U of L geography team takes to the skies for LiDAR mission

The Chasmer and Hopkinson crews include, from left to right, Craig Mahoney, Emily Jones, Dr. Chris Hopkinson, Dr. Laura Chasmer, Maxim Okhrimenko, Linda Flade, Celeste Barnes and Kailyn Nelson.

• The first areas to be surveyed include the Wapta Icefields, located on the Continental Divide north of Lake Louise, the Castle area and Waterton Lakes National Park from July 14 to 16.

University of Lethbridge - Aerial and ground crews from the University of Lethbridge have launched a large campaign that will conduct multiple surveys in Alberta and the Northwest Territories to measure ecosystem changes associated with climate change and permafrost loss and to build understanding of the role of wildfire.

How windy was it?

Kennedy Blakey photo

C. Davis - It was so windy I gave up trying to take a good picture of how windy it was. Southwestern Alberta communities are used to high winds. They're a fact of life here, and the average citizen doesn't blink at winds that provoke states of emergency elsewhere. Having said that, yesterday's wind event was memorable for its intensity. Castle Mountain Resort's Jason Crawford told the Voice that a peak gust of 182 km/h was recorded at 8:52 am yesterday at ridge top. TransAlta reported 140 km/h at Cowley Ridge, and that may not have been the peak activity. Those are not typos. Environment Canada warned of 120 km/h winds in the Crowsnest Pass and Cardston regions. The Pincher Creek Airport weather station reported 81 km/h gusting to as high as 107 km/h. At the Waterton Park gate it was 79 km/h gusting to 108 km/h. Residents said they believe the wind was more extreme than that in the Twin Butte area. The coulees on Highway 6 and Highway 3 are always treacherous in this kind of weather, but a longtime Twin Butte area resident tells us it was particularly bad at Yarrow Creek.

Letter: Waterton visitor centre debate "definitely not over"

Jerry Kovacs - I have read Catherine McKenna's press release (Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada Catherine McKenna) and (Parliamentary Secretary and MP) Jonathon Wilkinson's 6 page letter numerous times.

Statement from Minister McKenna on Waterton Lakes National Park visitor centre

Parks Canada - The Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, Catherine McKenna, today issued the following statement on the Waterton Lakes National Park visitor centre:

"Parks Canada manages our national heritage places on behalf of all Canadians and for all Canadians. More than 500,000 visitors each year enjoy Waterton Lakes National Park. Parks Canada has a responsibility to ensure it is effectively serving the needs of these visitors.

Letter: Some thoughts on the proposed Interpretive/Admin. building for Waterton Townsite

Al Lubkowski - As a former Townsite Planner for Parks Canada I disagree with Parks Canada's current plans to build an Interpretive building in the Watertown Townsite. I would be more supportive if traffic and parking issues were first solved. And even more supportive if this building were to be located outside the Townsite in conjunction with an information centre and related services.

In the 40 years since I wrote the first plan for the Townsite, I have observed that traffic has become much worse, and even more disappointing, that much more of the Townsite (including the waterfront) has become covered over with asphalt and parked vehicles. Instead of becoming more of a walking and pedestrian friendly community, as was advocated in the 1974 plan, the Townsite has become more of a parking lot, one that would make any shopping centre, much less a National Park in North America proud. Proposing an Interpretive Building which would further add to this congestion, rather than lessen it, and removing valuable open space in the centre of town, makes no sense.

Waterton Wheels show and shine attracts 107 vintage automobiles

Melissa Friesen photos

The annual Waterton Wheels Show and Shine was held yesterday, August 27 at Waterton Lakes National Park, and featured 107 entries.  These photos are courtesy of Melissa Friesen of Springridge Ranch.

Fire ban expanded for southern Alberta, including Pincher Creek area

Effective July 27, the Alberta government has announced an expansion of the ongoing fire ban into more areas of southern Alberta.  According to a press release, the fire ban will be in effect in the regions of the Forest Protection Area south of the Red Deer River along the mountains and foothills to the northern boundary of Waterton Lakes National Park.  All fires are banned and fire pit permits are suspended in the Town of Pincher Creek, the MD of Pincher Creek No. 9, and Piikani First Nation, until further notice.  Off Road Vehicles can also spark fires.

No fires are permitted during the fire ban, including campfires in campgrounds, until further notice. 

 Gas or propane stoves/barbecues and portable propane fire pits are allowed during the ban.  All fire permits are suspended and no new permits will be issued in the fire ban areas. The use of fireworks and exploding targets is also prohibited.  Albertans found to be violating the fire ban could be issued a $287 ticket.

Waterton RCMP still looking for owner of unique wedding band set

RCMP Alberta – Ongoing investigation into the ownership of a beautiful wedding ring set has led RCMP to believe that it is likely that these rings were purchased in Vancouver in the early 1970’s. They were designed by a prominent jewelry designer and considered to be extremely valuable; not only cash value but likely sentimental value.

MP John Barlow hosts Foothills Canada 150 awards

Canada 150 cake from MP John Barlow's Facebook page

Member of Parliament for Foothills John Barlow hosted a Foothills Canada 150 Medal award ceremony on the evening of July 28 in High River.  “We all benefit from the terrific individuals who strive to make our communities better.  It’s my privilege to honour them tonight on the eve of Canada 150 celebrations,” said Barlow in a press release.  10 members of the Pincher Creek community were among those honoured.

