OCTOBER 2012 - Mcclelland lake: Where hubris reigns siege in the castle beavers: architects of hope the Milk river Watershed council - Alberta ...
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OCTOBER 2012
Mcclelland lake: Where hubris reigns
siege in the castle
beavers: architects of hope
the Milk river Watershed council
Editor:
C ONTENTS
OCTOBER 2012 • VOL. 20, NO. 5
Ian Urquhart
Graphic Design:
Marni Wilson
Printing:
Colour printing and process is sponsored
FEATURES ASSOCIATION NEWS
by Topline Printing
4 aWa’s 2012 prIorItIEs: WatEr, 24 toUrIng thE sUFFIEld natIonal
thE lIFEblood oF albErta WIldlIFE arEa
6 McclElland WEtlands 25 2012 aWa WIld WEst gala
11 bEavErs, bIodIvErsIty and 27 aWa takEs toUrsIM, parks and
WEtlands oF hopE rEcrEatIon MInIstEr cUsanEllI
on toUr oF soUthEastErn
14 canada’s cold aMazon albErta grasslands
15 thE MIlk rIvEr WatErshEd WILDERNESS WATCH
ALBERTA WILDERNESS
ASSOCIATION
coUncIl canada – oUr WatEr,
oUr lEgacy 28 UpdatEs
“Defending Wild Alberta through
Awareness and Action”
18 clarIty oUt oF MUd DEPARTMENTS
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19 WatEr In thE castlE 29 In MEMorIaM: rIchard collIEr protected areas network and the
conservation of wilderness throughout
22 loggIng trUMps all othEr EVENTS
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COVER PHOTO Wilderness Association. The opinions
The Guardians is the title of the cover photo by Barbara Amos. It is one expressed by the authors in this
publication are not necessarily those
of a series of photos, Red Alert for the Castle Watershed, intended to create
of AWA. The editor reserves the right
metaphors about caring for our watersheds.
to edit, reject or withdraw articles and
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FEATURED ARTIST
Born and raised in a family of professional photographers and artists in Subscriptions to the WLA are $30 per
Montréal Claude Boocock moved to Jasper in 1970 where she co-founded the year. To subscribe, call 403-283-2025
Jasper Artists Guild. For decades glaciers have fascinated Claude. The acrylic or see AlbertaWilderness.ca.
works we are privileged to feature in this issue of WLA speak to her passion
for interpreting their movement and grace on canvas. Claude’s works may
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ISSN 1192-6287
Where Have All the
Guardians Gone?
The first line of the Government of Heritage site, will be sacrificed so even different than they are in the Castle. Tim
Alberta’s waterforlife.alberta.ca website more bitumen may be shipped to foreign Romanow, the Executive Director of the
reads: “Water is not only a resource, it is a markets. Reclamation plans there display Milk River Watershed Council, details
life source. We all share the responsibility what I can only describe as “technological the work that the Council, and the local
to ensure a healthy, secure and sustainable hubris” – an exaggerated confidence that residents who support it, are doing to try
water supply for our communities, whatever natural system we tear asunder to realize the ambitious, essential goals of
environment, and economy – our quality we can put together again. the Water for Life strategy.
of life depends on it.” Glynnis Hood’s look at Castor Tim’s article points out how important
Barbara Amos’s photograph, “The canadensis – the North American beaver inter-jurisdictional collaboration is to
Guardians,” that greets you on the – offers a corrective to those who think stewardship of the Milk River; such
cover of this issue of the Advocate is that technology always trumps nature collaboration is just as important in the
one expression from artists in southern when it comes to adapting to natural north as Bob Sandford points out in
Alberta about their concern for the health events such as drought. Read her article his account of a international forum on
of the Castle River watershed (see www. for insights into the role beavers play managing the Mackenzie River system.
facebook.com/CastleHeadwaters). with respect to drought, biodiversity, and Looking into the future Sean Nichols
Together the two statements beg the building bridges between landscapes. may offer us the most inspirational piece
question of how well Alberta is doing Peter Sherrington and Tim Romanow in this issue of the Advocate. His subject:
when it comes to guarding this life source. explore the challenges water stewardship 84 grade seven students from Rundle
The features in this issue of the WLA faces in southwestern and southeastern College Junior High School in Calgary
consider that question in the north, south, Alberta respectively. Logging and and the message about water stewardship
west, and east. irresponsible off-highway vehicle use they delivered to Alberta Environment and
First, Sean Nichols introduces you to are highlighted in Peter’s look at the Sustainable Resource Development. It’s a
the importance of water and McClelland course water management is taking in message about guardianship and the need
Lake in AWA’s 2012 list of conservation the Castle. Why, he wonders, won’t the to take that responsibility more seriously.
priorities. Then Carolyn Campbell takes government heed the counsel it’s received We hope the government isn’t too
you to the tar sands in northeastern from Albertans about how our life source proud to see that seventh graders have a
Alberta where her look at the Fort Hills should be managed there? sounder, more sensible, approach to water
oil sands mine proposal should leave you Two hundred kilometres to the east, in stewardship than the one embodied in too
gasping with disbelief. The McClelland the dry, arid landscape sculpted by the many provincial land-use policies today.
Lake wetland complex, suggested by Milk River, the context and challenges
some to have the qualities of a World of water management couldn’t be more - Ian Urquhart, Editor
PHOTO: © I. URQUHART
AWA’S 2012 PRIORITIES: L
ike a great circulatory system,
an intricate network of rivers,
streams, and creeks stretches
Water, the Lifeblood of Alberta across Alberta, distributing its precious
lifeblood from the headwaters in the
Rocky Mountains’ eastern slopes down
BY SEAN NICHOLS, AWA CONSERVATION SPECIALIST across the prairie to the east. Even the
driest parts of the grasslands would be
a wasteland without the nourishment
provided by water. It becomes self-
evident, then, that AWA would consider
sustaining a clean wild water system
for Alberta and all Albertans – human
and non-human alike – one of its very
highest priorities. When we were
setting out our ten highest priorities for
2012 after last year’s Annual General
Meeting, the AWA board, staff, and
members engaged in lengthy debates
considering the relative merits of the
many candidate issues. But little debate
was needed regarding the importance
of safeguarding Alberta’s water: we all
knew this issue would find a place at
the top of the list.
