Blog Posts — Oldman Watershed Council

Here's what I can't believe!

(Editors note: Thank you to Kelly Hall for this guest blog...

We welcome submissions to our blog from throughout the watershed -  get in touch - what's your perspective?)

I can hardly believe that the end of 2014 is fast approaching! 

Kelly Hall posing with a "gem" of the foothills - Alberta's endangered Limber Pine (

Pinus flexilis

) as designated under Alberta's Wildlife Act 

Two Thousand and Fourteen has been an amazing year for The Timber Ridge Conservation Site.  A year of many firsts and certainly a great deal of hope for the future.  It all started on January 1 with a beautiful winter wedding, pictures on the cabin steps with the snow covered ridge as the background.  The deepest, longest, coldest winter in many years had us more than ready for spring vegetation! 

Our free flowing thermal springs have continued to amaze us.  For the first time in our history we have seen flow increase in the fall, specifically after the eighteen inches of heavy wet snow on September 8 and then again November 2.  The trout in the pond are pink, tasty, and happy in the beautiful, cold, clear water!  Our many visitors can attest to that, especially the ones that had to use a net to bring in their catch.

Some of the natural changes are becoming more apparent.  The old growth aspens are coming down and new meadows are alive with diversity.   We've seen more Parry Oat Grass , more grouse and the newly protected wetland has responded well!  The wildlife sightings on the property continue to grow, including a first for us this year -  Elk not far from the cabin deck.

Timber Ridge has acquired many new friends this past year - we've now collected hair on Bear Rub Trees, began the process of collecting any and all bugs,  Botanists have identified even more species, students have planted Limber Pine seedlings and we continue to collect some amazing pictures thanks to the pin hole and trail cameras.  A pair of chipmunks have now called the cabin deck home and the competition at the bird feeders is increasing and really quite entertaining.

Glen Hall, standing on a blast mat (recycled tires) which surround his motion-sensored, solar powered, off-stream watering system - a Beneficial Management Practice helped put in place by the OWC's Watershed Legacy Program

Timber Ridge is living proof that it does take a collaborative effort to manage our watershed. Our best day yet was Celebrating Collaboration on September 18, 2014.  We have to say thank you to all of our partners for years of knowledge, assistance, financial support and for joining us on the tour!  A special thank you goes to Leta Pezderic (OWC) and Brad Taylor (ACA) for all their help planning for the day.  We were so pleased to be part of the OWC's film project and believe the message within is so very important.  

Timber Ridge is a treasure that we will continue to learn about and want to share with others. The cabin continues to be a wonderful venue for inspiring conversation, renewing friendships and gathering allies as we strive to leave our legacy.    We've now checked off an item on our "bucket list" - bringing our partners together at that special place.  September 18 would have been my Mom's birthday - she was our first partner!

Kelly Hall,

Landowner, Timber Ridge Conservation Site

Provincial Fisheries Regulations Revision- Stakeholder Consultation

(Editor's Note: This is an open invitation from the ESRD to everyone to contribute to the future of fisheries management in Alberta. Have your say! See: http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/ab/banff/plan/aqua/hidden.aspx for more information on an example fish project. 
See also: http://esrd.alberta.ca/fish-wildlife/species-at-risk/species-at-risk-publications-web-resources/fish/documents/SAR-WestslopeCutthroatTrout-RecoveryPlan-A-Mar2013.pdf)

You are invited to participate in a stakeholder consultation to seek input for consideration in the revision of the General Fisheries (Alberta) Regulation (1997) and the Fisheries (Ministerial) Regulation (1997). The fisheries regulations support the Fisheries (Alberta) Act in managing Alberta's fisheries. These regulations encompass a diverse array of subject areas, affecting many of our province's stakeholders. 

The current fisheries regulations expire on 31 October 2015. Your feedback is important in helping to amend the in-scope sections of these regulations and to help us balance the preferences of Albertan's with the future of our fisheries.

The Fish and Wildlife Policy Branch of Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development have contracted Stantec Consulting Ltd to conduct an online stakeholder engagement initiative. There are two opportunities to provide your feedback until 31 December 2014:

Indicator species: Westslope Cutthroat Trout - species at risk


Firstly, we invite you to complete our confidential public survey which is at the following URL (you may exit the survey and then return to where you left off by clicking this link each time):
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/fisheriesregs

Secondly, you are invited to participate in further discussion around certain regulatory topics at our MindMixer website which can be found at:
http://fisheries-regulation.mindmixer.com/

Please disseminate this invitation widely amongst your members and affiliates.
All sections of the fisheries regulations are in scope for review and consultation except for the following, which are out-of-scope:
  • Sections specific to commercial fishing (Sections 20, 21, 53 and Schedule 1 for General Fisheries (Alberta) Regulation and Schedule 1 Items 2(a), (b) and (c) of the Fisheries (Ministerial) Regulation.
  • Quotas, tolerances, zoning and gear restrictions for domestically and commercially fished waters.
  • Routine changes to the Alberta Guide to Sportfishing Regulations which includes water specific catch limits, size restrictions, use of bait and season for sport fish species.
If you have any queries please send them to the address below.

Thank you for contributions to the future of fisheries management in Alberta.

Yours Sincerely
Brian Joubert, Ph.D., IAP2 (on behalf of the Fish and Wildlife Policy Branch, Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development)
Stantec
10160-112St
Edmonton, AB
T5K 2L6
Email: reg.fisheries@stantec.com 
Tel: (780) 917-8161



Please come this Wednesday to the SAAG - we're filming live!



Please join us for lunch on November 12
Maybe you've already heard about the Oldman Watershed Council's Film Project ... maybe not ... but I don't think there's anyone who doesn't want to drink,  shower and swim in clean, clear water.  And there's so much to love about the Oldman River!

Our watershed is truly the focal point of Southern Alberta.

We are seeing more and more people  becoming interested in how to take action, but not knowing how/where to start. Clearly, education is key.  How can the OWC go to every classroom, every community event, every Council, every Board? 

We make a film, and we do it together.

We'd like to invite you and a guest for a light lunch at the SAAG in Lethbridge at
11 am on November 12th for the official launch of: "The Oldman Goes To Hollywood".

It's the perfect place to meet the "Who's Who" of the OWC Family, hear first-hand from our Founding Partners, and meet our film crew. We are live on location with CKXU and very excited about welcoming you there!