the second report - land stewardship centremargaret glasford, asn chair / past chair and grant...

The Second Report

Watershed Stewardship Grant Program (Spring 2006, Fall 2006, Spring 2007)

AENV Grant: #06GREA29

Sarah Hipkin & Kevin Wirtanen Grant Administrators 2006-2008

Alberta Stewardship Network

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Special thanks to: Alberta Environment

Members of the Stewardship Grant Committee:

Margaret Glasford, ASN Chair / Past Chair and Grant Committee Chair (all grant cycles)

Petra Rowell, Alberta Environment (all)

Jeff McCammon, Lac La Nonne Watershed and Lake Stewardship Society (all)

Shirley Pickering, Highwood Water Management Plan Public Advisory Committee (all)

Ernie Ewaschuk and Sarah Primeau, Land Stewardship Centre of Canada & ASN Secretariat

Ken Lewis and Dale Chrapko, Alberta Agriculture and Food /AESA

Diana Rung, Alberta Conservation Association (all)

Kelsey Spicer-Rawe, Alberta Riparian Habitat Management Society (Cows & Fish) (all)

Wendy Devent, Stephanie Palechek and Leda Kozak, Oldman Watershed Council

Kent Lyle, Sylvan Lake Watershed Stewardship Society (Spring 2006)

Frank Vagi, North Saskatchewan Watershed Alliance (Fall 2006)

Jacqueline Nelson, ASN Chair (2007/8 on) and Foothills Land Trust (Spring 2008)

Jodi Miller, Volunteer Steward (Spring 2008)

Additional appreciation is extended to the ASN’s other partnering organizations. The delivery of the range of ASN services is dependent on

their ongoing support.

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CONTENTS

The Ripple Reaches Further: The Second Report on the Watershed Stewardship Grant Program ..............................................................................6 HighlightsReach .............................................................................................................................................. 6 Geographical Distribution ................................................................................................................ 7Projects Summary .......................................................................................................................... 7 Financial Summary.......................................................................................................................... 9 Learning from the Showcase......................................................................................................... 11Grant Recipients by Watershed.......................................................................12Peace River watershed.....................................................................................13

Project Category: Tool-Building........................................................................................ 13Heart River Watershed Advisory Committee .................................................................... 13 West County Watershed Group ............................................................................................ 14

Project Category: Biophysical & Social Monitoring .......................................................... 15Clear Hills Watershed Initiative ........................................................................... 15

Athabasca River watershed .............................................................................15 Project Category: Awareness & Knowledge..................................................................... 16

Borealis Canoe Club............................................................................................ 16Crooked Creek Conservancy Society of Athabasca ........................................... 17West Athabasca Bioregional Society.................................................................................17

Project Category: Tool-Building........................................................................................ 18Baptiste, Island, & Skeleton Lakes Watershed Management and Lake Stewardship Council............................................................................................. 18Lac La Nonne Watershed Stewardship Society ........................................................19Skeleton Lake Stewardship Association.....................................................................19Peace Country Beef & Forage Association................................................................20

Project Category: Biophysical & Social Monitoring .......................................................... 21Smoky Applied Research & Demonstration Association..........................................21Lac La Nonne Enhancement & Protection Association........................................ 21Lac La Nonne Watershed Stewardship Society................................................... 22

Project Category: Community-Based Action .................................................................... 22Driftpile First Nation........................................................................................................... 23

Beaver River watershed ...................................................................................23 Project Category: Awareness & Knowledge..................................................................... 24

Crane Lake Advisory and Stewardship Society ................................................... 24Moose Lake Watershed Society........................................................................... 24Lakeland Watershed Steering Committee ........................................................... 26

North Saskatchewan River watershed ............................................................26 Project Category: Awareness & Knowledge..................................................................... 27

Wizard Lake Watershed & Lake Stewardship Assoc. .................................................. 27Project Category: Tool-Building........................................................................................ 27

Rocky Riparian Group ..................................................................................................... 27Project Category: Team-Building...................................................................................... 28

Wizard Lake Watershed & Lake Stewardship Assoc. .............................................................. 28Project Category: Biophysical & Social Monitoring .......................................................... 29

Lac Sante Watershed Society................................................................................... 29Brazeau Healthy Waterways..................................................................................... 29

Battle River sub-watershed.................................................................................30Project Category: Awareness & Knowledge..................................................................... 30

Camrose Adult Learning Council ............................................................................... 31Project Category: Tool-Building........................................................................................ 31

Iron Creek Watershed Improvement Society.....................................................................31

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South Saskatchewan River watershed ...........................................................32 Red Deer River sub-watershed...........................................................................32

Project Category: Awareness & Knowledge..................................................................... 33Rosebud River Watershed Partners..................................................................... 33Sylvan Lake Watershed Stewardship Society...................................................... 34Butte Action Committee for the Environment ...................................................... 34

Project Category: Tool-Building........................................................................................ 35Medicine River Watershed Society................................................................................... 35

Project Category: Biophysical & Social Monitoring ........................................................... 35Friends of Little Red Deer River Society............................................................................35

Bow River sub-watershed ...................................................................................36Project Category: Awareness & Knowledge..................................................................... 36

Friends Of Kananaskis Country Cooperating Association ................................... 36Siksika First Nation .............................................................................................. 37Friends Of Banff National Park............................................................................. 38

Project Category: Tool-Building........................................................................................ 38Ghost Watershed Alliance Society ....................................................................... 38Upper Tongue Creek Riparian Group ................................................................ 39

Project Category: Team-Building...................................................................................... 39Cochrane Ecological Institute - Cochrane Wildlife Reserve Society................... 39 Nose Creek Watershed Partnership..................................................................... 39Bighill, Jumping And Horse Creeks Watershed Partnership .............................. 40Elbow River Watershed Partnership .................................................................... 41Friends of Fish Creek Provincial Park Society ............................................................ 42

Project Category: Biophysical & Social Monitoring .......................................................... 43Weaselhead/Glenmore Park Preservation Society .............................................. 43Nose Creek Watershed Partnership..................................................................... 44Stanley Park to Glenmore Dam Preservation Society ......................................... 45Friends of Fish Creek Provincial Park Society .................................................... 46

Project Category: Community-Based Action .................................................................... 47Calgary Field Naturalists Society ......................................................................... 48Arrowwood Communities in Bloom .......................................................................... 48

South Saskatchewan River watershed ...............................................................49Project Category: Awareness & Knowledge..................................................................... 49

Society of Grasslands Naturalists............................................................................. 49Oldman River sub-watershed .............................................................................50

Project Category: Awareness & Knowledge..................................................................... 50Castle-Crown Wilderness Coalition..................................................................... 50Chief Mountain Landowners Network ....................................................................... 51

Project Category: Tool-Building........................................................................................ 51Battersea Drain Watershed Group ...................................................................... 51Lee Creek Watershed Group ............................................................................. 52Beaver Creek Watershed Group ............................................................................. 52

Project Category: Biophysical & Social Monitoring .......................................................... 53Upper Todd Creek Watershed Group ................................................................. 53 Lee Creek Watershed Group ............................................................................. 53

Project Category: Community-Based Action .................................................................... 54Crowsnest Pass Quad Squad Association........................................................... 54

Contributions to Water For Life .......................................................................55State of Watershed Reports ............................................................................................. 55 Education initiatives.......................................................................................................... 55Demonstration sites and tools .......................................................................................... 56 Biophysical & Social Monitoring ....................................................................................... 56 Restoration of streambanks using bioengineering techniques......................................... 56 Bridge crossings ............................................................................................................... 57

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Removal and awareness of invasive alien plant species and garbage.......................57Report Conclusions..........................................................................................57Appendix A: Financial Information..................................................................59

Budget A(1): Overview of Administration & Granting ....................................................... 59 Budget A(2): Overview of Watershed Stewardship Group Financial Information..........60

Appendix B: Shared Resources ......................................................................63 Appendix C: Strategies for Success (new groups)........................................64 Appendix D: Student Proposals 'Caring for the Battle River' .......................65 Appendix E: Wider recognition of grant recipients .......................................65Final comments from watershed stewardship groups ..................................66

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The Ripple Reaches Further: The Second Report on the Watershed Stewardship Grant Program This report relates specifically to GOA Grant agreement #06GREA29 in which the Alberta Environment (Government of Alberta) awarded the Alberta Stewardship Network $500,000 in spring 2006, to in turn provide support to watershed stewardship groups in helping achieve the goals of Water for Life: Alberta’s Strategy for Sustainability.

The report spans part or all of three grant cycles of the Watershed Stewardship Grant Program administered by the Alberta Stewardship Network (specifically, the remainder of Spring 2006; and the Fall 2006 and Spring 2007 cycles).

Through the Watershed Stewardship Grant Program, grants of up to $75001 were awarded to Watershed Stewardship Groups working to raise awareness of local watershed issues or improve the condition of their local watershed in Alberta. Grant recipients were chosen on a ‘project-by-project’ basis with their activities meeting one or more of the following categories:

1. Awareness and Knowledge – activities that increase the awareness and understanding of local watershed issues.

2. Tool-Building – activities that lead towards the development of tools that demonstrate, test, or display watershed management options.

3. Team-Building – activities that build membership and organizational capacity to take on team tasks.

4. Biophysical and Social Monitoring – activities that measure environmental and social indicators of watershed health.

5. Community-based Action – physical “on-the-ground” activities that improve the condition of the local watershed.

Many projects involved various activities that spanned one or more of the project categories. Successful applicants also explained how their initiative supported at least one of the three goals of the Water for Life strategy (safe, secure drinking water supply, healthy aquatic ecosystems, and reliable, quality water supplies for a sustainable economy).

Highlights of the Second Report ReachThis second grant from Alberta Environment (Government of Alberta) has so far enabled 66 projects to go ahead across nine watersheds in Alberta, and 53 groups to carry out their activities to raise awareness of watershed issues and/or improve conditions of the watersheds of Alberta.

Applicants had to accord with definition of Watershed Stewardship Group and have society status or other legally recognized status. In situations where the watershed stewardship group did not have legal status, the ASN accepted applications from other legal entities that had agreed to represent the stewardship group as a partner in the project. In this manner, sixteen of the fifty-three groups were able to

1 This report includes the remaining 11 projects of the spring 2006 grant cycle which were awarded up to $5000. After that grant cycle, the maximum award was increased to $7500.

“Watershed Stewardship Group” Is a broad term used in the

Water for Life strategy to encompass diverse types of community partnerships actively engaged in environmental stewardship of their local watershed. Such groups are inclusive (they may include individuals, organizations, agriculture, industry, municipalities and other forms of local government) who work together to set common goals and achieve shared outcomes.

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access grants2. However, each grant enabled a ripple effect in terms of the reach of awareness about watershed issues and encouraging partnerships for solutions.

Spreading the message about doing our part for watershed stewardship in Alberta, the 53 groups reached approximately 30,000 people in Alberta directly in hands-on experiences to improve their local watershed or through the information and awareness sessions on stewardship solutions and responses to local watershed issues. This figure of the number of people reached is an extremely conservative estimate based on that documented.

The reach is still further as many of these groups also used newsletters, newspaper articles, websites, radio or TV interviews on Global TV or CBC which is not included in this figure. The visible efforts of many of these volunteer-based groups, also encouraged new members to support their mission. Three grant-funded projects, the Watershed Education Program, McLean Creek bank restoration site and Photographic Journey along Elbow River3, were also featured as part of a popular field trip of the international environmental education conference Trails to Sustainability held in Kananaskis in May 2007.

Geographical distribution

Project Summary 66 watershed stewardship projects located in 9 watersheds (or 5 of Alberta’s 7 major watersheds in the Water Act)

53 watershed stewardship groups

Production of ASN’s Awareness to Action showcase of groups’ work

More than 106 different partnerships involved; including 16 stewardship groups that accessed the seed funds through partnerships with other legal entities.

2 This is indicated by ‘(grant holder)’ listed amongst Partners for each project.3 This Photographic Journey project was included in the last grant report to GOA

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Over 30,000 people received a watershed stewardship message either through hands-on involvement or in person presentation and a further undocumented amount were reached indirectly through the media (group websites, newsletter, radio and newspapers)

22 groups organized projects that included components to measure indicators of local watershed health or public receptivity to behavioural change:

� 16 groups conducted water quality monitoring for 33 water bodies (wetland, creeks, rivers, lakes) from Peace River watershed to Oldman River watershed

� 8 groups organized assessments of riparian health � 3 groups organized wildlife baselines/inventories: bird species inventory at

Iron Creek’s farm demonstration site (Battle, Spring 2006) and both beaver and amphibian population baselines for Fish Creek Provincial Park (Bow, Spring 2007), fisheries and benthic invertebrate samples and a stream corridor assessment conducted for Bighill and Horse Creek watersheds (Bow, Spring 2007)

� 3 groups organized surveys/or formal consultations with stakeholders in the area: 1 group organized Home-site Consultations with Crane Lake cottageowners to evaluate the practice of current residential practices impacting shoreline health and water quality and encourage change of behaviours (Fall 06). 2 groups surveyed area recreational users for perceptions of impacts and values of the natural areas /parks (Muskeg River, Athabasca – Fall 06; Weaselhead Park, Bow – Spring 06).

� 1 group carried out a litter and general pollution inventory for Weaselhead Park (Spring 2006)

21 groups organized physical “on-the-ground” activities that improved the condition of their watersheds:

� 12 demonstration sites for agricultural beneficial management practiceswere established by 6 groups, predominantly around keeping cattle out of surface water to protect water quality and sensitive riparian areas:

� In Peace River watershed, 1 riparian restoration (vegetated buffer) and fencing (Heart River Watershed Advisory Group, Spring 2006) and one offstream livestock watering system and riparian restoration at Toew’s Farm along Beaverlodge River (Spring 2007)

� In Battle River watershed (NSR), 1 riparian restoration and offstream livestock watering system at Calon farm along Iron Creek (Spring 2006)

� In Red Deer River watershed, 2 offsite livestock watering system demo sites at Pregoda and Liivam Farms along Medicine River (Spring 2007)

� In Oldman River watershed, 5 BMPs around Battersea Drain (3 grass buffers, 1 fencing, 2 offstream watering) and 2 offsite livestock watering system demo sites along Lee Creek (Fall 2006).

� The grant also enabled 2 portable offsite watering systems for livestock to be shared amongst farmers; these continue to be available for further farmers to test in Mud Creek, Lesser Slave Lake watershed (Athabasca River watershed) and in North Saskatchewan River watershed (Clearwater County - Rocky Riparian Group).

� 5 groups led garbage clean-ups along parts of Driftpile River (Lesser Slave Lake, Athabasca River watershed, Spring 2006), Muskeg River (Athabasca River watershed, Spring 2007), Crane Lake (Beaver River watershed, Fall 2006),Elbow River (Fall 2006) and Bow River (Bow River watershed, Fall 2006 andSpring 2007).

� 4 areas of badly eroded stream and lake bank were restored after groups organized three workshops on shoreline restoration and bioengineering techniques (sites at Nose Creek, McClean Creek of Elbow River watershed, Fish Creek in Fish Creek Provincial Park in Bow River watershed, and shoreline areas replanted with reeds at Baptiste Lake in Athabasca River watershed; Spring

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2007). In several cases, the knowledge and skills learned in these workshops is continually being taught and used to complete additional restoration projects.

� 3 groups led the removal of invasive alien plant species from various locations in Bow River watershed (Fall 2006, Spring 2007), in Castle River watershed (Oldman River watershed, Fall 2006), and in 4 sites on North Saskatchewan River (Spring 2006).

� 1 group undertook the restoration of a community wetland (replanting, removal of culvert) near the Village of Arrowwood in Bow River watershed (Spring 2006)

� At least 3 abandoned water wells were sealed in demonstrations and at least 3 new habitat conservation sites were established with landowners and marked with signs in Rosebud River watershed (of the Red Deer River watershed)

� Through demonstration sites, workshops and other restoration events (as above), at least 6 groups organized the planting of native trees, shrubs and braminoids to restore degraded riparian areas.

10 groups focused specifically on building awareness and knowledge of local watershed issues although many projects included awareness aspects. In addition to the awareness days, guided field trips, speaker series, BMP tours organized and the newsletters and fact sheets developed, some awareness outputs included:

� ASN’s Awareness to Action publication � A six-part radio series on Voices of the Upper Bow in the Bow River watershed � A watershed education program in Kananaskis Country with new young

professionals trained in its delivery � Watershed report cards for Nose Creek watershed � Innovative ideas from secondary and post-secondary youth in the first Caring for

the Battle River school contest � A watershed issues conference and a Connecting the Drops source to mouth

canoe float in the Athabasca River watershed � A watershed brochure, signage, website and artistic depictions to support

responsible recreational use and encourage stewardship of Muskeg River � A poster map of Water Places in Medicine Hat to support local school field

trips and education around wetlands, stormwater ponds, local creeks and river � A professional portable display based on developed communications messages

for the protection and restoration of Sylvan Lake, and permanent bulletinboards around Wizard and Crane Lakes

� Distribution of 280 On the Living Edge guides to healthy waterfront living to cottage owners around Wizard and Crane Lakes.

6 groups undertook projects related to developing or distributing State of the Watershed Reports or developing a local watershed management plan, showing that this is potentially a growing area of work for these watershed stewardship groups.

Financial Summary For the original $500,000 grant from GOA, the documented in-kind contribution to this grant program was almost $740,000.

$370,659.00 was granted towards projects featured in this document. A further $54,631.05was granted to projects reporting in association with GOA grant 08-GRES124.

Grant allocation per program cycle: o 11 projects in Spring 2006 (remaining grants outwith GOA 06-GREA 15) o 22 projects in Fall 2006 (all) o 33 projects in Spring 2007 (all) o Support towards an additional 11 projects approved in Spring 2008 (of a total of 43)

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Chart 2: GOA 06-GREA29 Expenditures

$51,120

$102,329

$217,210

$54,631

$46,705

$28,611 Spring 06

Fall 06

Spring 07

Spring 08

Administration

Unallocated/Returned

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Groups more than quadrupled the dollar value of the grant by raising member andpartner funding and in-kind support for their project (total project value over $1,550,000)

$350 to $7500 was the range of grants awarded per project, with a total grant of $370,659 (excluding the roll-over approved to Spring 2008)

53 Watershed Stewardship Groups and their partners contributed the equivalent of over$621,000 in documented volunteer time (extensive additional time was undocumented)

With more than 106 different partnerships, groups were able to raise a further $487,000plus in financial support needed for their projects

11 representatives of stewardship groups and supporting agencies on the Stewardship Grant Committee contributed a minimum of 729 hours or $21,870 in kind in time contribution towards selecting grant recipients in the Fall 06 and Spring 07 grant cycles5.* (see Appendix B1 for details).