One of the most significant
components of that circulatory system
The southwest portion of the McClelland fen. are the magnificent and extensive
PHOTO: © I. URQUHART
patterned fens of the McClelland
Lake wetland complex, of which
AWA has already written much over
the last several years. Recognized in
1998 by the Alberta government as
an Environmentally Significant Area
and described at the time as being
“worthy of a strenuous protection
effort,” the complex has been a top
AWA priority since the mid-1990s
when proposals were first made to
develop oil sands mining projects in
the Fort Hills adjacent to the lake. Fens
and other peatlands around the world
are disappearing rapidly due to human
impact from activities such as mining,
forestry, and agriculture, making the
protection of those that remain even
more crucial. When intact, fens provide
important ecological benefits. They
store carbon, control flooding, recharge
groundwater, filter surface water, and
offer habitat for a diverse community
of unique plant and animal species.
Water: Quantity and Quality
AWA position on Water: Healthy
ecosystems purify water and provide
drought and flood protection. To
increase our water security, Alberta
The North Saskatchewan River must improve headwaters, wetland,
headwaters in Jasper National Park. and river corridor management. This
PHOTO: © N. DOUGLAS
4 WLA | October 2012 | Vol. 20, No. 5 | FEATURES
Glacial Erosion
24”x48” on wooden cradle panel
© CLAUDE BOOCOCK
is a particularly important precaution across Alberta related to the development with hundreds of narrow treed ridges
for potential effects of climate change of water and wetland policy. Associations separating long, narrow, shallow pools of
on our water supplies. For most Alberta such as the Milk River Watershed Council water. The watershed also features twelve
rivers, headwaters areas in the mountain are busy at work around the province, sinkhole lakes, rare in Alberta. McClelland
and foothills contribute more than 80 designing new policy under the auspices Lake and the wetland complex are an
percent of total flows; they accumulate, of the Land Use Framework planning important way station and breeding area
store, purify and gradually release surface process. Also of note in this issue are along one of North America’s major
and groundwater flows. They are critical Carolyn’s updates regarding the Bow/ migratory bird routes. The endangered
source water areas, best protected by Oldman process, and the Alberta Water whooping crane has been observed there
intact functioning ecosystems. Alberta Council. Finally, Glynnis Hood, author of on several occasions; other species of
must fill gaps in headwaters protection by The Beaver Manifesto, writes about that concern noted there include the Canadian
designating the Castle area in the Oldman animal giving us a first-hand look at one toad, sandhill crane, yellow rail, black
River basin and the Bighorn area in the species that calls Alberta’s riparian areas tern, and short-eared owl. The wetland
Red Deer and North Saskatchewan River home. complex hosts twenty rare or endangered
basins as free from industrial activity. plant species and a rare vegetation
In all headwaters regions, legacy linear 8,000 Years in the Making, a community. AWA seeks legislated
disturbance must be greatly reduced and decade in the taking protection for the wetland complex and a
recreation access better managed for water AWA position on McClelland: The ban on industrial disturbance within the
quality and threatened native species such McClelland Lake wetland complex watershed.
as westslope cutthroat trout, bull trout, is located north of Fort McMurray at In this issue: Carolyn investigates the
and grizzly bear. Healthy wetlands absorb, the northern edge of the mineable oil closure plans for mining operations in
slowly release and purify our water, and sands region. It is at risk from land McClelland and discusses what effects
provide critical wildlife habitat; Alberta and groundwater disturbance from these plans can be expected to have on the
has already lost two thirds of our central immediately adjacent tar sands mining area as a whole.
and southern wetlands and an unknown projects and proposals. McClelland Lake As we begin to close out the year, and
area of northern wetlands. The Alberta is the largest natural water body between begin to cast an eye forward to 2013, keep
government needs to adopt a “no net loss” Fort McMurray and the Athabasca River your other eye on the upcoming December
provincial wetland policy and implement delta. Two of Alberta’s largest patterned issue of WLA, where we will update you
stronger incentives to increase wetlands in fens lie on either side of the lake. The on the final two priorities that AWA has
areas of high historic loss. McClelland Lake fen to the southwest has been pursuing in 2012, and that are sure to
In this issue: Carolyn Campbell updates built up over 8,000 years since the last continue to inform our work in the year to
us on the many current developments glacial retreat; it is intricately patterned, come.
FEATURES | October 2012 | Vol. 20, No. 5 | WLA 5
McClelland Wetlands:
Mining our Outstanding Peat Wetlands Should Be Passé
BY CAROLYN CAMPBELL,
AWA CONSERVATION SPECIALIST
“S
uncor, Total May Not Proceed with In terms of its ecological importance, bad politics plunders an
New Oil-Sands Mines” read a late McClelland Lake is the largest natural ecological treasure
July 2012 Dow Jones newswire water body between Fort McMurray and The McClelland Lake wetland complex
article. This was important information to the internationally significant wetlands of was originally excluded from surface
consider for the fate of the ecologically the Peace-Athabasca delta, which is one mining in the provincial government’s
and aesthetically outstanding McClelland of the world’s largest inland freshwater 1996 regional Integrated Resource Plan
Lake wetland complex in northeastern deltas. McClelland Lake wetland (IRP). This IRP was developed in a sound
Alberta. In a deeply flawed process in complex is an important stopover point process including four years of extensive
2002, regulators approved mining of the along a major North American migratory public consultation. However, due to
upper part of the McClelland watershed, bird route towards the Peace-Athabasca industry lobbying, the Alberta government
including half of its rare “patterned fen,” Delta, and is an important breeding area suddenly amended the IRP in mid-2002
by the Fort Hills tar sands mine project; in its own right. Two hundred and five after a brief, poor public consultation,
the caveat regulators added was that there bird species have been recorded within before the Fort Hills mine application
be no damage to the un-mined portion of or near MLWC, of which more than 100 hearing began. The amended IRP allows
the complex. stay to breed. The endangered whooping mining in half of McClelland Lake fen and
Ten years later, the Fort Hills project crane has been seen on several occasions the entire upper watershed that feeds the
has not yet received formal approval from in these wetlands. The wetland complex wetland complex. At that time, the Fort
the current leaseholder owner/operator is home to other species of concern, Hills project was owned by True North, a
Suncor Energy. Citing greatly increased including the Canadian toad, yellow subsidiary of the secretive and powerful
light oil production in North America, rail, rusty blackbird and short-eared owl. U.S. private company Koch Industries.
