by Outreach Assistant Randy Paquette
My first thoughts about moving to a new part of Alberta was, “I finally get to live in Southern Alberta? No way!” I was excited yet nervous to venture down south from Central Alberta. Moving to a new place is always unsettling. Exploring an unfamiliar area is daunting, but also exhilarating. I have never had the chance to explore extensively outside of the area where I grew up. Due to my previous work, most of my projects revolved around Central Alberta, in the Battle River watershed. Now that I have the opportunity to branch out, I am eager to get to know what the Oldman watershed has to offer.
Before I move to or visit a new place, I always like to learn as much as I can. First I reflect on my existing knowledge and preconceptions. These can be from friends and family who have visited there before, social media, and/or the news. Then, I browse websites from local sources, and get out to explore and learn firsthand what my new home has to offer.
In this blog, I will outline what I am looking forward to most about living in the Oldman watershed, and what I hope to gain from living here over the course of the summer.
Weather and Climate
One of the first things that came to my mind about Southern Alberta was the weather and climate. I heard that summers can get scorching hot and dry, and winters can be frigid and cold. So far I have experienced only a couple of hot days while living here. In the coming months I am certain there will be many hot days to look forward to. As the summer progresses, we shall see how I grow accustomed to the temperature!
From my readings, I have learned that sudden fluctuations in weather are frequent here. The Rocky Mountains create downdrafts known as chinooks, which are responsible for the variability in temperature. Chinooks are large gusts of warm winds that are most prevalent in the winter and spring. Wind speeds have reached 204 km/h (recorded in 2011 in Pincher Creek, one of the windiest areas in the province). I have prepared to brace myself for the wind by getting a spare windbreaker. I’m sure both windbreakers will get a lot of use this summer.
Prairie sunset with turbines. Photo by Brandon Regier.
Landscape
What first came to my mind when thinking of the landscape of Southern Alberta were the prairies. The prairies host a distinctive feature on the landscape: wind turbines. Southern Alberta’s strong and steady winds have made it an ideal location for the development of wind power energy. Presently in the Pincher Creek area, a total of 8 wind energy projects comprising 272 turbines are producing 291.93 megawatts of energy. Back home in Central Alberta there are a few wind turbines; I was surprised to see so many here.
Lundbreck Falls, AB. Photo by Randy Paquette
The landscapes of Central and Southern Alberta vary slightly. Where I grew up, there are many rolling hills scattered throughout the terrain with some flat, open prairies mixed in. From what I’ve seen so far, southern Alberta looks to be much the same. However, I did notice that there were fewer hills here than back home. The landscape is more open and flat.
Eager to explore this landscape firsthand, on the weekend of moving to my new home I hopped into my car and headed west on AB Highway 3 to the Crowsnest Pass. I was blown away (not literally, luckily!). Around every corner there was something new and exciting to see. The wind turbines added a sense of human presence to the open, rugged topography.
One of the most memorable sites that I visited was Lundbreck Falls. I arrived early enough in the morning that there were only a few people there. The sound of the rushing water cascading over the ridges was truly remarkable. Keen to get a closer look, I wandered to the bottom of the falls where a pair of American Dippers were bobbing up and down in the waves of the Crowsnest River.
Driving through the Frank Slide for the first time was a markedly different experience than Lundbreck Falls. I felt a sense of uneasiness as the highway meandered between the mounds of rock that covered the entire town. The level of destruction and amount of rubble inspired awe. I found it captivating how much of the slide covered such a large area. At the Frank Slide Interpretive Centre, I got out of my car and ventured through the interpretive loop to learn more. The uneasiness that I initially experienced while driving on the highway slowly settled as I walked through the remains of the slide along the path.
Along the Frank Slide Interpretive Centre Loop of Frank, AB. Photo by Randy Paquette.
Continuing west on Highway 3, I stopped for a hike at Star Creek Falls. The trek was steep at first, but worth every step. Overlooking the mountains in the background, the view of the waterfall nestled in a valley was stunning. Every angle of the falls took my breath away. I took a few photos and slowly ventured back down to where my car was parked. It was the absolute highlight of my trip.
Star Creek Falls in the Crowsnest Pass, AB. Photo by Randy Paquette.
On the drive back home, I reminisced about everything I’d seen and learned. After the short day trip through the Crowsnest Pass, I came to appreciate the beauty of Southern Alberta and its diverse terrain. One moment you are in the prairies where it is relatively flat. The next moment you are in the coulees, and then you find yourself in the mountains. This isn't the case back home. There, driving to the mountains takes approximately 3 hours. Closer access to the mountains from my new home is a bonus.
Wildlife
One thing that is special about Southern Alberta is the diversity of endemic species (species that are found only in a certain area). There are many wildlife species within the watershed that I hope to see during my time with the Oldman Watershed Council - however, a couple of species stand out for me.
Snakes are one notable group of wildlife down here. In Central Alberta there are typically only garter snakes and bull snakes, which are abundant in the area where I grew up. In Southern Alberta this list also includes rattlesnakes. In fact, there is a small population of rattlesnakes in Lethbridge. I learned that a human-constructed hibernaculum in Cottonwood Park was established in 2001 to hold captured rattlesnakes that have come into contact with humans (e.g. snakes in yards or on busy roads). It was constructed to maintain dwindling populations in Lethbridge. I have not spotted a rattlesnake yet, but it will be a fascinating experience once I get a glimpse of one. I’m sure I will come across one at some point - probably when I least expect it!
Sun setting behind the coulees in Cottonwood Park, Lethbridge, AB. Photo by Randy Paquette.
Another species unique to Southern Alberta is the pronghorn. About the size of a deer, they are most notably found in open fields across the prairies. They inhabit the south-eastern region of the province, an area that I am not familiar with. As a result, I haven’t encountered any yet. I hope as I’m driving throughout the watershed this summer that I will spot a pronghorn or two.
Pronghorn in a field. Photo by Ken Orich.
In my role as one of the Outreach Assistants with OWC this summer, I hope to be able to get a better indication of all that Southern Alberta offers — particularly in the Oldman watershed. Gaining a greater sense of the variety of wildlife and landscapes will be a wonderful experience. I am looking forward to a summer packed with exploring the watershed and learning more about what makes this area of the province so special.
