Webinars and Workshops
Current Webinar Series
We are pleased to present a series of six free webinars to Albertans on new research, policy and best practices related to water science and management. Whether you’re interested in water for personal or professional reasons, there is something here for you!
Take a look at the schedule below and sign-up early, before space runs out!
Interested in presenting at a CWRA webinar?
The CWRA is always looking for speakers who are interested in sharing their work or ideas on water management. Do you have some interesting insights into water research, policy or international best practices that you’d like to share? Send us your ideas by filling out the form below and we’ll follow-up.
Link: https://goo.gl/forms/ZDF5Wqyp53pV6BWB2
Submissions for the Water Quality (December 2018) Webinar:
Please submit abstracts related to Water Quality before the end of September 2018. Topics related to First Nations problems with water quality will be preferred.
2018 Webinars Schedule
| Webinar Title | Date |
| Climate change, extremes and variability Part I:
Newest ways of using climate models in water resource applications |
6-Apr |
| Climate change Part II:
Managing the water risks from climate extremes and variability |
Postponed |
| Managing Waterway Public Safety Around Dams | 26-Jun |
| Standards and Guidelines for Water Management | 20-Aug |
| A practical approach towards probabilistic flood risk assessment in a changing climate | 23-Oct |
| Managing water resources in a changing climate: understanding impacts and uncertainties | 28-Nov |
| Water Quality | 1-Dec |
Managing water resources in a changing climate: understanding impacts and uncertainties
Date: November 28, 2018
Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Mountain
Sign up here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2842588694497837571
After you register, a unique link to access the webinar will be emailed to you.
Abstract:
Freshwater systems in Canada are changing rapidly in response to a changing climate and resulting snow and ice cover loss. Under future climate scenarios, significant warming and changes in the precipitation are projected to occur, with a potential to further affect the water resources systems. Thus, the consideration of climate change impacts needs to be incorporated into planning, design and management of water resources infrastructure, as well as adaptation measures to mitigate the impacts. In this webinar, I will introduce steps in assessing hydrologic impacts of climate change, including selection of GCMs, emission scenarios, downscaling and hydrologic modelling. I will also discuss the spatial and temporal variability of future hydrologic changes, including nonstationarity and uncertainties that are associated with changes.
Presenter:
Rajesh R Shrestha, Ph.D., P.Eng. is a Research Scientist at the Environment and Climate Change Canada. His research focuses on assessing the impacts of climate variability and change on hydrologic regime, including methods to characterize interactions, uncertainties and nonstationarity in hydrologic projections.
Cost: Free
Water Quality (Webinar)
Date: early December 2018 (date dependent on submitted abstracts)
Call for Presenters
Presenters will be chosen based on abstracts recieved under the topic Water Quality. Topics related to First Nations problems with water quality will be preferred. Please submit your abstract before the end of September 2018 for this topic.
Link: https://goo.gl/forms/ZDF5Wqyp53pV6BWB2
Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM MST
Climate change, extremes and variability Part I: Newest ways of using climate models in water resource applications (Webinar)
Date: April 6, 2018
Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM MST
Sign up here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1906892201427451137
After you register, a unique link to access the webinar will be emailed to you.
Abstract:
Learn from practitioners and researchers about better understanding the assumptions within climate projections and how you can make the most of of them practical applications in Alberta. This webinar will feature a two-part presentation followed by a panel Q/A session.
Presenter(s):
The UQAM’s Assistant Professor Julie Thériault will focus on her research with the Global Water Futures initiative in Rocky Mountains.
Credit Valley Conservation’s Manager of Engineering, Christine Zimmer, will focus on how the CVC has used climate projections in understanding watershed impacts and developing adaptation actions in an urban context.
Cost: Free
Climate change Part II: Managing the water risks from climate extremes and variability (Webinar)
Date: Postponed
Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM MST
Sign up here: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/1404831002616625666
After you register, a unique link to access the webinar will be emailed to you.
Abstract:
This webinar is the second part of a two-part series on climate change and water. The focus will be on strategies that are being used to manage the risks of a changing climate on water in Alberta.
Presenter(s):
To be announced shortly! Stay tuned.
Cost: Free
Managing Waterway Public Safety Around Dams (Webinar)
Date: June 26, 2018
Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM MST
Sign up here: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/2962324407733452802
After you register, a unique link to access the webinar will be emailed to you.
Abstract:
Dam owners across Canada have become increasingly more concerned with Dam Safety Management in the recent past. This has been especially true since the Canadian Dam Association published their Public Safety around Dams Guidelines in 2011. Overall, dam safety is given the largest consideration due to the potentially extreme, widespread consequences of a dam safety incident; however, Public Safety incidents are responsible for several fatalities a year in Canada and as such deserve serious consideration by all dam owners, if not equal treatment. The CDA Public Safety guidelines describe how to develop a managed system using the “Plan-Do-Check-Act” process. This managed system consists of 5 major components that are in a continuous state of review: Policies and Objectives; Risk Assessment and Treatment Planning; Implementation; Monitoring; and Auditing/Improving. Several dam owners, have already successfully implemented these types of systems and the lessons learned from this experience shows that the CDA process is effective, scalable and can be relatively simple to implement compared to other types of managed systems. Utilities that have implemented these systems, including Manitoba Hydro, have been open in sharing their experiences to help other dam owners develop new programs and avoid some of the issues that they encountered. Some of the lessons learned that are highlighted include: that the process is inherently iterative and requires that the dam owner recognize this and be prepared to revise the various components as new information becomes known; to embrace the phased approach to provide the simplest most potentially successful solutions at a reasonable cost; to utilize the experiences of others to inform your program and minimize the potential rework needed in the future; and finally, to keep it simple and try not to overthink all the requirements and make reporting and documentation streamlined so it will be completed and maintained.
Presenter(s):
David Bonin, David is a Hydrotechnical Engineer from Hatch’s Winnipeg Office. He has over 20 years of experience in dam safety and design.
Cost: Free
Standards and Guidelines for Water Management (Webinar)
Date: August 20, 2018
Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM MST
Sign up here: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/8265333859683153154
After you register, a unique link to access the webinar will be emailed to you.
Abstract:
What standard should I use for a water conservation program? What’s the best way to track risks? How do I know how to comply with water laws? These are all questions people involved with water management routinely ask. Want to know the answers to these and many other questions related to international standards around water management? This webinar is your chance to learn about ISO’s water standards and the newest vintage of the Alliance for Water Stewardship’s certification programs.
Presenter(s):
Zillay Ahmed, Standards Council of Canada
Edwin Pinero, Alliance for Water Stewardship
Cost: Free
A practical approach towards probabilistic flood risk assessment in a changing climate (Webinar)
Date: October 23, 2018
Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM MST
Sign up here: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/1222544069359329282
After you register, a unique link to access the webinar will be emailed to you.
Abstract:
Flooding, as a major natural disaster worldwide, threatens human lives and causes billions of dollars in damage each year. Increases in the intensity and frequency of extreme precipitation, rain-on-snow events, and storm surges due to climate and land use change can exacerbate flood events. Therefore, accurate flood risk assessment, through proper representation of flood hazards, vulnerability and exposure, is crucial for the design, planning and management of societies and infrastructure. In this webinar I will discuss some of the observed and projected impacts of climate and land use change on hydroclimatic extremes and then present a probabilistic flood modelling framework integrated with a risk assessment module to characterize flood risks.
Presenter(s):
M. Reza Najafi is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Western University. His research involves developing and improving nonstationary statistical and physically based modelling frameworks to characterize and predict hydroclimatic extremes.
Cost: Free
