Kelsey's Column - A Young Voice for the Oldman

Hi everyone it's Kelsey here!

Last weekend my dad and I participated in the annual Shoreline Cleanup. It was so much fun and I was able to handout tons of my Storm Drain Survival Kits (http://www.lethbridge.ca/living-here/water-wastewater/Pages/Stormdrain-Survival-Kit.aspx).  The Shoreline Cleanup was held at the Helen Schuler Nature center and we cleaned the Oldman River shoreline from there. We found a fair amount of garbage including a bike, pillow case, and socks. For more information on the Shoreline Cleanup you can visit the website at: http://www.lethbridge.ca/NewsCentre/Pages/Shoreline-Cleanup-2014.aspx.

COMING SOON.......

Lethbridge's  annual Green Life Expo is coming up on Saturday, October 18th from 10:00 am-5:00 pm at Exhibition Park. Inside there will be a ceremony called The Green Seed and I will be there handing out my Storm Drain Survival Kit's.

WHAT'S THE GREEN SEED?

The green seed is a ceremony where you can win prizes and receive awards for helping the environment. You can nominate your friends, family, or strangers to the Green Seed for helping our watershed or environment. There will also be food, information booths, and presentations. 

For more information visit: http://www.lethbridge.ca/living-here/Waste-Recycling/Pages/Green-List.aspx

 

Tribute to Bill Brown - A Strong Watershed Voice Remembered

(Editor's note: Cheryl Bradley has sent in a moving tribute to Bill Brown, who was one of the pioneers of the OWC and the pre-OWC entities. A donation to the OWC's film project has been in his name. Thank you, Cheryl - and thank you Bill - for all you do to make our watershed a good place to live, work and play.)

Tribute to Bill Brown (1926-2014)

By Cheryl Bradley

Photo kindly provided by Bill's daughter, Fiona

Bill Brown, an active member of SAGE for over a quarter of a century, passed away on September 7, 2014 at the age of 87 years.  He will be greatly missed. 

Bill helped to direct the work of SAGE as Board member for twelve years (1994-2006) including holding the position of Chair (1994-1997) and Secretary (2004-2006).  His volunteer efforts also benefited other local environmental organizations, including the Lethbridge Naturalists Society, Lethbridge Fish & Game Association, Castle Crown Wilderness Coalition and Southern Alberta Community of Environmental Educators. 

Even in the last few years as his health was failing, Bill continued to follow environmental issues in our community, to advocate for environmental protection, and to mentor a new generation of environmental activists and nature appreciators.

Nature was an interest and passion for Bill beginning with his childhood as son of a gamekeeper on an estate in Scotland. He studied botany and horticulture at both the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh and the Birmingham Botanic Garden, interrupted by a stint in the navy near the end of the Second World War.  In 1957, Bill immigrated to Canada to work for City of Edmonton Parks and in 1961 moved to Lethbridge to become the Superintendent of Parks and Recreation.  He remained in that position until 1987.

Bill’s foresight established the framework for the amazing network of parks and green spaces our community enjoys today and advanced environmental literacy in Lethbridge.  During his 26 years working with the City of Lethbridge, Bill oversaw development of the Helen Schuler Coulee Centre and designation of several urban river valley parks. He was instrumental in drafting the City’s River Valley Redevelopment Plan, which set a tone towards protecting the river valley environment from major developments. 

Following his retirement from civil service, Bill’s strong and impassioned voice for nature was heard often in our community. Putting his Toastmaster skills to good use, he served as Master of Ceremonies for several environmental events in Lethbridge and gave numerous presentations on environmental topics.  

Bill spoke at public hearings regarding Lethbridge parkland, environmental impacts of the Oldman River Dam, forest management planning in Cypress Hills Provincial Park, and expansion of ski hills in national parks.  He developed briefs for SAGE on matters such as provincial water policy, national parks policy, integrating environment and economy in municipal planning, promoting development of wind power, and reducing use of pesticides. 

Bill worked on committees with a mandate to re-design the entrance to the Liz Hall Wetlands, plan a bridge bicycle trail across the Oldman River, mitigate adverse impacts of the Oldman River Dam, and expand a network of protected areas in the prairies of southern Alberta.  For four years he represented SAGE on the Board of Alberta Ecotrust, a role that allowed him input on decisions about funding environmental projects throughout the province.

Bill’s accomplishments did not go unnoticed. In 1997 he received the Lethbridge Urban Wildlife Steward Award, recognizing his work towards protecting wildlife and its habitat in the City of Lethbridge.  In 2008, friends and colleagues nominated him for an Emerald Award for his lifetime commitment as a friend and advocate of the environment.

My conversations with Bill in the later years of his life revealed an abiding love and enthusiasm for nature, pride in his accomplishments and that of his protégés, and profound disappointment that leadership is lacking at all levels of government with regard to environmental stewardship. 

Bill had a special twinkle in his eye remembering his work with the “ABC Team”. Together with Tom Atkinson and Sylvia Campbell he drew on his knowledge of public policy and mobilized the community to successfully challenge development of a motel and expansion of a golf course in urban parkland. The city council of the day was surprised by the strong reminder of the community’s commitment to parks and the need to consult on matters affecting public parkland.

With Bill’s passing SAGE loses a staunch supporter and nature loses a strong advocate.  SAGE, and our community, have benefited greatly from Bill’s work and his love of our watershed.

Here's what happened when some determined people decided to make a difference

(Editor's note: So that shout-out for volunteers?! WORKED MAGIC. Thank you to EVERYONE who responded so whole-heartedly to lovin' our Watershed! YOU HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE)

Volunteers having a good time and lovin' the Watershed

During last week’s Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup the 5 most common items found along the east bank of the Oldman River near the Nature Centre in #YQL were: Glass Pieces (< 2.5 cm); Cigarette Butts; Plastic Pieces (< 2.5 cm); Food Wrappers; and Beverage Cans. 

Overall 20+ bags of human-generated refuse was collected and removed from less than a 1.5 km stretch of our shoreline (that is nearly 1 bag of garbage for every 75 metres of shore!).

Improperly disposed of trash can wreak havoc on our local aquatic ecosystem – in fact, members of our cleanup crew found a discarded river raft, the rope of which entangled a bird causing its premature death. 

Shoreline litter is completely preventable if we all take responsibility for putting our trash where it belongs (among other efforts such as minimizing the amount of trash generated to begin with)!

A big thank-you to our amazingly-awesome and friendly participants who took action towards making a difference!  This year’s cleanup had 59 registered participants – almost three times last year! 

If you are interested in joining our environmental cleanup efforts 

 in and around #Lethbridge (like the Shoreline Cleanup or the Coulee Cleanup), 

please get in touch!

Thank you for the generous support of this year's Shoreline Cleanup from organizers at: Oldman Watershed Council (OWC) & Helen Schuler Nature Centre, as well as to Real Canadian Superstore in Lethbridge for providing snacks and drinks for our volunteers 

---

Curtis Goodman

Resource Development Coordinator

Helen Schuler Nature Centre

Lethbridge, Alberta  

Office: 403-320-4985

Email: Curtis.Goodman@Lethbridge.ca

Unfinished Houses by Fortino Acosta

(Editor's note: The author of this guest blog is an Industrial Engineer 

and Landscape Architect. Many thanks to Fortino for this thoughtful article. 

As always, your comments are welcome)

Unfinished Houses

Residential Policy and Climate Change in Lethbridge, Alberta

by Fortino Acosta IE MLA

acosta.fortino@gmail.com

Our province has one of the highest (if not the highest) carbon footprints per capita in the world. 72 ton CO2 / year while our American neighbor, the second largest contributor of greenhouse gases worldwide, averages 20 ton CO2 / year. Mexico, which is among the top 15, has a rate of 4 ton C02 / year . 

Do you understand now the disparity of what we are living? The development model we are living this vision of dramatically changing the nature and greatness of all Alberta and even Canada itself.

I am a new resident in Alberta, and all this concern was born from the simple reason of seeing every house with rain gutters but without any kind of storage. House after house . If they do this with water... what about the heating system? I also found out that geothermal systems are rare here. Finally, the fences are made by unsustainable logging practices in original forests in the back country or imported from China without any other information. 

There are three simple ideas that could be regulated and promoted by local government to help us regain our friendly lifestyle and pride in living in this unique place.

Rainwater use and beauty

I propose that our public officials include the following in our construction standards:

1. All new construction to include rainwater harvesting, adequate for the residents (rain gardens, rain barrels, water tanks, etc).     

2. All new construction requires a geothermal system installation for air conditioning, space heating and hot- water services .

3. Lumber suppliers have to guarantee their products' origin from reforested wood farms or reclaimed timber certification.

Why wastewater? You pay for it from the tap!

Do these very practical suggestions benefit the Oldman River? Yes! These three actions together decrease rainwater runoff, reduce our dependence on fossil energy, increase forest areas without jeopardizing existing forests.

Close your eyes, imagine the river and feel the change as this happens: New forests will appear in our landscape, our watershed will be healthier, the water treatment plants less burdened, your water bill smaller and our houses are going to look completed and smarter. 

In the meantime, let us create the city we want and start to reduce our ecological footprint. I invite you to seek out friends and neighbours who already use rainwater or geothermal systems and they'll show you more benefits.

OWC September 2014 E-Newsletter

To view September's E-Newsletter, click here

Naapi Solves A Riddle

(Editor's note: Our watershed is a complex place,  with many competing —and sometimes contradictory—interests. How can we best create a safe, collaborative space where all voices can be heard and valued?)

This was a graphic I made up as I was thinking about the challenge we have, as the OWC, in putting out our message. 

So if there was ONE KEY THING we had to say, what would it be?

Surely that's not so difficult. So I write in "Oldman, Watershed, Council, water, management, health". Our mandate is to provide advice to decision-makers. Better add: "WPAC, advisory, Alberta". The Oldman existed before the provincial government's 'Water For Life' strategy but got subsumed into it as a Watershed Planning and Advisory Council - one of 11 in Alberta, each for a different watershed.

That means we need to come up with lots of evidence to back up our advice. Add: "publications, reports, science, facts, protecting, planning and SOW". The State of the Watershed (SOW) publication is an intense piece of work, evaluating 4 sub-basins in the watershed plus the main stem of the Oldman River.

Oops. Better add the names of all the rivers in the watershed. "Oldman, Little Bow, Willow, Castle, Crowsnest, Belly, St. Mary's..." throw in "Waterton" and "Chain Lakes" too, and better add the "Oldman Dam". 

Well, the dam isn't the only thing that has altered the course of the rivers. so I add: "irrigation, canals, flood, cities". I think about all the communities that are served by these complex systems that I have yet to quite comprehend. All the little dust bowls that are now bread baskets. I add the names of the big communities: "Lethbridge, Coaldale, Coalhurst, Taber, Vauxhall, Vulcan, Cardston, Magrath, Pincher Creek, Crowsnest Pass, Claresholm, Stavely, Nanton, High River, Picture Butte, Nobleford" ... miss anybody?

Well, we all know what this irrigation water is helping to do: "farmers, ranchers, agriculture, livestock, food, drink". It makes me think about the huge difference between city life that I know and love and the country life that I'm now learning all about. Add: "urban, rural, immigration". 

There must be plenty of people like me who move to southern Alberta knowing nothing about it. Nothing about the "plants, animals, vegetation, forests, mountains, prairie, grassland" ... gotta add "rough fescue". It makes me feel important if I say it. It just has a nice ring to it. I didn't know it meant native GRASS, a now at-risk ecosystem. There's another new vocabulary I learned that I love to say: "invasive species". Makes me think of men from Mars and stuff. I don't even know what's a weed in my own backyard never mind what's out there in the watershed. But I'm learning. Better add: "education". 

Oh! "children". Kids gotta learn. 

But what about the adults? They go out there and enjoy all kinds of things like camping, hunting, fishing, recreation, and OHVs. That gives me pause for thought. Those OHVs. Never liked 'em. Noisy as all-get-out. But I'm learning how people who work the land need them and use them to take care of it, and I'm learning that there are a lot of responsible riders that do a lot of good in the watershed, building bridges and maintaining trails over sensitive areas ... Ah yes: "habitat, consideration, responsible, headwaters".

Headwaters, headwaters. We're all about them at the OWC. It's our main priority at this point. I write: "water quality, water quantity, future generations". There's a lot of activity up in those headwaters. A lot of it creates effects that are not immediately measurable or noticeable. I add: "legislation, enforcement, linear features, landscape simulator, fragmentation, habitat, fish".

I remember hearing from a Peigan friend about how the Creator, Naapi, taught people how to hunt and fish. I add: "Peigan, Kainai, Blood, Blackfeet, First Nations, Naapi". It is impossible to talk about the Oldman-this and the Oldman-that all the time without acknowledging that the Oldman River is named so because it is the river beside which the Oldman (Naapi) walked. We could all use more Naapi stories, I think. They teach us that the light of creation is in all things.

Suddenly, I have it. THE ONE KEY THING. 

"We are ALL downstream".

- Anna Garleff, OWC Communications Coordinator

  anna@oldmanbasin.org

  587 224 3793 cell  

Watershed Legacy Program Media Release

(Editor's note: This event is NOT open to the public, but we thought you'd be interested in hearing about what's happening out at the conservation site! 

Any and all enquiries - from media, landowners or the public - are most welcome.)

Celebrating Collaboration!

Event is Thursday, September 18^th, 2014 - Timber Ridge Conservation Site

MEDIA RELEASE – September 12, 2014

The Oldman Watershed Council (OWC) along with local landowners, Glen & Kelly Hall of the Timber Ridge Conservation Site, and the Alberta Conservation Association (ACA), are taking a day to celebrate collaboration and film their successes!

The Halls partnered with ACA in 2010 to purchase Timber Ridge - a half section of land located high in the north end of the Porcupine Hills. It is land with pristine springs, and a diverse population of wildlife. The couple is thrilled to be able to steward it in its natural state.

The partnership is an exciting combination of ranching and conservation, supported by the OWC's Watershed Legacy Program (WLP). This program provides financial and technical support to  watershed stewardship groups (WSG's) and landowner cooperatives. By coordinating efforts throughout the basin, the WLP aims to conserve and enhance our natural resources and the rural way of life and promote "sustainable ranching".

On September 18^th, we are celebrating this collaboration at the Timber Ridge Conservation Site with a filmed tour. Videographers will be capturing the spectacular landscape and the teams that have worked so hard to put these initiatives into place. The filming is part of a larger OWC collaboration: a documentary film highlighting how humans and their diverse interests impact watershed management and health across southern Alberta.

Due to the limited number of overland vehicles, and the fact that we are on sensitive habitat, media access is restricted to the morning session (9:30am – 10:30am). Experts will be outlining the history of the ranch and giving an overview of the different collaborations on this site. Questions about the film project are also welcomed.

The Oldman Watershed Council (OWC) is a community-based, not-for-profit that works with everyone to find practical solutions to environmental challenges that impact us all. People depend on a healthy environment but we also need a healthy economy and we have social and cultural needs too. Everything is connected so we must work together to make trade-offs, solve problems, plan for the future and have the quality of life we want right now.

The event is NOT open to the public because we are sensitive habitat.

Contact: Leta Pezderic at 403-381-5801 or leta@oldmanbasin.org. 

www.oldmanbasin.org

Volunteers sought to get hands dirty to protect Oldman River Basin

Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup - Saturday, Sept 20, 2014

Shoreline litter is one of the most widespread pollution problems endangering our waters, but it is completely preventable.  In an effort to raise public awareness as well as combat the issue directly, the Helen Schuler Nature Centre (HSNC) and the Oldman Watershed Council (OWC) are partnering to organize a public shoreline cleanup to improve the aquatic health of the Oldman River basin.  Volunteers are invited to join the effort and do their part to remove debris from our most precious of resources – our watershed.

The Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup is one of the largest direct action conservation programs in Canada. A conservation initiative of the Vancouver Aquarium and WWF, the event aims to promote understanding of shoreline litter issues by engaging Canadians to rehabilitate shoreline areas through cleanups.  “The Shoreline Cleanup serves as a reminder of how human activity can damage our ecosystem,” says David Miller, President and CEO of WWF-Canada. “Shoreline litter is one of the biggest threats to the health of our rivers, lakes and oceans. Participating in these cleanups is a perfect way for people to get involved in their local community while tackling this important issue.” 

This project is in conjunction with the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup which expects 58,000 participants across Canada.  Since 2002, the nation-wide effort has removed more than 1 million kilograms of litter from shorelines across Canada.  Based on data collected in 2013, there was an average of 21.2 kilograms of litter removed per kilometer of shoreline cleaned.  

The most common items removed are: smoking-related (34%); single use food and beverage items (31%); and tiny pieces, including: foam, glass, plastic (22%).

“We are all downstream,” remarks Curtis Goodman, Resource Development Coordinator at the Helen Schuler Nature Centre, “we need to remember that we all have a part in maintaining clean, fresh waterways.  Shoreline cleanups are a great opportunity to be outside connecting with nature, while also providing an eye opening experience as to how litter impacts our ecosystems.”  Even in small amounts, shoreline litter can leach harmful chemicals into the water, be accidentally eaten by wildlife, injure or entangle aquatic animals.

This year’s shoreline cleanup effort will take place on Saturday September 20^th from 2:00pm until approximately 4:00pm.  Interested participants are asked to meet at the Helen Schuler Nature Centre for a quick orientation and supplies (gloves, garbage bags, snacks, drinks); be sure to bring closed-toed sturdy footwear, clothing that can get dirty, and a hat.  To register, please contact Curtis Goodman at 403-320-4985.  To organize your own shoreline cleanup please visit ShorelineCleanup.ca

Please share this poster with your contacts and invite them to join you!

 It's a fun family event that teaches children about 

the importance of caring for our watershed together.

What's perfect about blue-winged olive weather?

By Richard Burke

Monday was the kind of day that would be short because the weather was almost awful. Drizzle, wind forecast to be 50 clicks and it came close, temperature in the low single digits.
Or it would be exceptional.

We left the city mid-morning. Windshield wipers slapping’ time, we headed for a different part of the river we have fished often. As my fishing friend, Dean, said, “Well, at least we can get caught up.” We hadn’t seen each other much this summer. Both away lots. We planned to fish Monday, because it was about the only day we could find to fish together this month. And, this month is when fishing usually starts to really pick up.

I was determined it would be more than catch-up time.
“This is Blue-Winged Olive weather,” I replied optimistically. But, as we arrived at the place we would start walking and wading, I wasn’t exactly sure this was a good idea. I parked the truck facing west, and we geared up, the truck buffeting the gale.
Good thing I wore a jacket – it could have been heavier. Had trouble deciding if I should hang the sunglasses over my neck. If it’s not sunny, I still use them to hold the clip-on magnifying glasses absolutely necessary anymore to change tippets and tie on flies. I’ve also used the brim of a cap, even though that puts the magnifier farther from my eyes. Left the sunglasses in the truck, convinced they would only get in the way. I pulled a toque on, adjusted the cap size and fit it over the toque.
You really have to want to fish to wear a cap over a toque. Wished I had gloves but, this was only Sept. 8, after all.

As I stumbled over river rocks, a few cliches leaked into in my brain: it was a dark and stormy night (a damp and blustery day.) A biting wind numbed my face and hands. Only a fool would actually choose to do this.
But, the river was clear, wadable, beautiful. Within 15 minutes, I had a 20-inch rainbow on, fooled by a size 10 sort of seducer/stimulator concoction with chartreuse abdomen. Resembled a hopper, I surmised. When you cast a large fly into a strong wind, it can kind of flop onto the water, wherever, like a hopper might.

Dean, across the river, was using a woolly-bugger with a copper john dropper. He was noticing a fair number of small mayflies sailing down the river, but it took awhile for me to connect my earlier observation about BWOs and what Dean was observing. Cold brain, I guess. The more we fished, the more mayflies we saw. In fact, the BWOs were holding their own regatta in numbers I can’t recall ever seeing.
We tried matching the hatch because fish were rising most of the afternoon. A couple took a size 14-humpy with chartreuse body. Another took a green CDC Elk Caddis, same size. And another took a green seducer. One took the copper john, the only one not on the surface.
My fly box used to have lots of BWO patterns, but I recently restocked the boxes and, somehow, had left out most of the BWOs.

Dean looked cold. I was starting to shiver. When we got back to the truck, after five hours on the river and fighting a headwind that changed directions to make sure it was always a headwind, the thermometer read 1 C.
Classic Blue-winged Olive weather. And worth every, cold minute.

Subdividing the Open Range: Are Private Property Rights destroying what we love?

Editor's note: Guest Blogger Debby Gregorash raises some tough questions about our home on the range. What's your point of view? All comments welcome.

By Debby Gregorash

If we own private property, does this give us the right to do with it what we want?

Should we treat the land like a commodity, or should we look at private property rights from a larger, regional or worldwide point of view?  

In 1887, a quote was attributed to Chief Sealth (the proper spelling for Seattle), which says: "The Great Chief in Washington sends word that he wishes to buy our land.  How can you buy or sell the sky, the warmth of the land?  The idea is strange to us.  If we do not own the freshness of the air and the sparkle of the water, how can you buy them?...The earth does not belong to man; man belongs to the earth."

A hundred and twenty-seven years later, some members of society wonder if in some cases, the Chief might be right.  They are torn between their love for the land and their economic needs.  Today, large tracts of land along the east slopes of the Rocky Mountains are being sub-divided and rezoned for recreational and rural estate properties.  I own some of this sub-divided land, but I also know that the ranch, which it was once a part of, should never have been sub-divided.

As the land is fragmented, wildlife habitats, watersheds and the sweeping landscapes that tourists love so much are becoming dotted with large country homes.  It is only the rich that can afford this land that once grew food and now grows buildings.  Most ranchers cannot afford the price now.  Sometimes they have to choose between selling and being able to retire in comfort, or staying on the land because of their commitment to the land and the ranching way of life.

From a wildlife point of view, subdivision and development of recreational businesses can be devastating.  The wildlife has no say in what happens to the land that keeps them alive.  Grizzly bear, cougars, wolves, deer and elk need large areas in which to roam and cross open range to move from area to area all through the year.  Human development fragments their territories and narrows passageways and there is more potential for conflicts between humans and wildlife.  The more roads that are built, the more road-kill there will be, and the more access to elk, deer, bear, cougar, and wolves there will be for hunters.

Besides the incremental development, humans bring in dogs, quads, lights and noise.  Humans divide up their world into fenced lines and borders.  Wildlife chooses the ecosystem that best supports them – that's how nature does it.

A state biologist in Wyoming said that subdividing the west was the biggest threat to wildlife that he saw in his work.  Since 1978, Colorado ranchland and farmland has declined by 90,000 acres per year, most of it converted to subdivision and commercial development.

In Europe, multifunctional farming is supported by the governments that are aware that the tourists come to their countries to drive through the countryside, admire the view, take copious photographs and stop in the quaint villages and perhaps stay at a local bed and breakfast.  Farmers are actually paid to maintain hedgerows, fences, woodlots and roadsides.  

In contrast, western North America seems unaware that European tourists come here for the same reasons and especially that breathtaking view of the open spaces and vast rangeland near the Rocky Mountains.  Why locals are not all enthralled with the view may boil down to the fact that the wonder of nature is taken for granted, or wildlife is viewed as a nuisance.  For example, in 2001, there was a proposal by a developer to change the zoning of an agricultural area in Cardston County to grouped country residential.  It was next door to Waterton Lakes National Park, a World Heritage site and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

The County councillors believe in private property rights and that a landowner should be allowed to do what they want with their land, despite the threat to the local wildlife ecosystems.  One councillor, frustrated with the large backlash from a concerned public said, "Sometimes I wish wildlife would just go away."  Despite 300 letters from around southern Alberta, North America, and the world, the Cardston County passed the rezoning and the subsequent housing development.

Those of us who cherish the wilderness, the open rangeland habitat, and the flora and fauna it contains are fighting a mindset.  Society views progress as more and bigger buildings and commerce everywhere.  

Meanwhile what is happening to the ranching community?  The divisiveness of more development on large tracts of rangeland is huge and I feel the County council of Cardston, have abdicated their responsibility to the local ranching industry and a 100-year old legacy of community-building.  Ranchers take care of the land so that it supports grazing animals, both wild and domestic.  A rancher's community includes the wildlife. 

For developers, there is the pursuit of short-term profit whereas others pursue harmony between maintaining a way of life and making a sustainable living.

We need to educate the public on this issue and discuss to what degree the public good is part of the private property equation.  Through the Nature Conservancy of Canada, the Southern Alberta Land Trust Society and other measures, perhaps we can find a way to protect the scenery, the wildlife habitat, and limit the invasion of human development.

At the moment, Cardston County is deciding whether to allow rezoning from agriculture to rural recreational, right next to the Police Outpost Provincial Park wetland.  

Supporters of wildlife and the ranching community have lost their fight in court to push for an environmental impact assessment.   If the rezoning goes ahead, a large recreational development will go ahead causing no end to headaches for adjacent landowners, residents, and those who use the same road.  The Trumpeter swans, Sandhill cranes, and myriad other wetland wildlife will suffer.

We have to ask whether we need the Regional Planning Commissions back again, which look at the big picture.  Municipal Development Plans and Land-Use Bylaws should be constantly updated and scrutinized by the public.  Can we count on county authorities to have the knowledge, wisdom, vision and understanding in order to create sustainable, long-term plans and to follow these municipal plans and their own bylaws without succumbing to pressure tactics or short-term gain?

These are some of the issues that must be addressed if we are to save the last of the western open rangeland spaces.  It is not only a sociological question, but also an environmental, spiritual, philosophical and political question.

Editors note - please submit your thoughts! Conversations about tough issues are important and all voices must be heard.

It's different at the 'Toilet Bowl'

Richard Burke

Did some venting this week. It’s been building for years. Venting in itself isn’t particularly productive, but can sometimes invite others to pause and think. Or, they could just further retrench into their intractable ways.
The cause for my steam-letting was an e-mail from a fellow seeking vehicle access for older, less-mobile anglers to a spot on the Crowsnest River closed to vehicle access for about seven years. A gate has kept cars and trucks and, usually, ATVs, out so the river bank and adjacent land, long abused by mining and human indifference, could be rehabilitated and conserved.

The conservation effort has been ongoing on two Crowsnest River stretches covering about 4 kilometres of river frontage at two locations, near Burmis Lake and downstream of the (west) Hillcrest Bridge. Oldman River Chapter, Trout Unlimited Canada signed leases with the provincial government in 2002 and 2007, basically agreeing to be stewards of the Crown land for 25 years.

The water has been great trout habitat. Some surmised the trout in the Hillcrest section benefited (got bigger) from treated sewage released above the “Toilet Bowl”, a swirling pool on the river just downstream of the Hillcrest sewage treatment ponds.
But, in both cases, the adjacent land had seen better days – before people started using it for dumping mine tailings or, in the case of Burmis, allowing cattle to graze and not controlling access to the river bank, which over time can cause erosion to habitat beneficial to fish and other aquatic creatures and even the quality of water available to humans.

Work to control invasive weeds such as blue weed, tansy daisy and toadflax has produced obvious results. Removal of barbed-wire fencing that over the years had gone into various states of disrepair allowed for vegetation to recover and made it safer for pedestrian traffic. The key was pedestrian – anglers and others who could now enjoy the space, perhaps in a more natural setting.
The connection between vehicles and habitat destruction was more obvious in the Hillcrest section. You could see from Highway 3 at the turn near the Bellevue Mine the flat area beside the river turned into a mud bog because people just had to drive through it for fishing or other endeavours. I did the same, although not when it was muddy.
I recall on one occasion driving as far as the trail would allow, only to find a trailer parked in the trees, there for the summer, obviously, because the owner had planted a garden. Random camping in the extreme.

I don’t feel particularly good, in hindsight, about driving through that flat. It’s just something everyone did, even CP Rail workers doing track maintenance. But, when we considered what needed to be done to salvage the area, the only solution was to close it to traffic. Shell Canada agreed to install a gate at the lease entrance. TU also needed to plant large rocks in the area beside the gate to keep traffic from simply driving around it.
The provincial government had spent $2 million years ago trying to rehabilitate the area, that was at one time a huge coal slag pile. The remnants of the coal operation that likely produced the pile can still be seen at the south end of the lease and from Highway 3, a tipple across from the Crowsnest Angler fly shop. A gate was installed then to allow the land to recover without traffic disturbing it, but that didn’t last long, the lock cut by people who, apparently, had little regard for the land itself, only that they just had to use it for whatever purpose. The wild west, you know: anything goes.

Part of the TU rehabilitation effort also involved planting grass seed, approved by Alberta Agriculture, on the old, offending road. Some took, some didn’t. Part of the road, after all, was coal slag. But, it is gradually reviving.
That was about seven years ago. Why, all of a sudden, is some old guy from the Pass wanting to again drive to the toilet bowl about 250 yards downstream of the gate? One assumes it’s because he had always been able to do it and he feels he has some right to continue, despite the costs (about $40,000 and counting) and other considerable volunteer efforts to somehow save this piece of public land. And, as one of our members wonders, if he can’t walk down the path, how would he ever negotiate the tricky river bank?

My rant was in response to a guy who apparently wanted to do his thing, regardless of other consequences. The over-the-top part was that I’ve seen this attitude too often, as I’ve worked with groups which have a conservation component, and got impatient with the view that the environment be damned. “They’re just a bunch of greenies trying to tell us what to do” is the refrain, as though any cause that uses the word environment or conservation is a threat to a particular lifestyle.
In this case, the argument was even that we (TU) are outsiders coming into the Pass. Apparently  doesn’t matter we are all Albertans. Only if you live in the Pass do you have a say over what happens there appears to be the logic. The e-mail writer clearly doesn’t know the TU members who lead the effort on the two leases are Pass residents.

