Katherine Balpataky
banner
kbalp.bsky.social
Katherine Balpataky
@kbalp.bsky.social
Canadian water wonk, nature nerd and Earth advocate. Executive Director of DataStream Initiative. 🍁#LakeErieLove #waterquality #opendata #nibi #Canicross
Water doesn’t recognize borders — but politics does. @theeconomistnews.bsky.social describes the complex web of transboundary water mngt in South Asia, where Indus, Ganges & Brahmaputra rivers flow across nations with intertwined histories, economies & ambitions www.economist.com/asia/2025/11...
South Asia’s water wars
Climate change and rising energy demand could worsen conflict over rivers
www.economist.com
November 9, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Crowley and I are racing for the Hammer Animal Services this weekend. A great cause. Check it out >> raceroster.com/events/2025/...

Crowley's fundraising page. He wants to win!
raceroster.com/events/2025/...
November 6, 2025 at 1:28 AM
So well put, Stephanie. That's why we are excited to deepen our partnership with @psfca.bsky.social to advance open data sharing and on-the-ground conservation strategies to protect freshwater and salmon habitat on the Pacific coast.
November 5, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Reposted by Katherine Balpataky
Lake Huron has the largest shoreline of all the Great Lakes, including 30,000 islands! That’s more than the Caribbean Sea. 
Georgian Bay Islands National Park is monitoring this diverse water body. Dive into Parks Canada’s water quality data on DataStream: https://doi.org/10.25976/ynsp-9u38
Georgian Bay Islands National Park - Wetlands Water Quality
doi.org
October 30, 2025 at 2:00 PM
@theglobeandmail.com Dr. Beth Parker, reported in the Globe for winning the NSERC Donna Strickland Prize is a hydroGEOLOGIST not a hydrologist. #Groundwater, so often overlooked :-)
November 2, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Congratulations to University of Guelph hydrogeologist Beth Parker for winning the #NSERC Donna Strickland Prize for Societal Impact www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Prizes-Prix/... ‪@uofguelphnews.bsky.social‬ #groundwater
University of Alberta’s David Wishart wins top Canadian science prize
Gerhard Herzberg gold medal comes with a grant of up to $1-million to support personal university-based research or related initiatives
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 2, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Reposted by Katherine Balpataky
We have progressed from data collection to data analysis.
November 1, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Enviro nerd #Halloween costumes of yore. Sad that I cannot find my 'Matt Damon potty strike' & 'ag runoff' costume pics, but here's dirty beach and carbon credit.
October 31, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Reposted by Katherine Balpataky
It was so great to be in Yellowknife last week for the NWT Water Stewardship Strategy workshop.

We loved connecting with water partners & putting our minds together for the next 5-year Water Stewardship Strategy Action Plan. Mahsi cho, thank you to Environment & Climate Change Canada for hosting!
October 24, 2025 at 2:32 PM
What a wonderful week in Fredericton with so many local leaders who are committed to the health of the Wolastoq River. Thanks to @wwfcanada.org and New Brunswick Environmental Network for hosting.
Thank you for sharing this 2025 Wəlastəkw | Saint-Jean | St. John River Summit photo update with us. 💙 The fall colours are beautiful.
We were in Fredericton and Sitansisk this week for the 2025 Wəlastəkw | Saint-Jean | St. John River Summit.

We're grateful for this time to connect with partners working together for the Wolastoq River.

Thank you to @wwfcanada.org & New Brunswick Environmental Network for the warm welcome!
October 16, 2025 at 2:25 PM
#DYK Lake Erie is the shallowest of the Great Lakes, and it warms up fast, making it more vulnerable to harmful algal blooms?

Lake Erie Volunteer Science Network is tracking water conditions to help us all better understand these risks. Explore their data on DataStream: doi.org/10.25976/z4a...
October 16, 2025 at 2:23 PM
How reservoirs are decreasing nitrogen and phosphorus loads reaching Lake Winnipeg (ft. open data accessed via @datastream.org) uwaterloo.ca/water-instit...
Accidental guardians: How reservoirs are decreasing nitrogen and phosphorus loads reaching Lake Winnipeg | Water Institute | University of Waterloo
A WaterLeadership Snapshot
uwaterloo.ca
September 2, 2025 at 2:40 PM
nature.com Nature @nature.com · Jul 31
This surprisingly relaxing footage is from SIX MILES under the ocean – and it’s the deepest ecosystem yet discovered
August 1, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Dear David ("certified Map Guy™"😄), this is a great story. While I can't really speak for the entire water sector, I'm pretty sure all would forgive you for the typo because this graphic is so effective. It actually is perfect!