4i) This includes $605.50 remaining from GOA 06-GREA 15 (as per p34 of the report Ripple Effects: The First Watershed

Stewardship Grant Program (April 2006 - March 2007). In terms of returned funds, two groups returned funds in full from grants awarded at the Spring 2007 grant cycle as they were unable to fulfill project committments. These projects and total amount ($15,000) are not included in the project list or total grant amount per grant cycle. ii) A total of 43 projects were awarded grants in the Spring 2008 grant cycle (under GOA # 08-GRES12). Eleven of the 43 projects were supported with $54,631 in funds from GOA #06-GREA 29. An additional 11 grant requests were not approved by the ASN Grant Committee. iii) The ASN has formally requested a roll-over of $28,610.55 of surplus and returned funds remaining from GOA #06-GREA 29 to be applied towards Grant Committee approved projects and program administration in fiscal 2009-10. iv) All other figures in this document pertain only to the 66 projects under Spring 06, Fall 06 and Spring 07.

5This amount does not include time to review materials and consider decisions outside the usual grant cycle activity of

selection (e.g. for follow ups, or extensions or change of use requests, etc.) In-kind from the Stewardship Grant Committee related to the spring 06 projects was included in the last report to GOA and therefore is not included here.

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Learning from the showcase A grant of $5,000 to the Alberta Stewardship Network from the Spring 2007grant cycle supported the production of the showcase publication Awareness to Action: A Showcase of Environmental Stewardship in Alberta. With development and production of 5000 copies, and lots of in-kind help, the total project value was $43,853.86. Other partners included: Land Stewardship Centre of Canada, Alberta Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture Program, TD Friends of the Environment, Shell Environment Fund, Fisheries & Oceans Canada, Alberta Conservation Association, Cows & Fish, with numerous contributors.

The publication featured 15 projects organized by the categories of the Watershed Stewardship Grant Program, including 10 from grant recipients. Each profile includes information on the group, their project, costs, sources of funding, and the challenges they overcame, with the hope that these ‘lessons learned’ will benefit and inspire people looking for help with similar projects. More than half of the 5000 copies printed have so far been distributed widely to stewardship groups, Alberta Water Council, watershed planning and advisory councils, teachers, and other interested parties. Results of an ASN survey of readers in 2008, indicate 67% agreed “it has given me a more realistic idea of costs and steps involved in undertaking a project” and 59% agreed that “it has given me new ideas on potential partners to work with on future stewardship projects”. Copies are available for free from ASN or Alberta Environment’s Information Centre.

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Grant Recipients by Watershed In the following section projects are grouped according to their location within each major watershed and then under the category most appropriate to the main focus of their project. The diagram below highlights the locations of grant projects (including all 2008 recipients).

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Peace River watershedThe Peace River begins in the mountains of British Columbia, and flows to Alberta are influenced by the W.A.C. Bennett Dam, located on the Peace River in British Columbia. The river flows northeast across the province, through the town of Peace River and empties into the Slave River. At Peace Point the Peace River has a mean annual discharge of 68,200,000 dam3 and a drainage area of 293,000 km2. The Peace/Slave River Basin includes the Wapiti, Smoky, Little Smoky and Wabasca rivers6.

Issues associated with this watershed and being tackled by watershed stewardship groups in this grant program were agricultural land use practices, riparian and wetland preservation and water quality issues as part of basic water quality monitoring and public outreach to improve the conditions of Heart River sub-watershed. Before this project, there was a watershed planning and advisory council (WPAC) for the Peace River stretch in British Columbia only.

Project Category: Tool-Building

This water basin is the water source for the Village of Nampa and many of the [Northern Sunrise] county residents. Since water samples taken within the water basin revealed some water quality issues in the raw source water we wanted to show the landowners in the basin: what sorts of activities were contributing to the water quality issues, where some of these issues were located, what could be done to help reduce the issues and who might be able to help them in addressing some of the issues.

Audrey Gall, Project Leader

SPRING 2006 Heart River Watershed Advisory Committee

Towards Heart River Watershed Management Plan

LOCATION: Heart River Watershed.

GRANT AMOUNT: $5,000

TOTAL PROJECT VALUE: $20,625.85

OTHER PARTNERS: Northern Sunrise County (grant holder), Canada-Alberta Water Supply Extension Program, Smoky River Applied Research & Applied Demonstration Association, AESA, Shell Canada, PFRA, Cows & Fish, Aquality, New Water Enviro Solutions

The grant supported: work towards a watershed management plan for Heart River watershed; visits to area farms to garner interest from landowners in being part of the active watershed advisory committee; an ongoing program to monitor water quality in 13 locations of the Heart River and tributaries; education initiatives including establishing a riparian restoration and demonstration site with fencing and reforestation, newsletters to 850 county residents, public meeting (April 2006, 100 attended), watershed tour in July 2006 (30 attended) and open house (Nov. 2006 with 25 people).

6 Alberta Environment http://www3.gov.ab.ca/env/water/basins/BasinForm.cfm?Basins=1

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FALL 2006 Heart River Watershed Advisory Committee Heart River Watershed Management Plan (Phase II)



OTHER PARTNERS: Northern Sunrise County (grant holder), Village of Nampa, MD of Smoky River, MD of Big Lakes, SARDA, Dusks Unlimited, DMI, Alberta Environment, Alberta Public Lands, Frank Lake Important Bird Area, local farmers, PFRA

The grant supported: work towards completion of the Heart River watershed management plan in 2007; the ongoing program to monitor water quality in the Heart River and tributaries to maintain a database on quality of water in the basin; education initiatives including July and September issues of the quarterly county newsletter which carried inserts with write-ups and photos of the demo sites to 850 county residents; the demonstration site showing restricted access to the riparian area and cross fencing to rotate grazing patterns of the cattle. One other producer has approached the group about making some changes in his operation based on information from other demo cooperators.

“The landowner recently purchased the property which represents a significant area along the Beaverlodge River. These lands had sustained heavy grazing pressure for the past 40 years which resulted in erosion, slumping and the loss of biodiversity.”

Dan Cargill, West County Watershed Group

SPRING 2007 West Country Watershed GroupWest County Watershed Group Offsite Watering Demo

LOCATION: Carlo Toews Farm, Beaverlodge River, County of Grande Prairie


TOTAL PROJECT VALUE: $6,850

OTHER PARTNERS: Ducks Unlimited Canada (grant holder), County of Grande Prairie, Alberta Conservation Association

The West County Watershed Group implemented an offsite livestock watering demonstration site at Carlo Toews Farm in 2007 to demonstrate the benefits of alternate livestock watering systems to other producers along the Beaverlodge River (and surrounding community). In addition, the demonstration site included riparian fencing and signage. The site was chosen as part of a riparian reforestation project in conjunction with the County of Grande Prairie, Alberta Conservation Association, the Woodlot Extension Program and the Woodlot Association of Alberta and is included in demonstration tours.

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Project Category: Biophysical & Social Monitoring

The project supported the group starting up and included baseline water quality monitoring on five rivers, creeks, lakes in 2007 and 6 local dugouts, the development of pamphlets on the initiative and a Clear Hills Watershed Introductory Presentation, organization of an informative public meeting about the watershed in May in which 60 people attended and which resulted in 25 more members, and a community BBQ.

SPRING 2007 Clear Hills Watershed Initiative

Clear Hills Water Quality Monitoring

LOCATION: Clear Hills County



OTHER PARTNERS: Clear Hills County (and AESA staff)

Athabasca River watershed The Athabasca River is the second largest river in Alberta. Originating in the Athabasca glacier of the Columbia Icefields in Jasper National Park, the river flows northeast through the province, past the urban centres of Jasper, Hinton, Whitecourt, Athabasca and Fort McMurray before emptying into Lake Athabasca. Water from the basin eventually makes its way to the Artic Ocean. The basin covers a total area of approximately 159,000km²7. Issues associated with this watershed and being tackled by watershed stewardship groups in this grant program included: assessments of the state of two lake watersheds (Baptiste and Skeleton Lakes) and distribution of Lac La Nonne’s report), as a foundation for watershed management planning for these sub-watersheds of the Athabasca; the prevention of cattle entering Mud Creek causing erosion and degraded water quality (from fecal coliform and sediment) and; lessening the impact of recreational users on a tributary (Muskeg River). In addition two groups sought wider partnerships to hold an Athabasca watershed conference and Connecting the Drops campaign, where oil and gas development was of prime concern. A watershed planning and advisory council for the larger Athabasca River watershed is planned for formation in 2008.

7Water for Life: Facts and Information on Water in Alberta, Alberta Environment, 2002

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Project Category: Awareness & Knowledge The Borealis Canoe Club wanted to undertake this project because we have intimate knowledge of the Muskeg River watershed and the issues that face it. We already felt a connection and sense of stewardship towards the river and felt compelled to share this with others. Darin Zandee, Project Leader

FALL 2006

Borealis Canoe Club Muskeg River Watershed Stewardship Program

LOCATION: Muskeg River, 70 km north of Fort McMurray



The project aimed to encourage greater responsible use and stewardship of Muskeg River watershed. It incorporated: website development with watershed information (www.borealiscanoe.ca); production of 200 brochures with map and facts; 2 signs at river access points to inform public about the watershed and responsible recreation in the area; 4 guided public canoe tours (including one each with a biologist and geologist, 26 participants); displays about the watershed in Ft McMurray and artwork on the Muskeg River at the Boreal & Beauty Art display at the Oilsands Discovery Center, Interplay Festival in August 2007, Family Recreational Fair and Art Works Gallery with approx 950 people viewing the displays); installation of a survey box and survey of users on responsible use of the river area; and a shoreline clean-up in April 2007 in which 14 people participated and a canoe trailer of garbage was removed and properly disposed of.

SPRING 2007

Crooked Creek Conservancy Society of AthabascaAthabasca Watershed Stewardship Coalition Conference

LOCATION: Athabasca, and throughout the Athabasca Basin



OTHER PARTNERS: Alberta Environmental Network; Athabasca University; Science Outreach Athabasca; Athabasca Peace Initiative; Athabasca Heritage Society; Athabasca Native Friendship Centre; Sierra Club of Canada; Bow Riverkeeper, Pembina

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Institute, West Athabasca Bioegional Society, Aspen Schools, Athabasca Town, Athabasca Country Tourism, Keepers of the Water, Keepers of the Peace

The group organized the Athabasca River Basin Conference (June 1-3, 2007) including presentations valuing Athabasca River watershed and reviewing watershed issues, providing community stewardship models, Muskeg Creek nature hike and streamkeeper workshop, and diverse events celebrating the socio-cultural and natural heritage of the basin, with over 225 participants. Speakers and panellists were from community stewardship groups, public policy representatives, government, watershed planning and advisory councils, Alberta Water Council, First Nations, regional physician, renowned ecological scientists, Cumulative Environmental Management Association and representatives of ‘keepers of the water’ initiatives from elsewhere. The conference and follow up included formation of Keepers of the Athabasca Watershed Stewardship Coalition, for community-based watershed reporting, planning and possible WPAC participation. Aspen area schools participated heavily in the visual arts, poetic and musical celebration of the Athabasca River’s natural and cultural heritage. The conference included events celebrating the basin, with involvement of story tellers, choirs, dancers, poets, musicians and artists, highlighting Athabasca Landings’ aboriginal and historical role in transportation and trade.

The watershed is massive and the Athabasca River is the largest undammed river in the prairies. Given its size and distance from Alberta’s urban centres, the people who live within this watershed are dispersed, sometimes living hundreds of kilometers from each other…. The primary need of the project was therefore to “connect” the people who live and depend on this river with each other.

CCoonnnniiee BBrreessnnaahhaann

SPRING 2007 West Athabasca Bioregional Society

“Connecting the Drops”: Athabasca Watershed Grassroots Campaign

LOCATION: Various – Athabasca River



OTHER PARTNERS: Pembina Institute (major partner), Crooked Creek Conservancy Society, Athabasca University, Mikisew Cree First Nation, Chipewyan First Nation, South Peace Environmental Association, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Sierra Club, Mountain Equipment Co-op, Whitewater Research Safety Institute, Kokatat, Community Natural Foods, Quantum Shift TV

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Through an eight week mountaineering and canoeing expedition along the entire 1538 km length of the Athabasca River from headwaters to Lake Athabasca, the project sought to increase knowledge and awareness about the Athabasca watershed and key issues facing its protection on the basis of environmental, social, and economic significance. The project was a partnership between WAWBS, experts from the former Big Bow Float campaign, the Pembina Institute, and other local community groups. The expedition included presentations in 11 separate community events en route (Jasper, Hinton, Whitecourt, Fort Assinboine, Smith/Hondo, Athabasca, Fort McMurray, Fort MacKay, and Fort Chipewyan) with approx. 500 people participating. Photos of the river, its surrounding watershed, and “stories” from people concerned about its future were collected through the course of the trip. A website was developed for the project (www.connectingthedrops.com) and includes information from the trip, and a wealth of information about the cultural history, ecological value, and issues facing the watershed. The trip was featured in local newspapers in every community along the river and radio pieces in Hinton, Whitecourt, and Athabasca.

Project Category: Tool-Building

During the past several years more and more people have expressed concern about the apparent decline in quality of water in local lakes. This decline is expressed through an increase in the growth of Algae, abnormal growth of underwater weeds, and in some instances a lack of oxygen has resulted in fish kills. A major concern at Baptiste Lake was recurring blue green algal blooms.

BBrruuccee MMccIInnttoosshh

FALL 2006

Baptiste, Island, & Skeleton Lakes Watershed Management and Lake Stewardship Council

State of the Lake Report for Baptiste Lake



OTHER PARTNERS: Summer Village of Island Lake (grant holder), Members of BISL: All eight Summer Villages within the Boundaries of the County of Athabasca, County of Athabasca, Town of Athabasca, Alberta Sustainable Resource Development (maps),

The project involved delineation of Baptiste Lake watershed, development of a state of the lake [watershed] report with ALCES Group consultants, including compilation of existing scientific information on current and historic conditions of the lake and its watershed, identification of data gaps, with recommendations forming a basis for development of a watershed management plan. The project also involved a video archive of present shoreline condition. Approximately, 2,500 property owners in the vicinity of Baptiste, Island and Skeleton Lakes were made aware of the watershed and the work of the group through articles in local newsletters and newspaper advertisements.

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A young reader? Jeff McCammon’s son poses with a copy of the report. Photo: Jeff McCammon

“This is a major step for our group. We’ve grown from focusing on the dangers of blue-green algae, to collectively assessing impacts on the entire watershed. This sort of initiative is typically a municipal or agency undertaking!

FALL 2006

Lac La Nonne Watershed Stewardship Society

Lac La Nonne - State of the Watershed Initiative (State of the Watershed Outreach)

LOCATION: Lac La Nonne watershed

GRANT AMOUNT: $5000


OTHER PARTNERS: Lac La Nonne Enhancement and Protection Association, Alberta Environment (in-kind), Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (PFRA), County of Barrhead, County of Lac Ste Anne, Cows and Fish

The [ability to] promote and distribute this quality report at conferences, meetings and through presentations, has increased the credibility of the group. The report has become an example of what State of the Watershed Reports should include and look like.”

Jeff McCammon, Chair

After more than two years of work, the group had completed its State of the Watershed report for the Lac La Nonne Watershed and this project was to ensure dissemination of the report and its findings to watershed stakeholders and beyond. Specifically, 300 reports were printed on FSC paper, 100 CD ROMs produced and distributed to interest groups, municipalities and other key stakeholders in the watershed as well as schools and libraries. Additional copies of the report were provided to local municipalities in Lac La Nonne watershed for further internal and public distribution. The group partnered with Lac La Nonne Enhancement & Protection Association to host Watershed Restoration Public Workshop to review and discuss report findings, and develop a strategy for watershed protection and restoration. A representative from the group also presented the work of this stewardship group on June 1st, 2007 at the Athabasca watershed conference in Athabasca. A newsletter edition and press release was sent out to announce completion of report and its availability from their website (www.laclanonnewatershed.com).

Local concern for the state of Skeleton Lake has increased significantly in recent years due to increased development pressures and a dramatic drop in water levels, resulting in concerns over water quality and fish habitat. From going through the process [of completing a State of the watershed report], there was a realisation that more issues impacting lake level than we realized at the outset. We were able to get a solid understanding of many of the factors impacting our lake. Through the scientific evidence outlined in our State of the Watershed Report we were able to demonstrate to two of

SPRING 2007

Skeleton Lake Stewardship AssociationSkeleton Lake – State of Watershed Report

LOCATION: Skeleton Lake



OTHER PARTNERS: Aquality Environmental Consulting, Worley Parsons Komex

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our key stakeholders that there was a manageable problem and we need their support.JJooeell HHaarrrroodd,, DDiirreeccttoorr

The project included water testing conducted by Aquality Environmental Consulting Ltd and volunteers from Jan – June 2007, and hydrological assessment of Skeleton Lake conducted by Worley Parsons Komex. Aquality completed a draft State of Watershed Report which identified and prioritized the critical issues impacting the lake. Findings were communicated in 2 town hall meetings in Edmonton and Boyle in July and August 2007, and a “Labour Day at the Lake” event in September 2007 (BBQ) to further share the results of the Watershed Report as well as communicate next steps towards a watershed management plan. A total of over 700 people attended and coverage was received from CTV, Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun and Athabasca Advocate. The report is available on their website (www.skeletonlake.com).

Top: Mud Creek watering site (before) and model of portable off-site watering system. Cattle fence line between tame pasture paddock (right) and riparian area for Mud Creek (left). (2007).

