Untangling the Effects of Development on Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems

Resource Date:
2025

Groundwater is a vital yet often overlooked part of healthy watersheds and our water supply. It sustains lakes, rivers, and wetlands, supports ecosystems on land and in water, and is essential to Indigenous communities who rely on groundwater for traditional harvesting and cultural practices, making clean, abundant water fundamental to their way of life. 

 

Monitoring groundwater is complex due to its hidden nature, making it crucial for land managers to improve mapping and prediction of groundwater–surface water interactions.  

 

This latest infographic from the Canadian Conservation and Land Management (CCLM) Knowledge Network highlights the findings from the article by S.J. Birks, et al., (2024) Groundwater vulnerability in the Athabasca and Cold Lake oil sands regions: gaps, opportunities, and challenges. 

 

With increasing pressure on water systems, collaboration is key to protect groundwater and its connected ecosystems. 

 

To learn more about Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems (GDEs) click here to view the latest report posted on the CCLM.