Preserving Our Lifeline - Bow River Basin Council
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Preserving Our Lifeline
working together to nurture , renew and protect
the waters of the bow river basin
Follow us @BowRiverWPAC facebook.com/BowRiverBasinCouncil www.brbc.ab.ca
Volume 20 | Issue 3 September 2020
Calgary River Valleys: Riparian Restoration and
Education
Anne Naumann, Project Manager
Calgary River Valleys
CalgaryRiverValleys2@outlook.com
Calgary River Valleys (CRV) an annual Brown Trout Redd Count An important aspect of this project
each November to count and includes educational outreach to
is a non-profit organization geo-locate the spawning nests of other river-adjacent homeowners,
that has operated in Brown Trout in the Elbow River. river community associations, and
This data is one indicator of river the larger Calgary citizenship. We
Calgary since 1991. ecosystem health and collecting it have conducted surveys on people’s
consistently each year allows analysis riparian knowledge, hosted site tours
of spawning trends over time. We after each “riverbank makeover,” and
I n addition to annual field work provide the data collected to several
levels of government and like-
provided educational information
to the public via ongoing articles
projects, CRV works toward ensuring
that the cumulative effects of urban minded organizations. In 2019, the in community newsletters across
development and recreational Government of Alberta used CRV’s Calgary.
activities are anticipated and planned data to help determine suitable sites
so as to protect, and where possible, for the Elbow River Spawning Habitat Continued on page 2
restore natural processes and habitats. Restoration Pilot Project.
CRV is unique in Calgary in that we
IN THIS
Issue
are the only organization that tracks In 2018 and 2019, CRV completed
large-scale land use and development two phases of a riparian restoration
proposals that impact Calgary’s project: “The Elbow River Riverbank
watercourses and wetlands, so as to Makeover Project.” This project was
1 Calgary River Valleys
provide independent input regarding completed with funding from the
how best to protect our water assets. City of Calgary and other sources, as 4 Waiparous Creek Water
We consider our organization “the a demonstration project to show the Quality
voice of our rivers.” kinds of techniques that can be used 6 Western Sky Land Trust
by river-adjacent homeowners to 8 Tribute to Gus Yaki
CRV also encourages the replant their riparian zone and provide 8 BRBC Annual General Meeting
participation of volunteers in our flood and drought mitigation, as well and Phosphorus Management
field work projects. We organize as improve river water quality and Plan Update
wildlife habitat.
Page 2
Continued from page 1
In early 2020, CRV received funding We found from our research in other communities via community
under the Government of Alberta’s 2018 and 2019 that many river- newsletters, as well as to multiple
Watershed Resiliency and Restoration adjacent homeowners in Calgary are media and social media sources,
Program (WRRP) for riparian still traumatized by the effects and including Global News TV and their
restoration and educational work to catastrophic damage from both the website, and MyCalgary.com.
be conducted until early 2022. While 2005 and 2013 floods and they are
the start of our project was delayed motivated to do what they can to help Starting this year, we plan to
by the onset of Covid-19, we are now mitigate the effects of the next flood build on these efforts to provide
preparing to follow hygiene and in Calgary. Unfortunately, we also educational information to river-
physical distancing best practices found that some homeowners believe adjacent landowners and the broader
for all three main components of the best solution for flood protection citizenry via media, social media and
the project: research, education and is to install a retaining wall or large our website. The new information will
outreach, and riparian restoration field boulders as was done shortly after include advice about the benefits of
work. Below is an outline of what our the flood in many publicly owned re-planting riparian zones with native
project will entail. areas. However, science shows that riparian adapted species:
while rocks and retaining walls may
• To stabilize the riverbank,
Research help to prevent erosion in one area,
thereby limiting erosion during
they just rebound the river’s energy
flood events, both at the site and
so areas further downstream can be
The research component will downstream;
eroded or otherwise more negatively
build on the work we completed in affected during flood events. A • To absorb water during high
2018 and 2019 in partnership with bio-engineering solution, where the water events (flooding) and
the City of Calgary. We can now riparian zone is planted with a variety release water during drought
broaden our survey research of river of sedges, rushes, shrubs and trees, events;
adjacent landowners and the larger can still achieve the desired goal of • To reduce river energy and
population of Calgary regarding their erosion protection while allowing the resulting water damage during
understanding of the functions and riparian zone to function normally and flood events;
benefits of a healthy riparian zone for maintain wildlife habitat. • To filter contaminants due to
flood and drought mitigation, river land run-off, thereby improving
water quality and wildlife habitat. river water quality;
In the last two years we initiated In response to the educational
messaging that we deliver over the • To trap sediments and improve
direct door-to-door engagement
course of our project, we plan to water quality ; and
with every homeowner whose
property is adjacent to the Elbow track changes in people’s levels of • To create habitat for wildlife,
River, as well as face-to-face surveys knowledge of riparian functions and including shade for fish.
