Ponoka Riparian Restoration Program Launch

Agenda 4:30 PM

Welcome and BRWA Overview

*Walk to Battle River*

5:00 PM

Introduction to Riparian Areas Demonstrations by the Battle River

*Walk to Kinsmen Community Centre* 6:15 PM

SUPPER

7:00 PM

Riparian Restoration Program Information

8:10 PM

Panel Discussion with Program Partners

8:30 PM

Closing

Watershed Planning and Advisory Councils  Water for Life: Alberta’s Strategy for Sustainability Three key Water for Life goals: 1) Safe, secure drinking water supply 2) Healthy aquatic ecosystems 3) Reliable, quality water supplies for a sustainable economy

 WPACs:  Report on the state of the watershed  Lead in watershed planning  Develop best management practices  Foster stewardship activities within the watershed  Educate users of the water resource

Alberta River Water Quality Index 2003-2010 Alberta River Water Quality Index scores for the two Long-Term River Network (LTRN) monitoring stations on the Battle River. LTRN stations are located: 1) upstream of Ponoka, downstream of highway 53; and 2) upstream of Driedmeat Lake at highway 21.

Ponoka Riparian Restoration Program Launch Riparian Health Inventory and Your Community

• April 2015 • Kelsey Spicer-Rawe, Riparian Specialist

 Creates awareness  Builds a common language  Helps communities and landowners monitor progress  Assists landowners in identifying potential problem areas, and highlights the “good news stories”  Demonstrates willingness to face issues and find solutions  Tempers the need for legislation

 Integrates riparian areas in to planning at all levels

169 km 119 landholdings 5 lakes/wetlands/ponds 9 streams/rivers

Where We’ve Been in the Battle River Watershed Jurisdiction Sites Completed Within

# of Riparian Year of Riparian Health Inventories or Data Collection Assessments

Camrose County

68 // 60 km

2001, 2002, 2004, 2009, 2013, 2014

Flagstaff County

48 // 44 km

2004, 2006, 2014

Paintearth County

27 // 27 km

2001, 2004, 2006

MD of Wainwright*

52 // 38 km

2001, 2005, 2008, 2014

* Includes CFB Wainwright

195 // 169 km

Riparian Health Inventory looks at… Vegetative (plant) characteristics Physical (soil and hydrological) characteristics

Healthy (80-100%) Little or no impairment to riparian functions. Healthy but with problems (60-79%) Some impairment to riparian functions due to human or natural causes

Unhealthy ($10,000

    

Shallow wells Deep wells Dugouts Spring development Dams

DIGGING DEEP

Well Waterer

•

Pump House

• • •

Lohr Farm Dug a well for corrals close to home Receiving regular use from cattle Cattle will experience less hoof rot and more weight gain Riparian area is already repairing itself Description Drilled and cased water well Steel sleeve and well cap Brown shale delivery Omnifont Stock Waterer (2) Waterline supplies Backhoe work for waterline

Cost $34/ft

$115/hr

Total $4536 $126 $2509 $2447 $1416 $3321

Concrete (for pump house and waterers)

$8/ft2

$2688

Building materials & electrical Construction labour Culvert and lumber Water pump and accessories Total Cost:

15/tonne $1165

$5218 $5271 $609 $3268 $31409

Well Details • Well drilled to 200ft deep, cased to 120 ft • Water is slightly salty, which is good for cattle • Corrals built to direct cattle towards waterers • Pump House built to house water tank and pumps

GRAVITY-FED WATERING SYSTEM

• • • •

Uses gravity to carry water from its source (typically a dugout) to a water tank Doesn’t use any power Diverts livestock away from riparian zone of natural water bodies Cost: $0.40-$0.50/ft of pipe; $100-$500 for 300-gallon tank

WATER RUNS DOWNHILL • • •

•

Orr Farm Installed a gravity-fed system using an existing upland dugout Used 1,300ft of 1” pipe Pipe was buried to avoid damage from cattle and freezing Installed an electric fence along the river, creating over 1 mile of protected riparian habitat

