by 2022 Watershed Stewardship Assistants Shannon Hart and Conlan Donahue
We may not play baseball, but we truly do work in the field of dreams. OWC has had a great field season participating in many different projects and programs throughout the Oldman watershed, on the beautiful lands of Treaty 7 Blackfoot Territory. We worked closely with multiple partners including Blood Tribe Land Management (BTLM), Siksikaitsitapi – Blackfoot Confederacy, Cows & Fish, Livingstone Landowners Group (LLG), Trout Unlimited Canada, Waterton Biosphere Reserve, MD of Crowsnest Pass, Alberta Environment and Protected Areas, Miistakis Institute, and Lethbridge College. Our schedule has been packed with willow staking, Canadian Aquatic Biomonitoring Network (CABIN) sampling, school programs, open houses, and additional restoration work, like backcountry trail reclamation and building beaver dam analogs. Our community’s hard work has positively impacted the watershed through data collection, the education of current and future generations, and the creation of beneficial ecological structures through nature-based solutions.
Where in the watershed? OWC’s CABIN, restoration, and stewardship activities in fall 2022.
Fantastic Statistics (September to November)!
2,190 willows staked
5 school programs
2 public outreach events
9 streams sampled
27 CABIN and STREAM samples collected
50+ social media posts
22 dogs sighted
Countless coffees and treats
Working Hard, Playing Harder
Conlan teaching to Grade 5’s a camouflage game and other wetland animal adaptations.
This year’s Wetland Field Day—an annual school program organized by Waterton Biosphere Reserve—was a great success! Did you know that female ducks have more plain colouring to hide themselves and their nests? Or that beaver teeth contain iron in their enamel to help them chomp down on trees all day? These are just a couple of the facts that had grade 5 students excited to learn more about how wildlife use behavioural and physical attributes to survive within our watershed.
Shannon and Conlan measuring stream slope during a CABIN sample.
This fall, OWC went CABIN and STREAM sampling at 9 different restoration sites, taking advantage of this year’s beautiful fall weather to go stand knee-deep in multiple streams. CABIN and STREAM are national programs that measure the health of freshwater water bodies through the collection of benthic macroinvertebrates (water insects). Different species can tolerate varying water conditions, so these bugs can be used to indicate pollution levels. Water samples and measurements are also taken; all of this creates baseline data for long-term monitoring of the health of our local streams. We had a lot of fun catching insects and fighting the currents in many beautiful locations. With the help of wonderful volunteers from BTLM, LLG, and a trusty vehicle that braved many potholes, CABIN sampling was a breeze!
Blood Tribe Land Management staff staking willows into the ground on a chilly day on Kainai Nation.
OWC planted a lot of willows this year! This fall OWC joined up with numerous partners and volunteers to stake 2,190 willows, bringing the total number of willows planted this year to 5,350 (and counting)!
Building a Beaver Dam Analog with BTLM and Miistakis Institute out on Kainai Nation.
On a hot autumn day, Shannon and Conlan worked closely together with Blood Tribe Land Management, the Miistakis Institute, and Cows and Fish to install Beaver Dam Analogs (BDA) in a seasonal creek bed located on Kainai Nation. BDAs are a bioengineering technique that act as speed bumps in the water body. They slow the movement of water and encourage conditions for longer water storage. After getting started, we soon realized just how long and hard a beaver has to work to make a single dam. Thanks to the local high school students, we were all able to work together and construct 2 BDAs to improve the local watershed health.
Conlan, Shannon, and Sofie learning about Range Health Assessments
Middle school students weren't the only ones learning about our watershed this fall! On a warm fall day Sofie, Shannon, and Conlan were fortunate enough to attend the Grassland Restoration Forum’s Research Ranch Tour near Stavely, Alberta. We were guided along a gorgeous walk in the foothills learning about the importance of a well managed grassland ecosystem. There was a lot to learn, and, it was really cool to see the differences in biomass, soil drainage, and biodiversity that stem from various grassland management techniques. Sofie, Conlan, and Shannon were happy as could be appreciating the many different plants our grasslands have on display while learning more about the watershed we call home!
The crew hiking up to the restoration site on Girardi Creek.
Conlan and Shannon took a drive out to Crowsnest Pass on a beautiful day while the fall colours were center stage. We met up with many familiar faces from over the Summer and met some awesome knowledgeable staff from Trout Unlimited Canada. Our goal that day was to decommission an ATV trail that followed up beside and even in Girardi Creek. Wheels in water degrade fish habitat and damage the connections animals and humans have with the river; we spent lots of time throwing fallen trees across the creek bed. The deadfall was used to not only prevent ATVs from driving in the creek but once settled, but also to create pools for fish to overwinter in. Other bioengineering techniques such as willow staking and rough and loose were also used to enhance the conditions for fish, plants, and wildlife. We walked out of the autumn field daydream with smiles on our faces and happy hearts.
Field Notes
Staff
Sofie
Q: What are you most proud of this field season?
A: “One of the sites we CABIN-sampled was a partner restoration site that we had never been to, high up in the Livingstone Range. Getting there was an adventure! I was proud of the crew for our navigation, teamwork, and driving skills to carefully and successfully make our way up a very rough track to our site. We made it there and back again—a fieldwork tale!”
Kallie
Q: What is your favourite part about fieldwork?