of citizens attending the Fish Creek the roles riparian zones play in flood
Park Creekfest event. The surveys and drought mitigation, as well as
We also intend to continue our
measure respondents’ knowledge and improving river water quality.
efforts to provide educational
understanding of riparian zones, and information to those involved in the
help to support the environmental Education & Outreach City’s planning and development
stewardship of these areas. For process so as to encourage protection,
this WRRP-funded project, we plan With WRRP grant funding, we intend wherever possible, of Calgary’s river
to complete additional surveys of to build on our successful education valleys, creeks, riparian areas and
landowners along rivers and creeks and outreach efforts in 2018 and 2019 wetlands.
in Calgary, as well as continue to regarding the Elbow River Riverbank
gather data from the broader Calgary Makeover projects. Information
population regarding their knowledge about our project was delivered
of the importance of maintaining and directly to hundreds of thousands
restoring riparian zones to their full of Calgarians in river-adjacent and Continued on page 3
functionality.
Page 3
Continued from page 2
Riparian Restoration Field Work native adapted vegetation species. We benefit from restoration of the
expect to complete a re-planting for at riparian zone, and will also require the
For the final component of this least one site in 2020 and at least one landowner to allow the restoration
WRRP-funded project, we intend to additional site in 2021. Pictures of the and follow-up monitoring for at least
identify, assess and restore to higher restoration site from 2018 and 2019 two years .
functionality at least two damaged are below.
riparian areas within Calgary. We plan We hope to provide an update after
to remove non-native and invasive The sites for our 2020-2021 project year one of our newest project.
vegetation species from selected are still to be confirmed. In order to be
riparian zones, and re-plant them with selected, each site must significantly
CRV 2018 restoration site in June 2020 along the Elbow River in Calgary. Four CRV 2019 restoration site in June 2020 along the Elbow River in Calgary. A
planting beds were created by removing Kentucky bluegrass to allow space variety of riparian plants were planted in multiple locations on this site to help
to plant a variety of water-loving trees and shrubs to reduce bank erosion reduce bank erosion, improve water quality, and provide additional habitat for
and improve water quality, and allow for various wildflowers and herbs for wildlife. On the upstream property border and near the river’s edge, groupings
aesthetics. Riparian plantings included river birch, Saskatoons, gooseberries, of sandbar willow stakes were planted at an angle to work with the river flow
wild rose, red osier dogwood, yellow willow, shining willow, and an entire during high water events.
upstream bed of sandbar willow. All photos: Calgary River Valleys.
CRV 2019 restoration site in June 2020 along the Elbow River in Calgary. Wild CRV 2019 restoration site in June 2020 along the Elbow River in Calgary.
rose and Saskatoon bushes were planted near an existing stand of red osier Gooseberry bushes and butterfly-friendly wildflowers were planted near an
dogwood shrubs. existing patio seating area on the property, several metres back from the
river’s edge.
