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There were a few funny animals at the Oldman's booth at the Children's Festival on April 12.

The Oldman Watershed Council teamed up with the Helen Schuler Nature Centre and spoke to about 1,000 visitors! The children were entertained by the staff in animal costumes and learned about beaver, birds, porcupines and other critters, while their parents were in engaged in conversation about the watershed.

We are currently conducting a survey to find out what people know about their watershed. It consists of 10 short questions and is a great conversation starter. Anyone who participated in the survey had a chance to win a rain barrel .... and Chase Thomson is our winner! We look forward to seeing Chase at the Oldman's offices this week so we can snap a photo of him and his snazzy new rain barrel.

If you would like to get involved and have great conversations with real people about important watershed issues, please get in touch with Anna, our Communications Coordinator at: anna@oldmanbasin.org. We would be thrilled to provide you with a copy of the survey and some simple instructions. The weather is warming up and there is plenty of opportunity for using the survey as a way to increase watershed awareness.

Caring for Our Watersheds

Kelsey Armstrong (15) is all smiles as she hoists a giant cheque for $900 awarded to her for winning 2nd place in the Caring for Our Watersheds competition. This program asks students to submit a proposal that answers the question, "What can you do to improve your watershed?" Students must research their local watershed, identify an environmental concern and come up with a realistic solution. Community judges select the top entries to compete at a final competition.

The Grade 9 student from Lethbridge Collegiate Institute was the only candidate from Lethbridge at the final competition held at Ralph Klein Park in Calgary April 26, 2014 where she competed against the 9 other finalists chosen from 80 applicants from Southern Alberta.

OWC Program Coordinator, Leta Pezderic, acted as Kelsey's mentor through the process and OWC further supported her project by donating $1600 to go towards building her kits. The City of Lethbridge also funded this project for $1020.  

You have to know I am not a "water person". Not only am I not an expert in the subject matter, I don't even like swimming! So when my colleagues ask me for help in communicating some of their high-falutin' scientific concepts, they need to start right from the beginning.   

Take "linear features" for example.   

Now, if you're like me, you likely have no idea that this is probably THE BIGGEST THREAT to water quality in the headwaters out of the whole long list of things like pollutants, pesticides and people in general.  

In fact, 77% of the total headwaters area (where the water first comes bubbling out of the ground or melting off the glaciers in the mountains and foothills) is at risk.

So what are they? Every road, seismic line, telephone line, pipeline, power line, railroad and ATV trail on the landscape. They can allow dirt to run-off directly into streams and rivers, which degrades water quality.
 

Fish need clean, clear water to thrive. So do many wildlife species. Some widlife avoid linear features, so their movements and ability to forage for food, reproduce and find safe refuge are compromised.  

The good news is that linear features can be reclaimed. The OWC is doing a classification of linear features project to see which are the most problematic. We are developing a plan with key stakeholders and the public that is based on solid science, as well as social and economic needs, to identify and then reclaim linear features that are negatively impacting watershed health.

The long weekend is upon us. When you go out to enjoy your recreation, have a new awareness of linear features. Note them above ground, across the forests and meadows and think about the ones underground. Think about which fish, plants and animals are impacted by them.  

You can help. Random camping now requires a permit in important source water areas in the Oldman watershed. OHV users can help not "squish the baby fish" by avoiding crossing key habitat and spawning streams and using bridges and designated trail crossings. Animals can die from consuming human garbage: carry an extra plastic bag and if you see garbage - be a watershed protector and pick it up.    

There's more you can do! The OWC is looking for sponsors for these and many other projects that ensure a healthy, lively, beautiful watershed. After all, humans depend on clean water, too. Becoming a sponsor or donor could be one of the most important things you do.

 If you would like to know more about how you can help with a donation of time, expertise and/ or money, please do get in touch. I'd love to hear from you! Email me at anna@oldmanbasin.org. 

Update on the Headwaters Action Plan  

The OWC is the proud recipient of two grants to improve the health of the headwaters! We just found out! 

