Earth Day - Does It Really Matter?

(Editor's Note: You may call me cynical, but I did ask myself today whether naming this one day "Earth Day" actually made a difference. Here is a blog piece by OWC's Planning Manager, Connie Simmons, attempting to answer that question.)

          The Oldman Watershed Council marks Earth Day with a spotlight on the                                                                         Headwaters Action Team! 

In preparation for this Blog post, I visited Earth Day’s website, http://earthday2015.ca/ and thought a lot about how the OWC and our key partnerships with stakeholders and volunteers supports Earth Day Canada’s mission to foster and celebrate environmental respect, action and behaviour change that lessens our impact on the earth.  I looked at the questions they asked:

“What can I do to help the environment?”

“How can my individual actions make a bigger difference?”

“Can the impact of one person really help the planet?”

It didn’t take me long to figure out what to say – without the power of key partnerships and committed people and groups working together for common goals and outcomes for watershed health – the OWC would be just another planning organization with piles of plans on a shelf gathering dust.

Committed action by individuals, stakeholders and government is what makes the difference – and this action makes Earth Day (and everyday) a reason for acknowledgement and thanks to the people who are doing this important work.

The OWC’s Headwaters Action Team (HAT) is focused on getting things done for headwaters health.   The HAT was formed in 2014 to begin the process of implementing 5 priority actions of the Headwaters Action Plan, and to see how far we can go in the first two years of collaborative work (for more on this:  http://oldmanbasin.org/teams-and-projects/integrated-watershed-management-plan-team/).

The HAT is a great group of people, with different perspectives, interests and values. Some of our conversations are bluntly honest, and some of the interests around the table are at times cross-threaded. Nonetheless, as a foundation for collaborative work, we agree that the health of the headwaters needs improvement, that there are important initiatives that can address the priority concerns - and through this work, we raise support for improved watershed management, and achieve better outcomes for headwaters health.

OWC Headwaters Action Team - April 9, 2015  

left to right:  Jason Blackburn (Alberta Conservation Association); Lorne Fitch (Cows and Fish); Mike Wagner (Environment and Sustainable Resource Development – Forest Hydrology); Connie Simmons (OWC); Wade Aebli (Spray Lakes Sawmills); Rosemary Jones (Environment and Sustainable Development-Parks); David Green (Southern Alberta Sustainable Communities Initiative); Terry Yagos (MD Pincher Creek); Tony Bruder (Drywood-Yarrow Conservation Partnership); Bill Kovach (MD Crowsnest Pass); Jim Lynch Staunton (North Fork Grazing Association); Richard Burke (Trout Unlimited – Lethbridge).  Missing:  Darryl Ferguson (Crowsnest Pass Quad Squad); Carolyn Aspeslet (Castle Crown Wilderness Coalition). 

The Headwaters Action Team works in both an advisory and implementation capacity, within the mandates and resources available from their respective organizations.  So when I look at the questions posed for Earth Day, ‘…what can I do, and how can my individual actions make a difference?’ -   I see in the HAT the commitment and willingness to act stemming from connection and appreciation for the beauty, the critical ecological function as key water tower, and resources that support people and communities – all of these values, and more, are inherent to the Oldman headwaters.    

To really hear what is important to the team members,  it is best to hear from them on why they are putting their time and energy into action for headwaters health: 

I have lived near to the Oldman River most of my life and have spent many hours fishing, and playing in it, but most of all walking along it enjoying the hugely diverse wildlife and plant life enabled and nourished by it. The headwaters is the source and the Oldman River is the lifeblood of Southern Alberta.                                                     Ted Smith – Rancher, Livingston Landowners Group, HAT member

The Oldman River headwaters encompasses the largest remaining core areas of pure strain Westslope Cutthroat Trout within the historic range of Alberta, and is critical to the long term sustainability of the species in the province.  Watersheds within the headwaters not only contribute to the overall persistence of this species, but also represent some of the best quality, and most popular native (and introduced) trout fisheries in the province, a service highly valued by a major stakeholder group of ACA, Alberta’s anglers.

Jason Blackburn – Alberta Conservation Association – HAT member

Headwaters are the epicenter for source water, native fish and wildlife (several of which are ‘threatened’) and a sense of space for recreation, watershed integrity and biodiversity maintenance. The headwaters are where the Oldman watershed begins and how well we manage this critical area dictates whether we meet the goals of downstream residents.

Lorne Fitch, Cows and Fish – HAT member

I live in the Oldman headwaters.  Every day I see the snowpack on the mountains, hear the melt-water music of Gladstone Creek as it joins Mill Creek, which flows into the Castle River, and then joins the Oldman River system at the Oldman Reservoir. I think of all who live upstream and downstream and depend on this water – the towns and cities, the forests, the fish, birds and wildlife, and the farmers, ranchers and businesses that help support the economy of Alberta.  Over 90% of the water of the Oldman River comes from the headwaters.   For this reason, and because this place is my home, I am committed to working for headwaters beauty, function, spiritual values and source of life and sustenance.   

                                                         Connie Simmons, Oldman Watershed Council – HAT coordinator

On Earth Day 2015 – we celebrate and thank the commitment of people and organizations who are  working  together for watershed health.

Thank you, Headwaters Action Team!!!

Blog post by: Connie Simmons,

OWC - Headwaters Stewardship Coordinator

connie@oldmanbasin.org

  

We're Asking For Your Help In One Small Act

(Editor's Note: Please renew your OWC membership and take the opportunity to see where your hard-earned dollars go. Any donation - large or small - makes a difference. Whether it is $20 or $200, your donation helps ensure a healthy watershed for generations to come. Our OWC Family is growing, thanks to people like you. Because of your support, we accomplish great things.)   

Thanks to all who have renewed their OWC membership for 2015.  If you haven't yet, please take a minute to click on the membership link below and renew it today.   Deadline is  April 30. Renew/Start your OWC Membership and Choose the information you wish to receive from the OWC Renew Your 2015 Membership online today! Individual form Organization form Municipality form Irrigation District form The information marked with an asterisk is a requirement by Alberta Corporate Registry that we need to have on file.  For general information on OWC membership or to print a pdf copy to submit to us, click here.  Why be a member of the OWC? Receive discounts on OWC activities and events Run as a member-at-large on the OWC Board of Directors Vote for the members-at-large who will serve on the OWC Board Be a part of the OWC community by choosing to be involved in a project or by volunteering.  Contact us if you're interested or want more information.    There is no membership fee but voluntary donations make a big difference! Click here to make a donation to the OWC or to set up a monthly donation through PayPal or CanadaHelps.org; a charitable receipt will be issued.  If you are unable to complete the renewal form online, please phone Bev (403-381-5145) or by email and I'll register you manually. Your membership is important to us - thanks for renewing it.  If you are not a member but would like to be, please register online or if you have questions, please call or email us.    Update your Profile The OWC monthly E-Newsletter gives you updates on many topics and activities, such as: Membership Headwaters education project #oldmangoestohollywood film project Watershed Legacy Program Events Volunteer opportunities and Information for sponsors/donors. However, we realize that you might want additional information on specific subjects when they become available in between newsletter releases.  If so, please click on this Update Profile/Email Address link to check off the boxes you wish to receive additional information on.   Thanks for updating your profile and renewing your membership!

Forward this email This email was sent to oldmanwatershed.newsletter@blogger.com by bev@oldmanbasin.org |   Update Profile/Email Address | Rapid removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy. Oldman Watershed Council | 100, 5401 - 1st Avenue South | Lethbridge | Alberta | T1K 4V6 | Canada

Safe Drinking Water In Lethbridge - And Downstream!

(Editor's Note: The Oldman recently toured the wastewater and water treatment plants for the City of Lethbridge as part of our Film Project. Here's a little update. Do check out #oldmangoestohollywood if you are a Twitter user.)

The other day, we met with OWC's Chairman, Doug Kaupp, who is also the General Manager of Water and Wastewater for the City of Lethbridge. The City has generously sponsored the OWC Film Project as a Collaborative Partner. The OWC gets $5,000 to put toward the film-making, and the City gets three videos: one for kids, one for the public at large, and one for scientists. The Collaborative Partner gets the videos at a fraction of the commercial cost, and the Oldman gets to create invaluable educational material.

For the City's videos, we toured three main sites: the waste water treatment plant, the water treatment plant and some river locations for storm outfalls and other technology.

It's a good thing this is a story told in pictures and not in smells! ...but, here we go:

So this first picture ^^ is where all the toilet flushings and drainage from the city of Lethbridge is collected to ONE POINT. I know, it's not fluffy birdies and flowers, but it's high time you knew. Yes, it stinks to high heaven.

