This is a step-by-step guide for anyone preparing PowerPoints on watershed management and health. Make your presentations more effective and get them shared on the Oldman's YouTube channel!
CLICK THIS LINK:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFCJxrZxbM4
Showing posts with label Collaborations. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Collaborations. Show all posts
Tuesday, 21 July 2015
Wednesday, 8 July 2015
It's Your Turn to be SUPERMAN...WOMAN...CHILD ...
(Editor's Note: We are being invaded by a noxious species. It looks sweet and innocent, but Oh-HO!!! what a nasty beast! Major environmental deterioration, loss of beef production, damage to crops. Individual plants can produce over 150,000 seeds PER SQURE METRE. It has an immensely long taproot and sucks the area dry. Literally. You can help. Please bring along your family July 16th from 7-9pm and FIGHT THE INVASIVES!!!)
July 16 2015 |
| Here's what Knapweed looks like. It's disguised as pretty. It's effects are devastating. |
Its that time again..... the third knapweed pull of the 2015 season is coming up fast!!
I am very excited about this weed pull because it is the site of our most successful weed pull so far. In 2013, we had our first City of Lethbridge weed pull at Elizabeth Hall Wetlands and it was a HUGE SUCCESS.
We pulled out over 50 bags of knapweed and had a super fun time doing it!
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| Here's where to meet :-) |
Knapweed Pull
Help keep our river valley healthy and diverse by pulling prohibited noxious weeds in the hopes of eradication. Save the Date:
Thursday July 16th 7-9pm
Elizabeth Hall Wetlands
Next: Thursday August 20th 7-9pm Location TBA
Next: Thursday September 17th7-9pm Location TBA
Why is Elizabeth Hall Wetland is such a special place - hidden away in the center of the city?
· Elizabeth wetlands was part of the Urban Parks project and was originally called the Oxbow Lake Nature area. 1987 the area was renamed the Elizabeth Hall Wetlands
· Elizabeth Hall was born in England and came to Canada with her family in 1958. She was a Lethbridge City Council member from 1977 to 1986 and during that time she worked tirelessly to ensure the river valley maintained its natural environment during park development. She is also credited with developing the Helen Schuler Coulee Centre, now the Helen Schuler Nature Centre
· Red-winged Black Birds, Yellow-headed Blackbirds, Orioles, several varieties of ducks, geese, muskrats, sandpiper, beavers and their dams, spotted turtles, and deer are some of the wildlife you can watch as you weed pull!
Here are some reason I am so passionate about these weed pulls:
Our goal is to work on invasive plant education and awareness. Through this process we can prevent the further introduction and spread of invasive species, and in this case specifically knapweed.
We have chosen to focus specifically on Knapweed control in the Oldman River valley because it is a highly competitive introduced plant that invades native vegetation and threatens the health of our watershed. If left unchecked, the loss to farmers, ranchers and recreational users could be disastrous. It is a prohibited noxious weed in Alberta.
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| We love our volunteers! |
See you all July 16th at Elizabeth Hall Wetlands!!!
Monday, 29 June 2015
Sunday, 7 June 2015
If I had only bet on the lottery instead ...
I wanted to give you an update on our Film Project, since the last newsflash about it was in late April after we had been to the water and wastewater treatment plants in Lethbridge. That was a hugely popular posting - I guess there's a fascination with what goes down the drain. I have just a couple of photos for you here - there have been many more posted on Twitter under #oldmangoestohollywood so do check in there if you are a Twit ... ah... I mean Tweep ... ah Twitterer.
Probably the saddest thing I have to report (and it truly is enough to make me weep - except there is already far too much water involved in this story) - is that we have been RAINED OUT on 5 consecutive film dates. What are the chances?! The odds of rain on every single shoot are slimmer than the chances of winning the lottery! I should be a zillionaire!
So let's start by telling you all about the photos I would like to be showing you here. Well, first there would have been ones of a flyover of Waterton ... and then a flyover of Dutch Creek with Board Member and Trout Unlimited expert Richard Burke doing narration next to the cockpit. Ever hopeful, we got up at 5:00 am , packed our lunches and drove out to Cayley and pulled in the latest weather reports every 5 minutes, hoping it would clear. It did not. Either day.
