David Schindler, the Scientific Giant Who Defended Fresh Water Among the world’s grea

[chuckChuck]

Canada and the world recently lost one of our world class scientists.

David Schindler, the Scientific Giant Who Defended Fresh Water
Among the world’s greatest ecologists, his boreal research has touched all of our lives.
Andrew Nikiforuk 9 Mar 2021 | TheTyee.ca


https://thetyee.ca/News/2021/03/09/David-Schindler-Scientific-Giant-Fresh-Water-Defender/ https://thetyee.ca/News/2021/03/09/David-Schindler-Scientific-Giant-Fresh-Water-Defender/

"But that’s not what dumbfounded me. Schindler just didn’t look or behave like a university professor. People commonly mistook the lake ecologist for a rig worker or a farmer. The short muscular man could lift a car, ride a 10-dog sled team over 5,000 kilometres of terrain every winter, wrestle a group of men down a stairway (yes, he did that at Oxford University), hunt a moose and happily down a bottle of whiskey with no noticeable effects.

And then there was the peerless, cutting-edge science. By the age of 50, Schindler was one of the world’s top freshwater ecologists. Politicians and bureaucrats feared him because he wielded scientific evidence the way a Samurai swung a sword. His groundbreaking research on phosphates, acid rain, climate change, UV radiation and transboundary pollutants had rattled governments in North America and Europe and driven important policy changes around the world."

[AlbertaFarmer5]

My mom knows David through their common concern about fresh water, and has nothing but great things to say about his work and integrity. Thanks for posting.

[Guest]

Canada and the world recently lost one of our world class scientists.

David Schindler, the Scientific Giant Who Defended Fresh Water
Among the world’s greatest ecologists, his boreal research has touched all of our lives.
Andrew Nikiforuk 9 Mar 2021 | TheTyee.ca


https://thetyee.ca/News/2021/03/09/David-Schindler-Scientific-Giant-Fresh-Water-Defender/ https://thetyee.ca/News/2021/03/09/David-Schindler-Scientific-Giant-Fresh-Water-Defender/

"But that’s not what dumbfounded me. Schindler just didn’t look or behave like a university professor. People commonly mistook the lake ecologist for a rig worker or a farmer. The short muscular man could lift a car, ride a 10-dog sled team over 5,000 kilometres of terrain every winter, wrestle a group of men down a stairway (yes, he did that at Oxford University), hunt a moose and happily down a bottle of whiskey with no noticeable effects.

And then there was the peerless, cutting-edge science. By the age of 50, Schindler was one of the world’s top freshwater ecologists. Politicians and bureaucrats feared him because he wielded scientific evidence the way a Samurai swung a sword. His groundbreaking research on phosphates, acid rain, climate change, UV radiation and transboundary pollutants had rattled governments in North America and Europe and driven important policy changes around the world."

Very interesting article

[foragefarmer]

Experimental Lakes Area is a Canadian national treasure that had to be saved by Gov of Ontario and the Winnipeg-based non-profit International Institute for Sustainable Development.

ELA is the only freshwater research facility of its kind in the world. Scientists from around the world would come to do research at the ELA.

But Closet Boy stopped Federal funding just to save between 2-3 million a year to please his anti-science supporters and to retain their votes.

[chuckChuck]

The famous photo of Lake 226, which the Schindler-led ELA team divided by a curtain to prove phosphates trigger algae blooms.


Schindler was a national treasure and it is great to see the respect for the man and his work on Agriville.

A5, its so interesting that your mother knew him and that you also have great respect for him. It's a small and surprising world sometimes.

Schindler had big concerns about the oil industry and their direct impact on water quality and also the indirect impact caused by climate change.

I have attached some quotes from an article below.

https://thenarwhal.ca/david-schindler-canada-spending-its-way-dangerous-water-debt/ https://thenarwhal.ca/david-schindler-canada-spending-its-way-dangerous-water-debt/

"But this way of thinking about Canada’s freshwater is misleading, Schindler said, because what sustains that water supply is runoff. With climate change already affecting Canada’s glaciers and increasing incidents of drought, our freshwater supply is in danger.

“You can’t talk about water without talking about climate change,” Schindler said. “We know that the snow packs in these mountain ranges are dwindling as last winter gave us a good example of. The glaciers supply a tiny amount of the total annual flow of a river but it comes at a critical time of the hot, dry summer.”