Suncor’s CEO stated to investment The complex hosts over twenty rare Incredibly, at the 2002 Fort Hills mine
analysts that Suncor was reviewing the or endangered plant species and a rare application hearing, regulators allowed
scope and profitability of its new mines. vegetation community. True North to set aside the negative
Further bad news came in a mid-August Environmental Impact Assessment
CIBC energy report on North American
energy projects, which stated that a
glut of light oil production and limited
pipeline capacity will mean high-cost
oil sands mines will be the first energy
investments to be deferred in favour of
less capital-intensive alternatives.
Located 85 kilometres north of
Fort McMurray on the east side of the
Athabasca River in the Fort Hills of
northeastern Alberta, the McClelland
Lake wetland complex (MLWC) is a
Canadian natural heritage treasure. The
lake and wetlands are important both for
their aesthetic and ecological qualities.
The complex consists of two large
patterned fens – peat wetlands built up
since the last glacial retreat by complex
shallow groundwater flows. McClelland
Lake fen on the southwest side of
McClelland Lake is intricately patterned,
with hundreds of narrow treed ridges
(strings) separating long, narrow, shallow
pools of water (flarks). The watershed
also features 12 sinkhole lakes, which are Half of the outstanding McClelland Lake patterned fen is slated for certain destruction; the
other half is unlikely to survive if the Fort Hills tar sands mine proceeds.
rare in Alberta. PHOTO: © J. REZAC, WWF-UK
6 WLA | October 2012 | Vol. 20, No. 5 | FEATURES
(EIA) that was part of their application. giant Total (just under 40%) and Teck activities in Fort Hills, submitted April
This EIA had stated that water table Resources (20%). According to media 2012, Suncor had notified the Alberta
disruptions from mine dewatering and reports, Suncor still plans to present a government in late 2011 that the project
other lease disturbances would likely development plan in mid-2013 to its site was returning to active status after a
kill peat-forming mosses, ending peat Board of Directors for sanctioning Fort period of inactivity. Further site clearing
production on the fen. Instead, regulators Hills and other projects. Total must also was planned for 2012 in watersheds south
agreed that a company-led Sustainability approve the go-ahead of Fort Hills. Teck of McClelland.
Committee could devise a plan to sustain recently announced it would be slowing Suncor’s April 2012 report also
the half of the wetland complex that the down its preproduction spending on the summarized MLWC Sustainability
amended IRP said must remain un- project amidst current weaknesses in Committee activities. Committee
mined. Approval was granted for the global commodity markets. members have decided which monitoring
mine, about three-quarters of which is While the investment community indicators to use to meet regulatory
outside the McClelland watershed. The may now be concerned about mine requirements. A network of surface water
Alberta government stipulated that six profitability, it would be foolish to and groundwater sites in the McClelland
years before operations began in the be complacent about the fate of this fen is now monitoring water quality and
McClelland watershed, the government exceptional wetland complex. According flows. Vegetation monitoring plots have
must receive and approve an operating to its required annual update on been established in the fen, and bird
plan to ensure that, in the un-mined
portion of the McClelland Lake wetland
complex, water flows, water chemistry,
and water levels are maintained.
Suncor states that the un-mined wetland complex will be
After several ownership changes, isolated from the mine and will have “sufficient surface and
Fort Hills is now held by Suncor (which groundwater flows” of the “required water quality.” The
owns just over 40%), French petroleum
company doesn’t explain how it will do this.
FEATURES | October 2012 | Vol. 20, No. 5 | WLA 7
“By law, the post-mine
landscape must be ‘reclaimed
to equivalent land capability.’
It’s ludicrous to suggest that
there will be equivalency in
soils, vegetation and species
richness in this (Suncor’s)
proposed closure plan.”
soil map legend). The topography and
soils in the upper half of the watershed
that have sustained fresh groundwater
flows to allow the wetlands to build
their distinctive patterns over 8,000
years would be lost forever. This alone
would be an irreplaceable ecological
and biophysical loss for this region.
Peat wetland vegetation comprises over
half the natural landscape of the 4,750
km2 mineable oil sands region; in other
open pit mine leases, no peat wetlands
have been successfully recreated. Two
fen construction projects are in their
infancy, but according to U of A wetland
biologists in a March 2012 peer-reviewed
paper, at best there will only be a small
fraction of the pre-mining area of fens
replaced on mine leases. Salt-tolerant
marshes with far fewer species are the
best prospect currently for wetland
replacement.
Suncor states that the un-mined
wetland complex will be isolated from
the mine and will have “sufficient surface
and groundwater flows” of the “required
water quality.” The company doesn’t
explain how it will do this. In AWA’s
Disturbance schedule from Suncor’s as yet unapproved Fort Hills 2011 closure plan. If
view, the massive mine disturbance will
approved, excavation to destroy the ‘upper’ half of McClelland watershed (which sustains the
downstream or ‘lower’ half) would begin in 2021. Note the proximity of mining to the yellow very likely destroy the other half of the
‘no surface access’ border inside the McClelland Lake wetland complex. fen and put the Lake and the rest of the
wetland complex at risk. No one has
and other wildlife monitoring has been government in January 2012 and hasn’t ever tried to save half a patterned fen.
initiated. Suncor stated that it intends to been approved yet by the Government of A highly experimental engineering and
submit in 2012 the required operational Alberta. reclamation project on this outstanding
plan to mitigate the mine’s effects on the In this 2011 closure plan, Suncor peat wetland complex is unacceptable.
un-mined portion of the MLWC. AWA proposes that significant forest The focus in the 2011 closure plan
has not yet seen this proposal. clearcutting in the upper McClelland is on how the landscape will be re-
watershed will occur during 2016-2020. contoured and re-vegetated after mining
a closure plan or closure Excavating, dewatering, and mining ends. As the two soil maps show, the
experiment? would follow after 2021 (see proposed proposed post-mining lands will lose
Some of Suncor’s intentions for disturbance map). Half the McClelland the incredible variety of soil types laid
McClelland’s wetlands are evident in the Lake wetland complex will be excavated down by natural processes since the last
Fort Hills 2011 Reclamation and Closure and destroyed. This will include peat glaciation. Peat-forming areas will be
Plan, which AWA did obtain. This plan layers two to five metres deep (marked replaced by far smaller salt marshes and
was submitted by Suncor to the Alberta as MLD3 and MLD4 on the baseline experimental areas that, experimenters
hope, will form fens in the distant future.