Next, I would like to tell you about Taber. That DID actually happen and a few people (not the ones in the photo below) got quite sunburnt, facing into the camera all day long. We were guided by Chris Gallagher from Taber Irrigation District, sponsors of the Film Project. (It's not too late! You can still be involved and become a sponsor, too! We are looking for organizations who make the watershed a better place to live, work and play to feature in our Film Project...)
We had a great day - starting off with Naturalist Lloyd Bennett out by the Sand Dunes 25 km east of Taber. Actually, the crew was out at the crack of dawn getting "beauty shots" as the sun rose. We met Lloyd and talked about biodiversity, endangered/at-risk species, invasive species, sagebrush, and more. I was incredibly moved by Lloyd's deep passion for the land and all its creatures. Thanks to Lloyd for taking time out of his busy day for us!
Chris took us out to meet Mike Wind, north of the dunes. His place has got the most stunning view of the Oldman. That, a slice of homemade cake and a steaming cup of coffee and we were set to plan the rest of the shoot. Mike's got some pretty fancy variable-rate irrigation technology and some beautiful-looking potato hills. I swear I am now in reverance every time I eat a potato chip after hearing him talk about all the work that goes into it. But we didn't just hear about it, we went to his production area to see the world's hugest storage of potatoes!!!
That's where this next photo comes in: Mike and his crew good-naturedly signed the media release forms so that we could film them in the plant.
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| Out at Mike Wind's place near Taber. It takes good water and smart watershed management to make good potatoes! |
We got some great shots of the canals and the 'Gabion' wall near north Fincastle (it's Italian for "basket" and it's a natural way of getting gunk out of the water). From there, on to see Kyle Gouw and some gorgeous looking onions and his on-farm reservoir. We were also joined at the end of the day by Mayor De Vlieger - thanks to everyone who participated as our "cast" this day and props to Chris for an entire day of his time for this project.
The other locations this month? Well, our MAJOR SHOOT of course was going to be up at the Oldman falls in the headwaters. Totally rained out and I mean POURING both days. The best I got was this little picture on my phone of a beautiful little creek when it had calmed down to a drizzle the end of the second day. Thanks to David McIntyre (star guest blogger) and Kevin Turner ("Mr. Turbidity") for their time in doing inside interviews with us. Both of these men donate much time and energy as eyes and ears for the watershed.
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| This little creek was bubbling and clear but all the others we saw these two days were straight brown sludge and the area up at Allison Creek has been ravaged by OHV use - and illegal felling of centuries' old trees. |
Heartfelt thanks to Evelyn, Randall, the Piikani CEO Byron Jackson and Shirley Crow Shoe for their time and willingness to speak with us on this rainy day. You are going to be enthralled by the Napi stories they shared with us!
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| Evelyn Crowshoe is about to bless the river with a gift of tobacco once the cameras get out of her face and give her some solitude! |
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| On the way down to Castle Ski Resort |
Our next shoot is June 16th down near Waterton - PLEASE pray for glorious sunshine and epic panoramas!!! I'll keep you posted...
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| The sun's just set on our beautiful watershed. Absolutely breathtaking. |
For more information about the Film Project and how you, your organization or your classroom can get involved, please call Anna at: 587 224 3793. Or what the heck .... come to the AGM on June 23rd, eat some 10th anniversary cake and hear all about it!
I even have a sneak preview clip I'm going to show there!!!
Friday, 22 May 2015
I double-dare ya - Test your knowledge
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(Editor's Note: OK ...So You Think You Are A Watershed Warrior? Yesterday, many helping hands gathered at the Helen Schuler Nature Centre for the kick-off of the Battle of the Invasives (there will be more weed pulls throughout the summer). In the meantime, on this theme, Erin McIlwraith from the City sent in this blog. I was about to gather photos and then I thought: YOU could test your knowledge and see if YOU know what these species are! Let me know how it goes :-)
As we gear up to start the season of invasive plant control I find myself getting very excited about the chances to build positive community and at the same time have a long lasting impact in the Oldman Watershed. I have been amazed at the overwhelming support from local groups and organizations who want to participate and encourage the once a month Knapweed pulls, so a HUGE thank you to all the supporters.
