Nature-based solutions, as you might guess, use nature to solve a problem, usually by addressing an infrastructure or conservation need. Many OWC projects implement nature-based solutions in our watershed. But it’s also important to show how these sites have changed and how they help our communities.
The Alberta Emerald Foundation showcases those who are working at the top of their game to address environmental challenges. In June 2026, the 35th Annual Emerald Awards recognized another round of excellent award recipients, which included some friends of OWC—read on to find out who!
The Oldman watershed is a big place, and our staff of 12 work hard to have the biggest positive effect on as many places as possible. We sometimes focus our work on specific areas, begging the question: how does OWC make a tangible difference to the drinking water in communities many kilometres away?
What is nature worth? It’s a question that’s impossible to answer. But we can put a price tag on the services provided by nature (think things like filtering water, reducing the effects of floods and droughts, providing wildlife habitat, and giving us humans spaces for recreation). Here’s how.
We’re excited to announce that the Oldman Watershed Council's (OWC) Ecosystem Services Value Calculator is live and ready to use! This innovative tool, built with the help of Green Analytics, makes it possible to estimate the annual dollar value of the services provided by a piece of land in Alberta.
Nature-based solutions, as you might guess, use nature to solve a problem, usually by addressing an infrastructure or conservation need. Many OWC projects implement nature-based solutions in our watershed. But it’s also important to show how these sites have changed and how they help our communities.
Here in Alberta, our grasslands are the result of many thousands of years of shaping and influence, from both geologic processes and the animals that came before us. Today, every field I pass is a reminder of the constant effort involved in keeping grasslands thriving through sustainable grazing management.