A: “My favorite part of field work is working closely with co-workers and volunteers to accomplish whatever goal we set our mind to. Whether it is a great day of CABIN sampling, or planting hundreds of willows, it is always a great time. I like taking our end-of-day selfies especially.”
Shannon
Q: What was your favourite field day of the fall season, and why?
A: “There have been too many good days to choose just one but I do have a favourite week. At the beginning of October, we were out in the field for four days straight. On Monday, we went CABIN sampling in the Crowsnest Pass, Tuesday had us out at the Stavely Research Ranch for a walking tour with the Grassland Restoration Forum and Alberta Environment and Parks, we went out to help Trout Unlimited Canada with trail deconstruction on Wednesday, and then on Thursday we helped BTLM, Miistakis Institute, and Cows and Fish build beaver dam analogs! I was definitely tired by the end of the week but I remember thinking how cool it was that we got to do a different thing with different people every day. Of course, baked goods and coffee from multiple local cafes definitely helped make the experience even better!”
Conlan
Q: What’s the coolest thing you’ve learned this fall field season?
A: “On a day in the Crowsnest Pass, we caught up with staff from Trout Unlimited Canada to decommission a hazardous ATV trail that rides right up Girardi creek. We did a lot of cool things that day but the coolest was by far the Tree Revetments. This is a bioengineered river bank structure, constructed from whole conifer trees that are cabled and anchored into the earth on a streambank. This technique captures sediment and debris floating down the creek and subsequently enhances conditions for fish and vegetation. I thought this cost effective bioengineering technique was a brilliant nature-based solution to prevent streambank erosion and improve habitat for our threatened fish species!”
Partners & Volunteers
Rebeca
Q: Why did you choose to volunteer with OWC?
A: “My reason for environmental volunteerism is not a selfless one. I had been experiencing increasing eco-anxiety and decided to do a research project on the motivations and emotions of environmentalists in Southern Alberta, which included my own volunteerism and self-reflection. When my project began, I had no idea just how extensive the network of environmental work in Southern Alberta was! Within a few weeks, I had spoken to and connected with almost ten organizations! As my summer research concluded, I found myself drawn to continuing volunteerism with the Oldman Watershed Council because of their approach—I really enjoyed being able to participate in educational outreach with the public and do hands-on work such as planting willows. What stood out for me about OWC the most, however, was their approach to the inclusion of multiple voices and sectors and collaboration with other environmental organizations! While my project sought to examine motivations, emotions, and hope, I was filled with hope and meaningful experiences through my volunteerism with OWC!”
Alvin
Q: Can you give us your personal reflections of the fall field season and the value of partnerships?
A: “As the 2022 fall season rush is winding down, we have continued to strengthen the relationship between Blood Tribe Land Management and Oldman Watershed Council. The support from OWC has been a huge help in continuing to build capacity and create momentum for Blood Tribe Land Management’s Environmental Protection projects. Together we have been able to complete CABIN and STREAM sampling, willow planting, stream bank restoration, riparian health, and beaver coexistence strategies at multiple locations on the Blood Reserve. The relationship between Blood Tribe Land Management’s Environmental Protection, Kainai Ecosystem Protection Agency and Oldman Watershed Council is leading the way in aligning traditional ecological knowledge and western science methodology.”
Brian
Q: What made you want to volunteer with CABIN sampling?
A: “As an avid angler, I am interested in knowing what the health and status of the aquatic environments are in the rivers and streams in the Oldman River watershed. By participating in the CABIN sampling I am trying to help the OWC to gather data that will help with developing that understanding of aquatic health status in locations where that information is currently lacking.”
Cody
Q: What inspires you to volunteer for so much fieldwork with OWC?
A: “As I was growing up, my dad taught our family the importance of clean water and ways to protect our streams. The opportunity to play a part in monitoring the health of our watershed is very rewarding to me!”
Charles
Q: What made you get into this line of work?
A: “Hi, my name is Charles Silverstone, and I am a graduate of Lakeland College in Environmental Sciences. Throughout my youth, I spent time on a family acreage in the Laurentian Mountains, surrounded by many species of flora and fauna. In turn, this sparked my interest and curiosity in the various ecological relationships that exist in our natural environment. Through my education, research, and experience, I came to understand how important the role of being a steward of the environment is in maintaining, protecting, conserving, and improving various habitats. As a result, I chose this line of work and enjoy volunteering for various environmental projects to protect and improve the watershed for future generations.”
Anne Marie
Q: Why is it so important that OWC and Cows and Fish partner together in the field season?
A: “By teaming up and collaborating on environmental projects, we strengthen our voices when it comes to advocating for our mission. The more people we have behind our missions, the louder our voices become which can have a greater impact on the community.”
We at OWC would like to extend a massive thank you to our volunteers and partners, this magnitude of work would not have been possible without our community. Residents from around the watershed coming together is the key to a successful field season! If you are interested in making a positive difference in our watershed like these amazing people, then please visit our volunteer portal. Stay connected with us on social media for information on upcoming future OWC exclusive events; you won't want to miss out!
Banner photo: Group photo of some partners Blood Tribe Land Management, Cows & Fish, Miistakis Institute, & Oldman Watershed Council
Financial Support
Our fieldwork has been supported by grants from:
