Scientists at the Alberta Environmental Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Agency (AEMERA) have published an article in the peer-reviewed journal, Science of the Total Environment, which details the immediate and short-term biological and chemical implications of the 2013 Obed Mountain Mine process water spill. On October 31, 2013, approximately 670,000 cubic meters of coal process water […]
Read Article
AEMERA and Inside Education: Advancing Water Education Together
“I cannot possibly describe in words just how awesome this experience was for the students and myself. Living in Fort Chip, our students rarely get the opportunity to take part in something like this. In fact, I can honestly say that this event and the great people involved somehow managed to bring out a side […]
Read Article
MEDIA RELEASE: Online report highlights environmental monitoring in Alberta’s oil sands region
Working together with monitoring organizations and communities in Alberta’s oil sands region, the Alberta Environmental Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Agency (AEMERA) has launched an electronic community report featuring information and findings related to environmental monitoring programs in the oil sands. “Working with communities, industry, scientists and monitoring organizations in the oil sands region, we are […]
Read Article
Oil Sands Monitoring Community Report
You have questions about the environment in the oil sands region…and we’re working to find the answers. The Alberta Environmental Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Agency (AEMERA) is the arm’s length provincial agency created to measure, assess and inform the public on the condition of Alberta’s environment. Our scientists and experts are transforming and improving how […]
Read Article
Ground water quantity monitoring in Fort McMurray
On Wednesday October 21st the Edmonton ground water team was in Fort McMurray for the annual water quantity run. In total there were 16 wells that needed to be visited in order to collect water level data to be fed into the provincial WISKI database. All the sites that were visited were remote and required […]
Read Article
Keeping Invasive Mussels Out of Alberta, One Boat at a Time
Zebra and quagga mussels attach to any hard surface and grow like a carpet. They colonize dams and irrigation systems and are a significant physical nuisance for infrastructure. We have over seven thousand kilometers of irrigation canals and pipe in Alberta, all of which could be damaged by an infestation of zebra mussels. Quagga mussels […]
Read Article
TRENDING NOW: AEMERA Scientist Lends Expertise to Manage Triathlon’s Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria) Problem
Ron is playing a key role in dealing with the cyanobacteria issue at Hawrelak Park Lake. Cyanobacteria poses risks to human health in large quantities and when Alberta Health Services (AHS) declared a blue-green algae health risk advisory for the lake in the weeks leading up to the ITU World Triathlon Edmonton, where the swimming […]
Read Article
Summer Student Diary
We were lucky to get some incredible summer students this year. We sent them each a questionnaire while preparing our feature article for this site but some of the responses were too good not to share! What is your academic background? I received my diploma in Environmental Sciences majoring in Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation, from […]
Read Article
Why We Monitor Mercury
Human activity is an increasingly prevalent cause of mercury release. As an example, coal-burning power generation facilities are the most common source of mercury in the environment1. In Alberta, the majority of mercury emissions are through the air2. While mercury is a naturally-occurring element, it can be harmful to the environment and wildlife if it […]
Read Article
Citizen Monitoring: CoCoRHaS
After meeting with representatives from the Bow River Basin Council to discuss the citizen-based precipitation monitoring program called the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network, or CoCoRaHS, some AEMERA staff are now participating by setting up their own precipitation monitoring gauges. CoCoRaHS is a non-profit, network of volunteers of all ages and backgrounds working […]
Read Article