Page 4 Page 4 Determination of Fecal Coliform Sources and Surface Water Quality in Waiparous Creek Within the Ghost River Watershed Emily Moore, Anna Zacaruk, Maria Arizaleta, Brandee Lynch, Charlotte Ansell University of Calgary anna.zacaruk@ucalgary.ca emily.moore@ucalgary.ca As part of a self-directed group study conducted through an environmental science course at the University of Calgary, we were asked to identify an addressable concern in the Ghost Watershed relating to surface water quality. A fter discussion with members of the Ghost Watershed Alliance Society, 18 sample sites. Figure: ALCES and Ghost Watershed Alliance Society, Ghost River State of the Watershed a local Watershed Stewardship Group, Report 2018, Figure 49. we decided to investigate the source of high E. coli levels detected in the community of Benchlands during the In order to determine the source of water at every site to determine the summer of 2018. In order to pinpoint the contamination, we considered abundance of relevant ions through the source of contamination, we both bacterial and ionic data. Due ion chromatography. Ions that were developed a plan to sample 18 sites, to the time of year of sampling, of particular interest in the context of mostly upstream of the community, which occurred in mid-November of human effluent were nitrate, chloride, along both Waiparous Creek and the 2019, we expected the presence of sodium and sulfate. Ghost River. Our sampling location bacterial indicators of fecal coliform decisions were based primarily on to be generally low as a result of It is important to note that the whether a site had the potential to cool temperatures, reduced human presence of fecal coliform bacteria be a source of human effluent due to recreational activity, and minimal base does not always indicate a source of surrounding land uses with a focus on flow of both Waiparous Creek and the human effluent. Natural sources of residential properties, summer camps Ghost River. Therefore, the utilization these bacteria include the excretions and overnight accommodations. Sites of ionic indicators that could be used of local wild animals or runoff manure of particular interest to the study to trace a source of sewage or effluent from ranching activity, and this were the Rocky Mountain Cadet were essential as a supplement Training Camp, Waiparous Summer to this study. For this reason, we Village and the hamlet of Benchlands. collected a small sample of filtered
Page 5
Continued from page 4
spring and summer months for
many reasons. Firstly, the amount of
recreational activity occurring in this
area is much higher during the spring
and summer, which would result in
the ability to more precisely pinpoint
areas of concern as a result of human
use. Secondly, most bacterial cells
tend to remain safely in the sediment
where they are shielded from deadly
UV exposure, and are therefore more
present and detectable in the water
column during high flow events
that disrupt the sediment. High
flows occur mostly during the spring
snowmelt and as a result of summer
rain. Thirdly, the warmer temperatures
that occur in the summer allow
bacteria to live without osmotic stress
that can be brought on by freezing
temperatures and result in the death
Sampling in Waiparous Creek, November 13, 2019. Photo: Estefania Nicolau.
of bacterial cells.
was considered in our analysis. The could be due to careless camping In conclusion, the water quality in
safe limit of E. coli levels in Alberta, practices, resulting in surface water the Ghost Watershed is generally very
established in the Environmental contamination. When the ionic data good, however sites that were the
Quality Guidelines for Alberta Surface was also considered, a site named most heavily implicated as sources
Water, is a most probable number Beaver Pond was heavily implicated. of sewage effluent in our study were
(MPN) of less than 100 E. coli cells The highest concentrations of nitrate, Lesueur Creek and Beaver Pond.
per 100mL of sample. This limit was chloride and sodium observed within The positive indicators of sewage
exceeded in Benchlands 22 per cent the watershed occurred at Beaver at these sites could most likely be
of the time of sampling that occurred Pond. This site also exhibited warm attributed to human sources, based
in the summer of 2018. The E. coli temperatures and low dissolved on the surrounding land uses of
levels that we observed during our oxygen, which can arise due to the recreational camping and overnight
study in the winter months were all presence of algae, which was also accommodations, respectively. In
safely below this limit, with E. coli present at the site. Further implicating order to further our study, we suggest
counts ranging from 0-2 MPN/100mL. this site was its location downstream investigation of these sites during
However, relatively elevated levels of the Cadet Camp (where overnight the summer months to confirm the
observed at Lesueur Creek and around accommodations exist), making it a presence of a contamination source,
Waiparous Summer Village were prime candidate for a source of human as well as determine the path through
concerning. When we presented effluent. which the source contaminates
our results to interested citizens the surface water. Obtaining this
of the Ghost Watershed, the high Due to the time of year of sampling, information could ultimately lead
levels of E. coli at Lesueur Creek were our data provides a baseline to solutions that will reduce current
especially important to them, due to characterization of the Ghost contaminations and protect the
the fact that this site is often used for Watershed. In order to advance integrity of the Ghost Watershed for
recreational camping. Residents were our findings, it would be especially future generations.
