Presentation Inquiry Contact Information:

Oral Presentation Contact:

Andrew Chan

achan@matrix-solutions.com

Poster Presentation Contact:

Kelly Munkittrick

kelly.munkittrick@ucalgary.ca

Abstract Submission Guidelines

We are now accepting abstracts for oral presentations and poster sessions in preparation for the 2022 National Conference. All submissions must comply with the following guidelines. Failure to observe these requirements may result in the rejection of the abstract during the review process. If you have questions or problems with your submission, please contact CWRA2022@cwra.org for assistance.

• This form is for the submission of both oral presentation and poster abstracts.
• All abstracts must have a maximum of 250 words and be text-based. Please proofread to avoid any typographic or grammatical errors.
  Authors should prepare their abstracts in advance using any standard word processing system, and then ‘copy and paste’ the elements from the word processing document into the appropriate spaces in the submission system.
• Please do not include author names, references, acknowledgements, figures, images or tables in your abstract body. There is a separate form entry for the author list.
• The Conference Technical Committee reserves the right to allocate abstracts submitted to suitable session categories and will notify the submitting author of the session that the presentation will be placed in. Suggested topic areas include, but are not limited to:

1. Water management along the continuum from headwaters to deltas (summit to sea);
2. The integrated assessment of surface water – groundwater interactions across a myriad of spatial scales;
3. Protecting the ecology, water quality, and traditional uses of water bodies;
4. Developing and implementing hydrological prediction systems across Canada;
5. Understanding the impacts of climate variability, climate change, and hydroclimatic extremes across Canada;
6. Understanding the impacts of new infrastructure/technologies; and
7. Advancing water governance in Canada, including recognition of Indigenous approaches to water management.

• If the abstract you are submitting is already part of an accepted special session, please indicate that in the relevant space provided. Some accepted special sessions may take additional abstracts. If you wish your abstract to be considered for a specific special session, please indicate which ones in the list provided.
• Do not submit an abstract on behalf of anyone other than yourself.
• More information about the Student Poster and Student Paper Awards are posted on the CWRA Awards website.
• Student Qualification: An individual enrolled in at least nine (9) credit hours or the number of hours required by the institution for full-time status at an accredited educational institution.
• If you wish to withdraw your abstract after it is submitted you must inform us in writing via email at CWRA2022@cwra.org.

IF YOU ARE ACCEPTED:

• If your abstract is accepted, but you are not selected to present an oral presentation, you will be offered a poster presentation opportunity.
• Detailed notifications of acceptance and guidelines for oral presentations and posters will be sent by email (date to be confirmed).
• Presenting authors of both oral presentations and posters must register for the conference, and are required to pay the applicable registration fee and all other expenses involved in attending the conference. Your presentation or poster may be withdrawn from the conference if you do not register.

Special Sessions

In the submission form, you may indicate if you would like your abstract to be considered for a specific special session. Please note that organizers of special sessions have final decision on which presentations will be included in their session, and may not be able to accommodate all abstracts submitted to that session. If you indicate a special session you’d like to be considered for, you will still be considered for a position in another session if you are not included in that session. The Conference Technical Committee reserves the right to allocate abstracts submitted to suitable session categories and will notify the submitting author of the session that the presentation will be placed in.

Special Sessions that may accept abstracts are:

• Frozen in the (Infiltration) Trenches: Verifying Cold Climate Green infrastructure Performance
• Uniting the Country – Sharing Flood Mapping and Flood Risk Approaches across Canada
• Advancing hydrological forecasting systems across Canada
• Designing for nature in riparian areas – Striking a balance between infrastructure and the environment
• CSHS Session: Advances in hydrologic and hydraulic modelling
• CSHS Session: Advances in monitoring our water resources
• CSHS Session: Environmental flows in Canada and abroad
• CSHS Session: Use of R in Canadian hydrology
• Nature-Based Infrastructure for Steep Slopes in Cold Climates
• Surface water – groundwater interactions with a changing climate
• Nature-based Stormwater Solutions for a One-Water Future: The Alberta Experience
• Tracer Methods in Hydrologic Studies
• Climate Resilience and Adaptation Strategies for Canadian Infrastructure and our Water Resources
• Steep Creek Hazard, Policy and Mitigation
• Indigenous Water Rights and Management
• Developing ecological prediction systems related to environmental drivers
• *Poster Session* Northern voices, Northern waters: reconciliation through co-governance in the Deh-Cho [tèh tʃʰò] River basin
• Technology for promoting the collection, use and compilation of hydrometric data
• Flood response/recovery work in BC
• CANCID Session: Irrigation and Drainage

Submission Deadline

The deadline for abstract submission has been extended to February 18, 2022.