#workhard #livelong #teachwell
August 1, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Some beautiful connections made in a beautiful environment!
What a week! The DataStream team was in Carcross, Yukon for the Yukon River Inter-Tribal Watershed Council Water Summit and Annual Salmon Ceremony and Gathering.

Thank you to the YRITWC, Carcross Tagish First Nation, & the Yukon First Nation Salmon Stewardship Alliance for such a warm welcome.
July 31, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Don't miss this bright spot on the #climate news landscape: renewable energy has passed a positive tipping point where solar is now 41% cheaper and wind power 53% cheaper globally than the lowest-cost fossil fuel - UN www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/environment/...
UN says booming solar, wind and other green energy hits global tipping point for ever lower costs
NEW YORK (AP) — The global switch to renewable energy has passed a “positive tipping point” where solar and wind power will become even cheaper and more widespread, according to
www.thecanadianpressnews.ca
July 23, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Great interview on Metro Morning with Jennifer Bonnell, author of Reclaiming the Don, about the bold history of Toronto's iconic river. More news this week about the opening of Biidaasige Park jenniferbonnell.com/books-public... @toronto.ca @waterfrontoronto.bsky.social @cbcradiocanada.bsky.social
July 15, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Meet DataStream's Data Services Manager, Patrick!
ARTICLE SUR LE PERSONNEL 🌟 Nous sommes ravis de présenter le profil de Patrick Schaefer, l’excellent gestionnaire des services de données de DataStream ! 🎉

Pour en savoir plus au sujet de Patrick et de son rôle, lisez notre nouveau blogue: datastream.org/fr-ca/articl...
Rencontrez notre équipe : Patrick Schaefer - Article - DataStreamRencontrez notre équipe : Patrick Schaefer - Article - DataStream
Dans le cadre de notre série d’articles sur le personnel, nous avons le plaisir de présenter le profil de Patrick Schaefer, notre gestionnaire des services de données.
datastream.org
July 15, 2025 at 11:50 AM
From friends, at a water festival in Lyon, France.
June 28, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Enjoyed this one a lot!
Was fantastic reconnecting with Lawrence Gunther from @BlueFishnews recently to talk about Great Lakes. Back in 2017, we had great conversation about Waterkeeper, Swim Guide, Watermark, Gord Downie, Trump & more. Still the blueprint for action. podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/t... Biinaagami
Mark Mattson Lake Ontario Waterkeeper
Podcast Episode · The Blue Fish Radio Show · 2017-05-24 · 28m
podcasts.apple.com
June 25, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Reposted by Katherine Balpataky
Indigenous traditional knowledge should be considered with equal weight to Western science when it comes to assessing water, says some Indigenous governments.

The Wek'èezhìi Land and Water Board is holding a public hearing about Diavik diamond mine, in Behchokǫ this week www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Weight of traditional knowledge discussed at public hearing for Diavik's water licence | CBC News
A handful of Indigenous governments want to see more criteria enshrined in the conditions of Diavik diamond mine's new water licence, to determine that water will be safe for cultural uses.
www.cbc.ca
June 16, 2025 at 5:43 PM
So excited to see this new communications space for ALUS' New Acre carbon sequestration work. #ALUS farmers and ranchers are delivering so much benefit to Canadians, it's inspiring. If you work on #climate issues, you need to look at this. alus.shorthandstories.com/nature-to-ne...
NATURE TO NET ZERO
ALUS has embarked on a journey to develop an efficient, cost-effective and principle-based carbon quantification methodology that works for carbon buyers and farmers. Here's why and how we're doing it...
alus.shorthandstories.com
June 16, 2025 at 12:34 PM
❤️
Happy Father's Day to all the Fathas, Papas and Pops out there. #JazzSky, #Jazz
June 15, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Celebrating my dear friend Cindy's 50th with a bike ride & then onto Massey Hall (131) for Oscar Peterson's 100th! What a great day! #JazzSky @teamroxycindy #oscarpeterson
June 14, 2025 at 9:14 PM