Spring, It seems its finally here! AB,BC,SK updates

Hopefully the snow is behind us for this year.

We found ourselves somewhat behind from where we thought we would be going into May, due to the frost coming out (and snow) much later this year in most of the West than 07 and 08. Where as we have usually started spring surveys in S AB in early April, this year was a good 3 weeks later and though we did complete a couple in AB during late April, in early May we decided to head to SK to get away from the snow falls holding us up here. We went for a week intially expecting to do more in S AB but after rain and snow holding us back again near Calgary we headed east to get started on the first loop across the West.

We have been going all except for a few days of rain in SK and MB and tonight here in Westlock, AB we are nearing the end of our first western loop to MB and back, that started 3 weeks ago and should be back in Calgary for the weekend. We expect to do do 2-3 surveys near Calgary and than we will head back into SK next week to pick up a few winter bookings we could not get done on the first loop and than head back into AB to catch up here.

We expect we will head into BC for a loop sometime the last half of June or early July for the first time this year to get caught up on the bookings we have there.

Typically we try to be current on the winter and spring booking by the end of June and with good weather we might still make it. That said due to early booking by many of our client's that only need surveys completed before fall, we can make some openings available on our rounds when we gain some rain days so book as early as you can. In areas we might be only a week or 2 away. It just depends where we are when you call.

Nanton, AB: Bylaw to Conserve Water

http://www.nantonnews.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1533185

Economists Article: World Water Rights to Control Waste

An interesting article discussing the merits of applying a value on water rights to control waste in other countries. Some people may be surprised to learn that surface water rights for irrigation have been used in Western Canada for years and sold or traded for considerable and continually increasing values either on their own or as part of the property sale. Its no surprise that a property with water rights is worth considerably more than that without. Will this one day apply to groundwater as well?

http://www.economist.com/opinion/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13446737

May is Here

Spring seems to have arrived though even yesterday there were still snow drifts here and there south of Calgary. Somewhat behind from the early April start last year we are gaining ground by working thru the weekends and making good headway on the early bookings. We did end up going into SK last week as it was drier there with no rain and worked right thru the weekend. We will end the week in S. AB and head back thru SK next week working our way to N SK and AB the week after.