The Beaver Creek Watershed Group
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Transcript of The Beaver Creek Watershed Group
The Beaver Creek Watershed Group
Driven by Nature, Powered by Producers
Presented and prepared by Dixon Hammond coordinator for the BCWG
Where Is Beaver Creek?
Located in the Porcupine Hills of Southwestern Alberta
• It runs through four jurisdictions
• Beaver Creek is a major tributary of the Oldman river.
The BCWG
Why It All Began
Beaver Creek Is a Unique Creek
• Approximately 22 miles long
• Drops in elevation from 5600ft to 3400ft
• Helps to sustain near 40 ranches, farms and dwellings
• Provides for many recreational activities
• Recently is becoming home for new people
• Water supply is dependent upon springs
Historically
• Thick brush
• Wildlife
• shade
• Good fish habitat
• Excellent camping
• Water made it to river more years than not.
Recently
• Drought • Fewer trees and shrubs• Fewer large fish• Poorer water quality • Some wild life no
longer present• Lower two thirds of
the creek bone dry
What do you mean I can’t
graze the snot out of this?
Land Owners Began Talking
• Reminiscing• Wondering what the
real problem was. • High water • Drought• Too many livestock• Beaver damage• A combination of all
Where Do We Start?
Goal Setting
“You don’t want to be driving down the scenery looking at the road! You need to look to where you want to go and ride to it.”
Simple cowboy logic.
Kevin Poll
What Should Be Done?
How should we do it? We truly were stuck for the answers. Only Consensus: do something collectively.
COMMUNITY RIPARIAN PROGRAM
ALBERTA CONSERVATION ASSOC.
DEPT. OF FISHERIES AND OCEANS
COWS AND FISH
M.D. OF PINCHER CREEK
SOUTHWEST ALBERTA CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP
ALBERTA ENVIRONMENT SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
ALBERTA SUSTAINABLE RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
OLDMAN RIVER BASIN WATER QUALITY INITIATIVE
Projects Completed
• 10 off stream water developments
• 1 Cow herd wintering site relocation
• 1 Ranch plan
• An education component
Volunteer Action
• Volunteered time to develop projects
• Most ranchers will do the work for nothing
• Bottom line: largest cash expenses were paid for
• Landowners were excited
Challenges Yet to Face
• Water Quality
• Additional Recommendation reports
• More Funding Requests
• More water projects
• One more jurisdiction to bring on side
• Education: Focusing on good riparian health and promoting it
Hints to Our Success
• WE approached Agency/Industry
• WE are committed and have cooperation
• WE formed a working group
• WE keep things private and confidential
• WE still hold the reins
What Keeps Us Going
• The volunteer effort of this group is second to none.
• We know we have a stronger voice together than separate.
• The benefits are for everyone
• The real driving force Behind us is……
Our Replacements
Driven By Nature
Credits
Photo credit goes to
Lorne Fitch
Michael Gerrand
Kelly Cooley
Scott and Edwina Hammond
Myra Hammond
Bill and Dale Lillico
David Glass and Heidi Eijgel
Further information: contact Beaver Creek Watershed Group C/O
Dixon Hammond
Box 2909 Pincher Creek
AB. T0K 1W0
403 627 2801
This slide show dedicated to the memory of David MacLean