8 WLA | October 2012 | Vol. 20, No. 5 | FEATURES
At one point, the closure plan states:
“Given the importance of this habitat for
yellow rail, moose, and special status
non-vascular plant species, and given the
extent of fens in the baseline study area,
creating fen wetlands is fundamental to
the wetland reclamation plan.” But there
are major disclaimers elsewhere around
prospects for peat-forming wetlands.
There is the uncomfortable fact that even
current climate conditions in Alberta’s
boreal forest are drier than when the peat
wetlands were forming 8,000 years ago;
the added stress of climate change will
only dim the prospects of fen creation.
The closure plan states that “with
current or cooler climate conditions,
peat is expected to accumulate and shrub
fens may establish and total fen area
would likely increase… Should climate
warm, become drier, and/or subsurface
flowpaths not establish, upland ecosites –
or transition [wet upland] ecosites at best
– would likely become established.” In
other words, do not expect peat wetlands
on this landscape. By law, the post-
mine landscape must be “reclaimed to
equivalent land capability.” It’s ludicrous
to suggest that there will be equivalency
in soils, vegetation and species richness
in this (Suncor’s) proposed closure plan.
There is even significant uncertainty
about how well prairie-like marsh
wetlands will function. The reclaimed
peat-mineral soil mix Suncor proposes for
wetlands will have natural hydrocarbon
“tarballs” from the churned-up soils. So
the company must monitor and mix soils
to below-toxic levels of hydrocarbons.
The salts present in the region’s disturbed
layers of marine soils will also limit
successful wetland construction: the plan Natural soils are far more diverse than reclaimed soils, from Suncor’s as yet unapproved Fort
notes that “a critical condition that will Hills 2011 closure plan. In this proposal, after the year 2070, mining process-affected water
from the north and southeast mine site will flow in constructed streams (green lines) into the
be difficult to predict or address is the East end pit lake, then through constructed marsh wetlands (dotted blue zones) into the un-
salinity of the soils and influent water.” mined part of McClelland Lake wetland complex.
The plan also notes that little is known
about re-vegetation of boreal wetland
60 km2, including most of the mines’ groundwater seepage is present.” With
plant species.
tailings drying areas and the North and constructed wetland success hedged by
As for the un-mined portion of the
South Dumps, via vegetated waterways many disclaimers, this seems a poor,
McClelland Lake wetland complex, it
into the East end pit lake (the green lines risky solution to count on to provide fresh
is scheduled to receive discharge from
on the reclaimed soils map). But there water in the quantity and quality needed
a constructed East end pit lake filtered
are disclaimers about the waterways for the un-mined McClelland Lake
through a buffer of constructed treatment
as well: “The success of vegetated wetland complex, even assuming it hasn’t
wetlands. End pit lakes are far deeper
waterways is highly dependent on the died from changes in water quantity or
than the region’s natural water bodies;
success of the vegetation cover, which quality over decades of upstream mine
their viability to treat mine-affected
can be compromised by poor runoff activity. This closure plan leaves little
water and to function as ecosystems has
water quality (in particular the presence room for error when huge uncertainties
not yet been demonstrated for oil sands
of salts) or frequent flow, which may and high ecological loss are at stake.
mine reclamation. Suncor proposes to
occur even in very small watersheds if Six wildlife species or groups are
drain a post-mining engineered area of
FEATURES | October 2012 | Vol. 20, No. 5 | WLA 9
Glacial Splendour
24”x48” on wooden cradle panel
© CLAUDE BOOCOCK
the focus of closure biodiversity plans: nighthawk and Canada warbler, and bare minimum, the best intact habitat left
snowshoe hare, beaver, moose, black “where and when possible,” for the olive- in the mineable oil sands should remain
bear, muskrat, Canadian toad and sided flycatcher. The location identified intact as replacement habitat for species
unspecified waterfowl. For wetland as a good candidate for securing the at risk affected by current mines.
types, the key species types are moose, habitat was lands on the east shores of If Fort Hills does mine in the
beaver, muskrat, common loon and two McClelland Lake (Fort Hills is to the McClelland watershed, there will be a
special status species, Canadian toad and west of McClelland Lake). These lands decades-long vivisection of the ecological
yellow rail. The 2011 closure plan states were leased by the Alberta government treasure that is the McClelland Lake
“there is considerable uncertainty as to to energy companies (another poor wetland complex – half will be destroyed
whether these special status species might decision, in AWA’s view) and now form forthwith, with a very poor replacement
colonize these habitats, but the wetland part of the Northern Light Partnership tar after many decades that will lack the
types and designs are being selected to sands mine leases owned by Total and wetlands and species richness. The other
increase the likelihood.” In AWA’s view, SinoCanada Petroleum Corporation. half is unlikely to receive adequate
the anticipated drier landscape of young Northern Lights does not currently clean fresh water in the highly uncertain
forests, shrubs and salt marshes will very plan to develop the bitumen resources decades during and after upstream open
likely support far fewer species than the in that part of the lease and Total is pit mine excavations. There is very
previous landscape. prepared to replace the species at risk little prospect of re-creating healthy
habitat affected by the Joslyn Mine peat wetlands that make up over half
What about a land swap? with “ecologically equivalent” land on the natural pre-mining landscape of the
A pioneering agreement between their McClelland lands. Equivalence is 4,750 km2 mineable oil sands region, 99
Environment Canada and French energy defined in the agreement as the ability percent of which has already been leased.
company Total may offer a path to a to support and sustain similar life cycle Clearly, McClelland watershed should
future for McClelland Lake wetland activities. The parties can reconsider be removed from the mining plans of the
complex. In 2011, Total received which lands will be replacement habitat Suncor-Total-Teck Fort Hills mine. The
regulatory approval for its Joslyn if Total decides to develop McClelland Alberta government should compensate
North oil sands mine, but at last the lands or if there is a fire. The agreement Suncor for its McClelland lease, perhaps
Government of Canada recognized that is in effect until Environment Canada via operating oil sands mining companies
under the Species at Risk Act, it needed to determines replacement habitat is no collectively bearing the compensation
ensure that destroyed habitat for species longer required because there has been cost as an offset to the irreplaceable
at risk on the Joslyn Mine lease should be sufficient reclamation on the Joslyn Mine peat habitat they are destroying. AWA
replaced elsewhere. In an October 2011 lands or because Total provides sufficient will continue to work to try to ensure a
agreement, Total committed to provide alternate replacement habitat. While not bright future for this ecological gem in
replacement habitat for the common perfect, this agreement suggests that, at a northeastern Alberta.