A new season of Alberta watercraft inspections

Roadside watercraft inspection stations will once again be a common sight along Alberta highways this summer season. If you are traveling into Alberta with a watercraft or are keeping it close to home and just visiting different lakes within the province, you are required by law to pull over at every watercraft inspection station.

Newly formed Public Land Alliance questions Waterton watercraft ban

Public Land Alliance logo

Chris Davis - A newly formed organization is asking Waterton Lakes National Park to reconsider a ban on the use of motorized and trailer-launched watercraft in the park, which was announced in March of this year due to fears of an possible invasive species infestation, with exceptions for park employees and some public agencies.  A similar ban was announced in late 2016 by Glacier National Park on the U.S. side of the border.  Public Land Alliance (PLA) is a southern Alberta based organization formed in May of this year which has the motto “keep public lands in public hands”.

Temporary Closure of Akamina Parkway in Waterton Lakes National Park

Parks Canada - Parks Canada would like to advise that the Akamina Parkway will be closed to all public access from June 14th to June 16th, 2017 to complete paving work at the Cameron Lake Day Use Area.

The Akamina Parkway will reopen to public traffic up to the Little Prairie Day Use Area on June 17th, 2017. Public access along the remainder of the parkway to Cameron Lake is planned for June 23rd, 2017, weather depending. Upgrades to the Day Use Area will be substantially complete by this point, with contractors completing finishing touches.

During this brief closure, the Red Rock Parkway and Chief Mountain Highway remain open and are great alternative scenic drives in Waterton Lakes National Park.

Lethbridge police seek assistance to locate missing man

Missing: Darrell Lendrum

Lethbridge Police Service - Lethbridge Police are seeking the public’s assistance to locate a missing 49-year-old man. Darrell Lendrum was last seen in Lethbridge on May 25, 2017. Attempts to locate Lendrum have been unsuccessful and police are concerned for his well-being.

Lendrum is described as a Caucasian male, about 185 cm tall, 100 kg with brown hair and blue eyes. He is believed to be operating a white 2004 Chevrolet Silverado truck with license plate ZVT-633 and may have been headed to the Pincher Creek, Waterton or Crowsnest Pass areas.

Anyone who may have observed Lendrum or his vehicle, or has information on his whereabouts, is asked to contact police at 403-328-4444.

Whirling disease in Oldman watershed

Government of Alberta map of whirling disease in Alberta

Government of Alberta - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has declared the Oldman River watershed infected with whirling disease. The declaration covers all streams, creeks, lakes and rivers feeding into the Oldman River, including those in Waterton Lakes National Park. The affected zone ends at the confluence of the Oldman River and South Saskatchewan River.  Areas in Alberta outside the Bow River and Oldman River watersheds were previously declared as a buffer area and are not affected by today’s declaration.
Whirling disease action plan

Waterton-Glacier receives Dark Sky Park designation

Upper Lake night sky - Parks Canada photo

Parks Canada - The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) has recognized the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park (W-GIPP) with provisional status as a new International Dark Sky Park through their certification program.

OWC introduces 2017 Outreach Assistant Nata De Leeuw

Nata on top of Mt. Dungarvan in Waterton National Park

Oldman Watershed Council (OWC) - As part of OWC's Engaging Recreationists program, we hire seasonal Outreach Assistants (OAs) to engage backcountry users in conversations about recreation and watershed health. We'd like to introduce you to the first of our OAs for 2017, Nata de Leeuw.

Parks Canada, CAF, BATUS, RCMP and ACC commemorates Battle of Vimy Ridge in Waterton Lakes National Park

John Stoesser, Parks Canada - This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge. A small team of participants from Parks Canada, Canadian Armed Forces (Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry), British Army Training Unit Suffield, Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Alpine Club of Canada embarked on a memorial hike up Vimy Ridge in Waterton Lakes National Park on April 6, 2017 to commemorate this historic battle.

Avalanche danger for Waterton Lakes, Jasper, Banff, Kootenay, Yoho

Avalanche Danger is Considerable for @WatertonLakesNP from 17:00 Mar 30 to 17:00 Mar 31 https://t.co/bGM36Tlgwm

— ParksMountainSafety (@ParksMtnSafety) March 30, 2017

Alberta government announces nearly $9 million in southern Alberta land and water conservation grants

Minister Shannon Phillips, Maria Fitzpatrick, MLA for Lethbridge-East, and southern Alberta land trusts on the Rooftop Garden of the Helen Schuler Nature Centre

Government of Alberta - The province is providing nearly $9 million to three non-profit groups to protect ranchlands, river habitats and watersheds in southern Alberta.  Funding from the Alberta Land Trust Grant Program will go towards six projects throughout southern Alberta, including three large ranches. The grants protect watersheds and wildlife habitats and help keep ranchlands intact.

Invasive mussel prevention leads to new watercraft rules in Waterton Lakes National Park

Parks Canada - To ensure the ongoing ecological integrity of Waterton Lakes National Park, Parks Canada has implemented a prohibition on the use of motorized and trailer-launched watercraft in the park.  Human-powered watercraft, including canoes, kayaks and other hand-launched watercraft will continue to be permitted, however, a mandatory self-inspection program will be implemented for these hand-launched watercraft. Motorized watercraft required for management purposes as well as the commercial boat tour operation will continue to operate on Upper and Middle Waterton Lake. These watercraft will be managed to ensure no risk of invasive mussel contamination.