OUR MISSION

We envision a future where the waters of the Bow River Basin are conserved and protected as a fragile and unique resource, and recognized as our lifeline.

ABOUT BOW RIVER BASIN COUNCIL

The Bow River Basin Council (BRBC) is a collaborative and multi-stakeholder, charitable organization that is dedicated to conducting activities and programs that encourage and advance the enjoyment, learning, and protection of the waters of the Bow River Basin.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

“The BRBC has had our backs right from the beginning and helped us form into a society in 2004. A few years later we developed the Elbow River Basin Water Management Plan together. Over the years, we have leveraged the BRBC’s funds and in-kind support to secure new contributions and help on projects such as the Elbow State of the Watershed Report. The BRBC continues to be invaluable and showcases the power of working together to meet our shared goals.

- Flora Giesbrecht, Coordinator Elbow River Watershed Partnership.

“Congrats, BRBC! Looking back over the twenty years gone by, RiverWatch appreciates benefiting from partnering with the BRBC as a charity sponsor in our early years, and we’ve always enjoyed the sense of community shared by everyone attending Quarterly Forums. We’ve certainly availed of numerous opportunities in newsletters and in person to update BRBC members regarding our award-winning programs for School Afloat, CreekWatch Citizen Science and River Ambassador Outreach, and we’ve now amassed quite the collection of speaker-gifted “water measuring devices.” Happy Anniversary, BRBC, and many more!

- Cal Kullman, Founder RiverWatch Institute of Alberta

“We are grateful to the Bow River Basin Council for their support through funding, without which we would not have completed two phases of the Bighill Creek surface water and sediment quality study. The BRBC also supports us in many other ways such as through networking during their quarterly forums, spreading the word on the Bighill Creek Valley and our organization through their newsletter and bulletins, and facilitating supportive partnerships between watershed groups within the Bow River Valley.”

Dr. Ken Stevenson, Board Member Bighill Creek Preservation Society.

"BRBC funding has supported early-career water science researchers in the University of Calgary’s Geoscience and Environmental Science programs, from undergraduate summer interns to PhD candidates. These students have the rich opportunity to conduct place-based research and then present it to multiple stakeholders at the quarterly forums. Some of this work has also been published, expanding scientific understanding.”

- Dr. Cathryn Ryan, Professor University of Calgary, Department of Geoscience.

“The Town of Okotoks truly appreciates the opportunity that the BRBC provided to create a regionally-collaborative research and education center through the Living Soils Filtration project. In 2018, the project was nationally recognized when it won the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’(FCM) Sustainable Communities Award in the category of Water. This successful partnership between the Town and the BRBC also led to an additional nature-based stormwater pilot project at a new elementary school in Okotoks. These projects, which will benefit the entire region, would not have been possible without the support and encouragement of the BRBC.”

Bill Robertson, Mayor Town of Okotoks.