We live in the basin of the Bow River, a remarkable tract of land that extends from the Rocky Mountains, across foothills and the rapidly growing City of Calgary, to the broad prairie. This land has been home to First Nations for thousands of years. Within this basin, all waters flow into the Bow River. We share this water with plants and animals. Without this water, nothing could live. With this water, a great diversity of life, including humans, can thrive. As residents of the Bow River basin, we must protect the land that produces the life-giving waters. We face many challenges. Our rapidly growing population demands much of the land and water. Our climate is changing and the future of our water supplies is uncertain. To act wisely, we need first to understand our basin. The purpose of this poster is to introduce us to the local water cycle, to how humans use the basin waters, and to how we can live well on the land.

(Map by M. Parry, Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration) larger image [JPEG, 688.5 kb, 2975 X 1480]