the beaver creek watershed group

The Beaver Creek Watershed Group

Driven by Nature, Powered by Producers

Presented and prepared by Dixon Hammond coordinator for the BCWG

Where Is Beaver Creek?

Located in the Porcupine Hills of Southwestern Alberta

• It runs through four jurisdictions

• Beaver Creek is a major tributary of the Oldman river.

The BCWG

Why It All Began

Beaver Creek Is a Unique Creek

• Approximately 22 miles long

• Drops in elevation from 5600ft to 3400ft

• Helps to sustain near 40 ranches, farms and dwellings

• Provides for many recreational activities

• Recently is becoming home for new people

• Water supply is dependent upon springs

Historically

• Thick brush

• Wildlife

• shade

• Good fish habitat

• Excellent camping

• Water made it to river more years than not.

Recently

• Drought • Fewer trees and shrubs• Fewer large fish• Poorer water quality • Some wild life no

longer present• Lower two thirds of

the creek bone dry

What do you mean I can’t

graze the snot out of this?

Land Owners Began Talking

• Reminiscing• Wondering what the

real problem was. • High water • Drought• Too many livestock• Beaver damage• A combination of all

Where Do We Start?

Goal Setting

“You don’t want to be driving down the scenery looking at the road! You need to look to where you want to go and ride to it.”

Simple cowboy logic.

Kevin Poll

What Should Be Done?

How should we do it? We truly were stuck for the answers. Only Consensus: do something collectively.

COMMUNITY RIPARIAN PROGRAM

ALBERTA CONSERVATION ASSOC.

DEPT. OF FISHERIES AND OCEANS

COWS AND FISH

M.D. OF PINCHER CREEK

SOUTHWEST ALBERTA CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP

ALBERTA ENVIRONMENT SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

ALBERTA SUSTAINABLE RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

OLDMAN RIVER BASIN WATER QUALITY INITIATIVE

Projects Completed

• 10 off stream water developments

• 1 Cow herd wintering site relocation

• 1 Ranch plan

• An education component

Volunteer Action

• Volunteered time to develop projects

• Most ranchers will do the work for nothing

• Bottom line: largest cash expenses were paid for

• Landowners were excited

Challenges Yet to Face

• Water Quality

• Additional Recommendation reports

• More Funding Requests

• More water projects

• One more jurisdiction to bring on side

• Education: Focusing on good riparian health and promoting it

Hints to Our Success

• WE approached Agency/Industry

• WE are committed and have cooperation

• WE formed a working group

• WE keep things private and confidential

• WE still hold the reins

What Keeps Us Going

• The volunteer effort of this group is second to none.

• We know we have a stronger voice together than separate.

• The benefits are for everyone

• The real driving force Behind us is……

Our Replacements

Driven By Nature

Credits

Photo credit goes to

Lorne Fitch

Michael Gerrand

Kelly Cooley

Scott and Edwina Hammond

Myra Hammond

Bill and Dale Lillico

David Glass and Heidi Eijgel

Further information: contact Beaver Creek Watershed Group C/O

Dixon Hammond

Box 2909 Pincher Creek

AB. T0K 1W0

LXBarranch@hotmail.com

403 627 2801

This slide show dedicated to the memory of David MacLean