concerned that the high E. coli levels beneficial to sample during the
Page 6
Western Sky Land Trust:
Conserving Environmentally Sensitive Lands
Ellen Magidson
Development Director
Western Sky Land Trust
emagidson@westernskylandtrust.ca
Earlier this year, Western
Sky Land Trust was
delighted to complete
several conservation
projects.
Devil’s Coulee Ranch
Landowners David and Leslie Bissett
have permanently protected 950 acres
of ecologically sensitive land at Milk
River Ridge. A special conservation Devil’s Coulee Ranch. Photo: Western Sky Land Trust
agreement with Western Sky Land
Trust will protect this land forever. views,” says David Bissett. “I wanted to Purchased in the late 1940s by
Regarded as important grassland work with Western Sky to ensure those Joanne’s mother-in-law Carroll,
habitat, Devil’s Coulee Ranch is home conservation values are protected in generations have enjoyed picnicking,
to sharp-tailed grouse, white-tailed perpetuity.” horseback riding, fishing and relaxing
deer and a diversity of breeding birds. in their historic summer cabin
The Carroll Manning 55 Lands located on the north shore of the
With a conservation easement river. Influenced by the Ghost River
that ensures no development or Watershed Alliance and concerned
Landowner Joanne Manning and her for the quality and health of the river,
subdivision will ever occur on this
family have permanently protected 55 Joanne and daughter Anne decided
natural habitat, the ranch is part of an
acres of ecologically sensitive land on to conserve what they now call the
important watershed, where a large
the Ghost River. The ancestral lands Carroll Manning 55, to honour the
system of coulees drains into the
were recently donated to Western family matriarch and her foresight in
Milk River reservoir. Bordered by the
Sky Land Trust and will be conserved acquiring the parcel. “We wanted to
reservoir to the north, the ranch is also
forever. conserve these pristine, natural lands
neighboured by the Devil’s Coulee
Dinosaur Egg Site, a provincial historic as they are forever,” said Joanne. The
resource. The expansive native areas Conserved with a fee simple land family had heard of Western Sky’s
of the ranch contain vital habitat for donation, this approach ensures that conservation work on the Ghost
a vast amount of wildlife, while the development or subdivision will never River area through a referral and the
cultivated areas serve as a significant occur on the beautiful natural parcel organization’s approach to protecting
food source for birds, ungulates and that has been owned by the Mannings watershed lands seemed tailored
other wildlife. for generations. Western Sky created to their needs. The Ghost River
a management/conservation plan
that will sustain these natural river
“This is an area with important
lands and protect its natural values in
wildlife habitat and tremendous Continued on page 7
perpetuity.
Page 7
Continued from page 6
Rick Skibsted contacted Western
Sky Land Trust in 2016, as “it seemed
to best suit our ideas of what
conservation means in an agricultural
setting. We wanted to conserve
these lands as they are forever,” said
Rick. The Skibsted and the Clarks had
heard of Western Sky’s conservation
work in the Rosebud River area and
the adaptive and flexible approach
to land conservation seemed tailored
to their needs. As a promise to their
neighbours, the two families have
conserved both the uplands and the
cultivated lands. “The great thing
about a conservation easement is that
Carroll Manning 55 lands. Photo: Western Sky Land Trust.
we just carry on as we did before,” said
has been a constant in their lives, a Coulee Farms, are passionate about Wendy Clark.
