The Oldman Watershed Council (OWC) is mandated to create a State of the Watershed Assessment that rates the current health of the watershed by compiling scientific information. The OWC’s most recent State of the Watershed Assessment was released in 2010, and examined environmental quality for three critical parts of the natural world: terrestrial and riparian habitat, water quantity, and water quality.
Multi‑year droughts have heightened the need for reliable water sources, particularly for livestock producers whose creeks, dugouts, and springs have run dry. Through a partnership with Living Lakes Canada, we are supporting the creation of a community‑based groundwater‑monitoring program for the Oldman watershed.
The Canadian Aquatic Biomonitoring Network (CABIN) is one of the tools that the Oldman Watershed Council (OWC) uses to establish baseline stream-health conditions and to monitor changes at sites where we, or our partners, implement restoration or beneficial management practices. OWC is building capacity for aquatic biomonitoring by leading the creation of a CABIN reference model for the Eastern Slopes.
Uniting Rural Producers and Urban Consumers is a multi-year project that aims to educate, engage, and inform urban consumers in southern Alberta about agricultural practices and watershed stewardship through a suite of communications materials. The program connects those who are not involved in food production systems, with those who are. It has been inspiring to hear stories from producers firsthand and learn more about the innovative work that is being done in our region to tackle challenges around food production.
Profiling the Watershed is our high-tech, virtual reality, and experiential learning project. Made possible by RBC Foundation’s Tech for Nature grant program, this future-looking project has two primary components: a custom watershed stewardship virtual reality (VR) training program and an immersive environment with climate monitoring through 360° and ambisonic audio location captures.
Healthy grasslands, wetlands, and shorelines are critical to maintain water security and a resilient watershed that is able to withstand floods and droughts. The OWC implements natural infrastructure projects to restore these important areas that improve water quality and support pollinators and native plant species. The OWC also funds sustainable land management projects through our Watershed Legacy Program to improve the health of our watershed.
The Oldman Watershed Council (OWC) is a part of Treaty 7, and the traditional territory of the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot) People. The Siksikaitsitapi (Blackfoot Confederacy) includes 4 Nations: Kainai-Blood Tribe, Siksika, Peigan-Piikani, and Aamskapi Pikuni. Our Indigenous partners teach us how to live lightly on the land and we are honoured to learn from their leadership, wisdom, and knowledge.
Our Integrated Watershed Management Plan is a collaborative effort of the entire watershed community. It is informed by scientific research and achieved through stakeholder-led, action-oriented goals. The eight goals in the IWMP were developed based on the State of the Watershed report, surveys, interviews, in-person workshops, and watershed risk assessments from an extensive stakeholder consultation process. Simply put, the IWMP is based on you, and your vision for the future of our watershed.
The headwaters of the Oldman River watershed run east from the Rocky Mountains of southwest Alberta to join the South Saskatchewan River and eventually, Hudson Bay. They provide 90% of the water that feeds our streams, lakes, and groundwater! The Headwaters Action Plan is the community’s plan to maintain and protect the integrity of the Oldman headwaters and source waters through collaborative stewardship work that will address key issues to headwater health over time.
We are fortunate to live in a space that offers many outdoor recreation opportunities. Building on a decade of backcountry programming, OWC’s recreation literacy project (2024–26) uses proven social science strategies to encourage sustainable use of designated trails and backcountry areas. The ultimate goal of this project is to engage people in restoring places where they recreate, changing behaviour to reduce their impacts, and becoming environmental stewards.
We’re big fans of drought-friendly gardening, and we have everything you need to get started! Xeriscaping is a landscaping method for arid and semi-arid climates that uses water-conserving techniques, mulch, and efficient irrigation. By planting native and drought-tolerant varieties that naturally thrive in the dry prairie environment, you use less water and little to no pesticides or fertilizers. That helps protect water quality! You can enjoy a beautiful yard, complete with gorgeous blooms, save on your monthly water bill, and, do very little maintenance on it.
