Sandi Riemersma, M.Sc.

Environmental Biologist

Sandi completed her B.Sc. in ‘Biology and Environmental Science’ at Trent University (Ontario) and her M.Sc. Degree in ‘Environmental Engineering’ at the University of Calgary (Alberta). She has over 25 years of experience working in the field of environmental monitoring, watershed management and research. Prior to her professional career, Sandi researched the use of constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment in Ontario (dairy farm runoff), the Czech Republic (municipal runoff) and in Alberta (feedlot runoff).

Sandi spent six years working for the Alberta Government, first as a Water Quality Specialist (Alberta Agriculture) and then as a Resource Planner (Alberta Environment). During her tenure with the government, Sandi researched the use of grass buffer strips to attenuate nitrogen and phosphorus from agricultural runoff. Sandi also studied the effects of enhanced wetlands on the water quality of a prairie creek. Sandi developed water quality monitoring programs for watershed stewardship groups and authored an extensive review of phosphorus sinks and sources in watersheds.

In 2004, Sandi founded Palliser Environmental Services Ltd. Sandi has continued to develop her expertise in water quality monitoring, implementation of agricultural Beneficial Management Practices, water and watershed management planning, research and stakeholder engagement processes. Sandi works closely with urban and rural municipalities, industry, watershed planning and advisory councils and watershed stewardship groups to achieve environmental objectives. She possesses strong communication skills and has a good understanding of Provincial legislation and regulatory requirements. Sandi facilitates water and watershed management discussions among stakeholders to identify common goals and develop strategies to reach those goals. She prepares watershed management plans at various scales (regional and sub-basin) and develops and implements water and watershed monitoring programs.

Sandi also implements beneficial management practices for water quality protection with landowners, and has assisted volunteer groups to implement stream stabilization projects using bioengineering techniques.

SELECT Publications/Research:

Palliser Environmental. 2021. Upper Fish Creek State of the Watershed Report. Prepared for the Fish Creek Watershed Association, Calgary, AB.

Palliser Environmental. 2021. Terms of Reference for the Beaver River Integrated Watershed Management Plan. Prepared for the Lakeland Industry and Community Association, Bonnyville, AB.

Palliser Environmental. 2020. Jumpingpound Creek Water Quality Monitoring Program Report, 2017-2019. Prepared for the Jumpingpound Creek Watershed Partnership, Cochrane, AB.

Palliser Environmental. 2019. Summary of Past Water Supply Investigations in the Milk River Basin, Alberta. Prepared for the Milk River Watershed Council Canada, Milk River, AB.

Palliser Environmental. 2018. Lesser Slave Integrated Watershed Management Plan. Prepared for the Lesser Slave Watershed Council, High Prairie, AB.

Palliser Environmental. 2018. Updated Nose Creek Watershed Water Management Plan. Prepared for the Nose Creek Watershed Partnership, Calgary, AB.

Palliser Environmental. 2017. Horse Creek Abbreviated Watershed Management Plan. Prepared for the Little Creeks and Rough Fescue Society, Cochrane, AB.

Palliser Environmental. 2015. Milk River Integrated Watershed Management Plan. Prepared for the Milk River Watershed Council Canada, Milk River, AB.

SELECT Publications/Research:

Palliser Environmental. 2014. Overview of Water Quality: Southern Regional Stormwater Management Plan Study. Prepared for MPE Engineering Ltd., Lethbridge, AB.

Palliser Environmental. 2014. Beneficial Management Practices and Opportunities for Reducing Phosphorus Loads from Rural Areas within the CSMI Planning Area. Prepared for the Cooperative Stormwater Management Initiative, Calgary, AB.

Milk River Watershed Council Canada. 2013. Milk River Transboundary State of the Watershed Report.
Milk River Watershed Council Canada in collaboration with the Milk River Watershed Alliance. Coordinated, Authored and Edited by S. Riemersma, Palliser Environmental.

Palliser Environmental. 2012. County of Lethbridge Stormwater Management Plan – Review of Water Quality, County of Lethbridge, Alberta. Prepared for County of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB.

Palliser Environmental. 2012. Jumpingpound Creek Integrated Watershed Management Plan. Jumpingpound Creek Watershed Partnership, Cochrane, AB.

Milk River Watershed Council Canada. 2009. Milk River State of the Watershed Report 2009. Compiled by Palliser Environmental.

Palliser Environmental. 2008. The Magic and Mystery of Fish Survey: A Survey of Albertans. Alberta Riparian Habitat Management Society in partnership with Trout Unlimited Canada.

Palliser Environmental. 2008. Linking Riparian Health Parameters to Forage and Biodiversity: Data Analysis and Compilation. Alberta Riparian Habitat Management Society.

Palliser Environmental. 2008. Nose Creek Watershed Water Management Plan. Nose Creek Watershed
Partnership, Calgary, AB.

Palliser Environmental. 2007. Overview of Riparian Health Assessments and Other Riparian
Evaluations Completed in Alberta, Excluding those Completed by Cows and Fish. Prepared for Alberta
Riparian Habitat Management Society, Lethbridge, AB.

Palliser Environmental. 2007. Managing Livestock for Bird Diversity and Abundance in Riparian
Areas: A Literature Review and Summary. Prepared for the Alberta Riparian Habitat Management Society, Lethbridge, AB.

Palliser Environmental. 2006. Alberta Watersheds Literature Review – Annotated Bibliography. Procite
Database. Prepared for the Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Water Research and the Oldman Watershed Council. Lethbridge, AB.

Research Publications

Riemersma, S. and J. Rodvang. 2004. Evaluation of forage buffer strips for water quality protection and improvement in the Battersea Drain watershed, Alberta.

Ontkean, G.R., Chanasyk, D.S., Riemersma, S., Bennett, D.R. and Brunen, J.M. 2003. Enhanced prairie wetland effects on surface water quality in Crowfoot Creek, Alberta. Water Quality Research Journal of Canada 38:335-359.

Riemersma, S. 2002. Buffer zones for a healthy watershed. Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, Irrigation Branch, Lethbridge, AB.

Riemersma, S., J. Little, G. Ontkean and T. Moskal-Hebert. 2002. Phosphorus Sources and Sinks in Watersheds: A Review. Irrigation Branch. Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development. Technical Report.

Rodvang, S.J. and Riemersma, S. 2002. Groundwater monitoring at a buffer strip site in the Battersea Drain watershed: Interim report. Irrigation Branch. Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development.

Riemersma, S. 2001. Treatment and management options for beef feedlot runoff in Alberta. Master’s Thesis. University of Calgary, Calgary, AB.

Riemersma, S., Rauch, O. and Kvet, J. 1996. A Review of the Benesov Constructed Wetland. Institute of Botany, Academy of Sciences and Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of South Bohemia, Czech Republic.

Riemersma, S. 1996. Constructed wetlands for the storage, treatment and disposal of dairy farm wastewater and the potential contribution of Typha x glauca, Sagittaria latifolia and Scirpus validus. B.Sc. Thesis. Trent University, Peterborough, ON.

Guiding Principle

Palliser Environmental’s success is guided by the integration of three fundamental values

PEOPLE • ENVIRONMENT • SCIENCE

Guiding Principle

Palliser Environmental’s success is guided by the integration of three fundamental values