Bow River Basin Council meets to share information and updates

Shannon LeClair

Times Reporter

 

Stakeholders and interested parties for the Bow River Basin Council, BRBC, met at the Travelodge on Dec. 8 to discuss what has been happening in the last quarter. The council has been around for more than 20 years in one form or another, and is supported by the government. 

“All of the stakeholders involved with the Bow River formed an organization supported by government to be…a talking shop where we all actually talk to each other, we all have different interests in the river 

It is an opportunity to put everyone in the same room and talk about their problems and how one interacts with the other,” said Jim Webber current W.I.D general manager. 

There were about 60 people in attendance at the meeting, which is normally held in downtown Calgary.  Webber said they have been campaigning to have the meetings in the Strathmore area, allowing more people an opportunity to make it. He said people have a chanceto interact at the meetings, exchange information and meet new people also involved with the council. 

“It’s a great educational tool,” said Webber. 

 The W.I.D put on a power point presentation about some of the technology involved in irrigation districts. 

“I don’t think people realize just how much technology goes into the water movement these days,” said Webber.

“So it’s a great way to educate them on how far we’ve come and how much water we conserve these days.” 

The BRBC covers a huge territory, from Banff down to Medicine Hat, which means that either way, someone is going to have to travel 

“I’ve always said that the Bow River Council’s greatest advantage is…that if there is a good idea and the folks that are the stakeholders are hearing it, changes may happen tomorrow. Because we all have the ability to go back to our day jobs and change things,” said Webber. 

The next quarterly meeting for the council will be taking place in March, and will be in Calgary.