This is blog #7 in our “Understanding Drought” series where we answer the question on everyone’s mind: Are we still in a drought?
“How to go camping in Alberta for the first time?” Follow along as Rachel figures out where to go and how to be safe while enjoying our beautiful watershed this May Long Weekend.
Join us in welcoming our newest Watershed Stewardship Assistant, Rachel! From beef to bees and birds of prey, Rachel’s background and biodiversity degree are a great fit for this year’s projects. Learn more about Rachel in our latest blog!
On February 29th, the Building Multi-Year Drought Resiliency Workshop was hosted by four southern Watershed Planning and Advisory Councils (WPACs): Oldman Watershed Council, South East Alberta Watershed Alliance, Milk River Watershed Council Canada, and Bow River Basin Council.
You are invited to register for the “2016 Water Monitoring Workshop” designed to bring together individuals and groups to share ideas, experiences and technologies related to the monitoring of water. The scope includes quality and the quantity of water in surface and groundwater. This two day event will include ...
Recently, the OWC took Minister Phillips and MLA Fitzpatrick up to the headwaters for a tour of our area of special interest, Dutch Creek, and some flyfishing. We got the opportunity to capture some of it on film. In this clip, Minister Phillips explains how the OWC - and the other 10 Watershed Planning and Advisory Councils across Alberta - help inform her work.
Well, the long weekend is coming up and people will be heading for the hills. But what about our dedicated farmers? It is their busy season right now, and hail and rainstorms have not helped matters. Agriculture is the lifeblood of southern Alberta. That lifeblood is the Oldman. Irrigation has made its mark on our economy and on our landscape and users of irrigation water in southern Alberta are always searching for innovative ways to improve efficiencies. Here's a little tribute to our growers, and all the rural people who steward the land ...
Book The Date JULY 26th! Learn about the science and history of Waterton Lakes National Parks... topics include the threats facing salamanders, cross-boundary work on climate change, the parks’ lesser-known past and how remote cameras are used to track wildlife movement. Experts will discuss aquatic resources, landscapes, history and wildlife.
I’ve always considered both the Roundtable and the Oldman Watershed great examples of landscape collaboration, where diverse partners work together to share information, promote good projects and ideas and accomplish great things. This month, the Obama Administration agreed and honored us, along with six other organizations and individuals as first-ever recipients of the Climate Adaptation Leadership Award for Natural Resources for outstanding leadership in advancing adaptation of the Nation’s valuable fish, wildlife and plant resources in a changing climate.
The Roundtable connects people to enhance the culture, communities, and conservation of the region. Our transboundary, large landscape effort provides a platform for diverse perspectives to share information, build knowledge and capacity, celebrate success, and catalyze new efforts and partnerships. We seek to achieve a shared vision for people and nature in the region.
The Roundtable’s three years of Adaptive Management Initiative (AMI) projects brought together creative partnerships to advance landscape and organizational resiliency to the changes we’re experiencing on the landscape and in our communities. It’s an honor to be nationally recognized and I applaud all of you for your participation in the Roundtable and providing the forum from which good ideas like AMI can grow.
One of the AMI projects recognized by this award is the Oldman Watershed Council’s “Supporting Watershed Adaptation by Building Connections.” This project exemplifies the goals of the Roundtable and the AMI: enhancing culture, community and conservation by building partnerships and connections in the Crown of the Continent landscape.
We’ll be exploring ideas of resiliency at our annual forum – landscape resiliency amidst record visitor use and how culture inspires landscape conservation. The Roundtable will highlight partnerships and explore key questions about culture, community and conservation in Fernie, British Columbia on October 13-14, 2016. We’d love your co-sponsorship of the conference; contact me for more information. We’ll soon post our draft agenda at www.crownroundtable.org.
Kim Davitt, Coordinator, Roundtable on the Crown of the Continent
Looking for some great opportunities to volunteer or learn more about environment and sustainability? Consider attending some of the many events being hosted by Environment Lethbridge for Environment Week 2016!
Environment Week runs from June 5th-June 11th, with tons of free activities for everyone....
