Upper Athabasca Region Water Quality Framework
Official title: Upper Athabasca Region Surface Water Quality Management engagement
Why This Matters
Live near the Athabasca River or get your water from it? This framework determines how clean that water stays. It sets the rules for how much pollution from oil sands, forestry, and other industries is acceptable. Indigenous communities and local residents who depend on the river have a stake in these standards.
What Could Change
The framework is now complete. It establishes regional water quality objectives and sets thresholds that trigger government action when pollution levels rise. If indicators exceed limits, Alberta must respond with management measures. This creates a consistent approach across the province's land use planning regions.
Key Issues
- What should the regional water quality objectives be for the Upper Athabasca River?
- Which indicators best measure water quality impacts from development?
- What thresholds should trigger management responses?
How to Participate
- This consultation is now closed. Review the Engagement Summary to see what participants said.
- Read the final Upper Athabasca Region Surface Water Quality Management Framework that resulted from this engagement.
What Happened
Feedback was collected through an online survey from June 22 to September 17, 2021. A webinar was held on July 8, 2021. The government also met with Indigenous communities and key stakeholder groups. The consultation was completed in September 2022, and the input helped develop the Upper Athabasca Region Surface Water Quality Management Framework.