10 WLA | October 2012 | Vol. 20, No. 5 | FEATURESBeavers, Biodiversity and Wetlands of Hope
BY DR. GLYNNIS A. HOOD
A
ll you could see across the
surface of the beaver pond were
my lips, nostrils, eyes, and hair.
Everything else – my clothes, my mud-
covered socks, and my enthusiasm – was
completely hidden under the murky
water. It wasn’t that I didn’t ask, “Why
am I standing in a beaver pond in my
clothes just to keep a wetland intact?”,
but no one could hear me as my lips
made fish-like movements (as described
by my field assistant) just to keep air in
my lungs. Swimming here (my favourite
stroke is the dog paddle… suggesting I’m
not a strong swimmer) was required to
install a pond leveler to prevent beavers
from flooding a popular equestrian trail,
while still allowing beavers and their
wetlands to remain on the landscape for
years to come. By design the leveler
operates as a siphon every time the
pond rises above the desired height and
ensures that the usual flooding doesn’t
A summer day at the lodge on Grebe pond in Miquelon Lake Provincial Park.
occur. The effort of installing one of these PHOTO: © G. HOOD
devices is very rewarding – both in time
authorities and in the preservation of because population levels were so low.
and money saved by land management
aquatic ecosystems that would otherwise When I was a PhD candidate at the
be regularly drained. University of Alberta, my advisor, Dr.
In Alberta, we have already lost Suzanne Bayley, and I had the good
over 65 percent of our non-boreal fortune to work in Elk Island National
wetlands due to draining and infilling Park where beavers had been extirpated
and are just beginning to understand from the mid-1800s to the early 1940s.
the more complex bogs and fens within Only after transferring beavers from
our boreal region. To say that beavers Banff National Park to Elk Island, did
play an important role in creating and beavers slowly begin to find their way
maintaining Canada’s wetlands is an to habitats that had been void of beavers
understatement. The Canadian landscape for almost 100 years. When we examined
evolved with beavers on it and the two the historic aerial photographs, climate
are intimately linked. Today’s North data, and beaver occupancy data for the
American beaver (Castor canadensis) park, we discovered a remarkable aspect
has existed since prior to the last ice age of beaver ecology that would receive
and has shared its habitat with sabre- international attention.
toothed cats, woolly mammoths and the
beaver’s distant cousin, the giant beaver beavers and drought
(Casteroides ohioensis). The giant beaver Beavers are crucial to alleviating the
weighed up to 100 kg and was up to impacts of drought. Over and above
three metres long; it disappeared with climatic variables, the presence of beavers
many other land mammals approximately is the most important variable keeping
11,000 years ago. water on the landscape, even during
Despite being trapped nearly to periods of extreme drought. During our
extinction during the fur trade, the beaver study of a 54-year period (1948 to 2002)
has made a remarkable comeback and we discovered that, even during drought,
Beavers play an important role in mitigating now fills almost every available habitat wetlands with beavers had nine times the
the impact of drought, an important reason
for protecting their place on the landscape.
there is. Amazingly, in Alberta, trapping extent of open water than similar ponds
PHOTO: © G. HOOD beavers was prohibited until the 1930s without beavers. Moreover, there were two
FEATURES | October 2012 | Vol. 20, No. 5 | WLA 11Installing a pond leveler to maintain water levels and prevent flooding of trails in the Cooking Lake/Blackfoot Provincial Recreation Area.
PHOTO: © G. HOOD
major droughts within our study period beavers and biodiverstiy water is critical for many wildlife species.
(1950 and 2002), which allowed us to Since that study my current research Often during our surveys, we would also
see how beavers fared in the dry years. program in and around Miquelon Lake see the tracks of weasels, foxes, coyotes,
Although it was the fourth driest year on Provincial Park at the southern extent deer, small rodents, and birds adjacent
record, 1950 had over 47 percent more of the Cooking Lake Moraine in east- to these open-water areas. It became
precipitation than 2002 (the driest year central Alberta has expanded to examine so common that I started to call them
on record). Remarkably, 2002 still had the effect of beaver-modified wetlands “boreal polynias” after the open water
61 percent more open water. The reason on biodiversity and the availability of areas in Canada’s high Arctic.
was that the area we analyzed with 1950 open water. In 2008, my student Chantal Building on our observations of
data had not yet been re-colonized by Bromley (BSc) and I conducted a wildlife tracks around active lodges
beavers; in 2002 beavers were actively research project to determine whether during the winter months, another of my
working the landscape and were able to active beaver ponds provided waterfowl students, Tim Nelner, and I designed a
keep water around. Local farmers knew with access to open water earlier in the research project to examine biodiversity
what beavers could do; some actively season than ponds without beavers. Not of land mammals around beaver ponds in
sought out landowners with beavers on only did the ponds open up an average of Miquelon and on the adjacent agricultural
their properties so they could help feed 11 days earlier adjacent to the occupied lands. Although there were no discernible
and water their cattle. Beavers were beaver lodges, Canada geese would differences in the number of winter
actively mitigating the effects of drought fight among themselves for the right to tracks and wildlife species within
by digging channels and deepening ponds. nest atop these lodges. Often times we Miquelon during the winter months, the
Just as a farmer drains water off the fields would see two sets of geese fighting agricultural lands were a different story.
in the spring by digging drainage ditches, over a lodge, only to find another couple On agricultural lands where farmers had
beavers dug channels to concentrate walking up the backside of the lodge and chosen to keep an active beaver lodge
water into the ponds during the drought. settling in for the spring nesting season. or two on the property, the number of
Ponds with beavers were some of the only Shorebirds and mallards were also species of wildlife and the density of
ones with water; many others dried up drawn to these open water areas. After tracks was over twice that of lands in the
completely. a Canadian winter, early access to open same agricultural areas without inhabited
12 WLA | October 2012 | Vol. 20, No. 5 | FEATURESbeaver ponds. In fact, the
beaver ponds on the adjacent
agricultural lands appeared to
be acting as stepping stones
across the landscape and helped
increase habitat connectivity
between various protected areas
in the southern moraine.