place of celebration, of solace and the ecological values and irreplaceable
quiet beauty. And now it will remain quality of this unique valley landscape. Western Sky is continuing with
that way for future generations in an active and successful landowner
perpetuity. The area being conserved is a outreach program in the valley and
significant portion of the historic is currently working with several new
THE BEAUTIFUL ROSEBUD RIVER Rosebud River watershed. Rich with families to conserve their properties in
VALLEY paleontological fossils, it is also perpetuity.
perfect habitat for prairie falcons,
Spruce Coulee Farms and Half golden eagles, raptors and bank Western Sky welcomes conservation
Diamond Ranch swallow colonies. The conservation inquiries. Please call Kylana Rogers,
easement provided by Western Sky Conservation Manager, 403-652-9585.
will protect these ecological and
Referred to as a hidden gem, the heritage values forever.
beautiful and iconic Rosebud River
Valley is home to both fertile farmland
and vital wildlife habitat. Western Sky
has conserved two large agricultural
parcels, Half Diamond HC Ranch and
Spruce Coulee Farms, comprising over
4000 acres. These watershed lands
are now protected in perpetuity by
conservation easements, which ensure
that development or subdivision will
never occur on these lands.
The two conserved properties are
owned by neighbours who have lived
and worked in the Rosebud Valley for
several generations. Both Richard and
Wendy Clark, owners of Half Diamond
and Rick and Linda Skibsted of Spruce
Protected land in the Rosebud River Watershed. Photo: Western Sky Land Trust.
Page 8
Tribute to Gus Yaki Combined Virtual Meeting Contact Information
When I first joined the BRBC I was BRBC Annual General Meeting Mike Murray
amazed by the membership’s extensive & Executive Director
knowledge and limitless passion. Gus (403) 268-4597
Yaki exemplified these strengths and Phosphorus Management Plan
mmurray@brbc.ab.ca
showed me how important it is to lead Update
by example. I always looked forward to Medini Prasai
attending Gus’ nature walks where his October 14 , 9:30 am - noon
th Financial and Member Services Officer
encyclopedic knowledge of the natural (403) 268-6447
world around us inspired me to more medini.prasai@brbc.ab.ca
fully appreciate the watershed in which
we live. Gus was very generous with his BRBC Annual General Meeting Andrea Czarnecki
Publications Editor
time and often shared his stories and andreacz@shaw.ca
wisdom at stewardship events. Word The BRBC Annual General Meeting will
would always spread quickly when be held virtually this year (details to
Gus was on the roster for an event, follow) and will be combined with an
guaranteeing a large and enthusiastic update on the Phosphorus Management Mailing Address:
turnout. His unique ability to weave Plan. Bow River Basin Council
fascinating stories, along with his quick Spring Gardens - Building D
Mail Code #64
wit, made time spent listening to him
well worth the effort to get there. Phosphorus Management Plan Update P.O. Box 2100 Station M
Calgary, Alberta
Phosphorus Management Plan (PMP) T2P 2M5
I will definitely miss Gus and I will
remember him fondly whenever I am out Five Years Later
wandering the hillsides and riversides, • Overview & Update (Rob Wolfe,
wondering about the flora and fauna Alberta Environment & Parks)
and trying desperately to identify them
from memory. We need more a lot more Five Year Water Quality Update & Key
people like him in our world. Phosphorus Sources
• Five Year Water Quality Update (Eric
The opinions expressed
- Mike Murray Camm, The City of Calgary; Wendell
in the articles in this
BRBC Executive Director Koning, Alberta Environment & newsletter are those of
Parks) the author/s and do not
• Source Water Assessment (Wendell necessarily reflect the
Koning, Alberta Environment & views of the BRBC.
Parks)
Key Projects and Activities The next BRBC newsletter will
• PMP Inventory & Roadmap
Development (Emily Taylor, Alberta
be released in December.
Environment & Parks)
• The City of Calgary Total Loading If you would like to submit an
Assessment (Khizar Mahmood, The article, please contact
City of Calgary) Andrea Czarnecki at:
• Bow River Maximum Allowable Load andreacz@shaw.ca
Project (TBD, Alberta Environment
& Parks)
You can also read