Not only are the producers benefiting from the portable off-stream livestock watering system, but by fencing off the riparian areas we are increasing habitat of aquatic life, plant species, waterfowl and the watershed area in general. This particular project takes place on a river that drains into Lesser Slave Lake so not only is the individual producer and his neighbours affected but also the communities that use the lake. By purchasing a portable system we can move the project to a new site location and community every year following. JJaaiimmee BBoorrdduuzzaakk

FALL 2006

Peace Country Beef & Forage Association

Portable Solar Livestock Watering System

LOCATION: Mud Creek, Lesser Slave Lake watershed

GRANT AMOUNT: $5000


OTHER PARTNERS: Alberta Research and Extension Council of Alberta (ARECA), Alberta Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture (AESA), High Prairie Riparian Action Team (HPRAT), Keddies Tack and Western Wear, MD of Big Lakes, Cows & Fish

The project established a riparian management demonstration site on Mud Creek in the summer of 2007, and used a portable solar watering system to promote sustainable livestock watering sites and the effectiveness of portable watering systems for providing a safe, reliable, quality supply of water for livestock while reducing negative impacts on water quality and the environment and to enhance range management. Riparian health assessment was completed for Mud Creek (conducted annually), and the BMP demonstration site included fencing, grazing and nutrient management plan. A Field Day and Pasture Walk was held (10 participants). Information from 3 years of monitoring to re-establish pastures and riparian areas after intensive grazing was included in newsletter sent to 200 PCBFA members and results shared with other producers in Lesser Slave Lake watershed through the High Prairie Riparian Action Team.

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Project Category: Biophysical & Social MonitoringEvery year the High Prairie Riparian Action Team [of which we are part] undertakes projects to improve riparian health. We have a riparian health inventory done at the start of every new project as a method to evaluate our practice changes. From these assessments we can tell that the High Prairie Riparian Action team has improved the riparian health of 530 acres since their start.

BBrriiaannnnee BBrraauulltt

SPRING 2007

Smoky Applied Research Demonstration Association

Riparian Health Inventories

LOCATION: Slave Lake Basin (Areas around High Prairie)



OTHER PARTNERS: High Prairie Riparian Action team

The riparian health inventories were completed by Cows & Fish on three HPRAT project sites: a new project along Mud Creek at NE 2-75-15-W5M on the south side encompassing an area of 3.16 acres; an unnamed slough located at NW 22-76-18W5M (an area of 5.5 acres) and; along Winagami Lake located at NE 22-76-18-W5M and included an area of 21.1 acres. The inventories include consideration of vegetation cover, invasive plant cover and distribution, disturbance caused undesirable species and soil hydrology (stream bank root mass protection, human caused bare ground, human physical alterations, and stream bank incisement - for lotic only). Results from the three project sites, two of which were previously assessed in 2002, show the team has helped improve the health of 20 acres of riparian habitat along important fish spawning habitat.

Stream samplers!

This project was undertaken in response to increasing development and a sense of declining water quality and quantity in the watershed and the requirement to use a number of years (2004, 2005 & 2007) to establish a baseline on the status of stream water quality and quantity. The project also helps establish an accurate baseline concentration of nutrients, sediment, fecal bacteria and pesticides from agricultural land runoff impacting on aquatic life in streams and areas in three lakes – Majeau, Nakamun and Lac La Nonne. TTiimm CCllaarrkkee

SPRING 2007 The Lac La Nonne Enhancement & Protection Association

2007 Lac La Nonne Watershed Stream Monitoring




OTHER PARTNERS: Lac La Nonne Watershed Stewardship Society (LWSS),Alberta Agriculture & Food

Map: Sampling sites in the Lac La Nonne watershed (marked with red dots)

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Between April and May 2007, teams of area agriculture producers and volunteers from our group and partners LWSS collected samples of spring run-off water from 7 designated sites in the Lac La Nonne watershed for lab analysis. Alberta Agriculture & Food validated the data, compiled and provided spreadsheets of parameter results per site (nutrients, sediment, fecal bacteria, etc.) A fifth team recorded water flow, and channel breadth and depth for each site. Only thirty-six (36) samples were collected due to intermittent spring thaw and shortened duration of stream flow. Unexpected high levels of E. coli were recorded in six of eight streams. A project status report and preliminary findings were presented at our group’s AGM and LWSS’ AGM in June 2007 and distributed to watershed residents as part of LEPA’s annual Newsletter (added to website www:lepa-ab.com). Results were incorporated into the 2007 Lac La Nonne Watershed Stream Monitoring Report and appended to the Lac La Nonne State of The Watershed Report.

SPRING 2007

Lac La Nonne Watershed Stewardship Society

Lac La Nonne - Paleolimnology Assessment



TOTAL PROJECT VALUE: $14,860 (low est.)

OTHER PARTNERS: Professor Alexander Wolfe and MSc student Nathan Ballard of University of Alberta Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences

Left: Nathan Ballard labelling a sample (27 June 2007). Photo: Jeff McCammon

The project involves conducting a paleolimnological study of the three lakes in the Lac La Nonne catchment (i.e., Lac La Nonne, Majeau, and Nakamun lakes). Volunteers assisted taking gravity and lake water samples during the summer of 2007 as part of Nathan Ballard’s MSc thesis which considered the various processes and consequences of internal phosphorus (P) loading to the lakes, and their association with recent deviations of lake biogeochemistry. Management implications of results could involve Fe amendment and passive aeration strategies, as well as the development of realistic phosphorus budgets for each of the lakes.

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Project Category: Community-Based Action

Kerri O'Shaughnessy’s pre-assessment of sites along Driftpile River

SPRING 2006 Driftpile First Nation

Driftpile River Remediation

LOCATION: Driftpile River, Driftpile First Nation, Lesser Slave Lake watershed



OTHER PARTNERS: Cows & Fish, First Nations –Technical Services Advisory Group (FN-TSAG)

This project included a riparian health inventory undertaken July 10-13, 2006 by Cows & Fish staff for Driftpile River in Driftpile First Nation after first visiting 10 homes along the river to explain the work. Fifteen community members also attended the information session held on May 25, 2006 covering water quality, riparian and watershed health, with Driftpile First Nation, FN-TSAG and Cows & Fish Program. Remediation work included a community clean-up of non-biological debris along the river in August 2006.

Beaver River watershed The Beaver River watershed is one of the smaller major watersheds within the province with a catchment area of about 14,500 km². The watershed and river extend east, across the provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba, emptying into Hudson's Bay. The Beaver River begins at Beaver Lake, and then flows through urban centres of Bonnyville, Cold Lake and Grand Centre. The basin is characterized by many meandering streams and rivers which drain such lakes as Cold, Moose, Muriel, Ethel and Wolf Lake6. Issues associated with this watershed and being tackled by watershed stewardship groups in this grant program were human impacts on aquatic health and water quality by users and residents around lakes in the watershed. The Beaver River Watershed Alliance has been recently formed to oversee the state of and planning for the larger Beaver River watershed.

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Project Category: Awareness & Knowledge

Participants of shoreline cleanup.

Crane Lake is a very small lake and an important wildlife area that is threatened by overdevelopment. CLASS was formed in 2005 by local residents in response to rapid increases in seasonal lake usage and several proposals for residential and campground development. CLASS has matured into an advisory group interested in protecting the natural environment of Crane Lake as well as liaison between residents, government, and other stakeholder groups; membership is voluntary and consists of nearly all the land owners within the Crane Lake watershed.

FALL 2006

Crane Lake Advisory and Stewardship Society

Crane Lake Environmental Awareness

LOCATION: Crane Lake



OTHER PARTNERS: Lakeland Industry and Community Association (LICA), the Alberta Lake Management Society (ALMS), Federation of Alberta Naturalists (FAN) – the Living by Water Project.

The most successful activities were those involving larger numbers of people such as the shoreline cleanup, AGM / Barbeque, and Eco day. These activities fostered and improved upon the sense of community at Crane Lake. Participants got to know other members of the community by working along side them in support of common goals.

GGoorrddoonn CCoouullmmaann,, PPrreessiiddeenntt

The group aimed to raise awareness of the impacts that users have on the Crane Lake watershed and encourage positive behaviours to ensure the long term viability of these areas. To reach as wide an audience as possible with their stewardship messages and information about the lake, the group’s activities included putting up a bulletin board, setting up a website (www.cranelake.ca), publishing and distributing 3 newsletter editions to area residents, along with many e-mail communications and coordinated an Eco Day at the lake for August 3rd. Members also took monthly samples from the lake as part of the ALMS Lake Watch water quality monitoring Program, participated in the Great Canadian Shoreline Clean-up and worked with the Alberta Forest Guardians and the M.D. Bonnyville to remove at least 1000 kg of garbage from the littoral and riparian zones of the lake. Working with the Living by Water Project, they distributed 80 On the Living Edge guides to Class Members and property owners adjoining the lake and set up “homesite” visits with lakefront residents such that property owners could receive free advice on steps to improve their impact on the lake and shoreline areas, including the environmental reserve. The President also participated in the formation of the Beaver River Watershed Alliance (watershed planning & advisory council for the larger watershed).

The Moose Lake Management Plan was created because of local community and recreation users of Moose Lake concerns regarding low water levels, source water protection, frequent algal blooms, and environmental degradation resulting from increased development around the lakeshore. Public outreach and education is a major objective of the plan such that both youth and

SPRING 2007

Moose Lake Water for Life Stewardship GroupMoose Lake Water for Life Stewardship Group Public Outreach

LOCATION: Bonnyville, Pelican Narrows & Bonnyville Beach, Moose Lake Watershed

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adults are aware of the environment around them and how they impact their own watershed.

KKaayy LLeeee KKiinncchh

GRANT AMOUNT: $7500 TOTAL PROJECT VALUE: $15,120.37

OTHER PARTNERS: MD of Bonnyville (grant holder), the Town of Bonnyville

The project included: publication and delivery of 4 “Water Talk” newsletter editions to residents around Moose Lake; production of a Moose Lake activity booklet for Grades 1 to 4 at one of the local Elementary schools, which teachers sent home with the students so that the parents could go over it with them; organization of an Eco Evening in November 2007, including speakers from Cows & Fish and Fisheries & Oceans Canada. To gauge how effective the Public Outreach had been a survey was sent out in the December 2007 newsletter. The group is encouraged by response to the elementary School activity as leading to further projects between the school system and the Moose Lake Water for Life Stewardship Group. Students were given the chance to learn about the riparian zone in a fun-filled activity that allowed them to both ask questions, be hands on, and to be as creative as they wanted. It also engaged, and included, not only the students, but the teachers and the parents as well.

Young student of the Water Treatment Module in Plamondon. Photo: Krystle Fedoretz

The Mad About Science Program was highly successful. The youth were very eager to attend, and registration filled up quick. At the end of every session, the youth filled out a survey. The survey showed that most of the youth identified some key facts and concepts as items they learned. The youth then go home and discuss what they learned with friends and family. After many of the sessions, parents called to gain more information about the topics that their children had brought up.

SPRING 2007

Lakeland Watershed Steering Committee

Lakeland Watershed Project II

LOCATION: Lac La Biche County



OTHER PARTNERS: Lac La Biche /Lakeland County (grant holder), Aspen Regional Health Authority, Fisheries & Oceans Canada (SIA funding), Aquality Environmental Consulting, Lakeland County Watershed Advisory Committee, University of Alberta.

By completing programs like the Mad About Science program, the youth of the community learn how to be more environmentally aware. In the end, the community benefits because these learned practices by the youth, become the common practice of the community.

KKrryyssttllee FFeeddoorreettzz

Mad About Science program ran as part of the “Fun in the Sun” summer program weekly which started in July and ran until August 2007 and ran as a day camp in 3 communities in Lakeland County. A comprehensive program guide was also created and followed to implement the program. Hands-on modules included basic exercises on land-use planning, water treatment, aquatic ecosystems and waste reduction. The program reached 221 youth ages 6-12 years old.The group also continued in-flow sampling in September and October at Lac La Biche with samples analyzed at the University of Alberta Limnology Laboratory.

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Left: Recording information from the GPS and Hydro-Lab in July 2007 (Photo: Michelle Gaberel). Right: A hole is drilled in the ice and a water quality profile is obtained with the use of a Hydro-Lab. Volunteers, John and Chris, collect a sample at a specific depth using a Kemmer sampler in March 2007 (Photo: Jay White).

Lac la Biche Lake is the drinking water source for over 8,000 residents of the County and Town. Area residents noticed a decline in the water quality of Lac La Biche Lake, algae became frequent, and a blue-green algae bloom occurred. Residents wanted to “save their lake” and help the lake to maintain a healthy fishery and achieve better water quality…. The project is intended to provide data on the current state of the watershed, to track changes and raise awareness of corrective actions.

FALL 2006

Lakeland Watershed Steering Committee Lakeland Watershed Project

LOCATION: Lac La Biche County



OTHER PARTNERS: Lac La Biche /Lakeland County (grant holder), Aquality Environmental Consulting (In-Kind Professional Consulting Services), University of Alberta, Aspen Regional Health Authority

By reporting the results of the sampling, residents can see how their actions impact their area (e.g. confined feeding and nutrient levels found in inflows). They want their area to be healthy and look for ways to change general practices to better the lake.

KKrryyssttllee FFeeddoorreettzz

The Lakeland Watershed Project is a multi-disciplinary approach to watershed management planning. The project involved sampling 18 inflows for Lac La Biche (April -August), bacteriological sampling of beaches at 11 sites, and 5 lakes (Lac La Biche, Missawawi, Elinor, Pinehurst and Ironwood Lakes) for temperature, pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, percent saturation, total dissolved solids, chlorophyll a, ammonium, total phosphorus, total nitrogen, total dissolved phosphorus and nitrate-nitrite) from May-August 2007, to provide data on the current state of the watershed and to track changes. The Winter and Spring Newsletter was produced and distributed to ~4700 landowners including articles on the group’s Silver Medal recipient of the Canadian Environment Award, Watershed Management Plan information, education program outlines, yard maintenance for cottage owners, riparian areas and ATV’s.

North Saskatchewan River watershed The North Saskatchewan River Basin covers about 80,000 km2 of the province. The basin originates in the Saskatchewan Glacier in Banff National Parks and generally flows in an eastward direction to the Alberta-Saskatchewan border. The Brazeau, Nordegg, Ram, Clearwater, Sturgeon and Vermilion rivers flow into the North Saskatchewan River within Alberta. Major centres within the basin include Drayton Valley, Rocky Mountain House, Edmonton, Fort Saskatchewan and the Saddle Lake Indian Reserve. The mean annual discharge from the basin in Alberta into Saskatchewan is over seven billion m3. Watershed planning and advisory councils (WPACs) include the North Saskatchewan Watershed Alliance and Battle River Watershed Alliance. Issues associated with this watershed and being tackled by watershed stewardship groups in this grant program were lessening the impact of urban households, agricultural run-off and recreational use on streams and lakes in the watershed, and raising awareness of actions that can be taken to improve the conditions of the watersheds,

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WLWLSA member LeVerne Ellsworth - taking water temperature at an inlet stream to Wizard Lake, Apr 11/07. Photo: Sheena Aitkin.

FALL 2006

Wizard Lake Watershed & Lake Stewardship Assoc.

Wizard Lake Stewardship Activities

LOCATION: Wizard Lake

GRANT AMOUNT: $4,200TOTAL PROJECT VALUE: $30,249.94

OTHER PARTNERS: Carson Production, Purnell Industrial, Whirlwind Energy, Leduc County and Alberta Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture (AESA), Alberta Environment (AENV) (in-kind)

The group’s activities included: the organization of a Wizard Lake Awareness Day with participation of various agencies and 74 people attending; installation of a bulletin board in Jubilee Park after agreeing design and objectives with Leduc County; distribution of 200 “On the Living Edge” healthy-lakeside living guides from the Federation of Alberta Naturalists (Living by Water Project). The group consulted and worked with AESA and AENV staff, forming a stream monitoring working group of 4 which took samples at 6 inlet stream locations and 1 outlet and gained the County’s assistance in using laboratories for the analysis. In the course of the project, 51 new memberships for the group were obtained.

Project Category: Tool-building

What we now have is the ability to demonstrate, year round, the possibilities of solar water pumping…. With pasture pipelines (rotational watering) and rotational grazing, we allow the livestock to spread their own manure (fertilizer) as the water is distributed. We combine remote water access with field feeding and portable windbreaks and we have another method of spreading the nutrient value of manure. When the solar system is taxed beyond sunlight

SPRING 2007

Rocky Riparian Group

Year Round Mobile Livestock Watering System

LOCATION: Various Farms – Clearwater County (first demo location at Raven River, West of Caroline)



OTHER PARTNERS: Clearwater County (grant holder), Alberta Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture (AESA), EPCOR Water Services Inc.,Alberta Conservation Association, Grey Wooded Forage Association

The off-site watering system was launched in late August 2007 as part of the West Country Agriculture Tour in which 73 attended, and done in conjunction with a riparian health assessment along the Raven River, west of

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availability, we add wind power to the water source equation and we have pumping opportunities. The new solar system is highly versatile to these ends. The impact level is great: moving livestock not only away from water sources but also distributing the animals throughout the pasture.

Gary Lewis – Environmental Extension Lead for Clearwater County and Activities Coordinator for the Rocky Riparian Group.

Caroline, in the North Saskatchewan watershed. The group’s first winter demonstration focused on ground water (well) protection which encouraged plans to partner with Alberta Agriculture to host a “Water Well Management” workshop in 2008 as a result of interest in source water protection. The major supplier of agricultural solar watering equipment in our County indicates 26 systems were installed in 2007; some evidence that these systems are catching on.

Project Category: Team-building

Summer 06. WLWLSA member LeVerne Ellsworth reading the lake elevation gauge for Alberta Environment. Photo: Carole Ellsworth.

SPRING 2006 Wizard Lake Watershed & Lake Stewardship Assoc.

Wizard Lake Stewardship Start-up Activities

LOCATION: Wizard Lake

GRANT AMOUNT: $4650


OTHER PARTNERS: ESSO, Alberta Lake Management Society, and worked with Alberta Environment and RCMP

Most successful of our activities were the public meeting, AGM and formation of working groups for our activities. It is only with the support and motivation of the residents that we can make significant progress in meeting our mission and goals.

In addition, it was important to produce tangible results initially and the speed buoys and signs had visibility and an immediate impact on safety and wildlife.