From 2008 to 2011,
entomologist Dr. David Larson
and I worked with our summer
students to gather hundreds
of thousands of aquatic
macroinvertebrate specimens
representing over 46 different
taxa. Adding to the hydrological
effect of beaver channels during
the drought, we were also
beginning to notice a difference
in species distribution throughout
the same beaver pond. After
sampling macroinvertebrates
from shoreline, open water,
and beaver channel habitats,
a remarkable trend began to
appear. Not only did beaver
channels have a higher number
of species, they were also
a hotspot for predaceous
macroinvertebrates. Some
species were exclusively found
in active beaver ponds, while
surprisingly, the abandoned
beaver ponds were producing Grinding Machine III
the bulk of the mosquitoes. 48”x48” on wooden cradle panel
Having beavers actively maintaining a © CLAUDE BOOCOCK
beaver pond actually kept the mosquito and my student, Nils Anderson (MSc), drought, they are often the first to be
population down, either through the have discovered that beaver channels drained when conflict with humans
increased presence of aquatic predators or might act as an important dispersal aid occurs. In mid-September, we just
through increased pond depth. for wood frogs as they make their journey installed another pond leveller with
from water to land in the late summer the generous financial assistance of the
channels across landscapes and early fall. Anderson’s research is Alberta Conservation Association; the
Although ponds with active beaver ongoing, but shows interesting trends. Alberta Sports, Recreation, Parks and
colonies were higher in some measures When looking at some of these channels Wildlife Foundation; and the in-kind
of biodiversity, the channels really caught on an aerial photograph, it is amazing support of Alberta Parks; the Alberta
our attention. A beaver channel is a long to see how they also link several ponds Trail Riders Association and some very
trench that beavers dig perpendicular across the landscape. The implications loyal friends. Pond by pond, a bit more
to the pond edge so they can haul back of channels acting as ecological linkages biodiversity and hope is left on the
branches to their lodge. They also act invite much more exploration. landscape.
as escape routes and travel corridors
supporting the beaver’s activities around swimming for Wetlands Dr. Glynnis Hood, a former Parks
the pond. Using a geographic information So, why do I swim in beaver ponds Canada warden, is an associate professor
system (GIS), I determined that channels despite my dislike of swimming? My in Environmental Science at the University
can extend over 200 metres away from answer: why not swim there if it is going of Alberta’s Augustana Campus in
the pond edge and increase the pond to save a wetland? My research and that Camrose. For nearly thirty years she has
perimeter almost tenfold. New niches of my students shows there is so much worked on protected areas issues from
and increased vegetated-edge provide more to these complex ecosystems the west coast to the subarctic. Aquatic
extensive habitats for many other species than meets the eye. Despite being the ecology, beaver management, and human-
in the pond, including macroinvertebrates ponds with some of the highest levels wildlife interactions fuel her passion for
and amphibians. Dr. Cindy Paszkowski of biodiversity and resilience during teaching and research.
FEATURES | October 2012 | Vol. 20, No. 5 | WLA 13CANADA’S COLD AMAZON:
The Rosenberg Forum Examines the
Significance of the Mackenzie River Basin
BY R.W. SANDFORD
W
ith the support of the Walter & September 5 and 8, 2012, the Rosenberg more successful over time.
Duncan Gordon Foundation, Forum brought together a panel of It is important to note that presentations
an internationally respected experts from around the globe to examine made to the panel by two of Canada’s
water policy forum recently spent three what scientific and legal principles might most respected experts on the Mackenzie
days deliberating on the eco-hydrological be brought to bear in the crafting of a system both confirmed the global
significance of the Mackenzie River transboundary agreement that would significance of the basin in terms of its
Basin to Canada and the rest of the world. benefit all the riparian jurisdictions moderating effect on the temperatures of
It is hoped that its findings will inform sharing the Mackenzie over the coming the rest of the continent, the extent and
the current negotiations of agreements decades. nature of its estuary, and the hydrological
between British Columbia, Alberta, In addition to internationally respected influence of its flows into the Arctic
Saskatchewan and the Northwest hydrologists and aquatic ecologists, the Ocean. That managing the Mackenzie
Territories over the future of Canada’s Rosenberg panel was composed of legal system is a matter of great concern to the
largest river system. scholars from Canada and abroad: experts rest of the world may be gauged from the
What is at stake is the ultimate state in Aboriginal law and policy, political extent of national and international media
of one of the world’s most important scientists, and resource economists. coverage the forum received both before
northern rivers, a river system The statement of task required and after the deliberations began.
scientifically described as a lynch-pin of that panelists consider key questions News of the forum, including
water-ice-climate interactions that create regarding transboundary relations interviews with the Premier of the
relative climatic stability not just in between riparian neighbours on the Northwest Territories, Bob McLeod, who
southern Canada but throughout the Mackenzie system. addressed the panel at the outset of
world. They explored the current state of deliberations, appeared around the world
Concern over the Mackenzie system scientific knowledge in the basin and and in newspapers in provincial capitals
has been growing as climate change identified the major scientific questions across Canada.
effects accelerate in northern Canada. that need to be addressed to ensure that The outcomes of the deliberations of
Canada’s Arctic is warming two to the waters and lands of the basin are the Rosenberg Panel are presently being
three times faster than the rest of the managed in a way that protects their incorporated into a formal report that will
country. Negotiations between Alberta integrity. be released through the Walter & Duncan
and the Northwest Territories regarding The panel also heard evidence Gordon Foundation in January 2013.
the future management of the 1.8 regarding the extent to which indigenous So why is this important to Canadians?
million square kilometre basin were knowledge might supplement or reinforce This is an opportunity to show the world
initiated after the Northwest Territories western science and the social sciences in how to employ science and enlightened
began implementing its Northern Voices, the basin. legal principles to break out of the
Northern Waters water stewardship The panel also concentrated prisons of treaties that no longer respond
strategy in 2011. its efforts on defining the role of to the realities that are emerging as the
Many water policy experts view this adaptive management in scoping and global hydrological cycle responds to a
plan as ground-breaking. It is a reaction implementing any transboundary rapidly warming atmosphere.
to the effects of warming temperatures agreement in the face of the levels of It is an opportunity to craft an
on how rapidly and intensely water uncertainty created by rapid warming agreement that will serve the future
has begun to move through the global especially in the northern part of the needs of not just the NWT, but all of the
hydrological cycle, and to the rapid basin. jurisdictions that share the Mackenzie
changes those effects are bringing about. The panel went on to thoroughly Basin. The world will be watching as this
In 2008, the Government of the examine the strengths and weaknesses treaty is crafted. Canadians should be
Northwest Territories invited the of existing cooperative governance watching also.
