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.

Alberta government asks for public feedback about Livingstone-Porcupine Hills management plans

The Porcupine Hills (Alberta Wilderness Association photo)

Chris Davis - Today (March 27) the Alberta Government released draft plans for managing the impacts of off-highway vehicles (OHVs) on public land in the Livingstone-Porcupine Hills region of southwestern Alberta, which is part of Alberta’s eastern slopes and includes the Porcupine Hills, Crowsnest Pass, the Whaleback, and the Upper Oldman River. The area is identified in the South Saskatchewan Regional Plan (SSRP) as a priority for Land Footprint and Recreation Management planning. Public input is invited.

MD asks Town of Pincher Creek for temporary water transfer

Chris Davis - Water restrictions are currently in effect for the MD of Pincher Creek No. 9, the Town of Pincher Creek, and the Village of Cowley.  The MD issued a Level 2 Water Restriction, due to the continued decrease in water levels within the Castle River and the Oldman Dam Reservoir. According to the MD, "Residents of the Hamlet of Lundbreck and the Village of Cowley are strongly requested to conserve domestic water within their households. Outside watering will no longer be permitted. The Village of Cowley water standpipe will be closed until further notice." The Town of Pincher Creek has issued a Stage 3 Water Restriction, saying "We ask residents to assist by reducing water usage at home and in your businesses."

At their September 26 regular meeting council for the MD of Pincher Creek discussed and passed a recommendation by MD Director of Operations Leo Reedyk that the MD request a temporary water transfer from the Town of Pincher Creek to meet needs.  According to Reedyk, Alberta Environment notified the MD on July 25, 2017 "that the instream objectives for our water license were not being met and we would need to find an alternate source of water."