Schindler said the Bow River Glacier can supply up to 50 per cent of the river’s water during dry spells. But he said, over the last century, the Bow River Glacier has dramatically retreated threatening water supply for cities like Calgary as well as the cold water necessary to sustain the river’s famous cold water fish species during the hotter months of July to September.
Wildfires, Both Cause and Outcome of Climate Change, Consume Freshwater

The millions of hectares of forest that burned across Canada this year were the victim of the “deadly combination” of pine-beetle infestations, drought and high temperatures, Schindler said. (2015)

He added that wildfires further exacerbating the problem of climate change by releasing huge amounts of emissions.

Federal Politicians Must Consider Costs

It's easy to see the high costs of climate change and the high value of water, Schindler said. The amount of money put into fighting forests fires plus the value of lost forestry quickly escalated into the billions this summer. B.C. alone spent nearly $300 million fighting forest fires in 2015 although the province only budgeted $63 million for the task.

Schindler said it's time to be more honest about these costs.

“How is it that we can have three leaders debating economics in the run up to the election — talking about figures of the same magnitude — without talking about this side of the ledger?"

“They talk about jobs, they talk about big industry — how about the costs? Don’t you guys know that there are two sides to the ledger?”

Schindler ended by saying the value of water and the cost of a warming climate can’t be kept separate from any grand promises about the economy.

“Before we can have an economic action plan we need to have a climate action plan,” he said.

[AlbertaFarmer5]

Could you two show a little respect. You don't have to use every event to get on your soapbox and make a political rant.

And the same goes for Nikiforuk, and the Tyee. Disgusting and disgraceful all of you.

Why can't you say something good about someone without dragging someone else down, and making a political statement. I can just imagine you going to a funera and making a lecture about Harper and climate change to all the mourning relatives.

[chuckChuck]

Whaaat? I have great respect for Schindler and so does Nikiforuk.

I made no big political statement or lecture. I only pointed out his concern about water and the environment extended to concern about climate change impacts, and the impact of the oil industry.

When our lives are over there is no greater respect than recognizing and upholding the good work that an individual accomplished.

I am not sure sure why that rubs you the wrong way, especially since you and your mother were an admirer of his work on water. But why not admire his work on climate change as well? Surely his scientific integrity didn't stop at water.

[Guest]

I wondered also why we needed the Harper comment
Was good thread to that point

[foragefarmer]

I wondered also why we needed the Harper comment
Was good thread to that point

Case

Just letting everybody know how close as Canadian's we were to losing the world renowned Experimental Lakes Area because of the P.M's vote appeasing?

Be honest, were you aware of this almost happening?

[Guest]

Had never heard of him
But sounds like we need more like him

[Guest]

Here’s one of his thoughts on politicians ;

In an email last summer to The Canadian Press, Schindler quoted a saying of his grandfather’s in reference to politicians and industry officials who turn a blind eye to science: “Too low to kick and too slimy to step on.”

[chuckChuck]

A5 you never explained how you and your family can respect David Schindler as one of the worlds greatest fresh water scientists but then ignore his work that shows the impacts of the oil industry and climate change on freshwater in Alberta. Please explain.

From the previous post on David Schindler:

Federal Politicians Must Consider Costs

It's easy to see the high costs of climate change and the high value of water, Schindler said. The amount of money put into fighting forests fires plus the value of lost forestry quickly escalated into the billions this summer. B.C. alone spent nearly $300 million fighting forest fires in 2015 although the province only budgeted $63 million for the task.

Schindler said it's time to be more honest about these costs.

“How is it that we can have three leaders debating economics in the run up to the election — talking about figures of the same magnitude — without talking about this side of the ledger?"

“They talk about jobs, they talk about big industry — how about the costs? Don’t you guys know that there are two sides to the ledger?”

Schindler ended by saying the value of water and the cost of a warming climate can’t be kept separate from any grand promises about the economy.

“Before we can have an economic action plan we need to have a climate action plan,” he said.

[Guest]

I spent many years in the patch
All I know is Canada’s oil patch is regulated better than anywhere else in the world
They need to respect and acknowledge that instead of bringing Blood soaked oil here from MIddle east

[fjlip]

“Before we can have an economic action plan we need to have a climate action plan,”

WRONG! Azz backwards.

[AlbertaFarmer5]

Chuck, quit trolling, I'm not going to take your bait, let's leave this as a respectful thread honouring David's life. Save your global warming and childish taunting sermon for a more appropriate time and place.