 

That's why I was praying that the guys didn't drop or knock their fancy-dancy camera equipment into the sludge: clearly, nobody would jump in after it to save it!

There are several stages to the process, and I'm not going to walk you through them all, but it was really interesting to find out just how much effort, science (and yes, money) goes into treating wastewaster to a condition where it can be released back into the river. It is the same stuff that fish will swim in, kids will play in ... and everybody downstream will drink (after they treat it further). (Obviously this picture shows one of the initial stages, and not the end result far down the line in wastewater treatment!)

First of all, anything that will harm the other machines is caught and removed (rocks, what have you). Then, 'tons and tons' of sand is taken out. I couldn't believe it. A lot of the sand is simply from cleaning - washing your floors, etc. Apparently, a lot of people are also forgetting their rags when they flush their dirty floor water down the drain! 

A much better idea is to use biodegradable soap and dump the sand and dirty water onto your lawn - and pick out your rag.

The picture above ^^ shows part of the process where, now that the sand has been removed, the culprits grease and hair get worked over.

Are you one of the people flushing the hair from your brush down the toilet? 

It is far better to put it in the garbage. 

The same goes for your bacon fat, cooking fat, any type of grease is a real effort to remove. 

There's a little trick, actually: use an old milk carton and pour the grease into it. Close the spout so it doesn't smell and put it in the fridge and it is easily disposable in the garbage after it has set.

This is a very complicated process.  There are ten of these"sludge pools", bubbling and working away.

In fact, this process is was pioneered in Lethbridge. The gas created in this sludging process is actually captured and used for electricity to run the plant! How tidy!

And here's a photo of "Mr. Water", Doug Kaupp, who is taking the Oldman Film Crew on a tour of the facilities and explaining the wastewater treatment process to us. Doug has a lot of responsibility for taking care of us all!

There is not an alien living in this tank. It is actually ultraviolet light, used to treat the water once it's past the sludge stage. It has a green tinge due to the algae.

On to the next stage! There are several buildings, each with it's own function, and all connected with massive pipes.

Jim MacDonald, left, is the Wastewater Plant Manager in Lethbridge. A lot of people are involved in making sure our water is clean and healthy for everyone downstream.

Great chemistry brains aren't just found on TV! Brian Thomson is the brains at the water treatment plant.  Wastewater gets treated differently than water does than stormwater does. The difference? Wastewater is downstream. It's what we put down the drain. It must go through a careful cleaning process before it is put back into the river. It all goes to users downstream. The sludge removed is what powers the plant itself, but you can help by being more careful about what you put down the drain: use biodegradable soap and pour your cleaning water in the yard; don't put hair in the sink or toilet and keep cooking fats out of the drains.  Water treatment is upstream. It's what we take in from the river flowing into the City. It has come from the headwaters in the mountains and passed through the communities and landscapes to the west and we take a portion of it into the water treatment plant where we remove contaminants and treat for purity. That then, flows into your taps.  Stormwater is what falls as precipitation from above. It falls on your roof, your car, your yard. You could be capturing it from the roof in a rain barrel, making sure you don't wash your car in the driveway, avoiding the use of pesticides and herbicides in your yard (hey! dandelions are the first bee food!) - and keeping your storm drain clean. All this water collects in the gutters and is transported straight into the river. Whatever you do to your yard, fish drink. That's the concept of "We are all downstream". Luckily, more and more people are getting into gardening, permaculture and xeriscaping as beautiful - and useful - 'English lawn' alternatives. We do, really, live in a semi-arid climate.   Adding to this list, we also have groundwater, which is what you would use if you have a well.

Away from all the plants and pipes and down to the Oldman River for some fresh air!                We're going to see the weir (Get it?!!)

Nice shot, if I do say so myself. The lovely cottonwoods across the river are budding and waiting to leaf. We saw Spring's first butterflies and a few tiny flowers. Doug took us to a few different stormdrains that exit into the river. Yes - whatever is on your street- leaves, garbage, paint, soapsuds ... whatever your pour into the gutteror the street drain ... DOES NOT GET TREATED. It flows straight into the river and straight onto wildlife like beaver and trout. It is important for us, as neighbours, to keep storm drains clear. The City can't possibly come around several times a year to do this. We must have an interest in keeping our water wildlife healthy and care about human populations downstream.  The "Yellow Fish Road" program is a way for school kids to learn about storm drains and water. They paint on the little yellow fish on the storm drains as a way of reminding people that whatever goes down there directly impacts fish.

It was a beautiful day for filming and we had the best tour guide ever:                                          Thanks, Mr. Water - Doug Kaupp - and thank you to the City of Lethbridge! For more information about your drinking water, please visit http://www.lethbridge.ca/living-here/water-wastewater/Pages/default.aspx The OWC is seeking further Collaborative Partners who would like to showcase in video how they are making the watershed a better place to live, work and play. Please get in touch!

The Beauty of Permaculture Blog

(Editor's Note: I bet a lot of people are planning some garden clean-up this weekend. What better time to think about how you can set up your yard to make best use of both soil and water? There is an event TONIGHT!

One of the greatest challenges we face at OWC is communicating to folks that what happens on the land makes or breaks water quality for fish, flora, fauna and folks downstream. These days, we are hearing more and more about permaculture. Thanks to Cristiana for the guest blog posting! Enjoy your weekend read!) 

Vibrant Life Eco-Solutions is a local small business that focuses on Permaculture Design, Education, and Soil Enhancement. It strives to both protect nature and enrich the areas of it that we live in to sustainably support humanity.

So many of us enjoy nature. We strive to protect it and in turn take time to bask in the beauty and vitality of Mother Nature. Nature is full of webs of interaction. The study of the interactions of living creatures, vegetation, and their surroundings is Ecology. Healthy Ecosystems are the key to sustaining human civilization as nature provides for all of our needs – food, water, shelter, and warmth. 

It is widely observed that when a civilization has crumbled in the past, the condition of their land had been vastly degraded by the agricultural practices used to sustain the people. To take a simplified look - unhealthy nature leads to unrest among the people who faced famine, starvation, and natural disasters. War and disease tend to follow, completing the decimation of the once great civilization. 

As the wise Masanobu Fukuoka once said:

"If we throw Mother Nature out the window, she comes back in the door with a pitchfork."

Out of this understanding, 'Permaculture', the word and the science, was born. It is a fusing of the words "permanent" and "agriculture." Its purpose is to show how to create a Permanent Culture or civilization that lives in harmony with nature, instead of trying to subdue it.

The design science behind Permaculture is essentially Ecology. However, let us insert ourselves and our needs into the picture with Nature. We are no longer the ecologist who, by definition, observes the system from the outside. We are part of it! First, we observe how carelessly taking what we need can impact the system negatively. Then we consider how we can enhance the system and out of the bountiful production of nature, receive what we need to live.

Food production is a huge part of Permaculture, and it is an integral part of our existence. So, let's talk about how we can grow our food sustainably and enhance Nature while we're at it.

Observing Nature in the area you wish to cultivate is very important. We need to find out about the types of plants that grow well, the wildlife that we need to co-exist with, the types of weather and weather cycles that are common, where the water comes from and where it goes, and if there are any harsh factors such as intense sun or prevailing winds that need to be taken into consideration. A common saying is, "100 hours of observation; one hour of work." Every possible aspect has to be carefully considered before starting to alter the natural system.

But don't be discouraged! After the area is very familiar, the design process begins. 

The first and most important step is mapping water. Water, where it is, and how we can passively move it through the landscape to nurture our crops and animals is what the whole system is built upon. Roofs are great surfaces to catch water and are largely under-utilized. Thousands of litres per year can be captured, and then the rainwater can be directed into storage or channelled directly to areas that need irrigation. 

Areas of the land that are eroding, flooding, or are established waterways need to be identified. There are many methods that can be used to naturally solve erosion and flooding issues, and passively irrigate areas that need moisture throughout the growing season. Once the water management plan is in place, your garden, orchard, and meadow areas should be simple to take care of due to the water being distributed naturally throughout your property without sprinklers or pumps.

Rainwater Capture, Filtration, Storage, and Passive Irrigation System Designed and Built by APEX Permaculture Inc.

One of the biggest differences between Permaculture methods and Conventional methods is how the vegetation is arranged. In modern farming and gardening, straight rows and large areas of one type of plant are the normal planting format. However, this is contrary to Nature, which does not tend to plant in rows or have areas that contain just one species of plant. Diversity goes a long way to reducing pests and disease. Thus, the Permaculture way is to plant in Guilds.