LLaavveerrnnee FFaauullkknneerr

The project enabled the group to carry through some start up activities including holding their first public meeting (85 people attended) and later AGM and social BBQ (60 attended). During this time, they produced and distributed 2 newsletters to 200 homes and initiated a tip-of-the-month in the local newspaper. They participated in the LakeWatch program, taking 42 water samples for analysis and a report on Wizard Lake water quality by Alberta Lake Management Society and recorded weekly observations of lake level taken from May to October 2006. In addition, members installed: 8 bulletin boards and 7 speed limit signs along the lakeshore, as well as 5 speed marker buoys and 24 high water rock markers. Their team grew as 50 families joined the association within the first 6 month, with 27 members active in 5 working groups. Awareness of watershed issues and the group’s work was raised as WLWLSA was mentioned in 20 newspaper spots.

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Above: First director meeting for 2007.

I was shocked and amazed to see the huge support and enthusiasm of people at our AGM who were willing to volunteer!

NNoorraa FFrriieessttaadd

SPRING 2007 Lac Sante Watershed Society

Membership Drive; Water testing and 1st

annual general meeting

LOCATION: Lac Sante, in St. Paul County



OTHER PARTNERS: Alberta Lake Management Society

The project enabled the group to carry through some start up activities including: work with Alberta Lake Management Society for water testing on Lac Sante; organization of speakers for informative sessions (water quality results, agricultural stewardship, county progress on Area Structure Plan) and AGM on September 4, 2007, in which 120 people attended, each receiving an information pack put together by the group. The group also set up a database set up to help with distribution of new education materials. Membership for this stewardship group increased from 50 to 120 people.

During our meetings, concerns were brought forth regarding water quality and how it is affected by the different industries operating within the county, especially due to extensive rapid oil and gas expansion within our county and the watershed, and discovery in 2004 of an oil spill during a helicopter fly over.... The West Central Airshed Society has a very extensive air quality monitoring program, and our group wanted to do the same with water

SPRING 2006 Brazeau Healthy Waterways

Water Sampling Two Main Rivers in Brazeau County

GRANT AMOUNT: $4,824.


OTHER PARTNERS: Brazeau County (grant holder), West Central Conservation Group, farmers in the area, Farm Water Watch, Environmental Farm Planning Corp., Alberta Stewardship Network

The project included: (1) water sampling twice a year in 2006 (spring and fall) on 2 upstream and downstream sites each of North Saskatchewan River and Pembina River for ammonium, phosphorus, nitrates, herbicides, aromatic and petroleum hydrocarbons for a datase that can be referred to yearly. (2) Participation in Water Quality Awarenes Day with 35 sites sampled; (3) 2 Riparian Health Assessments on tributaries of the major rivers; (4) 4 sites along North Saskatchewan River were cleared of noxious weed Tansy, a total of 55 bags were

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quality. We brought up the idea of setting up benchmark water sampling sites, which the group agreed to. Henry Hughes & Conny Kappler

filled; (5) Environmental Farm plans were introduced at the watershed meetings and at least 3 farms are undertaking plans for their farms.

Battle River sub-watershed


[2002] Invasive plant species are visible. Photo: Cows and Fish

[2007] Sedges and native vegitation dominate. Photo: Sue Ellen

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The first year of the Caring for the Battle River Contest was very successful. Students showed how impressive they can be and that their ideas are worth listening to. One comment that was made after the awards night was “in order to green Camrose we just need to listen to our kids and act on their ideas.” The judges and the people watching the students give their presentations were impressed with one person commenting “they did not know what to expect - maybe they would hear a good idea or two but they heard nine or ten!”

Maurice Samm, Camrose Adult Learning Council

FALL 2006

Camrose Adult Learning Council] Caring for the Battle River Contest

LOCATION: Camrose, Battle River



OTHER PARTNERS: U of A Augustana Campus, City of Camrose, Alberta Environment, Battle River School Division, Battle River Watershed Alliance, Camrose Adult Learning Council, Battle River Community Foundation, Agrium, Kenai Watershed Forum, Caring for the Kenai Agrium, Battle River Community Foundation, The University of Alberta Augustana Campus

In a schools contest based on Caring for the Kenai, Alaska, the group created a contest for secondary and tertiary level students in the Battle River watershed to come up with the best proposals in response to the question “What can I do, create, invent or improve, to better care for the Battle River?” Presentations were given to teachers and to all of the administers in the Battle River School Division focusing on educating teachers and students about issues and impacts of the Battle River Watershed and informing them about the contest. More than 60 students were involved in producing 23 team/individual proposals from high school division and 5 from university. University of Alberta Augustana Campus’ professors selected 12 finalists from High school and 3 from the university categories, while the project coordinator worked with finalists towards public oral presentations which were later judged by 7 community representatives at an event where 80 people attended. An awards night was attended by 120 people including the Mayor. After this first year, the University of Alberta: Augustana Campus is talking of creating a scholarship for the awards winner on top of the current prizes, while funding for 2007 is already started as Agrium has signed an MOU to be a long term industry sponsor. The group is working with local technical experts to help ensure the best proposals can be implemented.

Project Category: Tool-building

Above: tour of the demo site (August 2006). Below: cattle using the offsite watering system. Photos: Kristin Cuss.

SPRING 2006 Iron Creek Watershed Improvement Society Riparian Demonstration Site

LOCATION: Calon’s farm, Flagstaff County


TOTAL PROJECT VALUE: $8280.63

OTHER PARTNERS: Alberta Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture (AESA), Cows and Fish, Flagstaff County, Glen Hvenegaaurd (University of Alberta professor, bird specialist)

A Riparian Demonstration Site was always on our group’s wish list….However, we were never able to come up with the amount of funding required to

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develop such a site. Farmers and ranchers also went through some difficult financial times with prolonged drought and BSE, so the right conditions never came along until the ASN grant was made available….The accessibility of this site by other farmers and ranchers will allow them to see some of the best management practices for riparian management for themselves.

Don Ruzicka

The group fenced off most of the site to prevent cattle access there to Iron Creek; and installed a solar powered water pumping system for off-stream livestock watering and Demonstration Site sign at the site. Members organized a riparian health day in August 2006 (12 attended). As an extended activity, the group worked with 20 Grade 3, 4 and 5 students to plant 100 Red Osier Dogwood shrubs at the site on the banks of Iron Creek. At the site, students also learned about the importance of shrubs in riparian areas, characteristics of Red Osier Dogwooed and the importance and value of riparian areas on our landscape, and got a chance to look at aquatic invertebrates and play Cows & Creeks Game provided by Cows & Fish staff. By the end of the project, the group had managed to establish a baseline for the site through bird species inventory, riparian health inventory by Cows & Fish, observed aquatic life, and geo-referenced pictures to aid future monitoring. This will assist the group in providing data to the public that show results of best management practices. Maintenance to help get the shrubs established was carried out by the Calon’s, members of the group and AESA staff. The site is also used by students to show what the agricultural community is doing for the environment.

South Saskatchewan River watershed The South Saskatchewan River Basin includes the sub-basins of the Bow, Red Deer, Oldman and South Saskatchewan river basins. All of the basins begin in the Rocky Mountains, generally flowing eastward through foothills and prairie. The combined watershed of the basins is 121,095 km2, of which 41% is to the Red Deer sub-basin, 22% to the Oldman, 21% to the Bow and 16% to the South Saskatchewan. The mean annual discharge from the basin into Saskatchewan is 9,280,000 m3. Indicating the propensity of the South Saskatchewan River Basin for agriculture as well as the reciprocal need for water distribution and supply, all of the province's thirteen irrigation districts are found within this major basin. For Red Deer River sub-watershed, Red Deer is a major urban centre, while Calgary is the major urban centre in the Bow River sub-watershed and Lethbridge is the major urban centre in the Oldman River subwatershed8. Watershed planning and advisory councils (WPACs) are in place for all main sub-watersheds: Red Deer River Watershed Allliance, Bow River Basin Council and Oldman Watershed Council and South East Alberta Watershed Council.

Red Deer River sub-watershed Issues associated with this sub-watershed of the South Saskatchewan River and being tackled by watershed stewardship groups in this grant program were: promotion of residential landscaping practices to conserve water (e.g. xeroscaping); plugging of abandoned water wells and encouraging environmental farm planning to manage impacts on the watershed from agricultural activities, encouraging conservation of key habitat sites using signage with the landowners, and development of key communications messages to encourage careful land use management, policy and beneficial residential behaviours.

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Project Category: Awareness & Knowledge In 2006, the group helped activities for schools including: a Wheatland Irrigation District water canal visit (114 school children attended); participation in Alberta Water Quality Awareness (AWQA) for students to learn how to do basic water quality testing; and hosted a school watershed awareness day and watershed poster colouring contest which involved 564 school children. In addition, 3 abandoned water wells were sealed in demonstrations, 3 new habitat sites were established with landowners, 20 farmers completed their own Environmental Farm Plan workbooks, 50 people had a chance to learn about aquifers and hear both sides of the Coal Bed Methane issues with government, oil companies, water well drillers, and farmers involved at the group's AGM. One hundred people heard about efforts to protect the Rosebud River watershed at the annual SPLASH membership and fundraising drive event.

SPRING 2006

Rosebud River Watershed Partnership Awareness for a Healthy Rosebud River Watershed

LOCATION: Rosebud River


TOTAL PROJECT VALUE: $7,125.38 (plus in-kind, not recorded)

OTHER PARTNERS: Encana, Quicksilver, AWQA, Cattleland, Wheatland Irrigation District, Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, Alberta Environmental Farm Plan.

Area farmers working on the Environmental Farm Plan workbooks at workshop in March 2007 sponsored by RRWP. Photo: Cheryl Marshman

We are in our 8th year and as the years go by we feel that our logo has become well known in the County of Wheatland and that people are starting to look to us for assistance in helping with environmental issues in the area.

SStteepphhaanniiee HHaayywwaarrdd

FALL 2006

Rosebud River Watershed Partnership Raising Awareness of the Rosebud River Watershed

LOCATION: Rosebud River watershed, Countyof Wheatland


TOTAL PROJECT VALUE: $9,851 (plus in-kind, not recorded)

OTHER PARTNERS: Encana, Quicksilver, Alberta Water Quality Awareness Day, Wheatland Irrigation District, Cattleland, Ducks Unlimited Canada, Pheasants Forever

In 2007, the group continued to organize activities to encourage beneficial management practices in the Rosebud River watershed including: 2 Environmental Farm Plan workshops in March (with 21 farmers), and putting up signs for habitat conservation sites at farmside locations and wetlands, urban xeriscaping and demonstrations of plugging of abandoned water wells. Other awareness activities included: the watershed colouring/poster contest with K-6 students,

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while approximately 100 children participated in various events during the annual Watershed Awareness day in Rockyford School in June 2007; the March AGM with speakers; the annual SPLASH membership drive and fundraising event (approx 100 attended); and an annual public canoe trip on the Rosebud River which included a presentation on riparian areas, habitat and health from Cows & Fish staff, and ended with a BBQ (25 people attended).

The group’s new display.

SPRING 2006

Sylvan Lake Watershed Stewardship Society Tool Development to Support Awareness and Communication Efforts

LOCATION: Sylvan Lake



OTHER PARTNERS: Shell Environmental Fund

This project included the compilation of all scientific information and plans related to the lake and its watershed into a report, identifying gaps between scientific recommendations, policy and action. Several thematic layers were developed as part of a GIS map product of information on Sylvan Lake watershed including landsat base map and hydrology layers. Key message themes were developed for the group to use in its communications to protect and restore the Sylvan Lake watershed (also in the report) and a new portable display created based on these.

SPRING 2007

Butte Action Committee for the EnvironmentMaximize web site impact and membership knowledge

LOCATION: www.waterdropcycle.com



The grant enabled the volunteers to research and update their website with information on Synergy Alberta, Red Deer Watershed Alliance, from the synergy groups Tay River Advisory Committee and West Central Stakeholders, amongst others, as well as update their display, develop and print pamphlets & business cards for meetings & conferences.

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Project Category: Tool-building It is easier to show people how to change than it is to stand up in front of them and tell them how to change.

The most successful part of the project is the purchase of the two solar pump systems because they are there for anyone interested in these systems and to see them work. By moving the cattle away from the creek we will have cleaner water going into the Medicine River and thus cleaner water going into the water treatment plants downstream.

Warren Miller

SPRING 2007

Medicine River Watershed SocietyManure Management Through offsite watering

LOCATION: Pregoda and Liivam Farms, Lacombe County, Gilby Area, Medicine River

GRANT AMOUNT: $7500


OTHER PARTNERS: Alberta Environment (in-kind)

The project enabled 2 solar pump systems (1 summer pipeline and 1 summer and winter waterer) to be installed in Pregoda and Liivam farms as part of farm demonstration sites. To monitor effectiveness, the group worked with Alberta Environment on water testing along Medicine River (one test/year for pesticides, as well as more regular testing for E Coli, nitrates, phosphates, dissolved oxygen, bacteria), finding a fairly high level of nutrients and bacteria loading in the creek. The group raised awareness of the projects with a supper and trade show where the producers gave a detailed presentation of both sites including digital pictures. At that time Alberta Environment also presented the results of water testing from this past year and from last year.

Project Category: Biophysical & Social MonitoringSPRING 2007

Friends of Little Red Deer River Society

Water Quality Testing with Olds College

LOCATION: Little Red Deer River



OTHER PARTNERS: Olds College

The group contracts Olds College to undertake annual water quality testing from May to September with students trained at the college in April and May. Samples are tested for fecal coli form, phosphorus, nitrate, dissolved oxygen, temperature and turbidity. Results assist the group in determining where best to direct their efforts and are published in the local paper and the group’s newsletters.

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Bow River sub-watershed

The Bow River originates from Bow Glacier in Banff National Park. The basin is home to more than one million Albertans and the population is growing placing demand on a limited and uncertain future water supply as the glacier retreats. The area includes several irrigation districts and much of the water supply supports agriculture in the area. Hundreds of thousands of people visit every year, attracted to recreational possibilities in scenic setting. The watershed includes Calgary as the main urban centre for the area and water conservation and stormwater run-off are major issues. Water quality declines along the length of the Bow River, with higher concentrations of nutrients and pesticides in the lower reaches. Other issues include invasive plant species and wetland loss. Issues that watershed stewardship groups responded to in this grant program were: the spread of invasive alien plant species, litter/garbage dumping, wetland restoration needs, ATV access issues and streambank erosion and impacts of urban and rural land developments.

Project Category: Awareness & Knowledge We provided students with hands on learning about watershed protection. This experiential approach is very effective in building on knowledge learned in the classroom. This [project] also gave an important opportunity to post-secondary students to gain experience in environmental education….We received 50+ resumes for the post from New Brunswick to Victoria…. The most cited reason for applying was the opportunity to get hands on work experience in environmental education and the opportunity to learn more about watershed protection. In this case, an intern with a background in plant ecology has been provided in-depth knowledge about watershed protection. She will soon be a classroom teacher and remains a strong ambassador for this program.

Kathy Wilcox, EExxeeccuuttiivvee DDiirreeccttoorr FFrriieennddss ooff KKaannaannaasskkiiss CCoouunnttrryy

Field Study Program on the Elbow – water quality testing

SPRING 2006

Friends of Kananaskis Country Environmental Education Internship – Watershed Protection Program

LOCATION: various locations along the Elbow River, Kananaskis



OTHER PARTNERS: Alberta Parks – Kananaskis Country, Elbow River Watershed Partnership, Lafarge Canada, STEP Program

In 2006, the Watershed Protection Program enabled Grade 8 and 9 students (479), teachers and parent volunteers (63), to experience a field study program designed to challenge students to predict and then discover human impacts on river ecology and directly linked with grade 8’s Freshwater systems and Grade 9’s Environmental Chemistry science curriculum. From headwaters to Calgary along the Elbow River, students observe the land use and are engaged in discussions and conversations about water, watersheds and their personal impact, and test the water for dissolved oxygen, nitrates, phosphates, PH, turbidity, temperature and aquatic invertebrates. The environmental education intern also organized week long day Junior Naturalist Camps for 9 to 12 year old kids from Canmore, Calgary and Bragg Creek (40) and conducted mini workships at the Canmore Children’s Festival for young childeren to learn about aquatic invertebrates and their water homes (approx. 100 children). The program also provided an

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intensive learning/employment opportunity for one post-secondary student in environmental education. Events were popular with full enrolment in Canmore day camps (went to waiting lists) and increasing teacher interest in the field study program.

SPRING 2007

Friends of Kananaskis Country

Environmental Education Internship: Watershed Protection Program

LOCATION: various locations along the Elbow River



OTHER PARTNERS: Alberta Parks, Elbow River Watershed Partnership, Lafarge Canada, STEP Program

Left: As part of the Junior Naturalist Camp a participant was dressed as a beaver to illustrate the adaptations beavers have to fill their niche in the environment. This activity took place next to a wetland exhibiting beaver activity. Additional props include beaver pelts, posters and costumes of butterflies, moths and dragonflies (July 3, 2007). Photo: Adam Argento

The post secondary interns that lead the watershed protection program first received mentoring by Kananaskis Country staff, City of Calgary water quality analysts, professors at the U of C, ranchers, golf course managers, and more. The interns went on to deliver 29 field study programs to 748 Grade 8&9 students from 10 schools with the participation of 115 teachers and parent volunteers, as well as to a field tour group during the Trails to Sustainability national environmental education conference in May 2007 (fully attended session at 35 – with many people on the waiting list). The field study program showed a 56% increase in students from the previous year. The interns also lead the group’s Junior Naturalist summer camps with 54 kids from Canmore, Calgary and Bragg Creek attended and added a family experiential learning component on the final day of each camp with 122 additional people attending. Approximately 100 children learned about invertebrates and their water homes in mini workshops at the Canmore Children’s Festival.