The integrated Pest management program has been growing and developing in new and exciting ways over the last few years with the focus on having a multifaceted approach that incorporates Bio control, cultural, physical, and mechanical aspects.
Invasive plants can have a devastating effect on the natural areas in the city, and we are working hard to keep the invasive plants that are present in the city to a minimum with the end goal of total eradication!
Spotted Knapweed has been a persistent problem in Lethbridge, despite our best efforts to control this invasive plant species, they still have the potential to become an expensive devastating problem. While prevention, bio-control agents, manual, and mechanical control measures are successful, there is still a long way to go to protect native plant species. Through our weed pull efforts, we are able to remove the weed seeds from the soil as well as prevent allelopathic effects (Editor: what does this mean?) in the soil.
There is a list of INVASIVES here >>> https://www.abinvasives.ca/fact-sheets
Test your knowledge! Maybe your teen knows more than YOU?!
If you are an environmentally conscious citizen, or corporation, wanting to participate in some fun, outdoor, community building events ... we want YOU!
We will be having a Knapweed pull
on the THIRD THURSDAY of the summer months.
We would love to have your participation.
Each weed pull will start at 7:00pm with snacks, drinks, gloves, bags and tools provided to participants. Prizes will be awarded to volunteers throughout the summer!
Anyone wishing to participate can contact the Nature Centre for more details or to register – 403-320-3064 – email erin.mcilwraith@lethbridge.ca or just show up!
Friday, 15 May 2015
Beauty and The Beasts - May long a year ago ...
(Editor's note: I was wondering how much had changed in a year. In time for May long weekend, the following article by Adam Driedzic from the Environmental Law Centre was published exactly a year ago. Have things changed? Please - You tell me! Responses and new guest blogs most welcome. Also, send the Oldman your BEAUTY & THE BEASTS shots from May long 2015: What was wonderful?! - What was not?!)
May 17, 2013
"There's no God-given right to mud-boggers"
(Minister of Justice and Solicitor General, Nanton News, May 13, 2013)
May long weekend is here: begin the bush parties, litter, trucks in the river. . . I wish I could find last year's Sustainable Resource Development blog post about the perennial rotting couches. There will be liquor bans, fire bans, trail closures and check stops.
Responsible recreationalists will understand.
Next time you head out, stop by the MD Ranchland Hall at Chain Lakes and check out "The New War Zone," a classic newspaper feature about the efforts of rural municipalities to address destructive recreation.
The war's not over. In 2012 near every municipality on the Eastern Slopes met collectively with three ministers – Justice and Solicitor General, Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resources Development, and Tourism Parks and Recreation – to request action on public use of public land.
Enforcement is always a feature in recommendations to reform motorized recreation policy. Examples include:
· The Recreational Stakeholder Workshop (2005) convened by OHV user groups and environmental groups;
· The Voluntary Planning Off Highway Vehicle Task Force Report for Nova Scotia (Eastern Provinces may be ahead. They've had public land for longer);
This isn't just about OHV use. Unruly "random camping" has come up in question period, and the response asks us to expect more boots on the ground this summer. Thus, when the Solicitor General traveled to Chain Lakes for an announcement on May 13th, the real question was whether this was just the annual summer kick-off spiel or something more? We will see a new enforcement strategy for the Eastern Slopes, or is this simply seasonal issue awareness?
Try to look past the debate over access to public land under the pending South Saskatchewan Regional Plan (for the polarized version listen to Recreation or Conservation on CBC Radio "the 180″ with Jim Brown). In reality, multiple ministries are trying to deal with the impacts of destructive recreation.
In 2011, the Public Lands Administration Regulation (PLAR) created new tools to address public use of vacant land. PLAR showed excellent efforts by Sustainable Resource Development to fit the issue under an outdated Public Lands Act that barely considers recreational use. There has been little implementation, perhaps due partly to the next change.
