Post on 13-Apr-2022
So, where are we at?
Feb. 2018 Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec.
Public/
Stakeholder
Engagement
Steering
Committee
Mtg. 1 –
confirm
process,
vision
Mtg. 2 -
discuss
riparian
Mtg. 3 –
discuss
ground
water
Mtg. 4
discuss
water
quantity
Mtg. 5 –
discuss
AEH-W.
qual
Mtg. 6 –
discuss land
cover, use
Draft
plan
Technical
Committee
discuss
process
riparian Ground
water
Basic
Water
quant
Water
quality /AEH
Land cover
/ land use
Policy
integration
Technical
Synthesis
Work
shop
Definitions: Natural land cover data documents how much of a
region is covered by forests, shrublands, grasslands, waterbodies and wetlands, and other native land cover (vegetation type).
Land use shows how people use the landscape –whether for agriculture, settlement, transportation, industry, recreation, etc.
Importance of Land Cover Influences movement of water over the landscape:
Snowmelt, rain - soil infiltration / impervious surfaces
Groundwater – surface water interactions
Rate of surface run-off
Increased volume = increased erosion, sediment, nutrient and contaminant loading
Large snowmelt and precipitation events
Stormwater management / development discharge rates
Moderates weather and climate / flood and drought
Forests, wetlands, riparian areas store and slowly release waters / loss
Sturgeon Watershed Lands include Total watershed area ~ 3300 sq. km.
100% in the White Area (largely private lands)
71% Ag lands (1071 km2 crop and 1283 km2 pasture)
20% Natural Land Cover
Shrub
Forest
Wetlands
5% waterbodies
3% Developed areas (144 km2)
Developed Areas include Urban areas
Gravel operations
Recreation
Oil and gas infrastructure
Transportation and utility corridors
Other built infrastructure
Gravel Report Findings Two major gravel deposits (53 km2 or 1.6% of the
watershed) Calahoo-Villeneuve (Sturgeon County ASP)
Kilini Creek (Lac St. Anne County)
Footprint will increase over time, then be reclaimed to agriculture and end pit lakes: Half has been mined and reclaimed; 20% operational
Half of remainder will likely be mined
Local impact on surface and groundwater Water use is regulated and monitored
Withdrawals from dammed Kilini Creek for gravel washing; return flows
Natural Areas report findings:Roll up of patch size, patch complex, corridor, riparian areas, wetlands, protected areas, shrubland, grassland, water and forest patch.
Natural Areas Report Findings:
• This methodology is useful and reliable to
quickly and effectively identify natural areas in
a watershed
• Natural areas are scored and can therefore be
prioritized for conservation efforts
• It is recommended to focus conservation in the
headwaters, and restoration works in the
eastern portion of the basin that is dominated
by human footprint
• Specific next steps involve ground-truthing
results, prioritizing areas for conservation and
restoration, and developing and implementing
area-specific management plans
http://www.vroac.ca/
photo by Lorne Fitch, Cows and Fish
Watershed Model Report Findings ALCES has been commissioned to develop a watershed
model
Will look at the impact of land use on hydrology over time
Can backcast ‘pre-settlement’ conditions
Will run ‘business as usual’ scenario
Model is based on a number of assumptions
What is our vision for land cover in the Sturgeon watershed? How do we restore/protect forests, wetlands, riparian
lands, floodplains, and other environmentally significant areas? How much? Where?
NSWA IWMP (Directions):
“Maintain and restore…wetlands…riparian areas…forested land…vegetation cover.”
EMRB Agricultural Master Plan?
What should the Sturgeon WMP achieve for land cover? Increased awareness?
Conservation and restoration targets?
By sub-basins?
Other?
A lot going on!
Pario Plan Report Findings: Municipal role “To foster the well-being of the
environment”
reduce urban sprawl
retain and restore wetlands and riparian areas
decrease loading (fertilizers, pesticides, road salts, ag and stormwater run-off)
Need a process to review development permits near waterbodies through a ‘watershed lens’
A challenge to set targets for State of report indicators, (P and N) and translate into MDP policies
Findings continued… Could establish consistent definitions for ‘top of bank’,
‘setback’, biophysical and geotechnical assessment requirements
Could improve run-off management by requiring vegetative buffers, end of pipe treatments, sediment and temperature monitoring, etc. in MDP and LUB
71% of the basin is agriculture but we have few tools to manage ag run-off
Role of public awareness; compliance and enforcement
Synergy in regional, intermunicipal planning initiatives?
Pario Plan Report
What should the Sturgeon WMP achieve for policy alignment? Regionally
GOA North Saskatchewan Regional Plan
Edmonton Metropolitan Region Board
Inter-municipally Intermunicipal Collaboration Frameworks
Intermunicipal Development Plans
Locally Municipal Development Plans
Land Use Plans
Etc.