At the root of the discussion (or argument) is that things are different now than when we could go where we wanted and be “free” to pursue our whims. In my view, humans including myself, have not always been particularly responsible in their handling of things in nature that were there when we inherited them. Some of what was here when our generations came along had already been seriously abused.
Doing something to right a wrong involves stewardship, that would suggest we leave what was OK at least as we found it and better, if possible. Burmis and Hillcrest TU leases were a couple of pieces of Alberta that needed to be left better.

So, for those who have a hard time giving up what they feel is their domain, trying looking beyond your noses. You are now sharing it with way more people than you used to, among lots of other reasons to tread more lightly. You, or your contemporaries, didn’t necessarily do good by your decisions on how to use the land, resources, natural features and creatures that were there long before we were.
Adjust. Don’t expect the world to adjust for you.

Introducing Kelsey Kayak - "A Young Voice for the Oldman"

Hello!

My name is Kelsey Kayak and I am 15 years old. I'm the newest guest blogger at the Oldman Watershed Council. 

I would like to share my experience with our watershed and become a young voice for the Oldman. 

I live in Lethbridge, Alberta, with my parents and am going into Grade 10. I care about our watershed because I spend most of my time outside; I hike, bike, and, of course, kayak. It's important to me that we help keep our environment clean. 

 

That's me in the middle - Kelsey Kayak! Mom and Dad are to the left and right and we are out on Okanagan Lake.

I've been nominated to the Green List twice. Once for cleaning up garbage while I kayak, and once for picking invasive weeds. The Green List is a City of Lethbridge initiative that recognizes individuals and businesses who are taking positive action on behalf of the environment.
http://www.lethbridge.ca/living-here/Waste-Recycling/Pages/Green-List.aspx

This year, I went into the "2014 Caring For Our Watershed Competition" and won second place. My idea was a Storm Drain Survival Kit which includes everything you need to help clean out your storm drains and gutters.

Please visit my Storm Drain Survival Kit at:

 http://www.lethbridge.ca/living-here/water-wastewater/Pages/Stormdrain-Survival-Kit.aspx

 

How Do I Get a Storm Drain Survival Kit?

Kits are FREE and available at many events throughout the year. Some of those events include; Yellow Fish Road Program, Prairie Urban Garden Tour, Environment Week Events, Lethbridge Home and Garden, Green List Celebration and many more!

Contact H2Oinquiries@lethbridge.ca to pick up a kit at one of the following locations:

City Hall 4th Floor, Stafford Centre, Helen Schuler Nature Centre & OWC Agriculture Research Centre.

I look forward to telling you more about the watershed as "The Young Voice of the Oldman" in future blogspots.

All for now, 

Kelsey Kayak

The Oldman goes to Hollywood!

(well …almost …)

Good news from the Oldman Watershed Council (OWC) - funding is in place to extend the Communications Coordinator’s contract until spring 2015! Anna Garleff was hired in February, 2014, to put in place several enduring key communications tools and to train the team in their use.

The signature piece of this suite is a film. It will not be a typical educational film. Rather, it will create a space for people to have an experience and draw their own conclusions through presentation of the facts. This is important in a watershed with perhaps the most extreme stakeholder diversity: the goal of the film is to communicate clearly where water comes from, where it ultimately goes and what happens in between.

The core message is: "We are all downstream". 

About 10 - 15 minutes in length, this film will be presented at: exhibitions and trade shows; schools; Watershed Planning & Advisory Council summits; municipal, county and provincial government meetings; in conservation and environmental arenas; and more. It will be made available on the web site free-of-charge and will be an important tool to attract further donors and sponsors.

This film will be shown to audiences up and down the watershed - and beyond - with the intent to educate, inspire and contribute to a stronger sense of community. It will portray southern Alberta's diversity and entrepreneurship via watershed use. Following the growth of the region from the mid-1700s through to 2025, it will use historical photos, interactive maps from the ALCES project (A Landscape Cumulative Effects Simulator - headed by Dr. Brad Stelfox), and spectacular footage of the people, places and landscapes. 

The film is the centre piece to a larger vision. Complementary to the film, spin-off videos will be created around 10 themes, such as:  Irrigation, Recreational Vehicle Use, Water Quality, Invasive Species, etc. – as well as the story of OWC itself.

In addition to our own Board, we have consulted with: Dr. Kerry McArthur (a film scholar) about the conceptual ideas; Dr. Mark Wolfe (a Communications Professor) about the integrity of the ideas; Belinda Crowson (a local provincial historian and author) about the accuracy of the timeline; William Singer, Lori Brave Rock, and Elders of the Kainai (Blood Tribe) regarding the creation story and the naming of the river; Debby Gregorash – one of the founders of the pre-OWC entities; Pete Lovering (SouthGrow); Roger Hohm (Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development / Irrigation Secretariat); David Hill (University of Lethbridge); George Gallant (a film maker; Lethbridge College); Clint Dunford (former provincial Cabinet Minister); and, Morton Molyneux (a long-time film maker) about the viability of the script. Thumbs up from everyone!!!

After all, it is their story, too. It is up to us to show the way forward for future generations of people who depend on the Oldman River watershed for work, play and existence. 

Over the years, the OWC has had incredible support from its many volunteers and donors. The OWC mandate has much in common with the environmental stewardship goals of industry, tourism, farming, ranching and recreation … to name a few. So many people and organizations are working hard to promote progressive water management practices with the inherent awareness that "Water is vital to life, the environment and the social and economic well-being of communities" (Ref: Alberta Irrigation Project Association). This presumes a common understanding of the challenges and opportunities. We believe this film project will increase the common understanding exponentially.

The Oldman Watershed Council is inviting key decision-makers / thinkers / community builders and supporters to be a part of this exciting project!

OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE ¹

We are  seeking five (5) 'founding partners' to provide  initial seed money through a donation of $1,000 each.      

We are also requesting donations from individuals in any amount from $10 and above – as well as strong organizational support.

The OWC thanks you sincerely for your consideration to support this exciting project!!

TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE FILM OR HOW TO BECOME A SPONSOR,       PLEASE CONTACT:

Anna Garleff, PhD in proficio

Communications Coordinator, Oldman Watershed Council

anna@oldmanbasin.org OR 587 224 3793 (cell) OR 403 3824239 (OWC office)

HERE'S HOW YOU CAN BECOME A SPONSOR OF THE OWC FILM PROJECT:

OPTION A:  BECOME ONE OF THE FIVE FOUNDING PARTNERS*

Every entrepreneurial idea needs seed money - those vital funds to both begin the project and also inspire others to become involved. The OWC is looking for five (5) Founding Partners - individuals or organizations - to provide $1,000 to kick-start this inspiring project.

Opportunities Include:
o    Your Watershed Story will be professionally written and released to all media channels, including the press and our blog
o    first mention thank you with your name and logo on the credits of the film
o    mentions throughout the film release on our social media channels (i.e., Facebook, Twitter,  Blog, OWC website)
o    credit on all media releases and articles
o     a cheque-signing ceremony as part of a media / fundraising campaign
o    free access to the film to show to your stakeholders / audiences
o    a tax-free charitable receipt

 *The OWC is thrilled to announce that the

 City of Lethbridge - Water Department - is confirmed as the first Founding Partner. 

As of this afternoon, the second Founding Partner is Heleen Jacobsen of realestatecentre.ca

OPTION B: BECOME A COLLABORATIVE PARTNER

Let's face it. Some of our most important work here in southern Alberta is reliant on water to thrive, survive and create the conditions for prosperity for the region. Highly complex, these organizations have a hard time communicating to the public what they do, how they use and care for water and why their work will become of increasing importance as time goes by. The OWC is inviting sponsors of $5,000 and above to collaborate directly in an enduring relationship with the OWC.  