In 2012, officers responsible for Fish and Wildlife, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement and Parks Conservation were consolidated under the Solicitor General. This makes sense if one considers that all 'peace officers' have a similar enforcement functions. The ministry's goal of consolidating enforcement services to "ensure effective specialized enforcement" could be helpful. Creating a specialized OHV enforcement force was a top recommendation from the Nova Scotia report (above).
The officer transfer creates new challenges. All 'peace officers' have powers to enforce regulatory offenses but not all officers have all powers under every statute. Then there are other policing priorities. If your job was to promote a safe Alberta, where would you put law enforcement resources? Perhaps on Highway 63 to Fort Mac? One can see why backroad rowdies don't top the list.
The Information Bulletin really doesn't promise more than the annual weekend blitz. It does, however, give much attention to the health of public land. And it isn't alone. The Solicitor General is blogging about the outdoors. Nanton News quotes our political head of public security speaking the language more commonly used by land managers - asking users to "respect the land," to not abuse public resources and to leave it for the future. He acknowledges resistance to a "police state" but suggests that legislation dealing with OHV issues will be reviewed.
Now note the quotes from municipal councillors on further solutions: like a real trail system. Moving recreation up the land use planning agenda could make enforcement a whole lot easier.
Enjoy the long weekend.
You can strengthen environmental decision-making in Alberta. Please give generously.
Adam Driedzic, Environmental Law Centre
Environmental Law Centre
1-800-661-4238
Tuesday, 12 May 2015
Alberta WPACs ...Seeking Library Wizard!
Alberta's Watershed Planning and Advisory Councils seeking Library Wizard!
Friday, 8 May 2015
Alberta has shaken the blues and .... orange you glad we're in the rose of health?
In time for the weekend, something to think about ...
Well, we've done it this time - picked ourselves up, dusted ourselves off and made it to the polls in greater numbers than in the last 22 years. Premier-designate Rachel Notley could make the difference for some of the challenges our watershed is currently facing.
WPACs of Alberta (Watershed Planning and Advisory Councils) have an important role to play: to advise government. And we've been doing it a long time. Key pieces of research like the State of the Watershed Report and the Integrated Watershed Management Plans, as well as key input into the South Saskatchewan Rgional Plan have had much work - and much hope - put into them.
It was interesting to note that both rural and urban Albertans want change and are willing to work together. Combining the orange and the rose will make a brighter future for everyone who lives, works and plays in our beautiful and unique Oldman watershed. (Suddenly Jayme Cabrera Lopez' photo of the sunrise at the top of ths blog seems serendipitously appropriate.)
We look forward to the support of both NDP and Wildrose MLAs to make things different - and to make them better.
Here's what our Executive Director, Shannon Frank, had to say about the recent election and its implications for watershed management and health .... you may need to adjust your speakers a little ... have a peek at this recent video:
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Well, we've done it this time - picked ourselves up, dusted ourselves off and made it to the polls in greater numbers than in the last 22 years. Premier-designate Rachel Notley could make the difference for some of the challenges our watershed is currently facing.
WPACs of Alberta (Watershed Planning and Advisory Councils) have an important role to play: to advise government. And we've been doing it a long time. Key pieces of research like the State of the Watershed Report and the Integrated Watershed Management Plans, as well as key input into the South Saskatchewan Rgional Plan have had much work - and much hope - put into them.
It was interesting to note that both rural and urban Albertans want change and are willing to work together. Combining the orange and the rose will make a brighter future for everyone who lives, works and plays in our beautiful and unique Oldman watershed. (Suddenly Jayme Cabrera Lopez' photo of the sunrise at the top of ths blog seems serendipitously appropriate.)
We look forward to the support of both NDP and Wildrose MLAs to make things different - and to make them better.
Here's what our Executive Director, Shannon Frank, had to say about the recent election and its implications for watershed management and health .... you may need to adjust your speakers a little ... have a peek at this recent video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AAsJJ8-5QE <<< CLICK THIS LINK TO VIEW!!!