Detailed Conference Category Descriptions

Category 1: Climate Change

Water Security and Climate Change Resiliency – The impacts of climate change are creating additional stressors and challenges on how we manage water including threats to sustainable access to water and ensuring human and ecosystem health. This session seeks to identify climate change adaptation measures and explore ways to address competing water demands.

• How do we deal with competing land and water uses and other demands of our finite water resources?
• What approaches and considerations are required to ensure long-term sustainability, water security and greater resiliency to the impacts of a changing climate?

Managing Extreme Events (Floods and Droughts) – Flooding in Southern Alberta and Toronto in 2013, in Manitoba in 1997, 2011 and 2014, in New Brunswick in 2019 and the Western Canada drought in 2015 are just a few examples of the extreme events that we have experienced in Canada. Not only do these types of events cause severe damages but they also have a significant economic and social impact. Such events are becoming more frequent and widespread. This session will provide a forum to identify strategies to manage this variability and the expected increase in variability due to climate change.

• How prepared are we in dealing with these types of events and what factors do we need to consider moving forward?
• What tools and management approaches can assist us in being more prepared and to reduce the impact of such events?

Traditional Knowledge and Indigenous adaptation

Indigenous communities are particularly at risk from climate change impacts due to their locations, aging infrastructure, and closer ties to the land. From inland and coastal flooding to extremes in temperatures, forest fires and invasive species, climate change is affecting the economic and cultural wellbeing of Indigenous peoples. The goal of this session is to improve knowledge on community resilience to climate change by identifying different issues faced by Indigenous peoples, highlighting examples of successful community-based projects focused on climate change adaptation and engaging in a dialogue that focuses on solutions to challenges faced by Indigenous communities.

• How is Traditional Knowledge being incorporated in planning for climate change?
• What are the current and future threats and opportunities for adaptation in Indigenous community?

Category 2: Water Management and Collaboration

Integrated and Adaptive Approaches, Collaborations and Partnerships – Addressing water challenges often requires multiple organizations and stakeholders to work together and form partnerships. Whether formal or informal, the key is working together as there are many disciplines, interests and values that contribute to informed water management responses and decisions. This session will explore how various partners can work together and achieve a successful outcome.

• What makes a successful collaboration or partnership and what are the pitfalls?
• How can we use adaptive management approaches to deal with uncertainties and address complex challenges?

Water Apportionment and Transboundary Water Management – Water knows no political boundaries, yet water management responsibilities are shared among federal, territorial, provincial and municipal governments, and Indigenous and treaty right holders. Various coordinating mechanisms and cooperative approaches (e.g. International Joint Commission, Prairie Provinces Water Board, Walastakw River Interim Statement of Cooperation) are being applied in an attempt to address the shared nature of water management. This session will provide an opportunity to share experiences and strategies on how to manage this shared resource.

• Are existing shared management mechanisms effective?
• Are there other tools and approaches that we need to consider in managing water across political boundaries?

Water Rights, Policy and Governance – Whether it is access to fresh drinking water, the sale of water, or the alteration of water bodies and pathways for private and public good, the mechanisms under which we manage this public resource can have wide implications on society. This session will explore various governance models and water management approaches are being applied across Canada, their benefits and their downfalls.

• Do we have the necessary policies in place to support effective water management?
• How are water rights protected and how do they influence water management decisions?

Traditional Knowledge, Indigenous Perspectives and Interests – Traditional and Indigenous knowledge plays a crucial role in achieving sustainable resource management. Such knowledge is generated, maintained and passed-down through oral tradition and practices.  It is important to include traditional knowledge in the decision making process and in developing solutions aimed at sustaining our water resources. This session will explore the integration of these knowledge pathways into our water management systems.