The group organized a workshop on Tuesday, October 30, 2007 at the Siksika Business Centre for farmers and ranchers with speakers geared to watershed management best practices. The event entailed presentations regarding the Environmental Farm Plan, Water wells, Riparian Areas (Cows & Fish), Best Practices, Demonstration Site: Thurn Pit (Alberta Ag), Weed Concerns and Inspection on Riparian and Agricultural Areas and Biological Controls (Weed Inspector), and the Siksika Scentless Chamomile project. During a field day in November, the group then took agriculture producers to examine locations

SPRING 2007

Siksika First NationSiksika Workshop: Riparian Health Information & Management Practices

LOCATION: Siksika, Alberta



OTHER PARTNERS:Siksika Corporation For Agriculture Development Ltd (SCAD, grant holder)

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along the Crowfoot Creek to its connection to the Bow River, examining and discussing the implications of cattle grazing along the riparian areas directly adjacent to the creek.

We believe that the Upper Bow River is approaching a critical state of stress and transition, resulting from growing human pressure in various forms. It was our objective to give the river a voice; i.e. if the Upper Bow were speaking to us, what would it say? We knew that the subject would prompt a variety of responses from a cross section of individuals with converging concerns for the river and its future.

LLllooyydd BBeennttlleeyy

SPRING 2007 Friends of Banff Park Radio

Voices of the Upper Bow Audio Series

LOCATION: The Upper Bow River Valley (Banff Canmore)

GRANT AMOUNT: $350


OTHER PARTNERS: Yellowstone to Yukon, Alberta Ecotrust, Parks Canada, Town of

Banff, Whyte Museum

The group organized the 6 Part Radio Series “Voices of the Upper Bow” for play on Banff Park Radio in the summer of 2007. The Bow Valley is a small community, and to engender responses the group were in contact with representatives of a wide range of interests and occupations; by the time the production was rolling, people were asking to be included; around 150 individuals were involved in a valley of 40,000 residents. Speakers in the series included: Parks Canada, The Whyte Museum, Bow Riverkeeper, Discover Banff Tours, Yellowstone to Yukon Initiative, Banff Elementary School, The Town of Banff, The Banff Centre and Trout Unlimited Canada. The production was peer reviewed by Parks Canada and Bow Riverkeeper, CDs distributed and a podcast system set up enabling listeners to hear the podcast series from their website.

Project Category: Tool-Building The group contracted the Miistakis Institute to gather data, examining the important ecological components within of the Ghost Watershed, as an aid to guide future watershed management strategies and enable the group to be able to respond effectively to development proposals. The project was completed on August 29th

2007, with the Miistakis report identifying sources and uses of data layers on landscape, land use and ecology, as well as data gaps and producing a representative map. TransAlta, amongst other companies in the area, shared data for the mapping project (access roads, diversion structure, erosion control features). Community members also helped fundraise for the project by organizing a concert.

FALL 2006

Ghost Watershed Alliance Society Ghost Watershed Scoping & Data Gathering

LOCATION: Ghost watershed



OTHER PARTNERS: Beaupre concerts, Miistakis Institute

For the first time the GWAS has a map displaying watershed features, resource extraction and landscape features.

Marina Krainer

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Map source: Cows & Fish.

SPRING 2007

Upper Tongue Creek Riparian GroupOff-stream water system and rotational grazing plan

LOCATION: Tongue Creek, High River



OTHER PARTNERS: Bow River Basin Council (grant holder), Cows & Fish, Talisman Energy, TUC High River chapter

This project involved the installation of a solar water pump system, seeding 16 acres with native grass and the installation of electric fencing around the native pasture to establish an agricultural BMP demonstration site and keeping cattle away from the creek and demonstration site sign. Photos of the site were taken in August 2007 as a benchmark for future riparian health monitoring and a tour conducted in September with other local ranchers, group partners and other interested area residents.

Project Category: Team-BuildingAs a basis for helping establish a watershed conservation society of the Horse Creek Watershed, the group compiled and summarized existing data on the watershed into a report (including land use maps provided by the MD) and surveyed residents of the watershed (35) for their interest in being part of a group.

FALL 2006 Cochrane Ecological Institute - Cochrane Wildlife Reserve Society Establish Horse Creek Watershed Conservation Society

LOCATION: Horse Creek watershed (Cochrane)

GRANT AMOUNT: $5000


OTHER PARTNERS: Three Creeks Watershed Partnership, MD of Rocky View

SPRING 2007 Nose Creek Watershed Partnership

Nose Creek Watershed Plan Implementation Coordinator

LOCATION: Nose Creek Watershed (MD of Rocky View, City of Calgary, City of Airdrie and the Town of Crossfield)



OTHER PARTNERS: MD of Rocky View

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August 2007 Bioengineering event and clean up Photo: S Binstead

Example of new fact sheet.

(grant holder), Trout Unlimited Canada, City of Calgary

What was most successful? Having a new website enables the Nose Creek Partnership to promote the Water Management Plan, progress on its implementation, educate, and to advertise local stewardship activities within the Nose creek basin to a larger number of stakeholders

In addition, the Watershed Management Plan was adopted by the Municipal councils of the member jurisdictions of the Nose Creek Watershed Partnership - the major implementation action for 2007! The Plan provides clear direction to the staff within these municipalities enabling them to require consistent protection of Nose Creek and the surrounding riparian areas throughout the planning and development process.

EErriinn MMccMMaahhoonn

Having a coordinator, enabled the group to: develop and launch a website (in September, 2007 ; www.nosecreekpartnership.com ); coordinate two soil bioengineering projects in the Nose Creek watershed and 5 clean up events; and complete fact sheets to support municipalities and developers in implementing the Nose Creek Watershed Management Plan’s recommendations, including the topics Riparian Protection, Integrated Stormwater Management and Low Impact Development, Protection of Natural Features. The Nose Creek Water Management Plan was also adopted by the Municipal Councils of the City of Calgary, the City of Airdrie and the Municipal District of Rocky View and by the Director of Approvals at Alberta Environment and posted on the website.

SPRING 2007

Three Creeks Watershed PartnershipHiring a neutral facilitator for watershed planning

LOCATION: Bighill, Horse and Jumpingpound Creek watersheds – near Cochrane, AB



OTHER PARTNERS: MD of Rocky View (Grant holder), Town of Cochrane, MD of Bighorn, Cows and Fish, Trout Unlimited Canada, Alberta Conservation Association, Fisheries and Oceans Canada The Bighill, Horse and Jumpingpound Creek watersheds are under pressure from the cumulative effects of increasing residential and commercial development, industrial growth, stormwater discharges, agricultural activities and channelization. Improper land management practices result in degraded water quality, poor

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Part of a Watershed Report Card produced for Horse Creek by the Partnership. Source: Sandi Riemersma (facilitator).

riparian health and decreased biodiversity. The overall need was to bring land managers and residents together to develop a plan on how some of these issues can be prevented or resolved in the future.

Sheikh Javed Ahmed

In 2007, this umbrella group hired a facilitator to guide the development of groups to improve the health in three creek watersheds: Jumping Pound, Horse and Bighill Creeks. The Ranchers of the Jumping Pound worked together to create a draft Terms of Reference for the Jumpingpound Creek Watershed Management Plan which was presented to 5 organizations in the watershed and a Public Open House was hosted to talk about developments (with 27 people). The facilitator also collected basic information for Bighill and Horse Creek on watershed health indicators (i.e., water quality, fisheries and benthic invertebrate samples) and conducted a stream corridor assessment during the summer months. Watershed field evenings were organized for Horse Creek (14 landowners attended) and Bighill Creek (8 attended) in which information was shared about water quality, riparian areas and fisheries resources for each watershed. Finally two fact sheets were produced summarizing data collected during the summer months on Horse Creek and Bighill Creek.

May 18, group shot. Photos: Sarah Hamza

Over the past few years, the McClean Creek area has experienced a significant increase in the number of recreational users. This has resulted in fairly significant impacts to some of its riparian areas. The bioengineering course provided the ERWP with the foundation to carry out riparian restoration and enhancement activities. The site has also become a demonstration site - itcontinues to help the organization to increase awareness of the effects of land uses on watercourses. The McClean Creek site proved ideal for discussing the effects of multiple land uses on water courses (within the area you have logging, recreation, and cattle grazing) and for showcasing what can be done to restore a degraded area.

SSaarraahh HHaammzzaa

FALL 2006

Elbow River Watershed Partnership Bioengineering Workshop

LOCATION: McClean Creek, Kananaskis Provincial Park



OTHER PARTNERS: Sustainable Resource Development (SRD); Alberta Tourism, Parks, and Recreation (ATPR)

July 20, live reinforced wall (same site with regeneration)

May 18, sign installed at site by SRD.

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The group organized two ½ day bioengineering workshops where instructor Dave Polster taught participants bionengineering techniques to empower 21 participants with the knowledge and skill to implement their own future small-scale ecological restoration projects. Partnerships with SRD for the workshop enabled some equipment and the venue for the theory part of the workshop to be provided. One the second day, the group worked together to restore a severly eroded area of McLean Creek bank. Four different techniques were applied (wattle fence, live pole drains, live staking, live reinforced earth wall) and over 100 willows staked along both sides of McClean Creek’s banks. SRD and ATPR also provided volunteers and materials to build a sturdy fence around the site which protected it from heavy recreational use in the area in an upcoming long weekend. The restored site has been visited by approx 120 teenagers and adults as a bioengineering demonstration site, was featured as part of ERWP & Friends of Kananaskis Country’s Watershed Protection Program in summer 2007, and was included in a field tour for the national environmental education conference Trails to Sustainability in May 2007 (approx 30 visitors). The ERWP has already received a grant to use the techniques learned to restore three more sites in 2008 in the Moose Mountain Environmental Enhancement Area (which includes McClean Creek) with site selection based on the results of riparian health inventories undertaken by Cows & Fish in 2007. As a result of these initial workshops, participants have initiated many additional projects and subsequent workshops.

FALL 2006 Friends of Fish Creek Provincial Park Society Bioengineering Course 2 (rehabilitation of Stream Beds)

LOCATION: Fish Creek, Fish Creek Provincial Park



OTHER PARTNERS: Alberta Parks (in-kind)

The bend in Fish Creek, after bridge 12, was severely damaged and was eroding from the constant force of the water... [our goal was] repairing the patch of the creek so that it will no longer erode, to help ensure Fish Creek Provincial Park continues to prosper well into the future.

Bonnie Castle-Dixon

The course comprised two ½ day workshops covered theory and practice of bioengineering techniques to restore streambanks (24 participants). On the second day, 200m2 of the Fish Creek embankment was reconstructed by participants using two of the bioengineering techniques learned.

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Retrieving a water sample from one of the sites (July 24, 2006).

Obtaining the baseline biophysical data was extremely important; for example water quality data obtained will be compared with future readings to assess the impacts from the proposed developments in the watershed. This data also contributed to the knowledge presented in the educational programs, and was used in development of the Park User Survey.

SPRING 2006

Weaselhead/Glenmore Park Preservation Society

The Weaselhead -Elbow River Water Quality Initiative

LOCATION: Weaselhead Natural Environment Park, Calgary



OTHER PARTNERS: The City of Calgary Water Quality Staff, Elbow River Watershed Partnership, and Calgary Riverwatch

The data provides substantial, factual information on which to develop the educational programs and make informed decisions regarding the watershed health.

GGaarryy HHaaeerrllee

The group conducted water quality monitoring and inventory assessments to measure current environmental and social conditions to help determine the impact of a 16-lane highway and commercial development planned immediately adjacent to the Weaselhead Natural Urban Park in Calgary, as well as upstream urban development and recreation sites. Work included: taking weekly water quality readings by trained personnel from three different sites along the Elbow River for 15 weeks from July to October 2006 (309 readings for 8 parameters); a Pollution Inventory during the summer and fall, 2006 (litter materials, dog feces, off-trail biking, vandalism, air quality, and noise pollution within the Weaselhead Park). A Weaselhead Pollution Diversity Grid was developed to serve as a template for future inventory assessments. In addition, the group developed a Park User survey with input from the City of Calgary to serve as a useful, on-going tool to collect knowledge of users related to the Weaselhead natural habitat and water quality and to guide the group’s education programs (115 people were surveyed from 4 LOCATION:s - Weaselhead Park, the Calgary Tower (Wild Alberta Expo, AWA), TELUS World of Science (Earth Day Expo) and the City of Calgary Teachers Convention). In the spring of 2006, approximately 100 classes of students and 3000 individuals, including parent volunteers, participated in the educational programs and expressed an increased knowledge of water quality influences and healthy ecological dynamics.

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Nose Creek in the City of Calgary. Photo: Sheikh J. Ahmed.

FALL 2006

Nose Creek Watershed Partnership Nose Creek Watershed Baseline Photo Riparian Log

LOCATION: Nose and West Nose Creeks



OTHER PARTNERS: MD Rocky View (grant holder), Cows and Fish, Palliser Environmental Services Ltd.

To the project created a baseline photo log of the status of riparian areas along Nose and West Nose Creek in 2007, with digital photos taken of 500 meter intervals along both creeks taking into account upstream, midstream and downstream locations. Thirty landowners supported the assessment of 56 sites with the status of 42 of these compared against a previous photo log undertaken by Cows & Fish in 2000 and earlier riparian inventory work completed by Westhoff Engineering Resources Ltd. Of of the 20 sites re-assessed in Nose Creek 20% showed an improvement in riparian health (35% appeared degraded) while 14% of 22 sites re-assessed for West Nose Creek showed an improvement (36% appeared degreded). Overall, the most common disturbance indicators at the Nose Creek riparian sites were associated with development pressures such as channel realignment, golf courses and residential development. For West Nose Creek the most common disturbance indicator at the riparian sites was associated with cattle grazing. Fourteen new sites were also given a baseline health rating using the same indicator areas (bank stability, disturbance indicators and overall condition). Photographs are used for awareness work with the stakeholders, including ranchers and the residents of the watershed, and to enable the study of existing trends of channelization in the Creeks and to further encourage development of a detailed Riparian Policy for the whole MD as envisioned in the NCWMP implementation Strategy. The final report to NCWP included recommendations to address land management for both creeks as well as future monitoring initiatives, site-specific photos, observations to identify the trend in riparian health since the previous site visit (i.e., improved, unchanged or degraded).

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FALL 2006

Stanley Park to Glenmore Dam Preservation Society

Waterwatch on the Elbow

LOCATION: Elbow River



OTHER PARTNERS: RiverWatch, Cliff Bungalow Mission Community Association, Calgary, Alberta, John Gilpin, historian and author, History of the Glenmore Dam, Bill Bruce, Chief Bylaw Officer, City of Calgary, Parks, City of Calgary

The group developed a community Waterwatch Program on the lower Elbow downstream of the Glenmore Dam in order to build community understanding of water quality issues. Monitoring activities of the group included 13 volunteers collecting water samples twice a month from May through to October 2007at sites along the Lower Elbow from the Glenmore Dam to the confluence of the Bow and partner RiverWatch also conducted 2 water quality testing in-services on, at Sandy Beach and Fort Calgary (April 30 and May 28, respectively). The group also organized awareness activities with partners including: a program launch in March 2007 with a presentation by John Gilpin (author and researcher of the history of the Glenmore Dam and the Elbow River Watershed Partnership; 20 people attended); “If the River Could Talk” series of walks (approx 20-30 people attended), and a RiverWatch Float on the Lower Elbow (June 2007) with talks on water quality, fishery, invasive weeds, riparian ecosystem, development in the floodway and armouring of riverbanks on Lower Elbow (38 participants). In May the annual Pathway Clean-up of the Elbow River from the Glenmore Dam to the east end of Sandy Beach involved 30 volunteers including 15 employees from the Glenmore Water Treatment Plant. Members were interviewed about findings on Global TV News, Calgary, CHQR Radio, and with the Chief Bylaw Officer, City of Calgary, on “Sounds Like Canada”, CBC (Aug. 6, 2007).

SPRING 2007

Friends of Fish Creek Provincial Park Society

Fish Creek Water Quality Study



TOTAL PROJECT VALUE: $9,295.60 + in-kind

OTHER PARTNERS: Fish Creek Provincial Park, Alberta Government (Alberta Tourism,

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Above: In October 2007 group members also worked with 25 students from Centennial High School on a Science 20 course pilot project, which included taking them to Fish Creek to take water quality samples. This group of students is at a high risk of not furthering their education and proceeding on to a Post Secondary Institution, our goal was to take them into the Park for a hands on experience, which will hopefully increase their marks and develop a desire for them to pursue a career in the sciences.

BBoonnnniiee CCaassttllee--DDiixxoonn

Parks, Recreation and Culture in Fish Creek Provincial Park as well as AENV in Calgary)

A water study had not been done on Fish Creek since 1999, and after the 2005 flood, the creek has changed. Also, since we started the program, the City of Calgary announced that they will be taking out all of the storm water outfalls within Fish Creek Provincial Park and replacing them with free flowing wetland pondsin 2008. It will be interesting to see the difference in the water quality emptying into the Bow River once these have been established, so it was quite beneficial that we were able to get preliminary tests done on the creek before the new ponds are created.

The project aimed to develop and conduct a Surface Water Quality Monitoring Program (WQMP) for Fish Creek, a tributary of the Bow River to support comparison of results with Canadian Water Quality Guidelines (CWQG)and work towards development of Water Quality Objectives (WQO) for the Creek with Park Staff. Work included developing a water testing manual with procedures to guide volunteers, who conducted monthly sampling in the park from July to November 2007 from the 37th Street bridge to the mouth of the creek where it enters the Bow River. Partnerships with City of Calgary, Parks and Alberta Environment, enabled samples to be analysed and interpreted. Results were also shared with the Bow River Basin Council enabling them to fill in data gaps for the area, in their work developing the Bow River watershed management plan.

Beaver dam along Fish Creek. Photo: Erika Almási-Klauz

Slide from the Amphibian PPT. Erika Almási-Klauz

SPRING 2007

Friends of Fish Creek Provincial Park SocietyManaging Our Resources in Fish Creek Provincial Park




OTHER PARTNERS: Alberta Conservation Association (ACA),Fish Creek Provincial Park (FCPP)

Amphibians are declining all over Canada and it is imperative that as much information as possible be collected to aid in the management and conservation of their populations. Beavers are key in controlling watershed dynamics, therefore researching their population is crucial to maintaining a healthy aquatic and riparian habitat.