A Guild is any group of plants that benefits one another. Companion planting figures into this concept but is not the summation of it. There are benefits to having different heights, different rooting styles, and plants with different purposes all growing together. A guild does not have to contain all of the aspects illustrated in the image below, but this is the ultimate Guild – The Forest Garden.

 The Forest Garden is one of the finest expressions of enhancing nature so that humans can harvest food and wood for fuel and shelter. While this is the ideal way to plant, it may not always be practical. A kitchen garden with annual vegetables and herbs along with a separate area dedicated to fruit and trees with less diverse undergrowth can also be great ways to practice Permaculture style planting methods. 

The most important keys in Permaculture planting are to encourage diversity, grow plants with multiple functions, make use of both vertical and horizontal space, and encourage pollinators and beneficial creatures to frequent the area.

Another big difference between Permaculture Methods and other gardening methods is to "chop and drop" instead of weeding. Contrary to popular belief, not all weeds are your enemy! They always perform some sort of function in the area they grow in. For example, dandelions grow in compacted soil that is low in Calcium. Their deep tap root both loosens the soil and brings minerals up to their leaves which crumble onto the ground at the end of the season, and become part of the topsoil. 

"Chop and drop" is simply cutting the foliage at ground level, then dropping it around your plants. By chopping the weed foliage before it seeds out you prevent an infestation, but you also allow the weed to perform its function in the system. In this way you also increase the organic matter of the soil and add to the mulch layer that protects and nurtures the microorganisms that make the soil nutrients plant-soluble. So, not only is "chop and drop" less labour intensive, there are multiple "wins" when you handle your weeds in this manner. 

You can also do this to plants that are growing too large or you can intentionally grow plants that will be "chopped and dropped" such as comfrey. Comfrey is a bio-accumulator, which means that it grows deep roots and brings all the amazing minerals that are deep in the soil up to its leaves. Then when you "chop and drop" the comfrey, you create a nutrient dense mulch for your other plants.

There are numerous methods used in Permaculture that are based in science and common sense. The way that these methods are tied together into a self-sustaining system is what sets them apart and earns them the title of Permaculture. Permaculture strives to create a web or closed system based on the example that Nature sets for us. There is no waste in a properly designed ecosystem - there are only inputs and outputs.

A very simple example system is growing a garden. You need to enrich your soil with compost or worm castings. You harvest food and along with it, some excess plant matter. The excess goes into your compost or worm bin. 

Repeat. Let's say you have an infestation of slugs because your soil is moist and has a lot of organic matter in it from handling your water efficiently, chopping and dropping, and building up the protective organic mulch layer. Well, one option is to get a pet duck. The duck gives you eggs and eventually meat and it eats the pests in the garden and creates manure and nutrient rich water which can be used to fertilize the garden. The Permaculturist creates an interactive web, just like Nature, to solve issues and to create an efficient, vibrant, bountiful, and healthy system.

                        

This is the beauty of permaculture. It is the beauty of nature and the pursuit of a vibrant life.

If you would like to learn more about Vibrant Life Eco-Solutions you may visit our website, here, or our Facebook Page, here. Any inquiries can be emailed to: c.hill@VLESolutions.ca

Check out our Events, Products, and Services and learn more about Permaculture and Vibrant Life Eco-Solutions. We will be happy to help enhance the Nature that surrounds you. 

We are hosting an evening talk: Water & Earth: Issues and Elegant Solutions, this Saturday, April 11th, 6 - 9:30PM, at the University of Lethbridge, that will reveal more about how Permaculturists manage water and correct or prevent issues from occurring with some really interesting landscaping techniques. All are welcome. Hope to see you there!

Cristiana Hill

Vibrant Life Eco-Solutions

c.hill@VLESolutions.ca

403.894.4887

www.VLESolutions.ca

 

Ever wondered about your water? TEST IT!

(Editor's Note: Thanks to Jacskon for blogging about how YOU can test your water. Kits are free!)

AWQA Day, June 5th, 2015
A hands-on approach to increasing water quality awareness in Alberta


Have you ever wondered about the quality of water in your local stream or wetland? 

You can have the opportunity to learn more about your local waterways by engaging in the Alberta Water Quality Awareness (AWQA) program in 2015. On June 5th we will kick-off our program for the 2015 year!


Alberta Water Quality Awareness (AWQA) aims to increase people's awareness about the health and value of water in Alberta, through hands-on water quality testing. Participants in the program are provided with a free water quality test kit. 



This easy-to-use kit includes all of the materials needed to analyze four basic water quality parameters: temperature, pH, turbidity and dissolved oxygen. These basic measures of water quality have important implications for fish and wildlife habitat, outdoor recreation, and human health.

Albertans were last able to get their 'feet wet' in 2012, during Alberta's fifth AWQA event. The program was a huge success, with nearly 2000 people, from across the province, actively testing water in their communities. Families, individuals, schools, watershed groups, rural landowners, and community and youth groups all participated in the program. 

Together these groups collected and tested water samples from over 200 different locations, covering all seven of the major watersheds in Alberta. These results were compiled to create a 'snapshot' of water quality in the province. 

Results from past years can be viewed at www.awqa.ca



Everyone is invited to participate in AWQA 2015. Interested parties can order their free water quality test kit online at www.awqa.ca. 

Kits can be ordered as a single, teacher kit package, as well as a special order for those with larger groups of students. AWQA kits will be shipped around mid-May and water quality testing can be done anytime between June 1^st and August 31st. A single kit can be used ten times to test any stream, lake, river, wetland, dugout, community pond, reservoir, slough or other surface waterbody in Alberta. It is crucial to the success of this program for the data to be uploaded after collection, don't miss out on this great opportunity to get involved in the outdoors and water education.

Students, or other participants, can go online and add their water quality information to the database atwww.awqa.ca, and together create a picture of water quality in Alberta. Data will also be transferred to the Alberta Tomorrow program where students and citizens can further their engagement in the environment, and data, by working with the land-use simulator. Various teacher resources are on our website which includes lesson plans, worksheets, and more information on the parameters that are being tested.

Teacher Resources can be viewed here: http://alms.ca/teacher-resources/

If you want to order your kits today, follow this link: http://alms.ca/order-your-test-kit/

AWQA Day is a program of the Alberta Lake Management Society in partnership with Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development, and Alberta Tomorrow.AWQA Day is made possible through the generous support of our sponsor EPCOR.


For more information on Alberta Water Quality Awareness please visit www.awqa.ca.

Or contact:
info@alms.ca
(780) 415-9785

--

Jackson Woren, B.Sc, BIT

Lakewatch Technician

Time to say goodbye...

Editor's Note: Yes, it's time to say goodbye to Leta Pezderic as she moves on in her career to take up a new role. Read all about it here—and please do get in touch with her—leta@oldmanbasin.org or @LetaPez to wish her all the best of luck). Farewell and best of luck to Leta!

To celebrate Leta's time with the OWC, thank her for her contributions and provide an opportunity to say farewell and best wishes, there is an informal, come & go celebration at The Owl Acoustic Lounge (411- 3 Avenue South) on Friday, April 24 from 4-6 PM.  Please join us!

Please join us in wishing Leta all the best as she leaves OWC to pursue a career with Nature Conservancy of Canada! We will miss her easy smile and caring personality. She has been a trusted representative and friendly face for the OWC over the last 6 years, responsible for building many of the strong relationships we have with partners and volunteers. Leta started with the OWC as an Executive Assistant but quickly recognized the need for a Program Coordinator to work with partners on projects and morphed into that role easily with her strength as a relationship builder. Over the years she has developed many new projects and events, always putting her all into every task.  Recently she has been championing new directions for OWC to improve volunteer engagement, youth connections, and program effectiveness. Leta's commitment to quality is unwavering and has been a big part of the OWC's reputation for engaging and inspiring events.

Leta has made many friends during her time at OWC and we are fortunate to know her and look forward to a continued relationship with her in her new role. We greatly appreciate all her hard work and dedication and wish her all the best!

From Shannon, Anna, Bev, and Connie who will miss Leta as a friend and colleague. 

A message from Leta

So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, goodbye...

Adieu, adieu, to you and you and you!