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We'd love to hear your thoughts about this topic!
Thursday, 30 April 2015
Wednesday, 22 April 2015
Earth Day - Does It Really Matter?
(Editor's Note: You may call me cynical, but I did ask myself today whether naming this one day "Earth Day" actually made a difference. Here is a blog piece by OWC's Planning Manager, Connie Simmons, attempting to answer that question.)
The Oldman Watershed Council marks Earth Day with a spotlight on the Headwaters Action Team!
In preparation for this Blog post, I visited Earth Day’s website, http://earthday2015.ca/ and thought a lot about how the OWC and our key partnerships with stakeholders and volunteers supports Earth Day Canada’s mission to foster and celebrate environmental respect, action and behaviour change that lessens our impact on the earth. I looked at the questions they asked:
“What can I do to help the environment?”
“How can my individual actions make a bigger difference?”
“Can the impact of one person really help the planet?”
It didn’t take me long to figure out what to say – without the power of key partnerships and committed people and groups working together for common goals and outcomes for watershed health – the OWC would be just another planning organization with piles of plans on a shelf gathering dust.
Committed action by individuals, stakeholders and government is what makes the difference – and this action makes Earth Day (and everyday) a reason for acknowledgement and thanks to the people who are doing this important work.
The OWC’s Headwaters Action Team (HAT) is focused on getting things done for headwaters health. The HAT was formed in 2014 to begin the process of implementing 5 priority actions of the Headwaters Action Plan, and to see how far we can go in the first two years of collaborative work (for more on this: http://oldmanbasin.org/teams-and-projects/integrated-watershed-management-plan-team/).
The HAT is a great group of people, with different perspectives, interests and values. Some of our conversations are bluntly honest, and some of the interests around the table are at times cross-threaded. Nonetheless, as a foundation for collaborative work, we agree that the health of the headwaters needs improvement, that there are important initiatives that can address the priority concerns - and through this work, we raise support for improved watershed management, and achieve better outcomes for headwaters health.
OWC Headwaters Action Team - April 9, 2015
left to right: Jason Blackburn (Alberta Conservation Association); Lorne Fitch (Cows and Fish); Mike Wagner (Environment and Sustainable Resource Development – Forest Hydrology); Connie Simmons (OWC); Wade Aebli (Spray Lakes Sawmills); Rosemary Jones (Environment and Sustainable Development-Parks); David Green (Southern Alberta Sustainable Communities Initiative); Terry Yagos (MD Pincher Creek); Tony Bruder (Drywood-Yarrow Conservation Partnership); Bill Kovach (MD Crowsnest Pass); Jim Lynch Staunton (North Fork Grazing Association); Richard Burke (Trout Unlimited – Lethbridge). Missing: Darryl Ferguson (Crowsnest Pass Quad Squad); Carolyn Aspeslet (Castle Crown Wilderness Coalition).
The Headwaters Action Team works in both an advisory and implementation capacity, within the mandates and resources available from their respective organizations. So when I look at the questions posed for Earth Day, ‘…what can I do, and how can my individual actions make a difference?’ - I see in the HAT the commitment and willingness to act stemming from connection and appreciation for the beauty, the critical ecological function as key water tower, and resources that support people and communities – all of these values, and more, are inherent to the Oldman headwaters.
To really hear what is important to the team members, it is best to hear from them on why they are putting their time and energy into action for headwaters health:
I have lived near to the Oldman River most of my life and have spent many hours fishing, and playing in it, but most of all walking along it enjoying the hugely diverse wildlife and plant life enabled and nourished by it. The headwaters is the source and the Oldman River is the lifeblood of Southern Alberta. Ted Smith – Rancher, Livingston Landowners Group, HAT member
The Oldman River headwaters encompasses the largest remaining core areas of pure strain Westslope Cutthroat Trout within the historic range of Alberta, and is critical to the long term sustainability of the species in the province. Watersheds within the headwaters not only contribute to the overall persistence of this species, but also represent some of the best quality, and most popular native (and introduced) trout fisheries in the province, a service highly valued by a major stakeholder group of ACA, Alberta’s anglers.