Tank Details  Tank bought at an auction  1300 feet of 1" pipe, buried underground Costs Water Tank 1300 foot of 1” pipe Valves, pond strainer and accessories Pasture Pipeline Plow rental

$1645 $698 $173

Free Total Cost: $2516

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

PROJECT LAUNCH MEETING • Officially launched December 5th, 2012

• BBQ lunch with landowners, municipalities, and ag. organizations • Shared stories and discussed local water quality and biodiversity

CONSULTATION SESSIONS • Ferry Point landowners invited to speak with members of Cows and Fish and the BRWA • Discussed options for restoration projects and management changes

COMMUNITY BBQ • Celebrated a successful harvest and the riparian projects in the community • Landowners talked about what they were doing on their land

GRADE 5 FIELD TRIP • Donalda School students visited the Ferry Point Campground • Learned about riparian areas and local biodiversity • Planted over 50 trees and shrubs along the river

CANOE TRIP & OPEN HOUSE • Paddled east from Edberg Dam • Learned about river ecology and challenges to riparian areas

• Introduced to the various riparian restoration projects • Enjoyed BBQ lunch afterwards

SPEAKING EVENTS • Ecological Agriculture summit - Augustana

• Range Management Tour - Wainwright • Shared program goals and successes

SPREADING THE WORD • Introduced the program to MP Peter Kent, Environment Minister • Highlighted the program in various forms of media

FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS BRWA FUNDERS

LANDOWNER FUNDERS

Agricultural Watershed Enhancement Program; up to 70% funding of approved projects (must be in an approved watershed area) BRWA supported up to $5000 of each project

Long-term Water Management Plan; 50% funding (Applicable to any landowner/producer)

QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? Nathalie Olson Battle River Watershed Alliance [email protected] 780-672-0276

www.battleriverwatershed.ca Download one of our Project Journals!

OTIS AWARD For being OutsTanding In Stewardship

Started in 2012, this annual award recognizing youth, individuals, and business/organizations for their stewardship efforts within the Battle River Watershed.

OTIS ‘INDIVIDUAL’ 2015 AWARD Lambert riparian area, 2013

We would like to recognize and thank Midge Lambert for her leadership in the Ferry Point Reach Restoration Program.

NOT JUST A DROP IN THE BUCKET

Program Purpose  To work with local landowners and residents and

provide financial support for projects that help to improve the health of the Battle River and its tributary streams in Ponoka County and the Town of Ponoka

Program Focus Area  Battle River and tributaries within Ponoka County and

the Town of Ponoka  Limited funds may also be available to support projects related to wetland protection or restoration

Potential Projects    

     

Riparian health inventories Off-site watering systems Fencing of sensitive areas Development of alternative watering sources Riparian plantings Improved manure management Alternative livestock shelter/wintering sites Livestock water crossings Low Impact Development techniques Other ideas!

Urban & Rural Examples

Funding  Funding is available to support:  Project materials  Contracted labour for the project  Contracted or rented equipment  Additional funding may also be available through the

Growing Forward 2 program:  On-farm Stewardship  On-farm Water Management

 Agricultural Watershed Enhancement

 Funding for individual projects will be determined

based on available funding and number of applicants

How to Get Involved/Next Steps  Sign up to be included on the Ponoka Riparian

Restoration Program mailing list  Indicate on the evaluation form if you have a potential project in mind, and we’ll be in touch!  April-May:  BRWA will contact interested landowners and residents

and set-up individual meetings to discuss project ideas  Interested individuals will be provided with additional information about how to apply for project funding

Looking Down River  Summer 2015: project implementation and

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 

educational events Fall 2015: celebrating the successes of Year 1 Spring 2016: round 2 applications and landowner meetings Summer 2016: project implementation and educational events Fall 2016: Program wrap-up

Cactus at Big Knife Provincial Park, in the Battle River watershed

Ways to keep in touch:  www.battleriverwatershed.ca  Sign up to receive our newsletter  Facebook: “like” us!  Twitter: “follow” us!  [email protected]  780.672.0276