• What are the gaps and barriers to integrating Traditional and Indigenous knowledge?
• How do we bridge these gaps and how do we ensure that this knowledge is maintained and integrated into our water management strategies?

Sector Use of Water – There are numerous demands and pressures on water by different sectors such as mining, energy, agriculture, manufacturing, etc. This session will examine ways that this finite resource can be equitably shared in a sustainable manner.

• How can we collaborate across sectors to ensure water is sustained for present and future generations?
• What technologies can be applied to reduce water use and/or recycle water?

Please note that a number of the Sector Use of Water Sessions will be hosted by Canadian National Committee on Irrigation and Drainage (CANCID). CANCID activities aim to stimulate and promote research, development and application of technology among those individuals and organizations in Canada who are interested in irrigation, drainage, and flood control in rural areas. CANCID sessions will focus on topics related to these activities.

Category 3: Science, Innovative Tools and Technologies

Innovative Tools and Technologies – There are many challenges when managing water, especially in the context of climate change. Innovative thinking is required to come up with solutions to issues like water scarcity, excess water and/or water quality. We already have numerous tools (e.g. modeling and decision support tools) and technologies (e.g. wastewater treatment, green infrastructure) available to us and building on these, this session will explore novel approaches to addressing water challenges.

• Are the tools and technologies we currently use sufficient?
• Are there other advancements and innovative solutions to help guide policy, technology and behavior change?

Advancements in Science and Hydrology – science and technology play a critical role in developing the necessary solutions that are needed to manage water effectively. Our knowledge of water and hydrologic systems, including our understanding of Cold Region Hydrology, have advanced significantly in recent years which leads to more effective decision making and finding solutions that are most effective. However, more information will be needed in the future as we are trying to tackle more complex challenges such as climate change. A multi-disciplinary and systems-based approach will be needed which spans much broader than the physical and biological sciences. This session will focus on our current knowledge and what additional information we need moving forward.

• What do we know about the current state of water? What are the gaps? What additional information do we need?
• How do we facilitate different disciplines and water users coming together to advance our knowledge and make decisions?

Please note that a number of the sessions related to Science and Hydrology will be hosted by the Canadian Society for Hydrological Sciences (CSHS). CSHS promotes the science of hydrology and its sound application in effective water management. CSHS sessions will focus on topics related to CSHS’s mandate.

Category 4: Water and Ecosystem Health

Water Quality – the health and well-being of humans and ecosystems depend heavily on the quality of the water. Water is necessary for all biological life. Key concerns related to water quality include the impacts of water pollution on human health and on ecosystems, as well as economic aspects such as the costs related to treatment. This session will focus on current knowledge and trends related to water quality, as well as the actions taken to protect our water resources.

• What are research findings telling us about water quality in Canada?
• How do we ensure that water quality is maintained and/or improved as to ensure safe drinking water for future generations?

Ecological Health – Canada has the third largest renewable supply of freshwater in the world and, in general, our water quality is often considered in an acceptable state. However, there are increasing challenges and concerns when it comes to ecosystem health including nuisance and toxic algal blooms, invasive species, plastic pollution, pesticides and other contaminants. While some are more localized, many of these issues are of regional or national concern. In this session, speakers are invited to discuss how we manage our water for both ecological and human benefits.

• What are the management practices and behavior changes required as to improve our overall ecological health of our water bodies?
• What knowledge gaps need to be addressed?

Aquatic Invasive Species – are the second biggest threat to diversity in our ecosystems. The impact of aquatic invasive species include reducing biodiversity and habitat quality, outcompeting and endangering native species, increased costs of managing our water resources, and potential harm for recreational activities. The discovery of Zebra Mussel veligers in Lake of the Woods in the fall of 2019 is a reminder that our waterbodies are very vulnerable to the invasion of numerous aquatic invasive species. This session will focus on why we should be concerned and what we need to do to reduce the spread of these species.

• What do we know about these species? What do we need to know more of?
• How can we work collaboratively to reduce the spread and the impacts?