A Changing Climate

What happens when there is suddenly too much water, or not enough? Cities and towns are usually built where the water supply can support a population and its needs – and yet, human activities are contributing to a dangerous shift that is impacting freshwater health. As the climate changes, we’re faced with: 

Our planet has never been hotter. Canada's rate of warming is about twice the global rate, and the Arctic is warming even faster, at approximately three times the same rate.. At the same time that permafrost and glaciers are melting more rapidly, there are also increasingly shorter seasons for ice and snow to build up. All of these changes impact our freshwater supply. 

As freshwater ecosystems warm, aquatic species must adapt or face population decline. Warmer temperatures can also worsen pollution impacts. For instance, excess nutrients in waterways fuel algae growth, which accelerates in warmer waters, potentially creating harmful blooms. These blooms deplete oxygen, creating "dead zones" that kill fish and other aquatic species. 

Climate change is intensifying the frequency and severity of deadly flooding with new rainfall patterns, extreme storms, rapid snowmelt, and rising water levels. These floods pose serious risks to humans, including loss of life and property, while also degrading freshwater quality and ecosystems. As floodwaters recede into lakes, rivers, and streams, they carry contaminated runoff from cities, farms, and industrial sites, further polluting our water sources. Consider: in 2023, flooding alone cost Canadians $4.3 billion in insured losses.

Drought poses a severe threat to human life, as we cannot survive without water. During prolonged droughts, often intensified by climate change, freshwater sources may dry up, sometimes permanently, while others see a drop in water quality. Lower water levels and reduced flow decrease oxygen levels for aquatic species. Changing precipitation patterns force ecosystems to adapt rapidly. Notably, prolonged droughts can exacerbate the effects of climate change by reducing soil moisture, which in turn affects agricultural productivity and can lead to more frequent and intense wildfires, further stressing water supplies and ecosystems. Consider: According to NOAA, in October, 2024, only two US States were not in a drought.