Join Us! This is your opportunity to catch up with friends, make new ones and have fun learning about OWC's accomplishments over the past year! Interactive games and unique door prizes top off this free event in Lethbridge! Register today!!
Would you like to participate in the clean community challenge this summer? This is a great way to get your first stamp of the summer, or add to the participation stamps you already have. We will have Clean Community Cards available at the first knapweed pull of the 2016 season, so gather your team and get ready for a fun evening of invasive plant removal! A little bit of volunteer time, a pair of gloves and some team work is all it takes. Call Curtis at Helen Schuler Nature Center – 403-320-3064 to register.
City of Lethbridge departments, including Helen Schuler Nature Centre, Parks, and Water, with the assistance of the Oldman Watershed Council (OWC), are inviting members of the community to join in the fight against invasive plants by participating in a weed pull this summer. Weed pulls are planned for the third Thursday of each month through the summer 5pm-9pm and will target Knapweed species in problem-areas:
May 19th – Helen Schuler Nature Centre
First weed pull of the season – meet at the Coal Mining Kiosk beside HSNC @ 5:00 pm
June 16th – Meet in Galt museum parking lot
July 21st – Elizabeth Hall Wetlands
August 18th – Botterill Bottom park
September 15th – – Helen Schuler Nature Centre
Last weed pull of the season – meet at the Coal Mining Kiosk beside HSNC @ 5:00 pm
Each weed pull will start at 5:00pm with an informative talk from local experts about issues affecting our watershed, and how each of us can make a positive difference! Of course there will be snacks, drinks, gloves, bags and tools to be provided to participants. Prizes will be awarded to volunteers throughout the summer! We will have a table set up at the start location with someone handing out the supplies you need through the evening.
Anyone wishing to participate can contact the Nature Centre for more details or to register – 403-320-3064 – or just show up!
Imagine knowing that it was your fault, that something you thought was insignificant cost someone their home, their life or the life of a loved one. When venturing out into the backcountry this spring, remember that more than half of all wildfires in Canada are human caused and do your part to insure that human isn’t you.
By now, we’ve all seen the horrible devastation caused by forest fires in the community of Fort McMurray and area. Extremely dry conditions have set the stage for similar blazes across the province, leading the Government of Alberta to implement a province-wide fire ban. This ban is not to be taken lightly, as even a small oversight can escalate into tragedy.
Right now valuable resources are needed to deal with the situation in the Fort McMurray area and new fire outbreaks would put a significant strain on everyone involved. In this difficult time, we must all do our part to reduce the risk of forest fires in every possible situation.
The Provincial Government issued a province-wide fire ban as of May 5th. Under this ban, the following are
PROHIBITED:
Use of ALL wood, briquette and propane or natural gas fires
Patio heaters, turkey fryers and Tiki torches
PERMITTED:
Liquid or gas fueled stoves and BBQs that meet the CSA or UL standards
Liquid or gas fueled lanterns (enclosed flame) that meet CSA or UL standards
While some camping appliances are still permitted, it is important to use caution during any activity that may increase the risk of wildfires.
All Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) and All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) users are encouraged to practice extreme caution when heading out this season as the fire hazard in our watershed is already high. Remember that if you are found responsible for the start of a wildfire you may be charged under the Forest and Prairie Protection Act and be held responsible for the cost of extinguishing the fire.
Here are some tips from the Alberta Government to prevent starting a wildfire while enjoying the backcountry.
Before you ride, ensure that there is no debris build up
Always carry a small fire extinguisher and collapsible shovel to put out small fires
Wash your OHV regularly at a commercial car-wash or your home
Remember that you are required to have a spark arrester on your OHV
Alberta Fire Bans by phone: 1-866-394-3473
Alberta Wildfire App for Android and IPhone
If you spot a wildfire or see an out-of-control fire call 310-FIRE (toll-free) anywhere in Alberta.
Thank you to the Crowsnest Pass Quad Squad, Southern Alberta Off Road and many others who are encouraging their members to recreate responsibility or stay home during this fire season to reduce the risks.