Erika Almási-Klauz & Vaughn Hauser

This project involved volunteers in monitoring the current status and distribution of amphibians and beavers within Fish Creek Provincial Park, as indicators of watershed health and as a basis

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for the future development of management and conservation strategies. The coordinator developed website information, an information brochure, poster, newsletter articles (250+residences received newsletters with project information), data sheets, and held workshops incorporating presentations developed to support monitoring. Nineteen volunteers were involved in the beaver monitoring program, completing an inventory of amphibian species presence, abundance and distribution from April to June 2007. From June to October 2007, 26 volunteers assisted in the same for the beaver monitoring program. Beaver populations were found to be adequate with little difference in population numbers from a 1998 survey (eleven beaver colonies were found with an estimated total 44 beaver individuals vs 48 in 1998). Amphibian populations within FCPP are a cause for concern; low numbers were found at the monitoring sites throughout the FCPP. Volunteers will be involved in tree-wrapping to prevent some beaver damage and the Friends will be developing a more comprehensive monitoring program for amphibians with the Fish Creek Provincial Park staff. Data is provided to Fisheries and Wildlife Information System (FWMIS) and submitted to ACA and FCPP. Information correspondence supports 4 departments implement wildlife Conservation/ Management plans (FCPP, EMAN, ACA, SRD)


One of the clean ups (May 13). Photo: Andrew Stiles.

Both weeds and litter are bigger problems than any one agency or citizen group can solve. They are society-wide problems that require everyone doing something positive. There is no other feasible way to deal with them in any long term fashion unless we broaden the field of helpers.

We’ve found that personal invitation and inspiration seem to work best to accomplish this.Dozens of people have reported something like “We go out in three hour shifts to rid our property of Oxeye Daisy” or “You’d be proud of us, we take a bag along whenever we go for a walk now” or “I even tell my friends about what real weeds are”.

AAnnddrreeww SSttiilleess

FALL 2006

Calgary Field Naturalists Society Leading Community Participation in Clean Up (Phase II)

LOCATION: Bow River and Southern Alberta riparian areas



The project involved leading groups to care for their local riparian areas through wildlife appreciation (667 birdhouses were built and taken home by Grade School children), litter clean ups, as well as weed detection and control to stem the rapidly increasing invasive species problem. More than 300 people received a full presentation about invasive alien species and the need for stewardship action (including a Schoolyard Naturalization ThinkTank in Calgary and at the Alberta Landscaping Expo, Calgary Zoo's master gardener class). A weed ID and management course was given to park conservation officers, and a presentation given to aldermen at City Hall in Calgary and the Weed Warriors presentation was given to Alberta Teachers Association Science Council conference. At least 30 miles of shorelines were cleared of trash, some of which was there for a long time, as more than 670 people joined in field trips removing litter and weeds (including families, students, kayak clubs and church groups).

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Combined litter pickup and Leafy Spurge weed pull along Bow River (July 11, Nakoda Youth)

Huge amounts of trash had been dumped over the escarpments around the Bow River on Reserve lands and needed to be cleaned up. A focus of the project was to deal with ‘hotspots’ of trash accumulation or problem areas that would have the most significant impact on water quality. Stoney elders identified a few particular creeks which had previously held fish and lauded the garbage removal, expressing the hope that once again fish and other organisms might be able to use these sites.

DDaavvee JJoohhnnssoonn

SPRING 2007 Calgary Field Naturalists Society

Leading Community River clean up near Morley on Bow

LOCATION: The Bow River from Seebee to Ghost Dam and tributaries, particularly along Nakoda First Nation (Stoney) lands



Cleanup on east side of Morley Transfer Site (May 15th).Photos: Dave Johnson

In this project, the group gave presentations to five community groups, and met with numerous elders as well as political authorities (Public Works, Land Committee, Education, Band Administrators and Council) to support the clean-up. Together, 83 volunteers, plus staff and students of Morley Community School, assisted in cleaning up 125.5km of shoreline/riparian areas (Bow River, Old Fort Creek, Benjamin Creek, Jacob’s Creek, Spring Creek, Chief Hector Lake, and the majority of Ghost Lake, as well as numerous small streams/wetlands), removing 6,160 kg of trash, which was then properly disposed of.

Understanding, protecting and improving the environment is one important area of opportunity for us to undertake as a small community…. The

SPRING 2006

Arrowwood Communities in Bloom Assoc. Arrowhead Community Wetland Enhancement Project

LOCATION: Village of Arrowwood



OTHER PARTNERS: Arrowwood Restoration Society (grant holder), Villageof Arrowwood, Palliser Environmental Services Ltd., Vulcan County, Arrowwood Community School, Fisheries and Oceans

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benefits to date have been a definite increase in awareness of the value of the wetland as well as an increase in recreational interest resulting from the School’s role in the Partnership….Having the Arrowwood School involved in the project was likely our most successful venture. This will insure the longevity of the project as students monitor the site through time.

Sharon Oakes

Canada SIA, Northwest Recreation Board, Joe’s Excavating, Golden Valley Grains Ltd., and Bell Pole.

The group undertook to restore and enhance the small, spring fed wetland near the village to increase nesting habitat for birds, reduce flooding, reduce the presence of alkalinity and fox tail barley, and to provide educational and recreational opportunities for the Village and surrounding area. The project involved: restoration in the riparian area with the planting of 49 shrubs (including Saskatoons, Snowberry, Dogwood, Hawthorn and five species of Willow); permits and excavation of the railway bed to remove a culvert. A Water Quality Test Kit was purchased for the Arrowwood School, along with some dip nets and a Watershed Game and the school also participated in the Alberta Water Quality Awareness Day at the wetland and in the shrub planting (106 students learned about wetlands and this restoration project in the classroom and in the field).

South Saskatchewan River watershed


From a survey of teachers needs around water resource education, we realised there was a lot of material out there on the “how to” side of basic wetland and water resource education (lesson plans, study kits) but little on “where”, so we created and distributed a wall map of ‘Water Places in Medicine Hat’ along with basic field trip guidelines to support teachers at Medicine Hat schools. The wall map enables greater awareness of the variety of water resources in the area for class field trips, including springs, rivers and creeks, natural wetlands, and storm sewer water retention ponds. This served as an opportunity for teachers to introduce education about those lesser known in the area, as well as the local storm sewer system and the concept of a watershed.

Corlaine Gardner

SPRING 2007

Society of Grasslands Naturalists “Life in the Water” Interpretative Program

LOCATION: Medicine Hat



One of the ‘water places’, Medicine Hat.

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Oldman River sub-watershed

Located in southwestern Alberta, the Oldman River watershed is home to 161,400 rural and urban residents. There are about 70 small towns, villages and hamlets in the Basin, as well as the City of Lethbridge, population 73,000. The Basin encompasses 28,000 km2 and has an average population density of just less than six people per km2. About 33% of the Basin's land cover is agricultural, 29% is forested and 17% is native vegetation. The central and eastern parts of the Basin are characterized by more concentrated urban and industrial development, dryland farming and intensive livestock agriculture. The main tributaries of the Oldman River are the Livingston, Crowsnest, Castle, Waterton, Belly and St. Mary Rivers, in turn supplied upstream by numerous small streams and wetlands. The issues that watershed stewardship groups responded to in this grant round were: oil and gas concerns, littering, siltation and water quality issues around recreational and agricultural impacts.


The project involved training workshops for volunteer area stewards in riparian health assessment, range assessment, weed identification as well as group work days for weed removal and erosion control. The group also gave slideshows and presentations for Castle watershed stewardship to approx. 1850 people.

SPRING 2006

Castle-Crown Wilderness Coalition

Increasing Capacity for Castle Watershed Monitoring, Awareness and Action

LOCATION: Castle Wilderness, SW Alberta/ Oldman River watershed



Water testing by volunteers Wendy Ryan and James Tweedie. Photo: Tim Grier.

FALL 2006 Castle-Crown Wilderness Coalition

Castle Wilderness Stewardship, on the ground and on the web



OTHER PARTNERS: Y2Y, Ecotrust, and Mountain Equipment Co-op

The Castle Wilderness is the most important source of water (wonderful, perfect, delicious, abundant water) for the dry Oldman watershed. It is 4% of the watershed’s geography, and provides 30% of its water flow. CCWC works continually to advocate for its protection. This project has allowed us to have absolutely current information to share, and by the end of the project to share in a more effective way, to try to convince Albertans to protect this watershed.

JJuuddyy HHuunnttlleeyy

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The group organized 10 hikes to introduce a wide range of people to the area and the issues (130 participants) and 3 treks to monitor changes in the watershed involving biologists and the volunteer watershed monitors. Three people carried out water sampling of approx 35 sites in all areas of the Castle Wilderness except for the high headwaters, for temperature, turbidity, pH, and dissolved Oxygen. Workshops were organized including Riparian Health with Cows & Fish (6 participants), as well as a quarterly newsletter to approx 600 people and on the web, and outreach with CCWC booth at more than four public events (South Country Fair, Heritage Days, Lundbreck Centennial, Canmore Folk Fest, Pincher Creek Fair). For hands-on enhancement activities, 24 volunteers participated in 11 weed pull events some in conjunction with Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, removing approx 18 large garbage bags per event, and 5 erosion remediation events were held (18 participants). CCWC’s list of trained Stewards doubled by June 2007.

FALL 2006

Chief Mountain Landowners Network

Landowner Oil and Gas Impact Speaker Series

LOCATION: Cardston



OTHER PARTNERS: Cardston County (grant holder), Oldman Watershed Council

From December 2006 to May 2007, the group organized a series of evening seminars for producers around oil and gas development as a watershed issue. Seminar topics included surface rights and groundwater resources (65 landowners attended in Dec 2006; seismic exploration and the potential impacts to groundwater and water availability in Mountain View Alberta (50 landowners attended); cumulative effects of development on our watersheds and the impact to agricultural producers and a Uranium Short Course of the effects of uranium exploitation and extraction and the potential impact to groundwater in southern Alberta. As part of the review, the group expressed interest in conducting a cumulative effects study for the area.

Project Category: Tool-Building The BDWG aims to improve water quality by implementing Beneficial Management Practices (BMPs) and measuring the changes in water quality with permanent, long-term monitoring. The project supported the implementation of 6 BMPs in summer 2007: two vegetative buffer strips (9 acres in total), one fencing project (1 mile along one side of drain) and two-solar powered off-steam livestock watering projects (each about 25 head). To raise awareness of these BMPs, two newsletters were produced and the The County of Lethbridge hosted a tour on September 18, 2007 including visits to the BDWG’s BMPs; and a wrap up meeting following harvest (approximately 20 people attended)

FALL 2006

Battersea Drain Watershed Group Battersea Beneficial Management Practices

LOCATION: Battersea Drain watershed



OTHER PARTNERS: Oldman Watershed Council (grant holder), Alberta Agriculture and Food, County of Lethbridge, Lethbridge Northern Irrigation District, Partners In Habitat Development.

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Williams Demo site (before): Darryl Williams at existing watering access point. note the lack of Riparian vegetation on near side in comparison to exclusion site on far bank. Photo: Tim Romanow

With the installation of winter waterers, fencing and shelter/windbreaks at the Jensen and Williams farms, two points of direct livestock access to the creek through the riparian area were removed. This reduced livestock pressure from fall and winter use on approximately 1.5km of creek riparian area. Signage of sites and a tour to highlight project and equipment’ effectiveness were conducted in September of 2007. All sites were monitored for changes in riparian health and water quality.

FALL 2006

Lee Creek Watershed Group Off stream Winter Livestock Watering Demonstration Site

LOCATION: Lee Creek sub-shed of St. Mary River



OTHER PARTNERS: Cardston County (grant holder)

One of the primary areas of concern for the watershed group is water quality and healthy riparian management. There is a real need to improve cattle wintering site management within the watershed and the most effective tool besides 100% removal is to provide alternative winter water and shelter above the riparian boundary. With the support of the ASN, this project gave us the opportunity to construct two working demo sites for improved wintering site management one on a smaller horse farm and a second on a larger cow calf operation.

TTiimm RRoommaannooww

Raymond Nadeaus’ new trough (June 2007). Photo: Dixon Hammond

SPRING 2007 Beaver Creek Watershed Group

BCWG bank stabilization and water quality project

LOCATION: Spring Point Colony, Five Mile Ranch and Brian Hammond’s farm



OTHER PARTNERS: Oldman Watershed Council (grant holder) The past four years of water quality data pointed toward this creek as a large contributor of suspended solids and phosphorus content. Consequently, the group created a riparian pasture by fencing off a ½ mile of Five Mile Creek (a major tributary to Beaver Creek) and set up three off-stream livestock watering sites with water piped from nearby springs to troughs on upland pasture. The initiative provides water to a stubble field as an alternative to the cattle wintering beside the creek. Ongoing water quality monitoring by the

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group assists evaluation of the effectiveness of BMP projects and the project includes an annual a tour of BMPs (this last component moved to 2008).


As a group of concerned landowners living in a beautiful, mountainside watershed, we wanted to take some action to ensure our environment remained in this condition or better. Many of us knew very little about our watershed. We needed a way to educate our community so we could all work together towards our mission; to maintain and/or improve the health and function of the watershed (including uplands) for future generations. This is also important as many landowners derive their income from their land, a healthy watershed will enable residents to live here, prosper and become stewards, rather than just residents, of this land.

LLeeoonnaa PPhhaarriiss

SPRING 2007

Upper Todd Creek Watershed GroupRiparian Health Inventory of Upper Todd Creek

LOCATION: Todd Creek, Twp. 9&10, M.D. Pincher Creek



OTHER PARTNERS: Oldman Watershed Council (grant holder), Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Cows and Fish, Alberta Conservation Association, Southern Alberta Conservation Association, MD Pincher Creek, volunteer landowners

The group contracted Cows & Fish to conduct a riparian health inventory along Upper Todd Creek, which supplied the group with an overall health rating for sites (based on soil/hydrology rating and vegetation rating), soil/hydrology rating (a percentage score based on soil and streambank attributes), vegetation rating (a percentage score based on vegetation attributes), a list of all plants (common/scientific names with noxious and disturbance-caused plants), analysis and discussion of data relating to riparian form and function, aerial photography showing the location of each riparian inventory site (polygon), a photo log and baseline fish inventory.

The project involved selecting 20 representative sites in three sections along the watershed as a basis for measuring the health of Lee Creek watershed and guiding the landowners in future work to improve its health. Reports were presented to the landowners and a riparian health field day was held to explain the importance of Riparian Health and the Relationship to Fish Habitat Health and Water Quality.

SPRING 2007 Lee Creek Watershed Group

Riparian Health Inventory Project

LOCATION: Lee Creek sub-shed of St. Mary River



OTHER PARTNERS: Cardston County (grant holder), Cows & Fish, DFO –Stewardship in Action

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Upper York Creek bridge installed.

Crossings which keep Off Hwy vehicles out of the waterways improve the water quality in all our watersheds… These volunteers take pride in the work they do and what these projects will contribute to the well being of our watersheds and the quality of water entering our river system. They are concerned with the riparian damage done by trails crossing through the streams and continue to educate their families and friends to use alternate crossings.

DDeennnniiss BBeeaasslleeyy,, VViiccee PPrreessiiddeenntt

FALL 2006

Crownest Pass Quad Squad Association York Creek Crossing Project (York Creek Bridges (40’ and 50’)

LOCATION: York Creek Multi Trails south of Hwy 3, upper Crowsnest River, Crowsnest Pass



Volunteers of the group installed 2 bridges and signs to use crossings and protect aquatic ecosystems in designated locations along York Creek. As part of the project the group also purchased two Off Highway Vehicle monitoring units used at both sites and then turned over to Alberta Sustainable Resource Development in Blairmore, to complement their existing monitoring system.

60 foot bridge on Lost Creek and close up of accompanying sign (left). Photos: Dennis Beasley

This circuit known as the Family/Novice trail to the Carbondale River trail system accounts for 50 percent of OHV traffic in the area. These bridge crossings substantially reduce siltation in an area hard hit by the Lost Creek fire of 2003, improving fish habitat and spawning areas.

SPRING 2007

Crownest Pass Quad Squad Association Lost Creek Crossing

LOCATION: Upper Castle River, SW Alberta



The Lost Creek Drainage System, a tributary of the Carbondale River (Castle River, Oldman River, South Saskatchewan River Basin), has become an increasingly popular OHV recreation area in the Castle Special Management Area. The project entailed 9 volunteers installing a 50 foot engineered bridge to replace a washed out wooden structure adjacent to the Snowmobile

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Shelter and a second 60 foot bridge on another section of Lost Creek. S.R.D. ground magnetic counters enabled any use of the creek ford versus the bridges to be monitored.

Since 2003, the group also educates on responsible ATV use to Grades 4, 5 and 6 in Southern Alberta through the ATV Safety and Conservation Program. In 2006/7, the program reached just under 5000 students of grades 4, 5, & 6 in 44 schools. The program covers all the issues of riding in riparian areas, fish habitat, and the effect of siltation in the creeks and streams. This presentation uses before and after photos of bridging projects, and a video prepared by the television show, Fishing Alberta.

Contributions to Water For Life The following highlights just a few of the ways the various stewardship group initiatives contributed to the three key goals of Water for Life, Alberta’s water strategy. It also illustrates some of the diversity of community-based groups involved in watershed stewardship.

The three goals of the Water for Life strategy are: 1. Safe, secure drinking water; 2. Healthy aquatic ecosystems; 3. Reliable, quality water supplies for a sustainable economy.