University of California-based Rosenberg structures to determine how to strengthen Bob Sandford is the EPCOR Chair of the
International Forum on Water Policy to existing relationships between riparian Canadian Partnership Initiative in support
offer observations from international neighbours now and in the future. of the United Nations Water for Life
experts on elements of its water strategy Finally, the panel explored whether Decade and a member of Canada’s Forum
and to provide advice in support of its reformed governance structures might be for Leadership on Water. Bob is also a
successful implementation. required to ensure levels of cooperation regular contributor to Water Canada.
In a forum held at Simon Fraser between riparian neighbours that would
University in Vancouver between make adaptive management of the basin
14 WLA | October 2012 | Vol. 20, No. 5 | FEATURESThe Milk River Watershed Council Canada –
OUR WATER, OUR LEGACY
BY TIM ROMANOW, ExEcutivE DirEctor, Milk rivEr WatErshED council
The north fork of the Milk River is
augmented by diversion water from
the St. Mary River in Montana;
seasonal fluctuations are a challenge
for riparian communities; uplands are
dotted with diverse native grasslands.
PHOTO: © K. ROMANOW
T
he Milk River watershed is a and planning. Early on, we realized to deliver effective and cost effective
unique drainage located in the that a broad partnership would need to messaging to both decision makers and
most southern part of Alberta. be formed between government and the general public.
It is distinctive, not just because of its non-government agencies, industry, The Milk River watershed is a
extraordinary dry landscapes and diverse and watershed residents to provide transboundary watershed; we foster
plant and wildlife communities, but comprehensive watershed planning for a good relationships with our Montana
also for the direction in which the Milk sustainable future.
River flows. The Milk River is the only The MRWCC supports the Alberta
watershed in Alberta that drains south Water for Life Strategy; we provide The Milk River
to the Gulf of Mexico. Alberta shares State of the Watershed reporting; we
this watershed with Saskatchewan and are working on developing a watershed Watershed Council
Montana, a relationship presenting management plan; we are working Canada is an independent
equally unique challenges. with our community to proactively organization that supports the
Water shortages are common in our promote stewardship of our watershed. goals of Alberta’s Water for
dry, arid watershed. As the problem Our first State of the Watershed Report Life Strategy in the Milk River
of water scarcity grows, proper water was completed in 2008. In the spirit Watershed. These goals are:
and watershed management is critical. of cooperation and community we • Safe, secure drinking
In 2005, community discussions lead developed the report with key agency water supplies,
to the formalization of The Milk partners and local expertise instead • Reliable water supplies for
River Watershed Council Canada of parachuting in outside consultants. a sustainable economy,
(MRWCC). Its intent was to create This approach produced a reference and
a broad partnership of interested and document the entire community is proud • Healthy aquatic
informed people living and working of. The report balanced scientific content ecosystems.
in the watershed to provide local with interesting information about our
leadership in watershed management watershed. We think it’s a model for how
FEATURES | October 2012 | Vol. 20, No. 5 | WLA 15to E. coli concentrations that exceeded
recommended guidelines for recreational
use.
Some blamed, without evidence, the
local farming and ranching community
for the elevated concentrations. The
MRWCC responded by approaching
Alberta Agriculture and Rural
Development (ARD) to create a project
to investigate the coliform concern and
research the fecal contamination issue
within the watershed. This discussion
In the shadow of the Sweet Grass Hill, Writing on Stone Provincial Park is a cultural and
archeological gemstone in the Milk River Watershed; hoodoos and cottonwoods are critical led to establishing a microbial source-
habitat for numerous songbirds and species-at-risk. tracking project. The study will examine
PHOTO: © T. ROMANOW all the potential sources of elevated
coliform levels in the Milk River. These
neighbours for the continued co- 2012 groundwater Well synoptic sources include wildlife, humans, pets,
management of the Milk River waters. survey livestock, and non-fecal related, naturally
Our headwaters are reliant on the nearly In preparation for the 2008 State of the occurring environmental strains. It will
90-year old St. Mary Diversion siphons Watershed Report, a project was initiated identify and quantify the major sources
and infrastructure near Babb Montana. to investigate well water quality within of fecal contamination and will utilize E.
The 1909 Boundary Waters Treaty the four counties composing the Alberta coli fingerprinting as a microbial source
mandates sharing the Milk’s waters with portion of the watershed. Ten wells tracking method.
our American partners. The MRWCC were selected as representative wells The study also will consider the
is currently working on a number of from each municipality and an extensive relationship between E. coli levels and
projects, some current highlights include: set of parameters were analysed. The environmental conditions such as low
landowners received a complete report water flows, high water temperatures,
and the data was summarized to protect and sediment load. Since sand has been
2013 state of the Watershed report –
confidentiality. The project provided identified as a significant reservoir of
growing transboundary cooperation
a general overview, a baseline, of naturally occurring E. coli strains the
The Council is working towards
groundwater quality throughout the uniquely high sediment load in the Milk
updating its 2008 State of the Watershed
watershed. River may complicate the situation
Report (SOWR) and plans to release
With the assistance of Agriculture and further.
the 2013 SOWR next spring. As befits
Agri-Food Canada AESB we revisited Four sites have been selected along
a transboundary resource the report will
most of these sites this past December the river for sampling and monitoring
include information about the Alberta,
and January and sampled the same wells this season and we are currently assisting
Saskatchewan, and Montana portions
again. Generally speaking, two samples Alberta Agriculture to build a DNA
of the watershed. The Project intends
over five years makes it difficult to make marker library of various wildlife and
to develop a factual, educational, and
assumptions regarding changes in water livestock sources that are found in the
interesting document that will be read by
quality or trends. A number of wells watershed. This will allow ARD to more
the scientific community and the general
indicated elevated levels of heavy metals closely determine sources. If successful,
public. The SOWR will be used as a
and in general, elevated salts; these data the project may be expanded to help
tool to support watershed management.