Well, I can't believe it's been over 6 years since starting with the OWC—where has the time gone?!  I think back to when I started when it was just Stephanie Palechek and myself—the OWC was up to their eyeballs in the State of the Watershed Report, the Rural Team was just pitching the idea of a Watershed Legacy Program, the Watershed Science Team was about to host its first Watershed Science Forum and the Urban Team was just launching the Prairie Urban Garden project!  Now as the OWC celebrates its 10-year anniversary, I can hardly believe how far we've come!  I am so proud to have been a part of it!

An opportunity has presented itself to me and I've decided to take it. I have accepted a position working with the Nature Conservancy of Canada as the Natural Area Manager for Southeast Alberta!  However, it is with mixed emotions that I leave the OWC—there are so many things I will miss. Most of all though, it will be the people—the dedicated and talented staff, the passionate working Teams, and the strong, supportive Board of Directors—it is through this amazing community of people that the hard work gets accomplished!

I've been so fortunate to spend my days with so many inspiring people throughout the watershed who have taught me so much about our spectacular basin and for that I am truly grateful!

Thank you and of course, let's stay in touch! (pezderic@gmail.com)

Leta

OWC is hiring! - PLEASE SHARE!

(Editor's Note: Please share this job posting in your circles! The OWC has created a NEW POSITION and we are excited about extending our outreach in the greater watershed community. If you've got great people skills ... this one's for you!) The Oldman Watershed Council is a not-for-profit organization of southern Albertans that maintains and improves the Oldman watershed by:   Improving and sharing knowledge Building and strengthening stakeholder partnerships Promoting and facilitating community and institutional action and stewardship Developing and implementing integrated land and water plans Position Description:   The OWC is seeking an outgoing, dynamic leader to create and implement OWC's science based Education and Engagement Strategy for mainly adult audiences. OWC's challenge is to raise awareness about watershed issues and encourage people to adopt solutions, which requires communicating scientific information in an engaging manner. This exciting, permanent position requires exceptional people skills and time management skills.  This position is challenged with setting priorities and creating new initiatives. This is a great opportunity for you to let your leadership and management skills shine! The successful candidate will work 36.25 hours/week from our office in Lethbridge and is eligible to receive up to 3 weeks paid vacation per year and our optional benefits package, including a Health Spending Account and Learning and Wellness Account. As a small organization, the OWC offers a flexible, friendly work environment with 4 other staff members who will work closely with the Education Program Manager to achieve our goals. Salary: $60,000 - $65,000 per year depending on qualifications and experience. Qualifications: Training and experience which provides the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to perform the work. A minimum of 5 years of work experience related to adult education and engagement, preferably in a field related to the natural sciences. A Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Education, Education, Social Science, Environmental Studies, Psychology or related field. Experience motivating, encouraging and empowering others to take action. Extremely personable with very strong verbal, written and face to face communications skills. Proven track-record of previous success with education and engagement programs based on scientific information. Must be comfortable building new relationships and making cold calls to potential partners or volunteers. Strategic thinking and leadership skills. Project management, planning and prioritization skills. Proficient with MS Office, internet use, common IT issues and ideally Smartsheet and Photoshop. Demonstrated ability to research, design and implement adult education and engagement programs. Experience recruiting and managing volunteers and partners from other organizations. Experience hiring consultants to assist with work as needed. Very well organized and able to manage time and deadlines effectively. An appreciation for the environment, familiarity with the local environmental community and understanding of environmental science. Experience managing budgets of around $100,000 per year. A valid driver's licence and willingness to travel throughout the watershed. Willingness to work evenings and weekends as required. Key Duties and responsibilities: Oversee the development and implementation of OWC's current engagement program focused on recreationalists on public land along the Eastern Slopes that form the headwaters of the Oldman watershed. Develop and implement a new Education and Engagement Strategy for the next 3 years with clear outcomes and performance measurements, focused on adult audiences and based on scientific content. Evaluate past projects and events and determine their suitability for including in the new strategy. Work closely with the Communications Manager in particular and other staff to achieve educational goals. Regular blog submissions, social media postings, newsletter articles and other written materials. Recruit volunteers and partners to assist with implementing new strategy and serve on Project Teams. Collaborate with staff, Board of Directors, partners and volunteers on all work. Apply for grants, complete grant reports, ensure recognition to funders and maintain strong relationships with funders of projects. Oversee budgeting and accounting for education and engagement programs. Other related duties as needed. If you are interested please call Shannon Frank, OWC Executive Director at 403-382-4239 to discuss further. Please email your cover letter and resume to shannon@oldmanbasin.org. Thank you for your interest. Only those chosen for an interview will be contacted.

Oldman Watershed Council | 100, 5401 - 1st Avenue South | Lethbridge | Alberta | T1K 4V6 | Canada

Native fish – our very own aquatic ‘canaries in a coal mine’

(Editor's Note: Why is your clean, clear, drinking water threatened? And how does it depend on fish? OWC's Planning Manager, Connie Simmons, explains exactly what's "fishy" in the headwaters. Your comments are, as always, most welcome.) 

The Headwaters Action Plan (HAP) is a key outcome of the Oldman Integrated Watershed Management Plan, and was developed with the input of key stakeholders and the public throughout 2013-14. The HAP developed targets, actions and recommendations for three indicators of headwaters health to focus efforts to effectively protect and maintain source waters and headwaters values.   

One of these three indicators provided direction for action related to fish - and not just any fish, but a focus on two native species that are now listed as ‘threatened’ by the Government of Alberta:  westslope cutthroat trout and bull trout.   

With the ‘threatened’ listing, come Recovery Plans and a legislated requirement to safeguard the species from further population decreases, and to protect and restore critical habitats to support and ensure their continued persistence and recovery.  Westslope Cutthroat Trout have an approved Recovery Plan, and a Recovery Plan for bull trout is currently being developed.   (See: http://esrd.alberta.ca/fish-wildliditfe/species-at-risk/   )

 Why focus on fish? 

Native fish need healthy source waters and headwaters to thrive,  and source water and headwaters integrity directly link to sustainability of healthy streams and rivers that provide us with high water quality and sufficient water quantity – a critical foundation for sustainable human communities and economic stability. 

The looming crisis with these two native trout species tells us that all is not well in the Oldman headwaters, or Alberta. 

Development and recreation pressures, habitat degradation, fragmentation and loss, invasive species incursion (i.e. competitive or hybridizing species such as rainbow trout), climate change, and angling pressure have created a perfect storm of issues that threaten the continued existence of these key native fish species in Alberta.   

This is our wake-up call – these native trout are truly our aquatic ‘canaries in a coal mine’ – telling us that all is not well, and that we need to pay attention, prioritize what to do, and then act with responsibility and solid scientific direction to ensure the continued persistence and flourishing of native trout in the strongholds of cold, clear mountain streams and lakes. 

 Our native trout – wild aquatic beauty in peril

 Westslope Cutthroat trout

Westslope cutthroat trout are listed as threatened by both the Government of Alberta and the Government of Canada.   In Canada, westslope cutthroat trout are native only to the Bow and Oldman River systems.  

Historically in the Oldman watershed, their populations extended from the high mountain creeks, rivers and lakes to as far as Lethbridge.  But - that was then, this is now.  WSCT have declined so precipitously in the last 50 years that they now are at around 5% of their former population numbers, and these remnant populations have retracted to the small and scattered streams in the highest reaches of the Rocky Mountain tributaries of the Oldman River.  

Human activities were and continue to be the greatest threat to the persistence of WSCT remnant populations in Alberta.  These activities include the historical introduction of invasive species (ie: stocking of rainbow trout hybridize with WSCT and reduce or exterminate pure strain populations); development/industrial pressures that adversely impact or destroy habitat; and consumption (angling).

This alarming trend is further exacerbated by the looming issue of climate change, when projected mean temperatures in summer of many streams, especially in lower elevation streams and lakes, will rise to a point that WSCT cannot continue to exist.   High mountain streams with intact forests and riparian areas provide the foundation for the clear, cold, connected and complex aquatic systems that support WSCT.  

If we want to have WSCT in the future, there is an immediate need to take greater care of these important remnant habitats – to protect, rehabilitate and restore, and to manage adverse and cumulative impacts in these mountain headwaters areas.

 Bull trout

Bull trout were listed as a threatened by the Government of Alberta in 2012.   The status of bull trout is also currently under review by the Government of Canada.  A Recovery Plan for bull trout is now being prepared to guide the recovery of bull trout in Alberta.   

Bull trout occur in all of the major watersheds of the eastern slopes in Alberta, but have experienced significant reductions in both range and numbers, including the loss of some populations. Historically, bull trout were estimated to live in approximately 24,000 stream kilometres in Alberta, but are now down to an estimated 16,000 kms.   This is a 33% reduction in the extent of their historical range.

