Conservation and Watersheds Update and Information
By Donna Trottier Conservation Coordinator for Red Deer County Alberta Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture It takes the effort of many people from all walks of life to protect our water quality. Stewardship needs to start somewhere and if we all wait for the other guy to start, it will never move forward. As agricultural stewardship leaders, let’s be proactive by doing our part to protect our water and sustain agriculture into the future. To find out more about “Beneficial Management Practices”, reducing the impact that your agricultural operation has on the environment or to discover how you can contribute to the sustainability of agriculture in Red Deer County, contact the County Conservation Coordinator, Donna Trottier at (403)350-2163. Medicine River Watershed Society The Medicine River Watershed Society (MRWS) invites you to become part of a proactive group that is focused on being stewards of the watershed you live on. We are a group comprised of Ranchers, Farmers, and Rural Land Owners who care about the environment we live, work, and play in. The Society’s goal is to ensure that the quality of the water flowing in the Medicine River is improved and maintained for everyone and everything. Highlights March 8th Annual General Meeting - review of completed projects, planning for 2004 projects and election/appointment of society directors. At the AGM, Jaye Hillman gave a review of the implementation of better management practices that they are using on their farm. Jaye stated “Our farm chooses to be proactive. We would far rather do something now where we are in control of the project than waiting until some authority tells us we have to do something their way. If it can be seen that we are making an effort to protect the environment and contribute towards sustainable agriculture we will have a better chance of farming on our terms into the future.” The MRWS group has a portable solar watering system that can be used to pump water from the river or dugouts to cattle off shore. To use call Warren at 728-3543. Upcoming Events and Projects Annual BBQ and membership drive will be held at Gilby Hall on April 19th, 2004 sponsored by the Medicine River Watershed Society and the Gilby Ag Society. MRWS annual memberships are $5 per person or $10 per family. Annual BBQ meal and other events throughout the year are included with the price of annual membership. Andrew Shepp of Alberta Fish and Game Association will give a presentation at the BBQ meeting to discuss the Parkland Stewardship Program, funding programs, oil and gas development, on-farm conservation planning and habitat conservation. The Society will be selling trees as a fundraiser again in 2004. If you would like more information on the MRWS tree program please call Donna at (403)350-2163 Contacts Warren Miller, President. 728-3543 Donna Trottier, RDC Conservation Coordinator 350-2163 Friends of the Little Red River Society Our mission is to improve the water quality of the Little Red Deer River and surrounding area, which in turn will improve the water quality of the Red Deer River. Friends of The Little Red Deer River Society (FLRDRS) consist of farmers and local residents working towards protecting and enhancing water quality. Most of the members are people who live along the Little Red Deer River or in Bowden and Innisfail. We, as the local residents of the area, feel that the Little Red Deer River’s (LRDR) water quality could be improved by changing some agricultural practices and by making people aware of problems along the river. Our members are users of the LRDR and surrounding area and, as stewards of the land we want to do everything possible to enhance the water quality. Highlights FLRDRS are sponsoring an Environmental Farm Plan workshop April 1st and 15th at Olds College. Olds College will continue with a fifth year of the water quality testing project in the Little Red Deer River in 2004. Over $60,000 has been spent on projects in the watershed including riparian fencing, off-site watering, bank restoration and run-on, run-off control. These projects have been funded by the Little Red Deer River Initiative in conjunction with Rural Water Development Program, Community Initiative Program, Alberta Agriculture Research Institute, Innisfail Ag Society, Cottonwood Gordon Ag Society, Red Deer County, Alberta Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture and UFA. Applications have been received for several new projects that will be reviewed and worked on in 2004. To apply for funding for a project on your farm contact Lesley at 227-2665. Upcoming Events and Projects If you would like to become more involved with the work of the FLRDRS or if you have a project that will help improve the quality of the water in our watershed please come and join us for our monthly meeting on April 20th at Cottonwood Gordon Hall at 7:30 pm. Membership in the society is only $5 which supports the group in the work they are doing. It is planned to plant numerous trees along the banks of the bank restoration project at Red Fork Farm. The planting will take place early in the spring to allow optimum establishment. If you would like to help out at our tree-planting event, the day will be advertised and help is more than welcome. Contacts Lyle Knopp, President. (403)227-2665 Lesley Gavelin, Watershed Coordinator (403) 639-6946 COME OUT AND JOIN US AT OUR FUNCTIONS. |
