Global Water Futures
Permanent URI for this collection
Global Water Futures is a pan-Canadian research program that is funded in part by a $77.8-million grant from the Canada First Research Excellence Fund. The overarching goal of the program is to deliver risk management solutions - informed by leading-edge water science and supported by innovative decision-making tools - to manage water futures in Canada and other cold regions where global warming is changing landscapes, ecosystems, and the water environment. Global Water Futures (GWF) aims to position Canada as a global leader in water science for cold regions and will address the strategic needs of the Canadian economy in adapting to change and managing risks of uncertain water futures and extreme events. End-user needs will be our beacon and will drive strategy and shape our science.
https://gwf.usask.ca/
Browse
Recent Submissions
Item Effects of river flow on walleye (Sander vitreus) recruitment in the Saskatchewan River Delta(Canadian Science Publishing, 2025-02-06) Twilley, Jacqueline T.; Enders, Eva C.; Paul, Andrew J.; Wastle, Rick J.; Jardine, Timothy D.Alteration of natural flow regimes is affecting freshwater fish populations. For example, the walleye (Sander vitreus) fishery in the Saskatchewan River Delta has declined since the mid-1990s, which may be related to changes to flow regimes due to upstream dams. To test this hypothesis, walleye age data obtained from otoliths collected through sustenance and commercial fishing were used in a generalized linear mixed model catch-curve analysis to test the relationship between discharge during predefined biologically significant periods and walleye recruitment. The best fit model identified that the fry growth period (weeks 30–42) had a positive relationship between river discharge and future recruits. Based on the estimated Bayesian posterior distribution, there was a very high probability (p > 0.99) that the effect was different from zero. This effect had an estimated 69% increase (28%–105% credible interval) in recruitment with every 100 m3·s−1 increase in discharge over the fry growth period. These findings support previous work on walleye recruitment in another northern freshwater delta and will inform water resource management in these systems.Item Providing evidence of policy influence : Global Water Futures experience(University of Saskatchewan Global Water Futures, 2015-04-09) Morrison, MonicaExperience of the Global Water Futures program in tracking the influence on policy of the program's scholarly publications through use of the Overton online platform.Item Analysis of Turbulence and Turbulence Kinetic Energy Dynamics in Complex Terrain(AGU Publications, 2025-02-28) Rohanizadegan, Mina; Petrone, Richard M.; Pomeroy, John W.; Kosovic, BrankoBoundary layer processes and turbulence in a complex terrain are influenced by thermally driven flows, as well as dynamically forced flows when ambient wind interacts with orography. This paper investigates the variability in turbulence kinetic energy (TKE) with elevation and topography in a shallow high mountain valley in the Canadian Rockies. The Fortress Mountain Research Basin in the Kananaskis Valley, Alberta, was chosen for this study. Data from three high-frequency eddy-covariance systems at a northwest-facing slope, and at two ridgetops at the south and north valley sidewalls were used for the analysis, and combined with large-eddy simulations at 90 m horizontal grid spacing. The observed data and simulations focused on a sunny summer day when turbulence was well-developed, and cross-ridge flows interacted with thermally driven circulations. The observed TKE time series compared reasonably well with simulations at the northwest-facing slope and southern ridgetop. The model was then used to evaluate the vertical and horizontal TKE-budget equation. Analysis of the TKE budget showed that horizontal shear production and advection of TKE driven by horizontal wind-gradients in cross-ridge flows, and the interaction of these flows with the up-valley flow could be an important source of TKE production on the northwest-facing slope station in the Fortress Valley. The variability observed in TKE budget components across different locations within this high mountain basin indicates the significance of both horizontal and vertical exchange processes in the mechanisms governing TKE production.Item The hysteretic and gatekeeping depressions model − A new model for variable connected fractions of prairie basins(Elsevier, 2025-06) Shook, Kevin; Pomeroy, John W.The Prairie Pothole Region of western North America has unusual hydrology and hydrography. Its level, post-glacial topography means that many drainage basins are dominated by internally drained depressions, rather than having conventional dendritic drainage networks of stream channels. Modelling the hydrology of these regions is difficult because the relationship between depressional storage and the connected fraction of a basin is hysteretic. Existing models are either computationally intensive and require high-resolution Digital Elevation Model (DEM) data which may not exist or require calibration and cannot reproduce the hysteresis between the basin connected fraction and depressional storage. The Hysteretic and Gatekeeping Depressions Model (HGDM) has been developed to simplify modelling of prairie basins with variable connected/contributing fractions. The model uses “meta” depressions to model the hysteretic responses of small depressions and a discrete model of large depressions, which cause “gatekeeping”, meaning that they prevent upstream flows from reaching the outlet until the depressions are filled. The HGDM was added to the Cold Regions