Bull trout in southern Alberta watersheds have had the greatest losses, including the Oldman, Bow and Red Deer rivers.  Bull trout populations in the Oldman watershed have been decreasing due to increasing cumulative impacts of industrial and recreation activities in their historic range, including logging, gas exploration and extraction, off-highway vehicles use, livestock grazing and random access camping.

  Recovery of bull trout will require conservation of healthy aquatic ecosystems, restoration and protection of degraded habitats, and the adoption of disturbance thresholds that will not be exceeded.

 What do we need to do for native trout?

As a first step, Albertans need to be aware that the populations of native trout are in trouble and that action is needed to ensure healthy headwaters and source water native fish habitat.  As a sharp lesson about the nature of cumulative effects that degrade native fish habitat and population persistence, Lorne Fitch put it most succinctly:

"Farmers, miners, off highway vehicle users, roughnecks, homeowners, politicians and a cast of thousands have devastated Alberta’s fish populations without ever catching or frying a single fish. Instead, large numbers of fish, populations of fish, and watersheds of fish were killed through habitat alterations, loss of critical habitats, water withdrawals, and pollution. It has been a death by a thousand cuts, not a thousand hooks. Individually there was no malice, spite or even intention – only the ignorance of fish ecology and cumulative effects."

Lorne Fitch (excerpt from essay ‘Two Fish, One Fish, No Fish: Alberta’s Fish Crisis’)

If we are able to secure healthy, productive headwaters and source water habitat for native fish, we are also helping to secure healthy and productive headwaters and source waters for all who need water in the Oldman watershed.   

In addition to raising public awareness, a concerted effort to effectively manage cumulative development/use impacts, provide excellent conservation information to public and stakeholders, and work to address threats to the continued persistence of native trout is greatly needed in the Oldman headwaters.  

The OWC Headwaters Action Team and partners are starting to address some of these concerns this summer (more on the Team and partnerships is coming in a future Blog!).    Recreation user engagement programs in Dutch Creek will share information about critical habitat for westslope cutthroat trout and bull trout, and engage recreationists to seek solutions that will would help ensure continued native trout persistence.  

Trout Unlimited (Oldman chapter) has taken the initiative to begin to work on riparian restoration and sedimentation issues in Hidden Creek – a sub-watershed just north of Dutch Creek and home to bull trout and westslope cutthroat trout.   The Alberta Conservation Association is working on a more complete inventory of westslope cutthroat trout in the upper Oldman headwaters area, and will be doing population assessments in Dutch Creek, Hidden Creek and White Creek in 2015.   Cows and Fish are working with the OWC to inventory riparian areas and flag areas that need focused restoration work in the form of restoration, and engagement of users to mitigate further impacts.  South Saskatchewan Regional Plan sub-regional initiatives are underway with the Linear Footprint Management Plan and Recreation Management Plan for the Livingston and Porcupine Hills areas.   

All of these initiatives are greatly needed, but we need a focused approach to preserving and extending critical habitat for native trout as an important iconic species, and a marker of healthy, productive headwaters and source waters in the Oldman watershed and beyond.   

Bull trout - at home in cold, clear, complex and connected high mountain streams and lakes

Connie Simmons

Planning Manager

Beyond Seeing Red

(Editor's Note: Those transmission towers sure have got people talking! Here's another guest blog from an artist who is "seeing red" on this issue. What are your thoughts? We welcome all points of view: managing the watershed means all voices must be heard. This article poses many questions - lots of food for thought. For more information, please see: http://www.altalink.ca/projects/other/c-e.cfm ). 

Beyond Seeing Red - Barbara Amos Art Projects

Do hydroelectric transmission towers bring out the worst in your area? Do you see red at the thought of them? There are alternatives. The next few paragraphs are going to outline ideas and forward-thinking questions that hopefully engage a process that moves us all beyond seeing red.

Cumulative linear development is one of the major concerns on our landscapes and watersheds. Transmission towers are a big part of those concerns. In a time when many places are exploring alternatives to the electrical grid, Alberta seems determined to go forward with technology from days gone by. 

The  transmission line routes add linear disturbances that negatively impact watersheds. The social fabric of communities  are distressed by the route selection process. The issue in front of the local community has been a yes/no and here/there strategy. The route selections pit communities against each other as new route seems worse than the last proposal.  It divides our communities.  

Whatever routes  are  selected,  these towers compromise property values, heritage landscapes and ecological integrity and the social favor  of the community. They are costly to build will add to your monthly utilities statement.  

Does this make you see red?  

Could we reject these divisive tactics and work together to consider new possibilities?  Let's ask what else would work; what else can we consider?  It's a worthy discussion. 

passherald.ca

How much power is transported annually?  There must be averages.  How much power does each community require?  This should be information that can be accessed.  Is it to the benefit of our land and people to consider a local approach?   There are economic inefficiencies, as 11-14% of the electricity is lost in transmission.  Maybe we shouldn't be transmitting it out of our area.  There might be money saved in not having to move it along transmission towers. Perhaps we would not need transmission towers if the power stayed close to where it was made. 

Medicine Hat has just completed a solar thermal power generator in November 2014. Thermal energy from a parabolic trough collector field generates steam. The solar steam is combined with the steam produced in the heat recovery steam generator, and the combined steam flow is directed to one, or both, of the existing steam turbine generators.  This should be celebrated and set forward as a possibility for other municipalities. It has local considerations that are novel, since the traditional way of calculating profit does not help offset the damage to local communities, ecologies and economies. 

If we want to explore other models that place the land ie our watersheds and our communities  as the top priority, we need to consider new decision making models which are currently coming into effect.

Triple bottom line (abbreviated as TBL or 3BL) is an accounting framework with three parts: social, environmental (or ecological) and financial. These three divisions are also called the three Ps: people, planet and profit, or the "three pillars of sustainability".   The City of Calgary has adopted this model of decision making, and other municipalities are also governing their decisions within this framework.

Perhaps some questions from the people in our province might open the doors to a provincial TBL framework.  How do we want to see the electrical grid in Southern Alberta  progress?  Are we building infrastructure that will last for 50 years yet it may be obsolete in 10 years?  

albertaviews.ca

We already know that the windmills are not as effective as hoped.  There have been very few applications in front  town councils for the past 2-3 years.  Already the question is in the air…what will become of them?  Whose responsibility is it to take them down when they are out of commission?   Will we be asking the same questions of the transmission towers in 15 years? Can we begin to think of the full cycle instead of just the profit cycle?  This is called "cradle to cradle" planning and is a responsible way to go forward.  

We need time to enter serious conversations about how to change for the better. Let's propose and explore alternatives, share the research and fact finding. As a community of people, lets inform ourselves and make good decisions for a changing economy and a healthier watershed.

Submitted by Barbara Amos,  photo Red Alert, Seeing Red.

--

AMOS ART PROJECTS

www.BarbaraAmos.com

OWC February 2015 E-Newsletter

To view February's E-Newsletter, click here

OWC's Planning Manager Connie Simmons on ... PLANS ... & ACTION!!!

(Editor's note: Thanks to John Stoesser of the Pincher Creek Echo for this article - and for championing a healthy watershed).

Around 75 conservationists, ranchers and people interested in the area's watersheds crowded into the Twin Butte Community Hall for the Nature Conservancy of Canada's 10th annual Eat and Greet evening recently.

Early in the evening jokes were made that the huge turnout was thanks to the delicious catering from Jeny and Phil Akitt of the Twin Butte Mexican Restaurant, but once dinner was over attention was focused on riveting presentations by members of the Oldman Watershed Council, the Waterton Biosphere Reserve Association and Cows and Fish.

The Nature Conservancy of Canada's 10th annual Eat and Greet at the Twin Butte Community Hall was chock full of information about the area's watersheds on Friday, Feb. 6, 2015. Representatives from the Oldman Watershed Council, Cows and Fish and the Waterton Biosphere Reserve Association spoke to the crowd. From left to right: Jenel Bode, Anne Stevick, Connie Simmons, Jen Jenkins, Tony Bruder, Wonnita Andrus, Kristi Stebanuk and Lorne Fitch. John Stoesser photo/QMI Agency.

The theme of the evening was protecting the headwaters and OWC planning manager Connie Simmons dove right into an update on the organization's Headwaters Action Plan and Dutch Creek Pilot Project.

"It's the doing that's so important," Simmons said. "We're going to be talking about collaborative partnerships and that's really where we have to get going."