Opportunities Include:

o    Three 5-minute (approx) videos about you, your business and why watershed health is essential to it.

 (These will be scripted, filmed and edited professionally and will:  populate our You Tube Channel, be featured on our website and form an essential part of watershed education for the OWC. As applicable, one video will be aimed at schools, the second for the general public, and the third for other professionals and scientists in the field.)

o    an invitation to speak and be filmed at our upcoming OWC Watershed Summit 2015

o    a name and logo mention on the credits of the film

o    mentions throughout the film release on our social media channels (i.e., Facebook, Twitter, Blog, OWC website)

o    credit on all media releases and articles, including a new suite of printed OWC material

o    a cheque-signing ceremony as part of a media / fundraising campaign

o    free access to the film to show to your stakeholders / audience s

o    a tax-free charitable receipt

OPTION C:  Both A and B

Yes, it is possible to become a Collaborative partner 

AND 

get your Watershed Story written with first credits on the film -

 - Be one of the first 5 Founding Partner sponsors!

OPTION D: BECOME A FRIEND OF THE OLDMAN WATERSHED COUNCIL

We are all part of the watershed; we use water to bathe, recreate, prepare our food, keep our lawns green and for our kids to run through when the summer days are hot. Water IS life and it's essential that the headwaters remain in a healthy condition so that there is plentiful, clean water for generations to come. We are ALL downstream. The Oldman Watershed Council is inspired by the outpouring of support for a smarter, more caring world where people interact with the environment like it's the only one we've got. The OWC welcomes all gifts of any amount - or community-sourced fundraising - to help make this film the best that it can be.

Opportunities include:

o    an invitation to a "how to film the watershed" seminar (to be offered in Taber, Lethbridge, Pincher Creek) after the film release

o    an invitation to participate in the OWC Watershed Summit 2015

o    mentions throughout the film release on our social media channels (i.e., Facebook, Twitter, Blog, OWC website)

o    free access to the film to show to your stakeholders / audiences

o    a tax-free charitable receipt

o    Donations from anyone under 18 will be honoured with a photo opportunity with the OWC and a special blog posting

JOIN US on the Crowsnest River September long weekend

(Editor's note: This post was submitted by guest blogger Jay White, a biologist, environmental consultant and an OWC fan. He wants to know if our calendars are free for the back country September long weekend!) 

One of my favourite fishing rivers in Alberta is the Crowsnest River. None of its length is safe from me and I’ve enjoyed the headwaters, the wild sections along the Frank Slide, up and downstream of the falls and where it empties into the Oldman Dam.

Last weekend I was fishing the bottom end between Highway #3 and 510 and I noticed a long stretch that is slumping with very large chunks of bank falling into the river. Bank stability is low, and there is all sort of water quality problems that this will cause downstream will all that sediment being transported into the water. 

The area previously had unrestricted cattle access, but in the past few years I noticed it has been fenced. However, the riparian vegetation along the south shores has been completed removed. Now, large slabs of field are being held together by nothing. Some of the fenceposts are now also falling down due to the erosion.  Traversing along the south shore is almost impossible now, and the banks are being undercut during higher flows.  Previous fish mitigation structures have disappeared, as the stream channel has shifted.

 I’m kicking myself for not packing my camera that afternoon. 

Photo credit: Vic Bergman/ Crowsnest Angler

http://www.crownofthecontinent.net/content/crowsnest-river-flyfishing/cot282921A040909BAD5

Until the riparian areas are repaired along this stretch of river, degradation will continue, and water quality and fish habitat will be degraded. 

This is a call to arms—OWC, TUC, AESRD, Cows & Fish and Aquality can provide the leadership on what needs to be done and we can leverage volunteer hours to roll up their sleeves and get this fixed. 

By the way, in one small  stretch upstream of this spot, I caught a cutthroat trout, several rainbow trout, a bull trout and a whitefish in a couple of hours. This is a special river that requires our special attention.

 I propose we organize a volunteer riparian planting session for the September long weekend (yes, the labour day weekend!) for 2 or 3 days.

(Editor's P.S. > CALL JAY at the numbers below if you can make it!!!

 If we have a critical mass of people, we can pull this off  and coordinate details.)

Jay S. White, M.Sc., P.Biol., QWAES, QAES

Principal

Suite #204, 7205 Roper Road Edmonton, Alberta    T6B 3J4 www.aquality.ca

Office: 780-757-5530 Fax: 1-866-654-2826 Cell: 780-974-7524

OWC 2014 Summer E-Newsletter

To view Summer 2014's E-Newsletter, click here

Environmental Assessment for Elbow Dry Dam?

(Editor's note: The Government of Alberta is currently considering dry dams on the Little Bow River and Elbow River to reduce flooding in the Town of High River and Calgary.  

The OWC would like to thank Adam Driedzic from the Environmental Law Centre for coming to speak at our recent AGM. His blog entry touches on the main points of his talk, which sparked a lot of discussion! )

Does a flood mitigation “dry dam” require an environmental assessment?

This question was raised at the OWC Annual General Meeting on June 25, 2014. The dry dams proposed for the Elbow River and Little Bow River are no small deal. It could be the same type of towering concrete wall that contains permanent reservoirs except that it would usually sit empty.  If it is allowed to remain full for long enough to reduce flooding downstream then it might kill the underlying vegetation. The photo of a mountain valley turned into a dustbowl by a similar project elsewhere was one of the more striking images at the AGM (see the image below). 

Thomson Dry Dam

To figure out whether an environmental assessment is required you need to know the height of the dam and how much water it would hold.  A provincial environmental assessment is required for a dam greater than 15 metres in height when measured to the top of the dam “from the natural bed of the watercourse at the downstream toe of the dam.”  If the dam isn’t across a watercourse then the measurement is from “the lowest elevation at the outside of the dam.”  A provincial assessment is also required for a water reservoir with a capacity over 30 million cubic metres no matter how high the dam is.

The Little Bow River dry dam would allow for a diversion on the Highwood River so as to avoid the town of High River. In this case a provincial environmental assessment is required for a “water diversion structure and canals with a capacity greater than 15 cubic metres per second.” Even if the project doesn’t meet these technical requirements the Minister of Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development could still order an EIA but there would be no way to force one.

If there is a provincial assessment, it will trigger an NRCB review of a “water management project.”  No person can start such a project without an NRCB review and it shouldn’t matter that the government is the project proponent as the NRCB Act is binding on the Crown.  A “water management project” is defined by the NRCB Act as a project for which an environmental impact assessment is requirement so getting the environmental assessment is the key to getting a NRCB Review. As part of the review the NRCB can make investigations or inquiries, prepare studies or reports, or hold hearings.  This review could get underway with low key studies or reports. The NRCB only has to hold a public hearing if someone is directly affected.  If a hearing is triggered then further persons can apply to participate. Regardless of the review format the NRCB must provide 30 day notice of any necessary proceedings. This notice would likely be in local newspapers, prominent community locations or provided to persons in the area who may be directly affected.

The chance of a federal environmental assessment is lower since the 2012 reforms. For a dam, a federal assessment is required for:  “the construction, operation, decommissioning and abandonment of a new dam or dyke that would result in the creation of a reservoir with a surface area that would exceed the annual mean surface area of a natural water body by 1 500 ha or more.”  For a diversion project, a federal assessment is required for: “The construction, operation, decommissioning and abandonment of a new structure for the diversion of 10 000 000 m3/year or more of water from a natural water body into another natural water body.”  Federal assessments are now only required for listed projects.  They will no longer be triggered based on the need for fisheries act permits. Likewise the Elbow and Highwood Rivers are no longer protected under the Navigable Waters Protection Act as the reforms reduced protection to listed water bodies. If a Federal assessment is required then the federal government can substitute an equivalent provincial assessment to meet its own requirement.  There is no more need for joint panel reviews as there was before 2012.

