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.