The Oldman Watershed Council is a registered charity and one of 11 watershed planning and advisory councils in the province. They work under Alberta's Water for Life strategy.

"This is the way folks can actually be part of watershed management and planning and doing," Simmons said, noting that while the group receives some funding from the government they also raise exterior money.

The OWC studies water quality, water quantity and, most important to them, the health of aquatic ecosystems while also creating watershed health assessments and providing recommendations to any levels of government that makes decisions.

"We hope that they listen and take that information into consideration," Simmons said. "But most important we enable, and hope to enable change. Change is basically, education, engagement, encouragement in this great watershed community of the whole Oldman basin."

After creating a vision, state of the watershed report, a "10,000 foot" watershed view, risk assessment and priorities, the OWC will focus on studying water quality and emerging contaminants throughout the entire basin.

"It's daunting, it's very daunting," Simmons said. "So we're definitely going to need a lot of help from communities and community members."

Approximately up 90 per cent or more of the water that leaves the Oldman River originates in the headwaters region, which are located west of Highway 22 and extend south from Chain Lakes down into Glacier Park in Montana.

"I know it's an iconic landscape, very important to all of us and we care about it deeply," Simmons said. "It is so important... we have to take care of this. It's really an important region."

The OWC has combined science such as cumulative impact mapping and local input to create a plan for protecting the headwaters. "We didn't just do science," Simmons said. "We also did a lot of work with local knowledge. That's listening to you and the communities and it's absolutely important. So it wasn't just (science) it was a marriage between the two."

Some of the priorities that came out of the public meetings were fish populations, invasive species and linear features. "We want to explore options for recreation user fees, to fund enforcement, education and stewardship projects," said Simmons. "I can't underscore enough how every single community we talked to, when talking about impacts on the watershed, said, 'What are we going to do about the recreational pressures. We have to something but we have no enforcement for that." "The headwaters is fair game... they shoved everything down to this corner of the world and now we've got, oh my goodness, a bit of a management problem," she added.

Simmons showed a map of the Dutch Creek area where unregulated stream crossings are interspersed with bull trout habitat. The area is part of OWC's new Adopt A Watershed program."It's beautiful in there but it has pretty much every cumulative effect you can imagine. So that's why we chose it," said Simmons. This coming summer their plan is to make a difference on the ground in Dutch Creek and also turn that into a story and a guide for others interested in protecting their watersheds. "What can we start to do... to still provide good recreational experiences for folks while also looking after watershed health. It's a tall order but we have to start somewhere," Simmons said. "The recovery plans seem to be dead in the water, pardon the pun. So maybe they need a little kick-start," she said in terms of protecting bull and cutthroat trout.

Next up was Kristi Stebanuk, the new riparian resource analyst for Cows and Fish. She presented three digital stories, narrated slideshows, to the audience.

Jen Jenkins, a local rancher and communications coordinator for the WBRA gave an update on the group's new website and upcoming projects. 

Tony Bruder, with the WBRA's carnivore working group, briefed the room on preventing livestock predation including the dead stock program.

Award-winning biologist Lorne Fitch finished off the evening with his presentation, Grandfather's Trout - Grandkid's Memories, a slideshow and accompanying stories of what fishing was like in southwest Alberta at the turn of the 20th Century. "We often look into that fog called tomorrow and we often don't turn our heads over our shoulders and look back onto the path called yesterday," Fitch said. "So I thought I would take you on a little retrospective journey throughout the watersheds."

According to archived records, NWMP in the Calgary and Pincher Creek areas noticed a difference in fish populations from 1876 to 1890. Fitch showed photos of anglers hauling over 40 pounds over cutthroat and bull trout from areas where they do not exist today.

"We need to be reminded of where we were in the past and what the potential is for the future," he said. "Because wildlife, including native fish, are part of our myths, they're part of our history, they're part of our lives, they are part of our landscapes. But they're also a measuring stick of the health of our landscape."

"When you have cutthroat and bull trout in your watersheds, it is the litmus test, it is the gold seal of water quality," Fitch, a founder of Cows and Fish, said. "Unfortunately these critters can slip to become only part of our memory and even worse, even worse, we may forget them altogether. That's why we need to keep these landscape albums alive. To remind us where we were and where we could be and where we need to be."

john.stoesser@sunmedia.ca

Important OWC Membership Renewal Notice

Renew/Start your OWC Membership and Choose the information you wish to receive from the OWC Renew Your 2015 Membership online today! Individual form Organization form Municipality form Irrigation District form The information marked with an asterisk is a requirement by Alberta Corporate Registry that we need to have on file.  For general information on OWC membership or to print a pdf copy to submit to us, click here.  Why be a member of the OWC? Receive discounts on OWC activities and events Run as a member-at-large on the OWC Board of Directors Vote for the members-at-large who will serve on the OWC Board Be a part of the OWC community by choosing to be involved in a project or by volunteering.  Contact us if you're interested or want more information.    There is no membership fee but voluntary donations make a big difference! Click here to make a donation to the OWC or to set up a monthly donation through PayPal or CanadaHelps.org; a charitable receipt will be issued.  If you are unable to complete the renewal form online, please phone Bev (403-381-5145) or by email and I'll register you manually. Your membership is important to us - thanks for renewing it.  If you are not a member but would like to be, please register online or if you have questions, please call or email us.    Update your Profile The OWC monthly E-Newsletter gives you updates on many topics and activities, such as: Membership Headwaters education project #oldmangoestohollywood film project Watershed Legacy Program Events Volunteer opportunities and Information for sponsors/donors. However, we realize that you might want additional information on specific subjects when they become available in between newsletter releases.  If so, please click on this Update Profile/Email Address link to check off the boxes you wish to receive additional information on.   Thanks for updating your profile and renewing your membership!

Kelsey - A Young Voice for the Oldman: What about the Winter Watershed?

Hello everyone,

I hope everybody is having an awesome Family Day weekend and are enjoying the great temperatures. I was thinking about how much people are looking forward to Spring - and I thought I would share with you some of the reasons why I also like getting outside in winter.

Today's blog is going to be 'Things to do in the Winter Watershed'. It's not difficult to find fun outdoor activities in the winter. These are some of the things that I do in the winter with my family.

 

Cross country ski trail at the Chinook Recreation area.

 

Snowshoeing in Waterton on a guided tour to Crandell lake. 

https://blu184.mail.live.com/mail/ViewOfficePreview.aspx?messageid=mghYjia9mk5BGPYQAhWtez7A2&folderid=flinbox&attindex=0&cp=-1&attdepth=0&n=88183902

 

Going for hikes in the beautiful coulees in Lethbridge.

Hope you are having a fun and active winter, After all, it's still 20 hours, 12 minutes, and 8 seconds. until spring. But hey - who's counting?!

Kelsey

OWC January 2015 E-Newsletter

To view January's E-Newsletter, click here

Linear Features in the Oldman Watershed – Risk and Necessity

(Editor's note: OWC's Planning Manager, Connie Simmons, weighs in about a little understood aspect of watershed management and health. As always, we welcome your comments and your submissions as guest bloggers!)

What do linear features – that is all roads, seismic lines, powerlines, pipelines, railroads, cut lines, and recreation trails  - have to do with a healthy watershed? 

Well, in a nutshell, too many of these

linear features

(LF) - where they are placed, and how are they are used - can be a

risk to watershed health.  And a risk to watershed health is a risk to our water quality, quantity and continued health of ecosystems that support us all.  

All that water coming out of the sky in the form of rain or snow eventually runs over the watershed lands, along ditches, through culverts, on and through clear-cuts, quad trails, roads and power-line right of ways – and flows into the Oldman River system.   Depending on how and where they are developed and the way they are used, LF proliferation is shown to have adverse impacts on water hydrology - affecting ground water re-charge and surface run-off, erosion and sedimentation in streams, impacts on aquatic ecosystem health (fish and benthic invertebrates (water bugs) and extra cost to public water utilities to address water quality needs for our growing communities. 

Necessity

We Albertans have been very busy with building communities, and infrastructure that supports the people who live, work and play in this region of Alberta. All of this development has depended on the building and maintaining of linear features. 

For every need to develop these LF, we have constructed and used these features without too much thought on how all of this cumulatively impacts the foundation of a healthy functioning watershed.  While this development was accepted as a necessity for economic, social and cultural well-being, scientific assessments and the concerns of the local communities have flagged the proliferation of LF and intensity/type of their use as a problem.  

This has raised the need to do something about this growing concern for watershed health, particularly in the

headwaters

area of the Oldman River system.       