You can strengthen environmental decision-making in Alberta. Please give generously.

Adam Driedzic

Environmental Law Centre

    

1-800-661-4238

lorr@elc.ab.ca

www.elc.ab.ca

Editor's Note: Learn more about dry dams here: http://albertawater.com/flood-mitigation/dry-dams. 

SSRP: Devil or Divine?

The long-awaited South Saskatchewan Regional Plan was released today and comes into effect September 1st. Many people are asking: What is OWC’s position on it?

Well, since we do not take "positions" (or "sides"), the answer may not be black and white enough for you, but here are some of my initial thoughts:

There are many positive steps forward in the headwaters (Eastern Slopes of the Rocky Mountains that provide 90% of our water downstream). Several Recreation Management Plans will be completed by 2015/16; a Linear Footprint Management Plan for Livingstone/Porcupine Hills will be completed by 2015; and, outreach officers will be hired to talk to people about decreasing their environmental footprint.

Castle Provincial Wildland Park is bigger than in the draft and will protect some valleys, but is not as large as some people wanted. It’s only about half the size as the originally proposed park from the 1990s.

It’s still unclear what the priority is and what will take precedence where – there still seems to be a “we can have it all” mentality. How will the goal to increase tourism and recreation mesh with the plans listed above? Is it possible to have a booming tourism and recreation economy, a thriving forestry sector, access for oil and gas, etc….all while still protecting our water, wildlife and health?

Watershed Planning and Advisory Councils (WPACs) are in the plan several times as an important partner – a good sign for OWC, since we are one of them! We are a partner with the Government of Alberta and intend to continue working closely with them to implement some parts of the SSRP.

 Paper plans do not keep water clean.

A biodiversity management framework will be in place by the end of 2015, and this will be a really good thing, because it should set real goals and limits. This is the only way to manage many different uses on one area of land.

The wording around reducing fragmentation of agricultural land is weak.  Wording like “promote” and “encourage” developers, municipalities, industry, etc. to use good practices or follow certain guidelines asks for voluntary compliance but may not lead to any real change.

The Pekisko Heritage Rangeland protects a large area of native grassland, a good thing considering only 24% remains in the province. An additional chunk of Green Area has also been added as a Special Management Area right next to it, which would be a good thing to manage intense use.

Overall, we know the devil will be in the details of implementation and regulation. This plan is still very high level, as you would expect from a regional plan at this scale. It’s not going to solve all our environmental challenges but it is a few steps in the right direction.

The critical piece is to implement it carefully, based on science and community input.

I choose to remain positive about it and help put the positive pieces from it on the ground. OWC will be working closely with the Government of Alberta to make a real difference for our watershed and we invite you to get involved. Please make a donation today!

http://oldmanbasin.org/index.php/getinvolved/make-a-donation/. Thank you for demonstrating your commitment to a healthy watershed!

Shannon
OWC Executive Director

(Editor's note: This post was submitted by someone who wished to remain anonymous. I have edited for style and added some supplementary information at the end)

I wonder if my experience of yesterday would be of interest to Oldman Council readers. Perhaps it will help reduce incidents like it, who knows. I live in the city and grew up in an even bigger city. I don't know the names of birds, but the one I hit yesterday was big and I knew it must have been a bird of prey. This was on a 2-lane, secondary highway not far from the city. I saw him swoop down onto my lane and slowed down. Usually, birds fly away as you approach. My aunt rolled her car once swerving for a duck, though. At the last minute, he (?) swooped up, but not at the speed I anticipated. It made a huge noise. 

Trying to pull over without getting rear-ended, I was him wobble off to a fence post. Emergency lights blinking, I crawled along beside him as he struggled through the grass and then made it up to a fence post again. I kept following until he alighted on a telephone pole next to a farmer's yard. I got out and rang the doorbell. I don't know why I thought they could help, but I felt that good people would want to know there was an injured bird on their property. The mother of several sent out her eldest son - a sweet, shy, shining, red head of about 15. The bird was still in the same place. 

What my hawk looked like: A Swainson's Hawk

"It's a hawk!" he said. "And probably a young one without enough sense yet to deal with the highway."

 I felt worse, and so I should have. "Well, if he's up there, then he'll probably be all right. If they lose too much blood, they can't fly." I silently sent up prayerful thanks. "Look!" The boy continued. "He's flying to the next pole - and there's one of those nasty blackbirds out to chase him away!" I was amazed at the boy's knowledge. I asked him: "That little bird ... is going to 

chase away a hawk?!" "Oh yes" he said. They're mean little things." I only know that if I walk along one of the local canals that I can hear their beautiful song. It's probably one of the few birds (other than a crow or magpie) that I can actually identify.

The boy pointed at my car. "Where did you hit him?" I stared at him blankly. I thought;  Like, on the car!! You know ... front, boom! "Well, I don't know", I said, approaching my bumper. "Probably right about .....!!!!" There was blood and guts all over the bumper. I'm freaking out left, right and centre and I'm sure the boy was thinking: "So THAT'S what city slickers are like!". "How can he LIIIIVE?!!!" I screech. "Oh, he'll probably be okay", the boy reassured me. "I'll call the local Birds of Prey". I marvel at how different our worlds are, this boy's and mine ... what he all knows at 15 that I can barely understand. I drive through the countryside, but do not see what's in it.

This photo depicts a magpie harassing an owl, but my wounded hawk flew up to the top of the pole just like this.

I feel like *#%# about it - and I hope the hawk is alive to feel the same. Better a smashing headache than dead. He literally got some sense knocked into him. But what about me?

 We have too many cars, roads and drive too fast. I was going 20km under the speed limit and 40km slower than my usual. 

Roads, rails, pipelines, telephone wires, seismic lines ... are called "linear disturbances", and are one of the main threats to wildlife. Clearly. Many are unnecessary and some could be reclaimed if we actually made it a priority. The OWC is working on classifying linear features for just this purpose - reclamation. 

Yet the plan for Alberta's countryside over the next 50 years is to populate yet more of our wild spaces, partcularly in the SW of the province.  This means more people  drawing wells, building roads into their properties, most tying into the grid, all driving at least 2 or more vehicles. Most people will be fleeing the cities and many will be novices regarding land stewardship.

Please see:   OWC Headwaters Indicator Project   for the science on linear features

Please also see: Simulation of Alberta to 2050 

And thanks to: Birds of Prey Centre for all they do.

• 
  

Pawsibilities in the Watershed

​Donna McLaughlin is the owner and founder of Pawsibilities Professional Animal Training, a business that trains people, dogs, horses, chickens and more. Donna's interest in animals and the natural world began as a young child visiting her grandparents farm in southern Saskatchewan. Her grandfather, Hugh McLaughlin, was a self-taught naturalist and was passionate about learning and teaching natural science. He was particularly interested in wetlands and all the plants and critters in and around those areas.

Donna has fond memories of accompanying him on trips to observe birds and collect various kinds of insects and fish. He taught about the important functions these areas played in the environment of the prairies. Although Hugh made his living from farming, he never placed profits ahead of his concern for the environment and was sometimes frustrated by farmers who altered a creek's flow for the benefit of their crops. The time spend on the farm learning about the science of the natural world and the respect it deserves has shaped the direction that Donna has gone today.