Jason Blackburn – Alberta Conservation Association – HAT member
Headwaters are the epicenter for source water, native fish and wildlife (several of which are ‘threatened’) and a sense of space for recreation, watershed integrity and biodiversity maintenance. The headwaters are where the Oldman watershed begins and how well we manage this critical area dictates whether we meet the goals of downstream residents.
Lorne Fitch, Cows and Fish – HAT member
I live in the Oldman headwaters. Every day I see the snowpack on the mountains, hear the melt-water music of Gladstone Creek as it joins Mill Creek, which flows into the Castle River, and then joins the Oldman River system at the Oldman Reservoir. I think of all who live upstream and downstream and depend on this water – the towns and cities, the forests, the fish, birds and wildlife, and the farmers, ranchers and businesses that help support the economy of Alberta. Over 90% of the water of the Oldman River comes from the headwaters. For this reason, and because this place is my home, I am committed to working for headwaters beauty, function, spiritual values and source of life and sustenance.
Connie Simmons, Oldman Watershed Council – HAT coordinator
On Earth Day 2015 – we celebrate and thank the commitment of people and organizations who are working together for watershed health.
Thank you, Headwaters Action Team!!!
Blog post by: Connie Simmons,
OWC - Headwaters Stewardship Coordinator
connie@oldmanbasin.org
Wednesday, 15 April 2015
Safe Drinking Water In Lethbridge - And Downstream!
The other day, we met with OWC's Chairman, Doug Kaupp, who is also the General Manager of Water and Wastewater for the City of Lethbridge. The City has generously sponsored the OWC Film Project as a Collaborative Partner. The OWC gets $5,000 to put toward the film-making, and the City gets three videos: one for kids, one for the public at large, and one for scientists. The Collaborative Partner gets the videos at a fraction of the commercial cost, and the Oldman gets to create invaluable educational material.
For the City's videos, we toured three main sites: the waste water treatment plant, the water treatment plant and some river locations for storm outfalls and other technology.
It's a good thing this is a story told in pictures and not in smells! ...but, here we go:
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| So this first picture ^^ is where all the toilet flushings and drainage from the city of Lethbridge is collected to ONE POINT. I know, it's not fluffy birdies and flowers, but it's high time you knew. Yes, it stinks to high heaven. |
That's why I was praying that the guys didn't drop or knock their fancy-dancy camera equipment into the sludge: clearly, nobody would jump in after it to save it!
There are several stages to the process, and I'm not going to walk you through them all, but it was really interesting to find out just how much effort, science (and yes, money) goes into treating wastewaster to a condition where it can be released back into the river. It is the same stuff that fish will swim in, kids will play in ... and everybody downstream will drink (after they treat it further). (Obviously this picture shows one of the initial stages, and not the end result far down the line in wastewater treatment!)
First of all, anything that will harm the other machines is caught and removed (rocks, what have you). Then, 'tons and tons' of sand is taken out. I couldn't believe it. A lot of the sand is simply from cleaning - washing your floors, etc. Apparently, a lot of people are also forgetting their rags when they flush their dirty floor water down the drain!
A much better idea is to use biodegradable soap and dump the sand and dirty water onto your lawn - and pick out your rag.
The picture above ^^ shows part of the process where, now that the sand has been removed, the culprits grease and hair get worked over.
Are you one of the people flushing the hair from your brush down the toilet?
It is far better to put it in the garbage.
The same goes for your bacon fat, cooking fat, any type of grease is a real effort to remove.
There's a little trick, actually: use an old milk carton and pour the grease into it. Close the spout so it doesn't smell and put it in the fridge and it is easily disposable in the garbage after it has set.