With the help of Alberta Conservation Association (ACA) we will be able to classify linear features (roads, seismic lines, telephone lines, pipelines, power lines, railroads and ATV trails) in a pilot (test), 4th order watershed in the headwaters in the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains.  

What is a 4th order watershed you ask? I've made a drawing, at right, to explain. This shows the outline of a 4th order watershed. All of the streams labelled as "1"s are "1st order" streams, "2"s are "2nd order" streams and so on. When two "1st order" streams meet, they form a "2nd order" stream, when two "2nd order" streams meet, they form a "3rd order" stream and so on. The image at right shows a view as though we are flying over the larger Oldman watershed and have picked out a "4th order" watershed, or sub-watershed from the larger Oldman watershed. No matter where you are, you are in a watershed.  

So... the grant from ACA will help us determine the condition of linear features and what impact

they are having on the health of the headwaters. Not all linear features are created equal and some are needed for forest harvesting, recreation, oil and gas, etc. so we must determine which ones are critical to people and which ones are having the most negative impact. The we will know which ones to reclaim.  

A grant from the Royal Bank of Canada will also help us with the classification of linear  

features project and to implement several other projects under the guidance of the Headwaters Action Plan Steering Committee. Thank you RBC for believing in the OWC and supporting our important projects that will protect and improve water for our urban and rural communities in the Oldman watershed and beyond!  

Thank you TD Canada Trust and City of Lethbridge!

TD Canada Trust and the City of Lethbridge have both provided funding for the OWC Prairie Urban Garden Tour and we are  grateful for their help in educating and raising awareness about using drought tolerant and native plants to conserve water and protect our stormwater. Drought tolerant and native plants are adapted to our dry prairie environment and naturally thrive here eliminating or decreasing the need for the use of water, pesticides and fertilizers to keep them looking lush and beautiful. Thank you TD Canada Trust and City of Lethbridge for helping us  raise awareness and provide people with the tools and resources to protect stormwater in the Oldman watershed!       

AESRD continues to support the OWC   

We also want to take the opportunity to thank Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource  

Development (AESRD) for their ongoing support. AESRD funding pays for OWC general operations and administration costs - that is, OWC staff, insurance, accounting, computers etc. - which is critical because many funding organizations do not fund these costs that are integral to our existence. Their support along with project funding provided by funding organizations, municipalities, municipal districts, towns, villages, irrigation districts  and individuals who generously donate are what keep us alive. As a charity, we need all of these sources to come together to keep going. We are incredibly thankful to all of those who do! Thank you AESRD for your continued partnership.  

We look forward to many more years of working on the Water for Life goals!     

Thank you to all those who contribute time and money to Oldman watershed health!  

Would you like to get involved in one (or more) of our project teams or donate? We need your participation and contributions to continue doing the good work we do in the watershed. If you would like more information or to discuss donation or volunteer options, please contact me at 403-382-4708 or andrea@oldmanbasin.org.    

Have a wonderful long weekend - play safe and smart! 

A full report on the ambient water quality in the South Saskatchewan Region following the June 2013 flood is now available online on the Flood Recovery Water Quality Monitoring website (http://esrd.alberta.ca/focus/esrd-2013-flood-recovery-programs/water-quality-monitoring.aspx). The report is named "Flood Recovery - Ambient Water Quality Final Report March 2014" under "Enhanced ambient water".  Raw data and additional preliminary reports are also available on the same webpage.

Goldenkey Oil Inc. Makes Decision on the Penny Project and related Facilities,
Lethbridge, Alberta
Goldenkey Oil Inc. has decided to withdraw from its Penny Project and will not be making application to access its minerals in the Lethbridge area . . . read more 

The Alberta Energy Regulator is seeking a Fisheries Biologist to participate and support the application review and authorization conditioning phases of Public Lands Act, Water Act and Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act approvals for oil and gas activities.  Applications are being accepted until May 25.  Click here for details.

Alberta WaterSMART is seeking a Hydrogeologist who will be responsible for developing, managing and conducting
projects and parts of projects related to hydrogeology.  The position is full time and based in Calgary. 
Closing date is May 30.  Please see the attached job posting for details.