Risk

The headwaters of the Oldman watershed provide approximately 90% of the water for the Oldman River – it is a critical water tower for southwestern Alberta.  

Linear feature proliferation has been evaluated in the headwaters region, and 77% of the sub-watersheds in the headwaters are at moderate to high risk and pressure from this kind of development.  

See the Headwaters Indicator Report.

Oldman headwaters area with all linear features (ESRD 2012 data)

The OWC completed the Headwaters Action Plan 2013-14 (HAP) in early 2014.  The HAP was developed by the multi-stakeholder Partnership Advisory Network, and revised and completed after a thorough public review process.  

The plan addresses the need to properly manage the increase and use of LF,  and rollback and reclaim LF where there is moderate to high risk to water and watershed health.  

The HAP is a good start, but it is only a plan.  We need to

ACT

on it. 

(For more information see the ‘What We Heard’ public review of the HAP at: 

http://oldmanbasin.org/files/1613/9757/4313/Headwaters_What_we_Heard_Report_web.pdf

The

Headwaters Action Plan Summary Report

will soon on the website. If you would like a PDF of the report, please email

shannon@oldmanbasin.org

The OWC’s Headwaters Action Plan provided recommendations and advice to the South Saskatchewan Regional Plan (SSRP), and to an important sub-initiative of the SSRP - the Linear Footprint Management Plan (LFMP).   

Currently, the LFMP is integrating multiple data and information sources to analyze, plan and eventually implement actions that address LF proliferation in the Oldman headwaters and elsewhere in the SSRP region. 

The OWC’s

Headwaters Action Team

is keen to understand, and where possible assist with this important work as it is a key priority of the Headwaters Action Plan – and we have made progress with this endeavor by recent completion of the

‘Linear Features Classification’ project

in the

Dutch Creek sub-watershed in the Oldman headwaters.  

Historically, Dutch Creek has been mined, logged, grazed and has multiple LF to attest to this history.  The majority of LF continue to be used for other purposes than their original use, and the intensity and type of this use needs to be managed to safeguard key water/watershed values.

Dutch Creek Watershed Linear Features Classification Project – December 2014

Risk to watershed health by linear feature proliferation in the Dutch Creek sub-watershed is indicative of what is going on most of the Oldman headwaters.  

It is a sobering thought.   The risk to water and watershed health that supports all who live and work downstream needs careful attention, and that includes education and social willingness to address the issues that go along with the proliferation and intensity of use of linear features.      

Trade-offs

It is hard for Albertans to seriously consider trade-offs when it comes to protecting and/or using resource rich areas. The iconic wild west has been a place of opportunity, and we have taken advantage of resource richness for over a century.  

However, as we reach limits to how much can be done on the landscape without compromising future opportunities and losing or negatively impacting important headwaters values (water quality; water quantity, species at risk for instance) we need greater wisdom and community understanding of how we work and play in this unique and special place.  Is water and watershed health important?  

The OWC has heard a resounding “YES” to this question.  It is kind of a no-brainer.  

However, the hard work isn’t done through just talking and planning, it is done by carefully assessing and then

putting into action

what we need to do to sustain our human and non-human communities within ecological limits.  That is increasingly difficult with rising resource demands from increasing human populations, but we can do it if we tackle the tough questions now – not later.

What to do about Linear Features?

The OWC’s Headwaters Action Team has completed the Dutch Creek Linear Features Classification Project, and provided this information to GOA planners who are working on the Linear Footprint Management Plan. 

This information will also be considered in the SSRP’s

Recreation Management Plan

– a process by which the Government of Alberta will be able to provide solid recreation options for Albertans, but also address the need for safeguarding ecological values and functions in the headwaters. 

The Recreation Management Plan will address the need for designated trail systems and camping areas, and will need to have public and user buy-In and understanding to be implemented properly.

That is why the OWC’s Headwaters Action Team is now working towards bringing the science and social need (we all live downstream!) for water and watershed health to Dutch Creek this summer

. 

Our first step will be to work on awareness and education programs with stakeholders and user groups around the need to reclaim some problematic linear features, and to encourage greater awareness of impacts of use on water and watershed values.   

With greater understanding, we expect some measure of behavior change will be a result –

that people will voluntarily stick to designated trails and camping areas, avoid wet areas and riparian zones, use bridges over streams, and that this change in behavior will become the norm.

 Some have told us we are dreamin’, that this is a big ask, but we have to start somewhere!

So what can

you

do?

If you are recreationist or other user of the headwaters area – for whatever purpose, the big ask is to understand why better linear feature management is needed, and to support and adhere to designated trail and access management outcomes of the SSRP.  

It would also help if reclamation and restoration work on linear features is respected and supported by not undoing this good work through carelessness or worse, willful destruction. 

Both of these attitude or behavior problems are counter-productive for sustainable water/watershed values that we need now and into the future.    

We all think it is the

other

s who are responsible for these issues, but reality is – we are

all responsible

and we

all need

to take action!

Avoid the muck!  Help stop erosion and loss of ecologically important wet areas!

Through the Dutch Creek Pilot Project, the Headwaters Action Team hopes to have a success story that can be used as inspiration and a guide for community and watershed stewardship groups and stakeholders to address linear feature impacts in other problematic sub-watersheds in the Oldman Headwaters, and indeed, in the Eastern Slopes region of Alberta.   

We have a lot to do, but the idea is timely and needed, people and stakeholders are committed to this challenge, and partnerships are working towards achieving this worthwhile outcome. 

If you feel this effort is worth supporting,

please donate to the OWC for this important work for the headwaters!

  (OWC is a registered charitable organization - all donations are provided a tax receipt). 

Please visit: www.oldmanbasin.org to make your donation go to work for the watershed!

Connie Simmons

Planning Manager

100, 5401 – 1

st

Avenue South

Lethbridge, AB.  T1J 4V6

Work: 403-627-1736

Cell: 780-816-0654

Web:

www.oldmanbasin.org

Blog:

http://oldmanwatershed.blogspot.ca/

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/OldmanWatershed

“Like” us on Facebook to hear about the latest news & events

Star Creek

(Editor's Note: Canfor has shut down road and bridge building crews until they get clarification from the Government of Alberta. The Crowsnest Pass Herald article has more details:  

http://passherald.ca/archives/150121/index4.htm).

The view looks south into the headwaters of Giardi Creek, and toward the flanks of the Flathead Range.

Here are a couple of links to the latest controversy in the Oldman Watershed — the logging operation currently being conducted this winter in the Star Creek watershed. The actual logging area is small (see below) but it takes place in an important and endangered fish habitat area.

http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/controversial-logging-project-near-crowsnest-goes-ahead

http://lethbridgeherald.com/news/local-news/2015/01/14/logging-project-raises-concerns/

AERSD has assured the public that all the requirements applying to timber harvesting are and will be respected and all the safeguards to protect fish and wildlife under the Species at Risk Act will be observed.

A breach in the Star Creek haul road's meager berm allows muddy water to flow down into Giardi Creek, about 20 meters distant.

However, the Lethbridge Herald article refers to reports that some transgressions have already occurred. Can anybody with first-hand knowledge of what is actually going on?

Furthermore, for the next full week, January 19 - January 23, 2015, the forecast is calling for above freezing temperatures in the Crowsnest.  Timber harvesting regulations call for activities to be suspended if the ground is soft and vulnerable to damage from forestry equipment. Does anybody know if there are plans to halt logging operations this coming week?

Elspeth Nickle

Lethbridge

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What is a Watershed? ...or: Cutting up the Landcape

(Editor's note: Our first blog posting of the new year! What better way to start things off than to contemplate what, exactly, a watershed is. Not everyone knows the answer .... do you?)

OWC conducted a survey that asked the public some general knowledge questions about our shared watershed. What we found is that this knowledge isn’t general at all. 9 people out of 10 could neither define the term watershed nor understand its relationship to their environments.

I have spent a long time since wondering why that is, pondering everything from our education system to immigration to urbanization to economics and beyond. I was reminded of a class I taught at the University of Hamburg on Human Geography, about how we connect with and understand our physical world. What maps and which worldviews do we use? What of geographical, political, social, economic and emotional maps, for example. The earliest map I can recall is a freshly-Gestettnered copy of the political map of Canada, which we would colour, every year, in our Social Studies class from about Grade 5 through to Grade 10. Our provinces and (at the time) 2 territories, were carved out firmly in our minds.