Donna is passionate about learning and behaviour and enjoys teaching it as much as furthering her own knowledge. She trains animals using positive reinforcement and behavioural science. She believes that animals are highly intelligent and complex - and that punishment and force are unnecessary and should be avoided in training. With these methods people can be like Dr. Dolittle and talk to the animals, and, in turn, it engages the animal to communicate back.

​She has trained humans and animals (dogs, horses, chickens, cats, llamas, etc) for over twenty five years for TV and film, obedience, tricks, tracking, herding, skijoring, carting and more. She has taught thousands of people the principles of behavioural science and given seminars in Manitoba, Alberta, Saskatchewan and the Yukon. She has learned from many of the top trainers and animal behaviourists in the world. She has gone to Chicken Camp to train chickens in Sequim, WA in 2008 and Baltimore in 2013 to learn from Bob Bailey - a former colleague of B.F. Skinner and a legendary animal trainer.

She has a Bachelor of Arts from St. Mary's University and a Diploma of Business Administration from the University of Regina. In her 'day job' she has worked in management and human resource positions at the University of Regina, Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience at the University of Lethbridge and the Alberta Distance Learning Centre.

​

​

​The goal of Pawsibilities Animal Training is to show people how intelligent their animals really are and to help people with problems that they are having with their dogs and/or to help them prevent future problems with their dogs through communication, education and training. Going further, this company exists to teach how an understanding of the same principles of reinforcement used by animal trainers can be applied in other situations such as classrooms and workplaces.

Donna has developed an engaging presentation on how the behavioural science methods that animal trainers use, can be used in the classroom and workplace. She and her dog recently gave this presentation to faculty and staff at Lethbridge College and she is looking for other opportunities to present this material. In the near future she plans to create full day chicken training workshops to give people a 'hands on' opportunity to learn about positive reinforcement and behavior.

Pawsibilities Professional Animal Training has donated a one hour private lesson for dog, horse or chicken training to the OWC as a prize for the Annual General Meeting.

One of our hard-working volunteers will be the lucky winner!

Thank you, Donna!

To contact Donna:

Phone: 403-715-6847

Email: mcladonn@uregina.ca

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pawsibilities-Professional-Animal-Training/453070551460177?fref=ts

The Oldman and the Dog, some Horses ...and a Lesson from Lori

(Editor's note: this story is part fiction and part truth. I'l leave it up to you to decide which is which. As far as Lori and Serentity Equestrian is concerned ... well, check it out for yourself! She's our newest OWC sponsor and we are so happy to welcome her to the OWC family!)

The Oldman had an intuition to call 'somebody about horses' as an idea for a prize for the upcoming AGM on June 25^th. Not knowing who to call (not Ghostbusters!), we googled it. Several names came up, but no one picked up the phone – and as my request was vague, I left no message. Lori at Serenity Equestrian was available and picked up.

Being blunt, the Oldman told her in about three sentences what was up: "I had to come up with an idea for the AGM and something said 'horses'. Would you be willing to contribute something to our annual meeting?". There was a slight pause and Lori said: "That's funny. Just recently someone was here who is affiliated with the Council. She was talking about the watershed and was really passionate about it." Another pause. "That's no coincidence. Yes, I think I can do that. Come on out and see me."

The Oldman calls it 'serendipitous' – a synonym for 'damn good fortune'.

Forgetting the Timmie's double-double he promised to bring, but remembering muck boots and a windbreaker, he turns into a farm just 1km north of Lethbridge on Highway 25.

I was greeted by a huge old, rough old, hairy old, bear of a dog. A 'nice old' grandpa, like me, I thought - until he gave this weirdo grimace that looked more human than canine – and more frightening than any old smile. My heart went into my mouth. "You've got to be the boss of the dog", says Lori sternly. What?! How did she know Old Grizz had freaked me out?! "You've got to deal with that. You can't just let people walk all over you." She looks at me sideways. "That's what I teach out here". She plunges right into it. "Confidence." I launch into an explanation of how I was attacked by dogs as a child – a pack of 13 wild ones who lunged straight at my face and were called off at the very last minute. "That doesn't matter", she says gently. "You have to deal with this now, and every day. You have to know how to get people to respect your boundaries without having to be aggressive". My heart beats in my mouth. I thought I was over all that. She explains how to communicate clearly with the dog without being afraid and without being mean. "Sit!" I command hopefully. Old Grizz sits, but eyeballs me to make sure I mean it. "Oh ya. He'll test you. You have to mean it. Then when he understands that, he'll leave you alone".

A whinny from the corral shifts our attention. We move over to the fence where 27 beautiful horses are breakfasting. Makes me remember the forgotten Timmie's. Again. And the ponies – such fantasy creatures! From tiny miniatures who pull the carts in the children's programs to large Belgians. When people come to Serenity, they form strong bonds with their horses.  Students learn how to choose their own horses by becoming aware of how the horses think and feel. Sometimes the horse will choose the person. Just like we feel good around some people and are nervous around others, horses show us who we are without words."  

She shows me how she can ask the horse to move forward or backward just with her own body language.  I find out that equine therapy has been around for a long time, but Lori first got started by fulfilling a life-long dream to have a horse after she had raised her family. "I had anxiety issues. That's how all this started. I ran a modelling agency and was on the Board of  directors for the World Modelling Association in New York." Lori spent those 22 years working to build self-confidence in people. "Now, through the horses, there's a whole extra dimension to understanding both yourself and how you communicate with others".  

Following the Parelli Method, the approach promotes physical, occupational, and emotional growth in persons suffering from a variety of traumatic brain injuries, behavioral issues, abuse issues, and many other mental health problems. But the Parelli Method goes a long way to helping anyone build confidence, self- efficiency, communication, trust, perspective, social skills, impulse control, and learn boundaries. The Parelli Method emphasizes having fun while developing emotional intelligence. Since the horses have similar behaviors with humans, such as social and responsive behaviors, it is easy for people to create a connection with the horse. There has been great success around the world with everything from corporate team building to teaching novice riders.

Lori explains that whoever wins her prize can either claim it themselves or pass it along to someone else – "…a grandchild, a spouse … whoever would enjoy the experience", she says, flashing me her generous smile. She has given us a whole week of summer camp, a couple hours each morning, with on-the-ground skills as well as a riding component with your own horse partner. "This is your farm. Whoever comes out here is part of this farm. We are about community building and this donation to the Oldman is about extending that circle." She gestures back to the fragrant hay stacks. "Last year there was so much rain, we couldn't get the hay off. Everything you see here … the garden for the herbs to grow poultices for the horses, the water for the farm, the hay … everything is because of the Oldman river. Of course we're part of the watershed!"

Lori hands me the prize package and I am inspired. What a great place for people to come and experience! I look around the beautifully kept yard and my eyes drift across it's quaint garden furniture, the little cabin  … and land on Old Grizz. I gaze at him imperiously. He rests his shaggy head between his paws and goes to sleep.

Even the Oldman learns something new every day.

If you would like a chance to win Serentity Equestrian's prize package

Hear more about the Oldman Watershed Council and how YOU can make a difference  

Please attend our AGM in Lethbridge this coming Wednesday. 

Registration is at 8:30 a.m.at the Enmax Centre. 

Everyone is welcome. 

www.serenityequestrian.com

Thank you from the Oldman to: Lori Chell, Serenity Equestrian, Lethbridge, Alberta (403) 381-1739 home email at: lori@serenityequestrian.com

Our facilities are located 1km north of the intersection on hwy 3(to Calgary) and hwy 25(to PictureButte) on the East side of the road.