Hydrological Modelling (CRHM) platform which is one of the few models that has successfully simulated land surface hydrology in the Canadian Prairies. CRHM + HGDM is tested by modelling streamflows at Smith Creek, a basin in southeastern Saskatchewan, Canada. It is demonstrated that CRHM + HGDM can reproduce the relationship between the connected/contributing fractions of sub-basins and their depressional storage at least as well as existing models. Importantly, it appears that HGDM can be used with coarse-resolution DEMs, which may permit its use in the many locations where higher-resolution data is unavailable. The simplicity and limited parameterization needs of HGDM may allow for broader representation of depressions and variable contributing area in prairie hydrology.Item An Overview of Common Sediment Contaminants and Remediation Methods in North America and Europe(2020-08) Bird, ElaineThe Saskatchewan River Delta is one of the most extensive and biodiverse inland deltas in Canada. This area is situated on the traditional land of the Cumberland House Cree Nation, Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation, and Cumberland House Métis. There have been vast changes to the Saskatchewan River Delta’s flow patterns in the past century, which have had a profound impact on the people who live there as well as the surrounding ecosystem. One of the most prevelant results has been an overall reduction in the amount of water that reaches the delta in the summer. These changes have negatively impacted fish production in the area, which many of the inhabitants rely on as a valuable resource. In addition to the flow changes, sediment has become trapped in the reservoirs upstream, which yields a net sediment depletion in the delta over time. This depletion causes the banks and channel beds to erode, which has negative impacts on the surrounding areas as well. Sediment restoration is needed, but possible sediment sources may be contaminated, and so sediment management techniques must incorporate remediation methods that are feasible for the area. This project is a part of a larger project that is striving to determine whether sediment restoration is a viable option for the Saskatchewan River Delta.Item Prairie Wetland Drainage Infographic(Global Water Futures: Prairie Water Project. University of Saskatchewan, 2022) Morrison, Alasdair; Whitfield, Colin; Spence, ChristopherItem ‘Shallow or deep?’ Groundwater Infographic(Global Water Futures: Prairie Water Project. University of Saskatchewan, 2024) Johnson, Connor; Miranda, LaurenItem Biodiversity & Wetlands Infographic(Global Water Futures: Prairie Water Project. University of Saskatchewan, 2022) Morrison, Alasdair; Clark, BobItem ‘Do you know your prairie watershed?’ Infographic(Global Water Futures: Prairie Water Project, University of Saskatchewan, 2024) Morrison, AlasdairThe Prairie ecozone has over 4000 sub-basins approximately 100 sq.km in area. We identified 7 classes of watershed, based on 35 biophysical characteristics. We use this classification to understand how water behaves on the prairies.Item Panel on the role of archiving in knowledge mobilization, Wellington Waterloo KMB Community : responses of Monica Morrison(Global Water Futures, 2023-12-01) Monica, MorrisonItem Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: Research Practice Protocol(Global Institute for Water Security, University of Saskatchewan, 2024) Rowe, Andrea; Schuster Wallace, CorinneItem Equity Diversity Inclusion Field Research Protocol(Global Water Futures, Global Institute for Water Security, 2023) Rowe, Andrea May; Schuster Wallace, CorinneThe core objective of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) in field research is to ensure that all participants are safe and respected. Fieldwork is an integral part of water research that takes on many forms, such as, multiple consecutive days, multiple site visits, regular or sporadic days, domestic and international travel, urban and community based or rural and remote settings. As such, interpretation is required to adapt wise practices from this protocol to your unique field circumstances. Using an EDI lens will catalyze critical conversations and help to facilitate positive experiences for students, faculty, staff, and communities. EDI requires both immediate short-term action and long-term commitment to ensure that field research is open to a diverse range of participants, is accessible, and advances inclusion in water research.Item Tracking scientific and policy influence of project-related research : Global Water Futures(Global Water Futures, 2024-06-05) Zhang, Li; Morrison, MonicaA partnership between the GWF knowledge mobilization team and the University of Saskatchewan library has been exploring the use of different research metrics tools to see what published literature can tell us about the existing and potential influence of GWF research outputs on both science and society.Item Prairie Water Annual Partners' Meeting 2022 : summary report of the 17th February meeting(2022-08-02) Morrison, AlasdairThe theme of the 2022 APM was “Collaborations and partnerships for successful water outcomes”. For the research team, our focus was to engage in discussions to better understand how we can accelerate the movement of research findings, data, and other products into the hands of you, our partners. More specifically, we wanted to find out more about how Prairie Water research outputs have been used to date, what the most effective ways to communicate these outputs with the widest audience have been, and what some of the challenges and opportunities to getting new knowledge into water management decision-making are. This report provides a summary and analysis