Mentally we have strong maps of our communities. As a Calgarian, my mental map of Calgary extends beyond its municipal borders to include the outskirts and proximal outlying towns, including the Bow corridor and into K-country and Banff. Like many Albertans, I don’t have a mental map of the miles leading up to the territories nor an understanding of the mountains north of Jasper or south of Hinton. Until recently, I didn’t have a relationship to anything further south than Lethbridge, and little contact with the towns I passed through on the way there. Furthermore, as an urbanite, what I noticed and saw were human populations – I lacked a basic vocabulary for rural and wild spaces or even the ability to recognize or differentiate the nuances of the landscape I was looking at. You cannot value what you cannot name.

So, as a social scientist and new to southern Alberta, it was interesting for me to note that “community” here in this region seems to extend from about Pincher Creek up along Highway 2 to Claresholm and Nanton, then over to Vulcan and down to envelop all that farmland up to Taber. The mental map doesn’t stop at the border, it extends down into Montana to at least Grand Forks. There’s a trickle across the eastern border as well, crossing over Medicine Hat into Saskatchewan and including that ranching and farm land there, too. So there’s a kind of horizontal chunk within the southern part of the province that crosses political boundaries but has little connection to the western or easternmost flanks. Being agriculturally based, there seems to be a greater mental representation of farmland, but generally speaking, many people have an incomplete picture of other types of land use in Southern Alberta. 

How about mapping demographically? Southern Alberta is extremely diverse in this regard, as well. Just as a small –and by no means comprehensive - sample, we have American Mormons, Dutch Mennonites, Russian Dukabores, German Hutterites, Japanese Buddhists, fundamentalist Christians, new-Agers; native Blood, Blackfoot, Peigan, Kainaii, ….. more recently, Indian, Korean and Bhutanese. Each of these belief and cultural systems have their own maps and traditions for how we relate to one another, to our selves and to our natural world. Our mental maps of a region are vastly different than what a cartographer can describe.

Yet, no matter who we are or how we live in southern Alberta, we all turn on a tap to get water, and, magically, out it comes; crystal-clear and pure to drink. Hauling water for humans and livestock is a mere 100 years ago – one lifetime is all it takes to erase that toil from our minds – until the next flood comes and we are put on a water advisory, that is. Suddenly, whether we are old or young; new Canadian or aboriginal; farmer or urbanite; Catholic or atheist; suddenly, we all begin to worry about water quality; and, ironically, water quantity.

The number and frequency of floods is increasing as global warming takes an ever-stronger foothold. Just a few degrees’ increase in temperature means less snowfall. Less snowfall means there is no slow-release of water from the snowpack over the spring and summer. It means that it rains instead. And when it rains, it pours - our freshwater rushes through ancient floodplains and across farmland, carving new routes, finding old ones and uprooting vegetation before swiftly exiting our landscape. It means flood – and it means drought.

So the question: ‘What is a watershed?’ is going to become of increasing importance in the upcoming years. It will be a word heard more often; and, when spoken, with more urgency.

Our Oldman watershed, though smaller than some of the other 11 watersheds in Alberta is nonetheless still vast. It begins with the snowpack in the Rocky Mountains in the eastern slopes – an area seldom seen and sparsely inhabited. The birthplace and cradle of the water of life is a delicate nursery, one to be cherished and nurtured and protected. We must be more thoughtful and more deliberate about our activities there, since too often we don’t understand how we are affecting water quality downstream. These many tiny mountain tributaries and underground springs along the eastern slopes feed into stronger streams that flow up through and over a place, tellingly, called High River; they also flow south through Waterton and Lethbridge. They provide the drinking water for humans and animals, for industry and agriculture, merging and flowing downhill as they meander ever eastward. Many smaller rivers combine to make the South Saskatchewan- the common exit point. This river then bends north – and continues downhill – to cross the tip of Lake Winnipeg and finally exit into the Hudson’s Bay.

The watershed is a map which shows our dependence on one another as opposed to mere spatial relationships. It is the only map which will tell us that: “We are all downstream”. A watershed is an area of land from which all moisture flows to a common exit point. It includes how cities grow, how mountains crumble, where airports are built and how mines are dug. A watershed is the trees that keep the stream banks intact; it is the wildlife ecosystems that keep it healthy and functioning.  A watershed is the intuitive way to map both human and natural systems. Our watershed is what unites us.

Thank you - and happy holidays!





Dear Friends 2014 has been a busy year for the OWC. It has been challenging, rewarding, uplifting ... and encouraging. It sounds almost trite to say: "We couldn't do it without you", but the truth is - there is no "we" without "you". The Oldman watershed is a big place. We need eyes, ears and helping hands throughout our beautiful landscape to ensure it is a healthy, robust and profitable place to call home for generations to come. We are thankful for your countless volunteer hours and your gifts of both time and financial support. 2015 is going to be a great year - and together, we ARE making a difference. Thank you for all you do.  The OWC Staff out in the beautiful headwaters in December: Connie Simmons, Bev Bellamy, Leta Pezderic, Shannon Frank, Anna Garleff On behalf of the Staff and Board - a very merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday to you and your family!       

Top 5 Ways to Reduce Waste During the Holidays

(Editor's note: Thanks to Heather Gowland from the City of Lethbridge, Waste & Recycling Services for these unique ideas on how to reduce our waste this holiday season! The OWC encourages you to try some of these out and then tell us about it!) 

Top 5 Ways to Reduce Waste During the Holidays

Did you know that household waste generation increases by approximately 25% around the Christmas season? But don’t let that fact spoil your eggnog - you can be a waste-wise and still enjoy the traditions of the holiday season! Here are the top 5 ways to reduce waste during the holidays:

#1 The Trail of the Tree

Real vs. fake  – the debate is ongoing.  No matter which type of tree you use, there are still ways to make it greener. If you use a fake tree be sure to repair it when you can and reuse it as long as possible. If you love a real tree, recycle it by chipping it into mulch through a collection program or site. Or if you don’t mind going outside of tradition, dress up the houseplants.

How about trimming the tree? If you like to change the decorations you use often, consider these ideas to lessen your footprint: DIY decorations made from components of used or broken decorations, compostable decorations (ex. Popcorn strings). If you’re replacing your decorations because they’ve grown worn over the years, consider repairing them first.

Origami birds made out of old calendar prints and dehydrated orange slices are both beautiful and eco-friendly ornaments.

#2 Green Gifting

The best things in life are free! Visit www.lethbridge.ca/wrs to watch some videos with ideas on how to create memories, not garbage.

#3 Wrapping Wizardry

Most gift wrap, bows, ribbons, tissue and adornments are NOT RECYCLABLE – typically they are used once, viewed once, and then tossed. Do a quick internet search for “green gift wrap ideas” and you will find a plethora of ways in which to wrap a present with all the glam and none of the garbage. My favorite idea is to use fresh sprigs of berries or bushes to add a festive touch to the wrapping job - instead of tossing it in the garbage, it gets tossed right back into the yard!

Reusable fabric bags, newsprint and paper are all good options to alternative wrapping. Image from http://www.fashionthroughtravel.com/2012/12/december-magic-top-10-gift-wrapping.html

#4 Food Fixings

Food is fantastic and should never go to waste! From composting to soup cooking, there are things you can do to make sure more gets eaten. Here’s one idea: let people serve themselves (including kids). They will likely take only as much as they feel like eating. This way, less of it ends up as plate scrapings and more of it as yummy leftovers for later days. Also, freezing is a great way to deal with too many leftovers – if something is not suitable for re-heating nicely, consider if the de-thawed version would be a good addition to a soup. If you need motivation, check out this new film http://www.foodwastemovie.com/

Your cooking efforts are too good to waste.

#5 Quality Hosting

Many people dropping by, dinners and celebrations can be overwhelming when it comes to the little things like dishes and preparing snacks. But being a host can also mean making sure everyone is included and gets a little bit of quality time with someone else. Instead of using disposable dishes, how about disengaged dishwashers? Here’s what happened in my house growing up: All the teenagers were sent to the kitchen to wash the dishes – we got to know each other, kept busy and felt useful. Sometimes a group of people would gather around a cutting board, cut veggies for snacks and put them on a plate – instead of buying a pre-made plastic tray. Sound nostalgic? 

Have a holiday full of love, laughter and memories to come!

Be Safe. Be Merry. Be Green.

Heather Gowland, BSc.

Waste & Recycling Coordinator

City of Lethbridge, Waste & Recycling Services

403-320-4996

This holiday season, be a #greenangel and Create Memories, Not Garbage. Watch the vidoes that are full of 'green' gifting ideas by clicking here.