WC145 NovDec 2025 - Magazine - Page 17
CONSERVATION - LARGE:
EARLY ADOPTER INNOVATION PARTNERSHIP:
GREAT LAKES PLASTIC CLEANUP
MANITOBA FORAGE AND GRASSLAND ASSOCIATION
Through the Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup, Pollution Probe is
pioneering the use of advanced technologies to combat plastic
pollution in the world’s largest freshwater system. It was the first
Canadian organization to deploy the BeBot, a beach-cleaning
robot, and among the earliest to adopt the PixieDrone, a
remote-controlled water drone that collects floating debris.
These tools not only boost the efficiency of plastic
removal but also enable the collection of valuable data,
engage communities and raise awareness of local environmental challenges. By pairing innovation with collaboration
and working with municipalities in the Great Lakes Basin,
Pollution Probe is advancing a cleaner, more resilient
future for Canada’s waters.
The Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association (MFGA), in partnership with Aquanty
Inc., is transforming how Prairie communities prepare for extreme weather. The MFGA
Aquanty Model uses advanced HydroGeoSphere technology to create a digital twin
of the Assiniboine River Basin, delivering real-time forecasts and scenario planning.
Developed by a farmer-led organization, the model offers groundbreaking insight
into how forages and grasslands mitigate flooding and drought. Its adoption beyond
Manitoba highlights its potential as a national benchmark for sustainable water
management and climate resilience.
THANKS TO OUR 2025 SPONSORS
PREMIER
COCKTAIL
CONSERVATION - SMALL:
WALLEYE SPAWNING BED RESTORATION
Watersheds Canada is turning winter’s ice into a tool for restoration. On Big Clear Lake, Ontario, volunteers from Big Clear
Lake Association, Shabot Obaadjiwan First Nation and G.E.
Matson and Sons Construction spread 17 tonnes of washed
river rock across the frozen surface to enhance a walleye
spawning bed. When the ice melts, the rock settles precisely
where it’s needed, creating ideal habitat for reproduction.
Funded through the Government of Canada’s
Environmental Damages Fund, the project demonstrates
how community-driven conservation can strengthen
ecosystems and relationships, blending traditional
stewardship values with innovative restoration techniques.
ORGANIZERS
CATEGORY SPONSORS
NEW TECH:
HYDROSPHEREAI - THE MACHINE
LEARNING REVOLUTION
Streamflow forecasting in Canada has long relied on fragmented programs focused on urban centres, leaving many smaller
and remote communities without critical data. HydroSphereAI
is changing that. Trained on an extensive database of watershed attributes, the platform can be deployed across diverse
landscapes, from Prairie basins to northern rivers.
Scalable and low-cost, HydroSphereAI provides a vital
baseline for forecasting in Northern, Indigenous and rural communities that lack the resources for costly engineering studies.
By lowering barriers to access, it is helping to democratize
hydrologic forecasting and strengthen climate resilience.
WAT E R C A N A D A . N E T
FRIENDS OF WATER CANADA
WATER C AN ADA • NOV EMBER/ DECEMBER 2025
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