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This is a very complicated process.There are ten of these"sludge pools", bubbling and working away. |
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And here's a photo of "Mr. Water", Doug Kaupp, who is taking the Oldman Film Crew on a tour of the facilities and explaining the wastewater treatment process to us. Doug has a lot of responsibility for taking care of us all! |
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There is not an alien living in this tank. It is actually ultraviolet light, used to treat the water once it's past the sludge stage. It has a green tinge due to the algae. |
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On to the next stage! There are several buildings, each with it's own function, and all connected with massive pipes. |
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Jim MacDonald, left, is the Wastewater Plant Manager in Lethbridge. A lot of people are involved in making sure our water is clean and healthy for everyone downstream. |
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Great chemistry brains aren't just found on TV! Brian Thomson is the brains at the water treatment plant.
Wastewater gets treated differently than water does than stormwater does. The difference? Wastewater is downstream. It's what we put down the drain. It must go through a careful cleaning process before it is put back into the river. It all goes to users downstream. The sludge removed is what powers the plant itself, but you can help by being more careful about what you put down the drain: use biodegradable soap and pour your cleaning water in the yard; don't put hair in the sink or toilet and keep cooking fats out of the drains.
Water treatment is upstream. It's what we take in from the river flowing into the City. It has come from the headwaters in the mountains and passed through the communities and landscapes to the west and we take a portion of it into the water treatment plant where we remove contaminants and treat for purity. That then, flows into your taps.
Stormwater is what falls as precipitation from above. It falls on your roof, your car, your yard. You could be capturing it from the roof in a rain barrel, making sure you don't wash your car in the driveway, avoiding the use of pesticides and herbicides in your yard (hey! dandelions are the first bee food!) - and keeping your storm drain clean. All this water collects in the gutters and is transported straight into the river. Whatever you do to your yard, fish drink. That's the concept of "We are all downstream". Luckily, more and more people are getting into gardening, permaculture and xeriscaping as beautiful - and useful - 'English lawn' alternatives. We do, really, live in a semi-arid climate.
Adding to this list, we also have groundwater, which is what you would use if you have a well.
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Away from all the plants and pipes and down to the Oldman River for some fresh air! We're going to see the weir (Get it?!!) |
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Nice shot, if I do say so myself. The lovely cottonwoods across the river are budding and waiting to leaf. We saw Spring's first butterflies and a few tiny flowers.
Doug took us to a few different stormdrains that exit into the river. Yes - whatever is on your street- leaves, garbage, paint, soapsuds ... whatever your pour into the gutteror the street drain ... DOES NOT GET TREATED. It flows straight into the river and straight onto wildlife like beaver and trout. It is important for us, as neighbours, to keep storm drains clear. The City can't possibly come around several times a year to do this. We must have an interest in keeping our water wildlife healthy and care about human populations downstream.
The "Yellow Fish Road" program is a way for school kids to learn about storm drains and water. They paint on the little yellow fish on the storm drains as a way of reminding people that whatever goes down there directly impacts fish.
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It was a beautiful day for filming and we had the best tour guide ever: Thanks, Mr. Water - Doug Kaupp - and thank you to the City of Lethbridge!For more information about your drinking water, please visit http://www.lethbridge.ca/living-here/water-wastewater/Pages/default.aspxThe OWC is seeking further Collaborative Partners who would like to showcase in video how they are making the watershed a better place to live, work and play. Please get in touch! |
Monday, 30 March 2015
Ever wondered about your water? TEST IT!
(Editor's Note: Thanks to Jacskon for blogging about how YOU can test your water. Kits are free!)
AWQA Day, June 5th, 2015
A hands-on approach to increasing water quality awareness in Alberta
Have you ever wondered about the quality of water in your local stream or wetland?
You can have the opportunity to learn more about your local waterways by engaging in the Alberta Water Quality Awareness (AWQA) program in 2015. On June 5th we will kick-off our program for the 2015 year!
Alberta Water Quality Awareness (AWQA) aims to increase people's awareness about the health and value of water in Alberta, through hands-on water quality testing. Participants in the program are provided with a free water quality test kit.
This easy-to-use kit includes all of the materials needed to analyze four basic water quality parameters: temperature, pH, turbidity and dissolved oxygen. These basic measures of water quality have important implications for fish and wildlife habitat, outdoor recreation, and human health.
