FRESHWATER ACTION PLAN

Water Cycle: University of Oulu, Sea Water: Getty Images, Dam: State of California , Groundwater: UC Santa Barbara, Wildlife: State of Nevada, Freshwater: Getty Images
FRESHWATER ACTION PLAN
Court Considers
Wildlife
THE NEVADA SUPREME COURT ruled
recently that the state has a right to manage
groundwater for the preservation of senior
water rights and the public interest, including
wildlife.
The decision in the Lower White River Flow
System case will help determine the future of
water management in the driest state in the
union. The Center for Biological Diversity was
a co-respondent in the case.
“This is a monumental victory for the
conservation of water resources in a time of
escalating climate change and drought,” said
Patrick Donnelly, Great Basin director at the
Center. “Nevada’s animals are already under
stress from the lack of water resources, and
our victory will help ensure that industry and
developers don’t leave wildlife high and dry.”
The case centres around an aquifer that
sustains the Muddy River in Clark County,
Nevada. This spring-fed oasis provides habitat for an endangered fish called the Moapa
dace. The Muddy River is also a source of
drinking water for Las Vegas.
Coyote Springs, a proposed city of a quarter-million people in the desert kilometres
northeast of Las Vegas, applied for groundwater rights to pump water that scientists say
would deplete the springs the Moapa dace
relies on for survival.
FRESH WATER IS A VITAL RESOURCE that
is facing pressing challenges. To ensure
Canada's fresh water is clean and healthy,
the Government of Canada is taking action
by launching the Canada Water Agency
and investing $650 million over 10 years in
the Freshwater Action Plan to protect and
restore water quality and ecosystem health
in major watersheds across the country.
“Fresh water sustains life on Earth—it
supplies drinking water, grows food, and
supports ecosystems,” said the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of
Environment and Climate Change. “Our
government is taking action to protect this
vital resource. The Freshwater Action Plan
is helping to improve water quality by
supporting local community-driven projects, greatly contributing to the protection
and restoration of Canada’s freshwater
quality and ecosystem health.”
Terry Duguid, Parliamentary Secretary
to the Prime Minister and Special Advisor
for Water, announced that Canadian
groups, organizations, and governments
with freshwater projects can now apply for
funding under five Freshwater Ecosystem
Initiatives, including Lake Simcoe, the
Wolastoq/Saint John River, the Great
Lakes, Lake Winnipeg, and Lake of the
Woods. The EcoAction Community
Funding Program, which supports freshwater projects across Canada, is also now
accepting applications. Led by the Canada
Water Agency, these programs support
partner-led projects that will have a positive and measurable impact on freshwater
quality and support the priorities of Canada’s strengthened Freshwater Action Plan.
“By supporting Canadian groups,
organizations, and governments that are
working hard to improve freshwater quality across Canada, we are creating strong
partnerships that are vital to addressing
the many challenges facing freshwater
ecosystems and ensuring that Canadians
will have access to clean, fresh water for
generations to come,” said Duguid.
MORE NEWS
AND UPDATES AT
WATERCANADA.NET
Water Cycle
WAT E R C A N A D A . N E T
Sea Water
Dam Removal
Groundwater
WATER C AN ADA • M ARCH/APRIL 2024
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