Project Research Components

The main goal of this project is to study biophysical vulnerabilities in the SSRB and the ERB, as they are identified by the communities. The project's completion has been planned for 2007 and is on time. The participants are J. Cepeda, M. Fiebig, S. Kulshreshtha, D. Sauchyn (Unit Coordinator), E. Wheaton, and V. Wittrock, with the support of D. Corkal and H. Zavala, and research assistants. The following activities have been carried during the first 30 months of the project:

1. Baseline data collection on environmental vulnerabilities: Several activities have taken place in the context of the baseline data collection. They are: (a) an ongoing review of the current and available literature on the physical geography, climatic and hydrological characteristics, and biological and ecological information about the two basins; (b) development of data bases on biophysical aspects of the SSRB and ERB, which have resulted in a series of thematic maps prepared using geographic information systems; (c) databases on climatic and hydrologic aspects of the SSRB and ERB have been assembled to update the corresponding sections of the working papers; and (d) physical, landscape and human features of the ERB have been photographed to implement a pictorial data basis for teaching and dissemination purposes.



2. Development of working papers: Two papers that integrate the current knowledge on natural aspects of both basins were produced: "South Saskatchewan River Basin Biogeography," by S. Lac, and C. Colan and "Description of the ERB," by J. Cepeda, M. Fiebig, H. Morales and S. Salas.



3. Documenting vulnerabilities to known resource restraints: Several sub-projects have been carried out in relation to this component. They are: (a) a study of the vulnerability of two Prairie communities (Cabri and Stewart Valley) to the 2001 and 2002 droughts (see V. Wittrock, D. Dery, S. Kulshreshtha and E. Wheaton, 2006); (b) a study of arthropod outbreaks in the ERB that damage crops as a result of above average annual environmental temperatures and below mean precipitation (Cepeda and Pizarro, 2006); and (c) preparation of a digital atlas of the ERB focused on environmental vulnerabilities. A sub-project in progress involves an analysis of environmental vulnerabilities in the ERB, focused on precipitation data versus information given by the communities related to precipitation behaviour in the ERB. In addition to these systematic studies, IACC researchers have met stakeholders at various workshops and conferences. Presentations by the stakeholders and informal discussions are the source of further information on vulnerabilities recognized by stakeholders.



4. Reports:
   • Vulnerability of Prairie Communities During the 2001 and 2002 Droughts: Case Studies of Taber and Hanna Alberta and Outlook Saskatchewan
   • Vulnerability of Prairie Communities? Water Supply During the 2001 & 2002 Droughts: A Case Study of Cabri and Stewart Valley, Saskatchewan
   • Adapting to Impacts of Climatic Extremes: Case Study of the Kainai Blood Indian Reserve, Alberta

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