are important to document in the context direct and adjust stewardship project
The report will also identify data and
of future changes, for example, changes implementation within areas of the
knowledge gaps within the watershed, as
in area land use over time. watershed that offer opportunities for
well as outline projects and activities that
improvement.
have been initiated in the watershed since
identifying sources of fecal coliforms This is the first time a DNA source
the first edition of the SOWR.
on the Milk river tracking project has been attempted
Local technical expertise has been
At times over the last few years, at a larger watershed scale within the
employed in all three jurisdictions with
there has been increased public concern province. Watch for future updates on the
Alberta taking a coordinating role.
regarding potential sources of fecal project.
Working across borders is a challenge.
contamination in a few locations on the
The number of jurisdictions and other
Milk River. The most visual and publicly draft Milk river integrated Watershed
actors is multiplied and there are also
scrutinized site has been at Writing- Management plan - Making progress
challenges when it comes to adopting
on-Stone Provincial Park. Park staff The Milk River Integrated Watershed
consistent mapping and monitoring
sample the public beach site there weekly Management Plan (IWMP) will be a tool
techniques. Watch for updates on the
and the samples are analyzed for total to provide guidance to resource managers
project this winter and join us next spring
coliform levels at the Provincial Health working in the Milk River watershed.
for the final release of the report at our
Laboratory. The beach has been subject It will address the management of
2013 Annual General Meeting.
to occasional health risk advisories due water supply and quality (surface water
16 WLA | October 2012 | Vol. 20, No. 5 | FEATURESand groundwater), riparian areas and
wetlands, biodiversity, and land use to
ensure that resources are available for
future generations.
In 2010, the Milk River IWMP Terms
of Reference (the Terms of Reference set
the direction for the plan) was endorsed
by municipalities and the public and
supported by Alberta Environment.
Since then the IWMP Planning Team
has met to draft targets, thresholds,
and recommendations for each of the The MRWCC hosts an annual canoe trip for local residents and our partners to explore the
resource areas using a scientific approach Milk River.
that incorporates local knowledge and PHOTO: © M.LUPWAYI
research from the Milk River watershed.
Draft water quality objectives (WQOs) Recommendations are provided that The Milk River IWMP is currently
for four reaches of the Milk River were address the management of invasive being developed. When the draft plan is
developed using data collected from weed species and the conditions needed released later this fall all stakeholders
the on-going surface water monitoring to establish woody vegetation in riparian will have a chance to review the
program. Draft WQOs were established areas in order to protect stream banks and document and provide comment. A
for salts, nutrients, sediment, and reduce erosion. technical review of the targets, thresholds
bacteria. New monitoring data will be Managing for biodiversity is and recommendations was planned for
compared to the WQOs to determine if another important aspect of watershed May through September 2012. A public
future water quality trends are stable, management as it is interconnected with meeting is anticipated in the Fall of 2012
improving, or degrading. Water quality land and water management. Many of the to receive public feedback to ensure that
objectives reflect natural differences fish and wildlife species present in the the IWMP reflects local expectations
in water quality in the four reaches Milk River watershed rely on the river, for watershed management. Thereafter,
due to channel characteristics such as tributaries, riparian areas, and wetlands municipalities will be asked to provide
bed material (e.g., gravel or sand) and for part or all of their life cycles. Species comments on the draft plan and offer
position in the watershed (e.g., upstream rely on good land-use management to suggestions on how the recommendations
or downstream position). Currently, the provide essential habitats that include may be implemented. The MRWCC
draft WQOs only reflect the open water water and associated riparian vegetation, intends to have the Milk River IWMP
season that is represented by the period large, contiguous tracts of native completed and adopted in 2013. The
when St. Mary River water is diverted to grassland and unique habitats like sage- IWMP will be a living document that
the Milk River and the period of natural brush. When habitat (or land-use) change is updated as new information becomes
flow. occurs in the watershed, the quality and available.
Draft riparian management objectives quantity of both the water in the Milk Members of the MRWCC should
and recommendations were developed River, and the water stored in riparian feel positively about what the council
for riparian areas and wetlands located in areas and upland wetlands are also has achieved so far. Its success should
five reaches of the watershed (the same affected. The presence and abundance of be attributed to the broad range of
four reaches delineated for water quality fish and wildlife species can thus be used partnerships it’s been based on - our rural
objectives plus the eastern tributaries) as indicators for overall watershed health. municipalities, conservation groups,
using historical, pooled riparian health In the Milk River IWMP, indicator provincial and federal agencies, and most
assessment data. The riparian health species include native fish, amphibians, importantly our local community have
target that will be proposed is a score birds, and ungulates. played vital roles.
greater than or equal to 80 using the The Milk River IWMP will also For more information on the MRWCC
Cows and Fish riparian health assessment make recommendations for range feel free to check out our website at
protocols for streams and small and management, river access management, www.milkriverwatershedcouncil.ca
large rivers and the threshold that will and commercial/industrial activities All MRWCC publications and research
be proposed is a score of 70. The target in the watershed. The IWMP Team projects may be found in our online
score represents the “healthy” riparian continues to work on developing library; or when traveling through our
category and suggests that there are little appropriate instream flow needs watershed stop by our office in Milk
or no impairments to riparian function. recommendations that are required for River to pick up a copy.
The threshold score falls within the Milk River channel maintenance, riparian Tim became Executive Director of the
“healthy with problems” category and vegetation recruitment and function, MRWCC in October 2011 after working
suggests some impairment to riparian fisheries, and recreation. Groundwater in Cardston County on the county’s
functions due to human or natural causes. recommendations will also be developed sustainable agriculture program. Tim, a
Current riparian health data suggests and will be based on the findings of graduate of the University of Lethbridge
there is room to improve on riparian the Milk River Transboundary Aquifer and Lethbridge Community College, lives
conditions in the Milk River watershed. Project. with his wife Kristie near Spring Coulee.
FEATURES | October 2012 | Vol. 20, No. 5 | WLA 17You can also read
