New norm unsettling

Joyce Sasse

Joyce Sasse - We might not want to think about it, but we have to – think about the changing climate, that is!

It is only human to be fearful in the face of uncertainty. That’s why so many, for so long, have tried to deny what climate scientists have been telling us for years. Now, in this 2nd year of extreme drought across the Canadian prairies, and with excessive temperature highs everywhere around the globe, the time has come to seek out facts and develop strategies for how to move forward.

Recycle Fair cleans up again

Town staff Eric Van Ee, and Nic Jordan 

*Updated with new information June 26, 2018

Toni Lucas - Pincher Creek's 2018 annual Waste Roundup/Reuse Fair Saturday, June 16 at the Ranchland Mall parking lot. There was a somewhat lower attendance than usual possibly due to the rain that was steadily falling throughout the day or that with this event being held annually people have had a chance to keep up on their waste item build up.

Fish Sticks puppet video promotes respect for our watershed

Oldman Watershed Council - In March 2018, OWC partnered with WP Puppet Theatre to host a family puppet-making workshop at the Helen Schuler Nature Centre. First, participants made some simple puppets and an aquatic habitat complete with clean, clear water and healthy riparian vegetation. Then, they recorded a quick clip using their handcrafted puppets. We’d like to share a short video compilation of some important messages these wise young folks have for everyone enjoying our watershed this summer.  Click here for the full story.

AWA lauds Castle Parks management plan

Castle River. (Alberta Wilderness Association photo)

Alberta Wilderness Association - The provincial government has released a final management plan for the Castle Parks. Along with the establishment of Public Land Use Zones in the Livingstone-Porcupine, Alberta Wilderness Association (AWA) recognizes the significant progress that has been made to protect the headwaters of the Oldman River.  "The Castle wilderness is truly a one-of-a-kind treasure in Alberta that will be enjoyed by all for generations to come," said Joanna Skrajny, AWA Conservation Specialist. "The Castle Parks hold cultural significance and will protect grizzly bears and native trout, while providing spectacular recreation opportunities." The government's plan acknowledges the overwhelming body of science that shows off-highway vehicles are not compatible with conservation goals and headwaters protection.

Alberta Government releases Livingstone-Porcupine plan

Porcupine Hills overlooking Livingstone (Sam Wirzba photo)

Government of Alberta - New land management plans for the Livingstone-Porcupine Hills areas will help conserve and protect sensitive ecosystems while improving economic and recreation opportunities.

Livingstone-Porcupine final plans released

Looking west to the Livingstone Range (Alberta Wilderness Association photo)

Alberta Wilderness Association - The provincial government has released final plans and established Public Land Use Zones (PLUZ) in the Livingstone Porcupine region in order to manage the impacts of industrial development and motorized recreation in the area. Alberta Wilderness Association (AWA) believes these measures signal an important shift towards sustainable management of our public lands.

Response to request for additional information for the Grassy Mountain Coal Project

Government of Canada map

Grassy Mountain Mine Review - Benga Mining Limited (Benga Mining) (a wholly owned subsidiary of Riversdale Resources Limited) is proposing to construct and operate an open-pit metallurgical coal mine near the Crowsnest Pass (the Grassy Mountain Coal Project), approximately seven kilometers north of the community of Blairmore, in Alberta. As proposed, the production capacity of the project would be a maximum of four million tonnes of coal per year, over a mine-life of about 25 years.

AWA: Dismal record for Alberta grizzly bear deaths

Grizzly bears in the Highwood (Alberta Wilderness Association photo)

Alberta Wilderness Association - Grizzly bears deaths in 2016 marked the highest number of human-caused grizzly deaths since stopping the hunt in 2006. Last week, the Alberta Government released the number of recorded grizzly bear deaths over the last two years, showing that the threatened species is dying at a troubling rate. Alberta Wilderness Association (AWA) believes immediate action, including placing stringent limits on the amount of motorized access into grizzly bear habitat, must be taken to address the top reasons for grizzly bear deaths.

OWC: Draft land use plans will improve watershed health

The density of linear features along the Eastern Slopes is too high for fish and wildlife to thrive.

Oldman Watershed Council - The Government of Alberta's draft Livingstone-Porcupine Hills Land Footprint and Recreation Management Plans are a very positive step towards headwaters protection and essentially mirror what diverse stakeholders in the Oldman watershed agreed to and asked the Government of Alberta for, in OWC’s 2013-14 Headwaters Action Plan. OWC is pleased to see that the majority of the targets, actions, and recommendations from the Headwaters Action Plan will be addressed by the new draft Government of Alberta plans.

Diverse coalition of Albertans praises draft land use plans

Porcupine Hills Coalition - Drafts of two new land-use plans, released March 27 by the Government of Alberta, are being welcomed by a wide variety of stakeholders, from ranchers to recreationalists to conservation organizations. The plans stem from the 2014 South Saskatchewan Regional Plan which committed to the development of a Land Footprint Management Plan (LFMP) and Recreation Management Plan (RMP) for the Porcupine Hills and Livingstone regions. The region is located an hour and a half south of Calgary, along Highway 22, also known as the Cowboy Trail, and is considered some of the most iconic landscapes in southern Alberta.