State of Watershed Reports The State of the Lac La Nonne Watershed Report has become a “benchmark” document of information and current conditions within the watershed and can be used to measure changes in condition. The distribution of this report continues to contribute directly to all goals of Water for Life by providing the basis and framework for additional “hands on” projects within the watershed.Lac La Nonne Watershed Stewardship Society (Fall 2006; Gunn, Athabasca River watershed)

Education initiatives By addressing watershed protection on multiple levels (i.e. mentoring a future educator, tying watershed protection to school curriculum with the field study, providing fun and educational camps for a wide audience of children and being at public events) we present a strong and compelling message to the community that uses and is dependent on Kananaksis Country and Elbow River for safe drinking water….Focusing on water education, our participants come to the realization that they can affect all aspects of the Water for Life strategy with their personal choices. Friends of Kananaskis Country and Elbow River Watershed Partnership’s Watershed Education Program (Spring 2006, Spring 2007; Elbow River, Bow River watershed)

In every edition of the newsletters and news articles there was information regarding wetland and riparian function, best management practices, factors that affect water quality, ways of protecting our watershed and the progress of the Moose Lake Water for Life committee. (Spring 2007; Bonnyville, Beaver River watershed)

Healthy aquatic ecosystems on Wizard Lake are supported through improving water quality, and protecting waterfowl, wildlife habitat and shorelines through initiatives like the placement of speed buoys in sensitive areas and awareness raised from our Wizard Lake Awareness Day, distributing the "On the Living Edge" guides to healthy-lake living and results of water quality monitoring. Improving Wizard Lake’s water quality and the health of the watershed will contribute to the health of the North Saskatchewan watershed, which supplies drinking water to Edmonton and more. Wizard Lake Watershed & Lake Stewardship Assoc (Spring 2006, Fall 2006, North Saskatchewan River watershed)

Our organization of the Environmental Farm Plan workshop, Canoe trip with riparian health talk, our Annual meeting, Coloring/ Watershed Poster contest, school watershed awareness day, and SPLASH membership drive event, all create awareness about the watershed and promote education of the issues of our watershed. We talked about safe, secure drinking water with the students during the watershed day when we took water quality samples from the canal. Our water well plugging and promoton of conservation habitat sites and signage, help improve conditions in our watershed. Rosebud River Watershed Partners (Spring 2006, Fall 2006; Rockyford, Red Deer River watershed)

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Demonstration sites and tools With the use of the portable watering systems we kept livestock out of the river and riparian area. This will repair the area and allow plant diversity to increase and also to promote the regeneration of new seedlings and saplings in the riparian area. By improving this portion of the river we are improving the condition of the local watershed because fewer pollutants are entering the creek which enters the lake. One of the local watershed issues is the large algae bloom that is occurring in the center of Lesser Slave Lake. By reducing some of the pollutants entering this lake we can contribute to increasing the survival of the aquatic life of the lake. This project will demonstrate to producers a more environmentally sustainable way to utilize water bodies while at the same time improving water quality and water supply. There are a number of communities that surround the Lesser Slave Lake and a number of them rely on the lake for their water supply. Not only is this lake used in the livestock industry by it is also used for tourism and the fish industry. By educating producers to make informed decisions about water management resulting in improved water quality, which in turn assists these industries. Peace Country Beef & Forage Association (Fall 2006; High Prairie, Athabasca River watershed)

Biophysical & Social Monitoring This initiative directly contributes to all three Water for Life strategy goals. Lac la Biche Lake is the drinking water source for over 8,000 residents of the County and Town. Regular water quality monitoring provides not only a long term data set but also public information and feedback to impacts within the watershed over time, by a variety of users. By educating area residents and having the ability to show them local information, residents are more willing to change common practices for the betterment of the community. As water quality begins to improve, the ecosystem benefits as well. As practices change and fewer nutrients enter the lake, prevalence of blue-green algae diminished and fish kills due to it diminish. This protection provides the residents with a quality source of water. This water source makes Lac La Biche able to sustain its self as a community by providing area residents with recreation, a fishery, and a source of water. Lakeland Watershed Steering Committee (Fall 2006, Spring 2007; Lac La Biche, Beaver River watershed)

The photo log of riparian health will assist in the implementation of the Nose Creek Watershed's Water Management Plan. The photo log report assists in identifying areas where additional work is needed with the landowners, developers, and relevant jurisdictions, such that work improves connectivity and continuity of riparian vegetation and native vegetation is used in restoration work. Nose Creek Watershed Partnership (Fall 2006; Bow River watershed)

The Slave lake watershed provides a water supply for many communities including High Prairie, Slave Lake, Driftpile, and Joussard. Slave Lake also has a viable commercial fishing industry. On a local scale the riparian health inventories indirectly affect safe secure drinking water supply and healthy aquatic ecosystems by promoting healthy riparian areas, and allowing the riparian action team to assess the status of riparian health in project sites. The group generally promotes exclusion fencing unless the riparian health assessment indicates offsite watering or better rotation will sufficiently mitigate problems. There is also an effect on a larger watershed scale because the awareness raised often results in landowners taking steps to improve riparian health on their property. The projects the riparian action team undertakes improve riparian areas which protects the water quality in the Slave Lake basin.Smoky Applied Research Demonstration Association (Spring 2007; Fahler, Athabasca River watershed)

Restoration of streambanks using bioengineering techniques The McClean Creek site proved ideal for discussing the effects of multiple land uses on water courses (within the area you have logging, recreation, and cattle grazing) and for showcasing what can be done to restore a degraded area. On a local scale, the workshop directly improved the health of a local tributary’s banks. By providing participants with bioengineering skills, the workshop also helped build the capacity to improve damaged ecosystems on a larger scale. Elbow River Watershed Partnership (Fall 2006; Kananaskis, Bow River watershed)

Once the cuttings have taken root, they will filter the water that runs off from the bank, trapping the sediment and/or chemicals on the bank not allowing them to enter the creek. They will also help prevent water and wind erosion from destroying the bank. Natural materials are able to help filtrate sediments and other chemicals before they enter the waterway system, the riparian zones catch the water and clean it before it reaches creeks and streams: therefore ensuring a healthy aquatic ecosystem. Fish Creek empties directly into the Bow River and many communites downstream from Fish Creek Park utilize the Bow River for their source of drinking water.Friends of Fish Creek Provincial Park Society (Fall 2006; Bow River watershed)

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Bridge crossings The project was for volunteers to construct two alternate creek crossings on a main access point to over 400 hundred kilometers of multi use trails south of Hwy 3 Crowsnest Pass, which in turn helps protect the water quality of the York Creek Watershed (approximately 160 sq. Kilometres). This bridging program promotes healthy riparian habitat in the headwaters of an important tributary of the Crowsnest River and the aquifer that supplies drinking water to all the towns and rural communities within the Crowsnest Pass. The bridge crossings help prevent direct crossing through the stream and therefore provide less disturbance to the stream beds improving downstream siltation levels, improving fish habitat and spawning beds and improving safety to trail users during spring run off and high water levels.Crowsnest Pass Quad Squad Association (Fall 06; Bellevue/Crowsnest Pass, Oldman River watershed)

Removal and awareness of invasive alien plant species and garbage We helped contribute to the goal of safe, secure drinking water by removing from water bodies and riparian areas an enormous quantity of trash which had the potential of leaching toxic contaminants (electronics, household cleaners, automotive fluids, batteries, etc.). The removal of trash from these streams, wetlands, lakes, and the Bow River prevented them from forming impediments, hazards for wildlife, or further affecting water quality. Stoney elders identified a few particular creeks which had previously held fish and lauded the garbage removal, expressing the hope that once again fish and other organisms might be able to use these sites. In terms of the economy, improved aesthetics were significant for tourism purposes in the following locations: Stoney Indian Park, Nakoda Lodge, Chiniki Village, and along the Bow River. "With riparian habitat undergoing rapid, accelerating and often permanent degradation from weed infestations, on a grand scale, what are the solutions? The biggest key to winning the war on weeds is to put top priority on cooperatively keeping relatively uninfested land from becoming seriously infested." -from Dr. Jerry Asher’s THE IMPACT OF INVASIVE PLANTS ON BIODIVERSITY AND WILDLIFE HABITAT speech given at the Invasive Plants: Understanding The Threat Conference held in Calgary October 3, 2003. Cited in Calgary Field Naturalists Society’ report (Spring 2007; Morley, Bow River watershed)

Report Conclusions The report shows that the work of these 63 community stewardship groups goes a long way to meeting Water for Life goals and positively affecting the landscape and water challenges of Alberta. It is also worth mentioning that both the Healthy Ecosystems and Environment outcomes of Alberta’s Land Use Framework are also being addressed in each select area where the projects are taking place.

Just as these groups are advancing stewardship in their local area, there is no doubt that these groups face challenges. Some of the ongoing needs these groups have, and their common challenges are highlighted below:

VOLUNTEER NEEDS: Limited volunteers and volunteer burn-out remains a major concern for many groups. Some volunteers balance their volunteer work with a day (paying) job, and, in general, volunteers are trying to find a balance between their volunteer work and own needs and families.

NEEDS IN INTERPRETATION OF WATER QUALITY DATA: Stewardship groups are establishing or seeking to continue water quality monitoring programs in response to increasing public interest in the water quality of local water bodies. While there appears to be an increase in understanding that it takes a few years of seasonal testing to establish a water quality baseline, many of these volunteer-based groups are finding they need further (consistent) help to interpret lab results in layman’s terms. To this end, some are lucky enough to have a qualified person amongst their group or have engaged in partnerships with appropriate staff of local authorities, sought help from Alberta Environment’s regional staff on an ad hoc basis, or work with a local college program. Organizations like Alberta Lake Management Society can help in some cases but are limited in scope (lakes) and budget for how many lakes can be covered under the LakeWatch Program. Alberta Agriculture, and Alberta Health, can also provide some support. However this area may need more consistent in-kind support in terms of available technical staffing resources around the province.

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LONG TERM MONITORING NEEDS: Monitoring, both environmental and social/behavioural change, requires a long term commitment which is limited by grant funding for a year. Longer term granting may be a solution for some of these projects, including those that seek to establish a water quality baseline.

LIABILITY CONCERNS: Quite a few of the groups leading ‘community-based action’ field events mentioned liability as a big issue, with some reporting that liability insurance can be quite expensive for an NGO and that most companies do not provide insurance to NGOs. Some groups were able to acquire their own insurance coverage, while others arranged it so that the liability rests with the individual or with a partner organization that already has coverage. Groups are also talking to each other to share existing waiver forms as a template. Some groups have reported administrative difficulties in acquiring required authorizations to perform work on public land.

IMPORTANCE OF PARTNERSHIPS AND IN-KIND SUPPORT: For stewardship it seems that positive messaging (vision) and partnerships are still key. Beyond the documented dollar figure equivalents of support, in real terms partnerships proved invaluable to the groups by partners being on-hand to provide local technical assistance and other forms of support when needed. Many groups found that governmental or industry partners assisted overcoming financial shortages through providing in-kind support where it was needed (materials, equipment, venues, lab support, etc.). Such partners often included Government of Alberta ministries (Sustainable Resource Development; Agriculture Food and Rural Development – especially the AESA Program; Tourism, Parks, and Recreation; and Alberta Environment), Federal Ministries (particularly Agriculture and Agrifood Canada and Fisheries and Oceans Canada), municipal governments, ENGOs, delegated administrative authorities, and local agency staff.

LONG TERM MONITORING NEEDS: Monitoring, both environmental and social/behavioural change, requires a long term commitment which is limited by grant funding for a year. Longer term granting may be a solution for some of these projects, including those that seek to establish a water quality baseline.

COORDINATED AND CONSISTENT SUPPORT: Many stewardship groups report a desire to see improved coordination and support across provincial government ministries. Groups find it difficult (and sometimes arbitrary) to characterize their work as supporting water, land, biodiversity or parks as the benefits of their efforts are almost always heavily interrelated. Groups see considerable opportunities under the emerging Land Use Framework to align and complement individual ministry efforts.

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Appendix A: Financial Information

Budget (A1): Overview of Administration & Granting

In-kind contributions from all sources:

e.g. Volunteer time - $20/hour, Technical expert - $30/hour, Equipment time - $40/hour

Amount ($)

Stewardship Grant Committee (tech. time @$30/hr - Fall 06, Spring 07 only):

Land Stewardship Centre of Canada /ASN Secretariat (80hrs plus) $2400

Alberta Environment (79 hrs) $2370

Alberta Agriculture, Food, and Rural Development – AESA (73 hrs) $2190

Alberta Riparian Habitat Management Society / Cows and Fish (73 hrs) $2190

Alberta Conservation Association (57 hrs) $1710

3 Volunteers (i.e. representatives from 2 community-based watershed stewardship groups and ASN Chair (217 hrs)

$6510

Representatives from 3 Watershed Planning & Advisory Councils (Oldman Watershed Council, Bow River Basin Council, North Saskatchewan Watershed Alliance; 150 hrs)

$4500

Sub-total: Stewardship Grant Committee $21,870.00

Grant Recipients' volunteer time contribution hours $613,099.63Grant Recipients' in-kind equipment and materials $96,493.25Sub-total: Grant Recipients (Watershed Stewardship Groups) $709,592.88

Total In-kind Contributions ($) $1,441,055.76Income from all sources: Amount ($)

GOA Grant received for Watershed Stewardship Grant Program (06GREA29) $500,000.00Remainder of GOA Grant 06-GREA 15 allocated to granting $605.50Sub-total Total Cash Income ($) $500,605.50Grant Recipients: member and partner financial contributions $488,768.51

Total Project Income ($) $989,374.01Expenses: Amount ($)

Total Granting awarded: 66 projects with grants up to $7500 (more details in B overleaf) $370,659.00Balance for Granting (plus $605.50 remainder from last grant) $79,946.50*Allocation at Spring 2008 grant cycle (towards 11 projects) $54,631.05

Balance remaining from Granting allocation $25,315.45 Administration: ASN Grant Administration (staffing) $39,748.21 Related office overhead $4,241.66 Stewardship Grant Committee expenses (application review meeting, honoraria and expenses for three volunteers)

$2,715.03

Total Administration $46,704.90 Balance remaining from Administration allocation (-$0.60 over from last grant) $3,295.10

Total ASN Expenses ($) $471,994.95Total Cash Income less Total Expenses $28,610.55

The ASN has requested that the remaining $28,610.55 be made available for granting and program administration on a 90/10 basis during the 2009-10 fiscal year.

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Budget (A2): Overview of Watershed Stewardship Group’ Financial Information

Project Expenses by income source ($)

In-kind contribution ($)

Grant cycle

Pg#

Groups (Signing Authority en parenthesis)

ASN Grant Awarded

ASN Grantspent

Otherincome

In-kind time

Other(e.g.

materials)

Total Project

Value ($) Sp 07 12 Alberta Stewardship Network $5,000.00 $5,000.00 $25,203.86 $13,650.00 $0.00 $43,853.86

Sp 06 13 Heart River Watershed Advisory Committee (Northern Sunrise County) $5,000.00 $5,000.00 $12,025.85 $3,600.00 $0.00 $20,625.85

Fall 06 13 Heart River Watershed Advisory Committee (Northern Sunrise County) $5,000.00 $5,000.00 $41,287.03 $6,000.00 $0.00 $52,287.03

Sp 07

14West County Watershed Group (Ducks Unlimited Canada) $3,600.00 $3,600.00 $0.00 $2,800.00 $450.00 $6,850.00

Sp 07 14 Clear Hills Watershed Initiative $7,500.00 $7,500.00 $4,281.67 $12,540.00 $585.00 $24,906.67 Fall 06 15 Borealis Canoe Club $4,829.00 $3,992.00 $227.11 $13,060.00 $710.00 $17,989.11 Sp 07

16Crooked Creek Conservancy Society Of Athabasca $7,500.00 $7,500.00 $9,606.37 $22,500.00 $200.00 $39,806.37

Sp 0717

West Athabasca Watershed Bioregional Society $7,500.00 $7,500.00 $69,394.95 $24,800.00 $24,496.35 $126,191.30

Fall 06

17Baptiste, Island & Skeleton Lake Watershed Group $5,000.00 $5,000.00 $7,500.00 $52,040.00 $0.00 $64,540.00

Fall 06 18 Lac La Nonne Watershed Stewardship Society $5,000.00 $5,000.00 574,12 $6,200.00 $0.00 $11,200.00 Sp 07 19 Skeleton Lake Stewardship Association $7,500.00 $7,500.00 $61,200.00 $50,000.00 $0.00 $118,700.00

Fall 06 19 Peace Country Beef & Forage Association $5,000.00 $5,000.00 $2,149.82 $4,500.00 $500.00 $12,149.82 Sp 06 20 Brazeau Healthy Waterways (Brazeau County) $4,824.00 $4,480.98 $272.98 $5,649.13 $0.00 $10,403.09 Sp 07

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Smoky Applied Research & Demonstration Association

$4,500.00 $4,500.00 $0.00 $2,000.00 $3,500.00 $10,000.00 Sp 07

21Lac La Nonne Enhancement & Protection Association $7,500.00 $7,500.00 $4,808.42 $7,475.50 $1,628.00 $21,411.92

Sp 07 22 Lac La Nonne Watershed Stewardship Society $7,500.00 $7,500.00 $0.00 $5,500.00 $1,860.00 $14,860.00

Sp 06 23 Driftpile First Nation $4,588.00 $4,588.00 $0.00 $12,327.00 $0.00 $16,915.00 Fall 06 24 Crane Lake Advisory and Stewardship Society $5,000.00 $3,264.38 $89.51 $7,650.00 $1,260.00 $12,263.89 Sp 07 24 Moose Lake Watershed Society $7,500.00 $5,357.37 $303.00 $9,460.00 $0.00 $15,120.37

Fall 06 25 Lakeland Watershed Steering Committee (Lac La Biche County) $5,000.00 $5,000.00 $45,546.48 $12,700.00 $7,194.00 $70,440.48

Sp 07 26 Lakeland Watershed Steering Committee (Lac La Biche County) $7,500.00 $7,500.00 $19,262.51 $0.00 $0.00 $26,762.51

Fall 06 27 Wizard Lake Watershed & Lake Stewardship Assoc. $4,200.00 $4,200.00 $1,979.94 $23,670.00 $400.00 $30,249.94

Sp 07 27 Rocky Riparian Group (Clearwater County) $7,500.00 $7,500.00 $3,736.90 $1,130.00 $1,600.00 $13,966.90

Sp 06 28 Wizard Lake Watershed & Lake Stewardship

Assoc. $4,650.00 $4,650.00 $507.28 $15,772.00 $0.00 $20,929.28Sp 07 29 Lac Sante Watershed Society $5,000.00 $3,825.13 $152.45 $5,320.00 $800.00 $10,097.58

Fall 06 30

Camrose Adult Learning Council $5,000.00 $5,000.00 $16,500.00 $50,050.00 $7,200.00 $78,750.00 Sp 06 30 Iron Creek Watershed Improvement Society $4,000.00 $4,000.00 $628.73� $3,070.00 $581.90 $8,280.63 Sp 06 32 Rosebud River Watershed Partners $3,200.00 $3,200.00 $5,456.27 Not provided $0.00 $7,125.38