of some of what we heard during the APM panel session and discussions, and what we have learned from engagement with many of you over the years of the project. We have been able to conceptualize the network through which Prairie Water outputs are and could be disseminated (Section 2). Key themes influencing the uptake of knowledge have also identified from our discussions (Section 3). Awareness of these themes and this network will help us be strategic in how we approach knowledge mobilization for the remainder of the Prairie Water project and beyond.Item Working for our water future : knowledge to strengthen Saskatchewan's water assets(Global Institute for Water Security, 2023-03-31)Increased flooding, drought, and upstream use continue to put Saskatchewan’s freshwater resources at risk. Water needs for irrigation, industry, municipalities, recreation, and nature are increasing, along with impacts of runoff from rural and urban development, much of it upstream in the sources of the Saskatchewan River. Saskatchewan’s economy is especially water-dependent and subject to widely-varying water availability. We need intelligence on our waters to predict and plan for our farmers, food processors, marketers, hydroelectricity managers, municipalities, and suppliers to our industries. Research at the University of Saskatchewan, and data provided by Global Water Futures Observatories, is helping the people of Saskatchewan prepare for a water-secure future.Item Guide to Common Parasites of Food Fish Species in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut(Global Water Futures Northern Water Futures, 2024-03) Zabel, N; Swanson, Heidi; Conboy, GPrepared by N. Zabel & Dr. H. Swanson, Wilfrid Laurier University, and reviewed by Dr. G. Conboy (DVM, PhD, DACVM), Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island. Preparation of this guide was supported by Northern Water Futures (Global Water Futures; Canada First Research Excellence Fund). Reviews, photographs, and expert guidance was received as in-kind support from several individuals, and we gratefully acknowledge these important contributions. Funding for printing of guides distributed within Northwest Territories was provided by Government of Northwest Territories.Item Water well told : storytelling in source water protection(2021-05-16) Duffy, AshleighDrinking water is about our humanity as much as it is technology. The thesis findings are critical in the decolonization of drinking water solutions for rural and Indigenous communities.Item Integrated Water Modelling Program for Canada, Global Water Futures(University of Saskachewan Global Water Futures, 2023-05) Duffy, Ashleigh ; Razavi, SamanWater models have been developed for many disciplines, each capturing separate snapshots of hydrologic systems. However, hydrology is complex and in constant flow. It is inefficient and costly to model water in many separate pieces. There was a need to combine the strengths of different water related disciplines into integrated tools, and soon for northern regions such as Canada where climate change is already having an impact. The IMPC team has approached the “integration challenge” by bringing together experts in climate science, water resources management, engineering, snow hydrology, ecology, economics, social sciences, computer science, and traditional ecological knowledge. The work under IMPC would not have been possible without the collaborative spirit of many external researchers, practitioners, and stakeholders from academia, government bodies, boundary organizations, and the private sector. Some of what IMPC has explored includes: Climate model downscaling & fine-resolution forcing; Refining routines for snow & glacier hydrology ; Water quality modelling; Water quality-hydraulic model coupling; River ice flood forecasting; Permafrost mapping; Indicators and mechanisms of spring flood generation; Flood inundation mapping; Sensitivity & uncertainty analysis; Model intercomparison; Water resource management, irrigation, and economic model coupling; Ecological indicators & sustainable flow boundaries; Incorporation of local perspectives and TEK; Delta Dialogues.Item Indigenizing research : a resource guide for indigenous peoples, academics and policy makers Version 3 (August 2020)(McMaster University Co-Creation of Indigenous Water Quality Tools Project, 2020-08)The purpose of this research guide is to foster dialogue between Indigenous peoples, academics and policy-makers concerning methods utilized by our research team. The resource guide is expected to be accessible both to Indigenous community and activists; along with researchers, policymakers and academics, respecting the agency of Indigenous peoples. This resource guide was prepared by the following members of the Research Team on Co-Creation of Indigenous Water Quality Tools under the Global Water Futures program: • Dawn Martin-Hill (Mohawk, Wolf Clan), Associate Professor, McMaster University • Jorge Fabra-Zamora, Project Officer (Former), Co-Creation of Indigenous Water Quality Tools • Piers Kreps, Research Assistant (Former), Co-Creation of Indigenous Water Quality Tools • Danielle Gendron, Project Support (Former), Co-Creation of Indigenous Water Quality Tools. The contents of this resource guide would not be possible without the insightful contributions of the following members of the Research Group and Community Members of the Six Nations of the Grand River (alphabetical order): Nancy Doubleday, Sarah Duignan, Beverly Jacobs, Karissa John, Nidhi Nagabhatla and Afroza SultanaItem Summary of Research Progress May 2023: “Partnerships and tools for water resilient prairie communities”(2023) Miranda, Lauren; Spence, Christopher; Whitfield, Colin