water management directives within the Bow River Basin to enhance flood protection for the City of Calgary. The focus of the discussion is detailed in the following summary of our expression of concern. Further meetings are planned for the fall when it is anticipated a more detailed analysis of water management policy and the impact on the Bow River fishery will take place. The scope of stakeholder consultation is expected to expand to achieve a consensus of the improvements that are needed to water management policy to protect the Bow River fishery.
Calgary River User’ Alliance and our member organizations believe that recreational river use stakeholder engagement is needed to advance the protection of the Bow River fishery while supporting the needs for the City of Calgary flood protection and agricultural water use downstream. We welcome the opportunity to collaborate on initiatives to enhance the fishery and look forward to further engagement on this important initiative.