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Project Expenses by income source ($) In-kind contribution ($)

Grant cycle

Pg# Groups (Signing Authority en parenthesis)

ASN Grant Awarded

ASN Grant spent

Other income In-kind time

Other (e.g.

materials)

Total Project

Value ($)

Fall 06 32 Rosebud River Watershed Partners $3,200.00 $3,200.00 $5,651.00 Not provided $1,000.00 $9,851.00

Sp 06 33

Sylvan Lake Watershed Stewardship Society $5,000.00 $5,000.00 $5,996.39 $0.00 $0.00 $10,996.39 Sp 07 33 Butte Action Committee for the Environment

$3,000.00 $3,000.00 $19.58 $0.00 $0.00 $3,019.58 Sp 07 34 Medicine River Watershed Society

$7,500.00 $7,500.00 $1,843.05 $10,595.40 $2,000.00 $21,938.45 Sp 07 34 Friends of Little Red Deer River Society $7,500.00 $7,500.00 $242.50 $2,250.00 $5,500.00 $15,492.50

Sp 06 35 Friends Of Kananaskis Country Cooperating Association $4,858.00 $4,858.00 $12,891.95 $8,500.00 $0.00 $26,249.95

Sp 0736

Friends Of Kananaskis Country Cooperating Association

$7,500.00 $7,500.00 $20,882.12 $8,500.00 $750.00 $37,632.12 Sp 07

36 Siksika First Nation (Siksika Corporation for Agriculture Development Ltd) $7,500.00 $7,500.00 $0.00 $3,250.00 $500.00 $11,250.00

Sp 07 37 Friends Of Banff National Park $350.00 $350.00 $6,500.00 $850.00 $1,000.00 $8,700.00

Fall 06 37 Ghost Watershed Alliance Society $5,000.00 $5,000.00 $300.00 $3,000.00 $0.00 $8,300.00

Sp 07 38

Upper Tongue Creek Riparian Group (Bow River Basin Council)

$7,500.00 $7,500.00 $500.00 $520.00 $1,993.00 $10,513.00

Fall 06 38 Cochrane Ecological Institute - Cochrane Wildlife Reserve Society $5,000.00 $5,000.00 $0.00

Notprovided $2,800.00 $7,800.00

Sp 07 38 Nose Creek Watershed Partnership $7,500.00 $7,500.00 $11,347.83 $5,500.00 $3,000.00 $27,347.83 Sp 07

39Bighill, Jumping And Horse Creeks Watershed Partnership (MD Rocky View)

$7,500.00 $7,500.00 $15,283.32 $8,000.00 $0.00 $30,783.32 Fall 06 40 Elbow River Watershed Partnership $5,000.00 $5,000.00 $846.08 $17,060.00 $500.00 $23,406.08 Fall 06 41 Friends of Fish Creek Provincial Park Society $2,600.00 $2,600.00 $1,780.00 $620.00 $2,250.00 $7,250.00

Sp 06 42 Weaselhead/Glenmore Park Preservation

Society $5,000.00 $5,000.00 $963.45 $2,440.00 $0.00 $8,403.45 Fall 06 43 Nose Creek Watershed Partnership $5,000.00 $5,000.00 $3,000.00 $5,500.00 $0.00 $13,500.00 Fall 06

44Stanley Park to Glenmore Dam Preservation Society $5,000.00 $5,000.00 $1,859.65 $7,740.00 $0.00 $14,599.65

Sp 07 44 Friends of Fish Creek Provincial Park Society $6,300.00 $6,300.00 $2,995.60 Not provided $0.00 $9,295.60 Sp 07 45 Friends of Fish Creek Provincial Park Society $6,560.00 $6,560.00 $479.36 $8,880.00 $0.00 $15,919.36 Fall 06 46 Calgary Field Naturalists Society $5,000.00 $5,000.00 $0.00 $25,340.00 $10,345.00 $40,685.00

Sp 07 47 Calgary Field Naturalists Society

$7,500.00 $7,500.00 $0.00 $1,120.00 $4,860.00 $13,480.00

Sp 06 47 Arrowwood Communities in Bloom

(Arrowwood Restoration Society) $5,000.00 $3,009.84 $3,660.00 $8,960.00 $2,000.00 $17,629.84

Sp 07 48 Society of Grasslands Naturalists

$5,000.00 $5,000.00 $2,737.53 $1,850.00 $0.00 $9,587.53

Sp 06 49

Castle-Crown Wilderness Coalition $5,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 $4,262.00 $0.00 $9,262.28Fall 06 49

Castle-Crown Wilderness Coalition $5,000.00 $5,005.00 $20,000.00 $37,500.00 $0.00 $62,505.00Fall 06 50 Chief Mountain Landowners Network

(Cardston County) $2,500.00 $2,500.00 $900.00 $4,400.00 $0.00 $7,800.00 Fall 06 50 Battersea Drain Watershed Group (Oldman

Watershed Council) $5,000.00 $5,000.00 $284.58 $6,780.00 $0.00 $12,064.58

62

Project Expenses by income source ($) In-kind contribution ($)

Grant cycle

Pg#

Groups (Signing Authority en parenthesis)

ASN Grant Awarded

ASN Grant spent

Other income In-kind time

Other (e.g.

materials)

Total Project

Value ($) Fall 06 51 Lee Creek Watershed Group (Cardston

County) $5,000.00 $5,000.00 $19.50 $4,800.00 $2,390.00 $12,209.50 Sp 07

51Beaver Creek Watershed Group (Oldman Watershed Council) $7,500.00 $7,500.00 $5,803.80 $9,452.00 $0.00 $22,755.80

Sp 0752

Upper Todd Creek Watershed Group (Oldman Watershed Council) $7,500.00 $7,500.00 $6,200.00 $23,300.00 $0.00 $37.000.00

Sp 0752

Lee Creek Watershed Group (Cardston County) $7,500.00 $7,500.00 $7,500.00 $20,000.00 $0.00 $35,000.00

Fall 06 53

Crowsnest Pass Quad Squad Association $5,000.00 $5,000.00 $4,958.89 $7,780.60 $1,360.00 $19,099.49 Sp 07 53 Crowsnest Pass Quad Squad Association $7,500.00 $7,500.00 $9,705.00 $3,100.00 $1,730.00 $22,035.00

Totals $350,259.00 $337,040.70* $487,272.31 $621,051.63 $96,943.25 $1,550,039.28

Approved Extensions (Sept 30, 2008):Sp 07

Society of High Prairie Regional Environmental Action Committee $7,500.00

Sp 07 Cooking Lake Stewardship Group (Starlight Society) $5,700.00

Reports not returned: Sp 07

Southern Alberta Group for the Environment $7,200.00

Sp 06 (remainder) Fall 06 Sp 07 Total Grant Awarded: $370,659.00

Notes

Budget (A1): Overview of Administration & Granting 1Spring 2008 rollover: $54,631.05 of the $79,946.50 remaining for granting was rolled over to support Spring 2008 grants, as agreed with AENV staff representative on the grant committee. Given the granting balance and taking into account this rollover, the amount remaining for granting allocation is$25,315.45. An additional $3295.10 was unspent from the administration for a total of $28,610.55 inunspent, unallocated and returned funds from groups unable to meet their commitments.

The ASN has requested that the remaining $28,610.55 be made available for granting and program administration on a 90/10 basis during the 2009-10 fiscal year.

Budget (A2): Overview of Watershed Stewardship Group’ Financial InformationSurpluses: Those indicating a surplus, having not spent ASN grant funds, are requested to return remaining funds or show how these can be spent and reported on insofar as activities are in keeping with the objectives of the watershed stewardship grant program. Extensions: 2 of the 66 projects (all from Spring 2007) groups received an extension until September 30, 2008, so final numbers are not known at this time. One extension was given in light of a tragic loss of the project coordinator, another to enable them to report on water quality monitoring results. Reports not returned: 1 Spring 2007 project has not handed in any reports (Southern Alberta Group for the Environment) despite repeated efforts at contact and promises from the project contact.

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Appendix B: Shared Resources Stream bank restoration - Bioengineering Dave Polster, who instructed both the Elbow River Watershed Partnership and the Friends of Fish Creek workshops on bioengineering, kindly made his bioengineering manual available through the ASN website (Science for Stewards section) for conditional use by volunteers of other watershed stewardship groups.

Sarah Hamza of the Elbow River Watershed Partnership, mentions that the Bearspaw Office of Alberta Sustainable Resource Development (SRD) has prepared a bioengineering kit that contains some of the equipment needed for doing restoration work. The kit is available for loan to community groups at no charge.

Watershed education for youths

We have developed a comprehensive Elbow River watershed field study program that is based on Grade 8 and 9 curriculum. It could be easily adapted to other watersheds if other groups were interested. Each year we have asked our interns to document their personal time management processes, challenges, etc. This binder could be made available to interested parties as well. KKaatthhyy WWiillccooxx,, EExxeeccuuttiivvee DDiirreeccttoorr FFrriieennddss ooff KKaannaannaasskkiiss CCoouunnttrryy ((SSpprriinngg 22000077))

Watershed report cards, management plans and terms of reference

The Nose Creek Watershed Partnership Website ( www.nosecreekpartnership.com ) provides the Nose Creek Water Management Plan and Implementation Strategy as well as a watershed report card for Nose Creek watershed. For specific inquiries not answered in the website contact information for the Nose Creek Coordinator is provided on the website. (Spring 2007)

The Moose Lake Terms of Reference is an informational resource for other stewardship groups to use as a format when creating their own. Terms of References are a commonly used tool when a group is generating a management plan. The Moose Lake Terms have been approved by Alberta Environment as the correct format for a” terms of reference”. The Moose Lake committee utilized a lot of local experts. Contacting your local [Alberta SRD] Fish and Wildlife [office], Alberta Parks, DFO [Fisheries & Oceans Canada] and any other knowledgeable organization will provide stewardship groups with great support and tons of information. Moose Lake Water for Life stewardship group.

Bridge crossings and education

We would share all of our knowledge of bridge installation material sources and cost accounting with any organization that may want to participate in a bridging project. Arrangements have also been made with our Provincial Education Coordinator to share information on our school safety and conservation. DDeennnniiss BBeeaasslleeyy;; VVPP CCrroowwssnneesstt PPaassss QQuuaadd SSqquuaadd

Recommendations to other groups

Generally, gather the facts and support prior to heading too far in any one direction. In our initial concern over water levels, we were focused on water diversion very early on in our existence and have subsequently changed course towards the development of a sustainable watershed management plan. Also, we need to keep the pressure on external stakeholders. We have found that everyone is multitasking with limited resources, so we need to keep continually communicating and sharing information in order to have them keep our project and cause near the top of their lists. Watershed Management Plan approval requires three documents (Terms of Reference, State of Watershed Report and finally the Watershed Management Plan itself).

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We would be happy to share any of our information including water level histories for our lake and surrounding lakes. As well as State of the Watershed Report or Watershed Management Plan. (Spring 2007 – Skeleton Lake Stewardship Association)

A lesson that could be shared is working closely with the youth in your community is a great way to get awareness and interest out there. The students learn about eco-systems and wetlands in their curriculum and it provides an excellent opportunity to conduct field trips and activities geared towards stewardship. Working with the school system has opened up many more chances for the Moose Lake Water for Life Stewardship Group to work hand and hand with the community in the future. The youth of today are the conservationists of tomorrow. Moose Lake Water for Life stewardship group.

Appendix C: Strategies for success! Starting up a new stewardship group

CASE: Wizard Lake Watershed & Lake Awareness Society (Spring 2006)

What were the obstacles or barriers you ran in to, in doing this project? How did you overcome these challenges?

1. CHALLENGE: Not knowing what to expect the first year of operation � APPROACH: We must be flexible in our approach to issues and prioritize despite

what our expectations might be because of preconceptions. Reprioritize action and respond to priorities as they become apparent (e.g. need for bulletin boards was not anticipated).

2. CHALLENGE: Our ignorance of what is required to attain our mission and goals. � APPROACH: This is an ongoing issue we continue to struggle with. We are

overcoming our ignorance by reaching out to resources as we become aware of them (e.g. ASN, municipal and provincial government experts). We are moving one step at a time with the working groups to look for focused action, and enlist specialist help, to achieve specific goals.

3. CHALLENGE: Communicating effectively to all residents of the watershed. � APPROACH: Communication is being handled through a number of avenues:

electronic (a challenge with dial-up), newsletters, newspaper, bulletin boards, website, personal visits and calls.

4. CHALLENGE: Lack of sense of community and belonging to the Wizard Lake watershed. � APPROACH: Lack of sense of community is due to the number of small

developments around the lake that residents feel an affiliation to, not to the Wizard Lake watershed. The bulletin boards will be used to maintain a profile for the WLWLSA and its goals which will reinforce the watershed concept. Also social events will be organized for inhabitants and users to meet each other and grow a sense of community.

5. CHALLENGE: Lack of knowledge about specific training requirements (don’t know what we don’t know)

� APPROACH: The working groups have focused objectives and are more knowledgeable about specific training needs to obtain their objectives. We can now start advance planning for attendance at conferences and workshops.

6. CHALLENGE: Multiple jurisdictions (2) and councilors (3) � APPROACH: We will continue to approach the counties for meetings to introduce

ourselves and ensure they are aware of the WLWLSA and our objectives. Use available opportunities to give input and support the counties when necessary, in order to build goodwill. Keep talking with individuals to know them individually and use their expertise when we can.

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Appendix D: Student finalists’ Proposals for ‘Caring for the Battle River’ contest.

Proposals of student finalists included: - Water fountains or underwater aeration powered by solar or wind-run pump to help

increase the dissolved oxygen content of water bodies contributing to improved health of that body of water (Mark Wrubleski, Grade 9, winner of High School category)

- Grey water storage systems and water efficient bathroom appliances in homes to increase water use efficiency thus leaving more water in the surrounding ecosystem;

- Leading community garbage clean-ups of shorelines of local water bodies reducing the potential for toxic leaching, wildlife harm and improving aesthetics for enjoyment of the area;

- Organizing an awareness campaign to reduce the chemicals and nutrients that cause Cultural Eutrophication ([human-caused] excessive growth of water vegetation) in the Battle River Watershed (as a concern for the Battle River and the entire Lake Winnipeg watershed);

- Raising money for the high school to be solar energy powered (clean alternative energy); create a battery recycling centre for Camrose, removing this as a source of future heavy metal toxicity in landfill;

- Using activated carbon to create a filter at storm drains removing pollutants and toxins from runoff and storm water before the enter the river;

- Creating a board game called “Watershedopoly” to help educate youth about watersheds and their importance and make this learning fun.

Appendix E: Wider recognition of grant recipientsSpring 2007 grantees

Medicine River Watershed Society (a grant recipient in the Spring 2007 grant cycle), received the ASN’s Grassroots Environmental Stewardship Award 2008 for best Community Stewardship Group for the ‘central Alberta group’s inclusive and action-oriented work along the Medicine River’.

The Lac La Biche project received best Stewardship Project in the ASN’s Awards 2008 for the projects comprehensive efforts in education, lake/inflow/beach sampling, community involvement, and progressive municipal leadership in the Lac La Biche watershed. The Lakeland Watershed Steering Committee received ASN grants in the Fall 2006 and Spring 2007 grant cycles.

Jeff McCammon, was awarded a Countryside Canada Award in 2007 for his work with the Lac La Nonne Watershed Stewardship Society for which he is President and which received Watershed Stewardship Grants for two different projects in Fall 2006 and Spring 2007 grant cycles. The Countryside Canada award recognizes outstanding stewardship initiatives across the country that promote best management practices and the voluntary conservation efforts of farmers and ranchers.

Andrew Stiles, a project coordinator for Calgary Field Naturalists Society’s work removing invasive plant species and trash from our waterways, was a recipient of an Alberta Emerald Award for Individual Commitment in 2007

Crowsnest Pass Quad Squad received an Alberta Emerald Award 2007’ nomination for not-for-profit organization for ‘Community health and wellness through multi-use environmentally sustainable trail systems’.

Fall 2006 grantees

Robin McLeod, a project coordinator for the Stanley Park to Glenmore Dam Preservation Society, was a finalist in the Alberta Emerald Award’s Individual Commitment in 2007.

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Some final comments and thank you’s from watershed stewardship groups:

The Watershed Stewardship Grant Program provided a significant opportunity for our local non-profit organization to undertake a high priority project that would not have taken place without ASN grant support.

It is excellent to have one person designated as the grant administrator—she is available, knowledgeable and very helpful. Thank you!

It is a pleasure working with Sarah Hipkin, she was very helpful with any questions we had. We are happy to have an organization, such as yours; there to supply funds that increase awareness of water issues as well as help us to educate our membership and general public on environmentally-sound creek restoration practices.

We greatly appreciate the timeline extension so we were able to collect samples for professional analysis and to gather more surveys. You are doing a superb job; your flexibility is astounding and helps organizations better complete projects. Thank you so much! GGaarryy HHaaeerrllee ((WWeeaasseellhheeaadd//GGlleennmmoorree PPaarrkk PPrreesseerrvvaattiioonn SSoocciieettyy))

ASN Grant programme is well run and much appreciated. Grants coordinator is very helpful and her guidance is much appreciated.

I have found the ASN to be very helpful. I like your newsletter; it helps to keep us involved outside our group. I find Sarah to be very helpful and understanding with volunteers. Thank you for being there! Keep up the good work! CChheerryyll MMaarrsshhmmaann ((SSeeccrreettaarryy,, RRoosseebbuudd RRiivveerr WWaatteerrsshheedd PPaarrttnneerrss))

This grant program is absolutely invaluable. Without it, this Stewardship group would not exist and could not have made the progress that we have. LLaavveerrnnee FFaauullkknneerr ((CChhaaiirr,, WWiizzaarrdd LLaakkee WWaatteerrsshheeddSStteewwaarrddsshhiipp AAssssoocciiaattiioonn))

This grant was a tremendous help to our organization and directly benefited our lake. We could not have accomplished this much without your help. GGoorrddoonn CCoouullmmaann ((PPrreessiiddeenntt,, Crane Lake Advisory & Stewardship Society)

the second report - land stewardship centremargaret glasford, asn chair / past chair and grant...

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