Environment and Conservation
December 30, 2009
Province Boasts Innovative Technologies
in Water Resources Management
Newfoundland and Labrador's large
geographical area and a low population density make
water resources management a challenge, particularly
flood forecasting. Through the adaptation and addition
of innovative technologies, this challenge presents an
opportunity for the Provincial Government to utilize
innovative technologies to enhance flood forecasting
services and overall water resources management.
"We have a level of expertise in water
resources management that is second to none," said the
Honourable Charlene Johnson, Minister of Environment and
Conservation. "Through leading-edge technologies and
capabilities, we are providing a valuable service to the
people of the province and, at the same time, attracting
international attention and showcasing our expertise to
the world."
In 2009, a Russian delegation visited
Newfoundland and Labrador to learn more about the
province's water resources management expertise, in
particular the Earth Observation Satellites (EOS) Badger
River Ice Service. This service was created in 2003 in
partnership with the European Space Agency (ESA) and a
local company, C-CORE. It represents a major improvement
in the flood forecasting capability for the residents of
Badger, as the satellite imagery improves prediction of
the timing of any impending floods. This service has
drawn international attention and is now used in several
countries, including Russia where it is used on the
Siberian Rivers – the Lena and the Yenissei.
With a vision to further improve the
Badger River Ice Service, web cameras using new and
innovative satellite and cellular communication
technologies were installed along the Exploits River to
provide real-time visual confirmation of ice conditions
and verification of satellite imagery. In 2008, a web
camera was installed at Badger overlooking the river
and, in 2009, a second camera was placed at Badger
Steps, a critical and remote section of the Exploits
River. Through interaction between the department and
Egyptian officials, the technology is now used on Lake
Manzala in Egypt.
The department is one of several
Canadian agencies to use web cameras for flood
forecasting services and water resources management and
is considered on the leading edge regarding the remote
real-time application of these web cameras. The work
undertaken in Badger has lead to the placement of the
Badger website on the web camera manufacturer's product
webpage. It can be viewed at
www.campbellsci.ca/Catalogue/CC640.html
To improve flood warning for the
Humber River Valley communities of Deer Lake and Steady
Brook, a web camera has also been installed overlooking
the Humber River.
Another example of the use of
innovative technologies to address the needs of the
people of this province is the EOS snow monitoring
service that has been developed to provide flood warning
to the Humber River Valley communities of Deer Lake and
Steady Brook. Using satellites, snow coverage is
monitored for the entire Humber Valley in order to alert
residents of possible flooding due to snow melt in the
higher elevations of the Humber Valley.
The Humber snow monitoring service was
developed through technology that was adapted from an
ESA project in Egypt in which the department
participated. In 2009, the department was invited to
participate in a three-year international snow
monitoring technology development and testing project
named GlobSnow. The GlobSnow project will produce
products which will have important applications for
flood forecasting, climate change, hydropower generation
and wildlife studies in the province.
For more information on any of these
technologies, including the web cameras, flood-risk data
and real-time water monitoring data, please visit
www.env.gov.nl.ca/env/Env/water_resources.asp
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