Water Codes of Practice

Important notice

Applications for all Water Act licences, including renewals, and amendments must be submitted through the Digital Regulatory Assurance System (DRAS). For information on how to apply, amend and renew various Water Act licences in DRAS, refer to the knowledge articles in DRAS for Water Act application for licences.

For all Water Act licences issued, amended, or renewed in DRAS that require reporting, the licence holder must report water use data in DRAS. For information on how to report water use data in DRAS, refer to knowledge article KB0023429.

WATERS will still be active for Alberta Energy Regulator applicants.

Overview

On June 21, 2021, Alberta Environment and Protected Areas took a significant step towards streamlining its regulatory system with the new Digital Regulatory Assurance System (DRAS).

For more information on DRAS see: Digital Regulatory Assurance System.

Guides

These guides will assist you in understanding the legislation relevant to the type of Code of Practice application you wish to submit through DRAS. These consolidations have no legislative sanction and are produced solely for the convenience of research. Official Statutes and Regulations must be consulted for all purposes of interpreting and applying the law (consolidations do not contain maps, charts and graphs contained in the printed versions).

Temporary diversion of water for hydrostatic testing

Pipelines and telecommunication lines crossing a water body

Code of Practice for Pipelines and Telecommunication Lines Crossing a Water Body – King’s Printer
- Accepted Practice for Hardening Pipeline Crossings to Provide Scour Protection
  See Directives section on Legislation/Guidelines page
- Appendix A – Amendment (PDF, 16 KB)
  Amendment to the Code of Practice for Pipelines and Telecommunication Lines Crossing a Water Body, Code of Practice for Watercourse Crossings, and Code of Practice for Outfall Structures on Water Bodies
Fact Sheet – Code of Practice for Pipelines and Telecommunication Lines Crossing a Water Body
Guide to the Code of Practice for Pipelines and Telecommunication Lines Crossing a Water Body

Watercourse crossings

Code of Practice for Watercourse Crossings – King’s Printer
- Appendix A – Amendment (PDF, 16 KB)
  Amendment to the Code of Practice for Pipelines and Telecommunication Lines Crossing a Water Body, Code of Practice for Watercourse Crossings, and Code of Practice for Outfall Structures on Water Bodies
Guide to the Code of Practice for Watercourse Crossings, Including Guidelines for Complying with the Codes of Practice
- This guide is outdated and as of April 1, 2020 is archived for reference purposes only. The guide was last updated in 2001 and does not reflect amendments made to the code in 2019 and the Water (Ministerial) Regulation in 2018. Certain portions of the guide may still be useful to inform some current activities, but only where guidance is fully compliant with the code and regulation.
Working Agreement: Class 'A' Watercourses

Outfall structures on water bodies

Code of Practice for Outfall Structures on Water Bodies – King’s Printer
- Appendix A – Amendment (PDF, 16 KB) Amendment to the Code of Practice for Pipelines and Telecommunication Lines Crossing a Water Body, Code of Practice for Watercourse Crossings, and Code of Practice for Outfall Structures on Water Bodies

Powerline works impacting wetlands

Code of Practice for Powerline Works Impacting Wetlands

Wetland Replacement Works

Code of Practice for Wetland Replacement Works

Maps

These management area maps were produced in large scale format at high resolution so some monitors may not be able to display them clearly. If so, go to King's Printer, search for Maps to find the Code of Practice Kit of Maps & Associated Codes to order printed copies.

Management area maps
Codes of Practice: Pipelines/Telecommunications Lines Crossing a Water Body/Water Course Crossings
- Appendix A – Amendment (PDF, 16 KB)

Atlas of Class A Watercourse Sites

This atlas is a compendium of detailed information about the nature of Class A watercourses. Open the provincial overview map to determine the site number. The atlas files are organized by site number and can be found on the Open Government Portal at:

Atlas of Class A Watercourse Sites

Note: the information provided in the Class A Watercourse Atlas is not binding, may not be complete and is subject to change. It is not to be used to determine the official location of Class A sites. The detailed management area maps in section 5 (above) contain the legal descriptions of Class A site locations. For more information, contact the department’s Fish and Wildlife Branch.

Contact Us

Information sheets

Information sheets contain descriptions of all sites, the rationale for their classification, the fish species they are important for, as well as sources of other information. The information sheets can be found on the Open Government Portal at:

Atlas of Class A Watercourse Sites

Site maps

This collection of site maps shows the locations of Class A sites in relation to the Alberta Township System and other base features. These maps can be found on the Open Government Portal at:

Atlas of Class A Watercourse Sites

The listing of maps included on the Open Government Portal are as follows:

Class A Atlas – Maps of Sites 1 to 4
Class A Atlas – Maps of Sites 5 to 9
Class A Atlas – Maps of Sites 10 to 15
Class A Atlas – Maps of Sites 16 and 17
Class A Atlas – Maps of Sites 18 to 20
Class A Atlas – Maps of Sites 21 to 23
Class A Atlas – Maps of Sites 24 to 30
Class A Atlas – Maps of Sites 31 to 38
Class A Atlas – Maps of Sites 39 to 48
Class A Atlas – Maps of Sites 49 to 56
Class A Atlas – Maps of Sites 57 to 60

Aerial imagery

This collection of aerial imagery provides detail about ground cover and the location of road-stream crossing sites. These maps can be found on the Open Government Portal at:

Atlas of Class A Watercourse Sites