Albertans were last able to get their 'feet wet' in 2012, during Alberta's fifth AWQA event. The program was a huge success, with nearly 2000 people, from across the province, actively testing water in their communities. Families, individuals, schools, watershed groups, rural landowners, and community and youth groups all participated in the program.
Together these groups collected and tested water samples from over 200 different locations, covering all seven of the major watersheds in Alberta. These results were compiled to create a 'snapshot' of water quality in the province.
Results from past years can be viewed at www.awqa.ca
Everyone is invited to participate in AWQA 2015. Interested parties can order their free water quality test kit online at www.awqa.ca.
Kits can be ordered as a single, teacher kit package, as well as a special order for those with larger groups of students. AWQA kits will be shipped around mid-May and water quality testing can be done anytime between June 1st and August 31st. A single kit can be used ten times to test any stream, lake, river, wetland, dugout, community pond, reservoir, slough or other surface waterbody in Alberta. It is crucial to the success of this program for the data to be uploaded after collection, don't miss out on this great opportunity to get involved in the outdoors and water education.
AWQA Day is a program of the Alberta Lake Management Society in partnership with Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development, and Alberta Tomorrow.AWQA Day is made possible through the generous support of our sponsor EPCOR.
For more information on Alberta Water Quality Awareness please visit www.awqa.ca.
Or contact:
info@alms.ca
(780) 415-9785
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AWQA Day, June 5th, 2015
A hands-on approach to increasing water quality awareness in Alberta
Have you ever wondered about the quality of water in your local stream or wetland?
You can have the opportunity to learn more about your local waterways by engaging in the Alberta Water Quality Awareness (AWQA) program in 2015. On June 5th we will kick-off our program for the 2015 year!
Alberta Water Quality Awareness (AWQA) aims to increase people's awareness about the health and value of water in Alberta, through hands-on water quality testing. Participants in the program are provided with a free water quality test kit.
This easy-to-use kit includes all of the materials needed to analyze four basic water quality parameters: temperature, pH, turbidity and dissolved oxygen. These basic measures of water quality have important implications for fish and wildlife habitat, outdoor recreation, and human health.
Albertans were last able to get their 'feet wet' in 2012, during Alberta's fifth AWQA event. The program was a huge success, with nearly 2000 people, from across the province, actively testing water in their communities. Families, individuals, schools, watershed groups, rural landowners, and community and youth groups all participated in the program.
Together these groups collected and tested water samples from over 200 different locations, covering all seven of the major watersheds in Alberta. These results were compiled to create a 'snapshot' of water quality in the province.
Results from past years can be viewed at www.awqa.ca
Everyone is invited to participate in AWQA 2015. Interested parties can order their free water quality test kit online at www.awqa.ca.
Kits can be ordered as a single, teacher kit package, as well as a special order for those with larger groups of students. AWQA kits will be shipped around mid-May and water quality testing can be done anytime between June 1st and August 31st. A single kit can be used ten times to test any stream, lake, river, wetland, dugout, community pond, reservoir, slough or other surface waterbody in Alberta. It is crucial to the success of this program for the data to be uploaded after collection, don't miss out on this great opportunity to get involved in the outdoors and water education.
Students, or other participants, can go online and add their water quality information to the database atwww.awqa.ca, and together create a picture of water quality in Alberta. Data will also be transferred to the Alberta Tomorrow program where students and citizens can further their engagement in the environment, and data, by working with the land-use simulator. Various teacher resources are on our website which includes lesson plans, worksheets, and more information on the parameters that are being tested.
Teacher Resources can be viewed here: http://alms.ca/teacher-resources/
AWQA Day is a program of the Alberta Lake Management Society in partnership with Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development, and Alberta Tomorrow.AWQA Day is made possible through the generous support of our sponsor EPCOR.
For more information on Alberta Water Quality Awareness please visit www.awqa.ca.
Or contact:
info@alms.ca
(780) 415-9785
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Jackson Woren, B.Sc, BIT
Lakewatch Technician
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