All that remained of a willow All that remained of a willow opposite City Hall this spring!opposite City Hall this spring!

Vibrant

ExcitingNature on our doorsteps.

Striving to be our best!

REEPREEPRiver Edge Enhancement River Edge Enhancement

ProjectProject

Report #1Report #1 – Project Year 1 – 2005 – Project Year 1 – 2005

Inventory and Enhancement Inventory and Enhancement RecommendationsRecommendations

About many thingsAbout many things … … trees, trails, trees, trails,

beavers, water, bridges, birds, weeds, people … beavers, water, bridges, birds, weeds, people … biodiversity is biodiversity is keykey

Why a Why a REEP ReportREEP Report?? St. Albert citizens St. Albert citizens … highly value the Sturgeon … highly value the Sturgeon

River and its associatedRiver and its associated green spacesgreen spaces and the and the walkway system – Red Willow Parkwalkway system – Red Willow Park

City StaffCity Staff … indicated willingness/desire to work … indicated willingness/desire to work with local, interested groups and individuals with local, interested groups and individuals interested in maintaining or even improving interested in maintaining or even improving green spaces such as this area.green spaces such as this area.

BLESSBLESS … already runs a Summer Nature Centre … already runs a Summer Nature Centre program on the edge of the river and saw an program on the edge of the river and saw an opportunity to muster volunteer support of its opportunity to muster volunteer support of its membership and other citizens for river edge membership and other citizens for river edge enhancement activities … enhancement activities … increase biodiversityincrease biodiversity

Early in 2005Early in 2005 … … facts evidentfacts evident

1. Our river park system was fantastic but 1. Our river park system was fantastic but not perfect … what ever is?not perfect … what ever is?

2. 2. There were grant $$$There were grant $$$ to support to support environment actions taken on behalf of environment actions taken on behalf of river edges … riparian environments.river edges … riparian environments.

3. 3. There were keenersThere were keeners in St. Albert … in St. Albert … both in its city staff and in its general both in its city staff and in its general public - in particular BLESSpublic - in particular BLESS

So … the road to So … the road to actionaction People talked …People talked … Grants were applied for …Grants were applied for … Funds were secured …Funds were secured … BLESS volunteers & city staff BLESS volunteers & city staff

made commitments … made commitments … A summer student, Sarah, was hired …A summer student, Sarah, was hired … Work … lots of work … an inventory done …Work … lots of work … an inventory done …

Results reviewed / alternatives to the status quo Results reviewed / alternatives to the status quo were discussed / recommendations flowed …were discussed / recommendations flowed …

A reportA report now exists / has been reviewed / has now exists / has been reviewed / has BLESS OKBLESS OK

This presentationThis presentation seeks Council acceptance. seeks Council acceptance.

The SupportThe Support Dollars from …Dollars from …

Alberta Conservation AssociationAlberta Conservation Association The Suncor FoundationThe Suncor Foundation TD Friends of the Environment FoundationTD Friends of the Environment Foundation Alberta Government STEPAlberta Government STEP

Labour from …Labour from … BLESS Volunteers and Summer StaffBLESS Volunteers and Summer Staff City Staff … City Staff …

• Roger Belley, Kevin Veenstra, et al.Roger Belley, Kevin Veenstra, et al.

The ReportThe Report … the product… the product

Draft 1.10 …Draft 1.10 …

Section 1.Section 1. Background Background• goals, methods, definitionsgoals, methods, definitions

Section 2.Section 2. Recommendations Recommendations Section 3.Section 3. Appendices Appendices

• inventory descriptionsinventory descriptions• air photographs / mapsair photographs / maps• photosphotos• Summarized area sizesSummarized area sizes

QuickQuickOverviewOverview

‘‘ReachesReaches’’ – six – six bridgesbridges

Air photos - Air photos - map uniform or map uniform or identifiable identifiable ‘‘areasareas’’

‘‘Study zoneStudy zone‘‘ defined by defined by walkway or 25 walkway or 25 metresmetres

66 Areas – 66 Areas – mapped mapped

Five Reaches – Five Reaches – CC, , DD, , EE, , FF, , GG

10 Special Projects

In Reach C … 7 ‘areas’ mappedIn Reach C … 7 ‘areas’ mappedIn Reach C … 2 special projectsIn Reach C … 2 special projects

Sample RecommendationSample Recommendation66 areas = 66 area recommendations66 areas = 66 area recommendations

Area C6 - Area C6 - Recommendations:Recommendations:

Minimal disturbance of this area Minimal disturbance of this area is suggested other than is suggested other than occasional monitoring for beaver occasional monitoring for beaver damage to trees and shrubs. damage to trees and shrubs. Some of the more significant Some of the more significant (larger) trees could be (larger) trees could be individually wire-guardedindividually wire-guarded but but only if periodic (biannual) only if periodic (biannual) assessments are made to avoid assessments are made to avoid ‘wire strangulation’ of the ‘wire strangulation’ of the growing tree trunks.growing tree trunks.

Sample RecommendationSample Recommendation10 projects = 10 proposed enhancement sites10 projects = 10 proposed enhancement sites

Proposed Enhancement Proposed Enhancement Site 10C – Site 10C –

A set of appropriate plantings of A set of appropriate plantings of shrubs, minimally on the shrubs, minimally on the downriver side (closest to the downriver side (closest to the walking bridge) of the outflow walking bridge) of the outflow point would quickly offer some point would quickly offer some masking of this aesthetically masking of this aesthetically poor view. Moderately tall poor view. Moderately tall shrubs like willow or alder or shrubs like willow or alder or even white birch should help to even white birch should help to hold the soil.hold the soil.

Wishful Thinking?Wishful Thinking?

Implement this month Implement this month - - creation and placement of creation and placement of some beaver exclosures with overseeing of a city staff some beaver exclosures with overseeing of a city staff person.person.

SoonSoon – – This initiative may flow into the future This initiative may flow into the future Environmental Advisory Committee’sEnvironmental Advisory Committee’s list of priorities or as a list of priorities or as a model for future community involvement.model for future community involvement.

Next YearNext Year and Beyondand Beyond Obtain long-term grants funding – Alberta Ecotrust most Obtain long-term grants funding – Alberta Ecotrust most

likely sourcelikely source Continue test plantings with city staff assistanceContinue test plantings with city staff assistance Do MORE of the proposed project sitesDo MORE of the proposed project sites Invite and involve other groups and individuals from the Invite and involve other groups and individuals from the

community to become active as wellcommunity to become active as well

Asking from Council and StaffAsking from Council and Staff

1. Acceptance of the report in principle with the expectation that Council will refer the recommendations for consideration by the Administration with the hope of establishing an ongoing working plan for implementation.

2. Support for the first phase of activity this fall, the installation of wire exclosures in at least two of the 66 studied areas in order to protect specific trees at risk to beavers.

3. Support of city employees to ensure the project activities conform with city safety, parks and other policies.

All that remained of the willow All that remained of the willow this spring!this spring!

What the willow looks like today! What the willow looks like today! A new beginning … every year!A new beginning … every year!