Albertans deliver 'Quarters for Caribou' to Premier

Alberta Wilderness Association - Supporters of Alberta’s endangered caribou delivered hundreds of postcards to the steps of the Alberta Legislature today, asking Premier Notley to protect the habitat that these iconic wildlife need. The “Quarters for Caribou” event, organized by Alberta Wilderness Association (AWA), comes after Alberta missed its 5-year deadline for producing caribou range plans in October 2017.

Leopard Frog workshop held at Beaver Mines and Beauvais Lake

Northern Leopard Frog (photos: Parks Canada/Kim Pearson/Lea Randall)

Toni Lucas - Waterton Biosphere Reserve Association recently held a workshop at Coalfields School, outside of Beaver Mines regarding the Northern Leopard Frogs who are listed as threatened in Alberta. They are a species of special concern under Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). Over 25 people attended the workshop, which included a trip to Beauvais Lake where reintroduction methods are being used to increase population. These frogs can reach up to a little larger than 4 inches, are often brown or green with distinctive spots which often have a paler ring around them.

Thank you from Drywood Yarrow Conservation Partnership

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Thank you Shell Waterton Complex for your funding to control invasive weeds along the Drywood Yarrow watershed. Additionally thank you to Shane Poulsen and the MD of Pincher Creek for all the advice and manual labour. The efforts on weed control never ends, however fewer will gain ground thanks to your efforts!

The Drywood Yarrow Conservation Partnership

AWA: Alberta's southern forests more than a source of timber

Alberta Wilderness Association - Improving the management Alberta’s southwestern forests has been the goal of a group of concerned community members and conservationists for many years. Yesterday, the group published an open letter to the government to express their belief that forest management must prioritize a broader set of values than timber production. Their recommendations include developing recreation, tourism, and forestry practices that are sustainable for future generations; improving public consultation processes; and ensuring management decisions assist species at risk recovery.

Protecting riparian zones

OWC Outreach Assistants help install wildlife-friendly fence to keep cattle out of the creek but still allow wildlife to get over and under.

Francisco Samayoa, Outreach Assistant, Oldman Watershed Council - One of the ways we can protect our stream banks and keep our water clean is by fencing off riparian areas to keep livestock out of creeks and rivers. However, fences can pose barriers to wildlife, who may injure themselves or damage the fence when attempting to cross, which can be costly to land stewards. Wildlife-friendly exclusion fencing is a great way for landowners to minimize the effects their livestock have on our watershed, protecting important habitat and safeguarding water quality downstream, while at the same time allowing our native wildlife to cross these barriers with ease.

Alberta Parks enforcement boosts cleanup efforts

Government of Alberta - As the August long weekend approaches, enforcement officials are reminding Albertans to call the Report a Poacher hotline to report serious public land abuses. Enforcement officers have made 27,000 contacts with the public this season, resulting in 2,400 enforcement actions, prosecutions or written warnings.  Officials have also received complaints about the illegal dumping of 55 commercial air-conditioning units, half a dozen kitchen appliances and multiple abandoned vehicles on public land.

Call 1-800-642-3800 to report illegal dumping.

A call to pray for rain

Shellie Byers - Every morning I wake up to the sting of smoke in my eyes , the dead brown grass in my yard and the merciless sun keeping me confined indoors as summer slips away. The two week forcast makes me sigh with no relief from the sweltering conditions. My heart sinks thinking about the first verse in the bible I was fixated on as a child.

"Surely the day is coming ,it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and that day that is coming will set them on fire, 'says the Lord Almighty. 'Not a root or a branch will be left to them." - Malachi 4:1

Low river flows prompt advisory for Alberta anglers

Government of Alberta - Anglers are requested to voluntarily restrict angling activities to early mornings because of significantly low river flows and higher-than-normal water temperatures so fish experience less stress.  These conditions are threatening the health of Alberta’s fish populations and anglers should follow safe handling procedures related to catch-and-release fishing to minimize fish mortality.

Recycling Roundup 2017 helps clean up

 Part of the Re-Use Fair team: Nic Jordan,  Marie Everts, Catherine DeCock, Jamie Anderson, Melissa Graham, Eric Van Ee

Toni Lucas - The Town of Pincher Creek, the Municipal District of Pincher Creek, and Alberta Recycling worked together to host the 2017 Recycling Round-up on Saturday June 17 at the Ranchland Mall  parking lot. A number of organizations also participated. The Pincher Creek Lions Club collected eyeglasses, DBS Environmental collected hazardous waste like electronics, batteries and paints, and a paper shredder truck from Lethbridge Mobile Shredding was on hand for safe disposal of sensitive household documents. A big attraction for the day was the recycle swap.  "It was a really busy morning," she explained staff and volunteers were on hand to help people load and and unload vehicles.  "Trucks were lined up, we couldn't get them emptied out fast enough people, were claiming things as fast as they came in."

Alberta Backcountry Hunters and Anglers concerned about Kananaskis logging activities

Alberta Backcountry Hunters and Anglers - The Alberta chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers is concerned about the proposed logging of the Highwood and Cataract Creek areas of Kananaskis Country. We are united in the belief that our freedom to hunt and fish depends on habitat. While many Albertans enjoy hunting and fishing on a range of landscapes, there is something special – even magical – about hunting deep in the backcountry or fishing on a remote river.