University Elementary School Calgary Board of Education
www.universityelementary.ca Know the Bow?
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 JUNE 2006
Inside This Issue:
• The Beauty Is the Bow River Fit for Life? and the Bow ~2 the continued changes on the gary Zoo, Banff National Park, as • Safe or Sorry! “The Bow River Basin is con- communities for whom the Bow well as visits and presentations in ~2 served and protected as a fragile River Basin provides a lifeline. our classroom. Some of the ex- • History in the and unique resource and recog- perts who visited us explored Making ~3 nized as our lifeline” We were privileged to have topics such as riparian areas, • Banff Park - Bow River Basin Council 2005 many experts work with us in our agriculture, flooding, and news- Museum ~3 paper development. Today, however, the Bow River • Animals Need Water Too! ~4 Basin, which is home to diverse This newspaper is a cumulative fish, wildlife and plant communi- project for our year long inquiry • Birth of The ties, is under immense pressure Bow Basin ~5 work into the Bow River Basin. from growing urban communi- The students further researched • Cry of The ties. Our inquiry work on the Bow ~6 their questions in small groups, Bow River Basin began in Sep- and recorded their findings into • The Bow tember and continued throughout the enclosed documents. River and the school year. Travelling with Agriculture ~6 the student from the source along “Water is the most critical re- • No More Bow Lake with Bow Glacier in its winding path through the vari- source issue of our lifetime and Flow? Save ety of landforms, and the in- the background ~Myles The Bow!~7 our children’s lifetime. The creased demands it encounters, health of our waters is the prin- • Then Bottled we furthered our understanding Water Debate exploration of the Bow River. cipal measure of how we live on of a significant natural resource. ~8 These experts provided students the land.” ~Luna Leopold We explored the ways in which • Farmers and with relevant expertise and ex- most of the Bow River is already U.E.S. Staff Writers: R. Russell & S. Ranchers ~9 perience in a variety of situations highly altered in its natural state such as our fieldtrips to the Cal- Ashley • Watt Dam ~9 and examined the implication of • Things To Do– On, In and By The Bow ~10 • Alberta Water Quality Awareness Day ~11 • Water Through Rocks ~12 • With Thanks! ~12 • Bibliography ~13 Class picture taken along the banks of the mighty Bow River in Banff April 2006
This special focus edition is brought to you by the fantastic grade 3 & 4 students in Ms. Russell & Mrs. Ashley’s University Elementary school class in Calgary Alberta. *We would love to know what you think of our work! Click here to respond... PAGE 2 The Beauty and The Bow Over 120 years ago, Sir Wil- beauty. Whether the medium to go. Pilgrimages to the shore liam Cornelius Van Horne, be water colour, oil paint, helps some people feed their made the plans to build the acrylic, pastel or photography, soul. We know of a lady who Banff Springs Hotel inspired artists spend time recreating goes to the Bow River every by the beauty of the Bow River the beauty of the Bow River to single day to take one picture and its valley. He thought the last beyond the moment. Ted every day to see how it and she scenery was so extraordinary Godwin a Calgary based artist changes. She says if she does- that people from around the and fisherman painted a series n’t get to the river, a part inside world could come and pay to of paintings about the Bow of her dies. stay at his hotel. He said, “If River. He says he is attached we can’t export the scenery, to the river forever. “The “People from all around the we will import the tourists”. Lower Bow works are records world go to a river for spiritual Though it was not really just of the time I have dreamed reasons. Sacred, water is at the beauty he saw, he saw the op- myself to be an integral part of heart of many religions and is portunity to become rich off of the river.” (Contay, 2005, used in different rites and cere- the others coming to see the p.134). monies.” (UNESCO, 2006). beauty. Today, in the summer, Banff Springs Hotel an average room will cost you When a person comes to the Will this beauty last for an- http://www.iasted.org/ conferences/2005/banff/ about $600 per night. river, its beauty helps them be other 10 years or will people calm and relaxed. The worries let it down start to pollute and Through time, people have of the day seem to fall away destroy the beauty of it all. gone to the Bow River because when they see the Bow River. of its beauty. Some of those U.E.S Staff Writers: Myles, are artists who make pictures Some people think that the Haley, Fatemeh, Michael that reflect their sense of the Bow River is a spiritual place “If we can’t export
the scenery, we
will import the Safe or Sorry!
tourists”. Why do we care about our you sick. You may have heard for about ten minutes if you ~ Cornelius Van drinking water? Does it really of “Beaver Fever” in the recent draw it from any surface water matter if water is treated or years. This disease you can get source like a stream, lake or Horne not? We treat and disinfect our by drinking contaminated wa- river. Water filters and water water supplies to kill patho- ter out of a river or lake and treatment tablets could be used. gens, which are disease caus- when you are sick with it you ing organisms transmitted by can have severe diarrhea that In the end, it is our responsi- water. If we don’t treat water can last for several weeks. bility to take care of ourselves we could get “Beaver Fe- Beaver Fever can be carried by when we are out backpacking ver” {giardia} or some other mammals, birds, reptiles, am- or hiking. We must all be care- sicknesses. phibians, fish and humans and ful to treat our water so we is excreted through their feces. don’t get Beaver fever or some Is it okay for hikers and back- In addition, other disease- other illnesses. packers to drink water from causing bacteria from wildlife streams or lakes in remote may be present in remote STAY HEALTHY! areas of Alberta? No! Even if streams. the water looks clean and clear, U.E.S. Staff writers: Madison, it may still have tiny micro- To protect yourself, you Kristina, Vanessa, Dallas scopic things that can make should always boil your water
Bow Glacier & Lake by Haley
KNOW THE BOW? VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 PAGE 3 History in the Making
Bow River the Bow Glacier. fected and put back into the Bow with Mt The water quality in River. The town of Banff reports Banff is mostly very that in the year 2000, the quality of Rundle in good because it is water going back into the Bow met the distance near the source and Alberta Environment’s guidelines from the people in Banff get but that there were seasonal differ- Banff town their water from the ences in the water quality. During site. Bow River and peak tourist season, the wastewater Whiskey Creek. A treatment plant was less efficient at few years ago some people started cleaning the higher volumes. Ten thousand years ago natives getting sick drinking the water, camped beside Mt. Rundle and they which up until that point came right The effluent entering the Bow were the first people to live in this from the Bow River. Beaver fever River at Banff affects the quality of area. (Giardia) was discovered in the water downstream. The Bow River “The Banff town water and that’s why they got sick. is home to many different plants In 1871, fulfilling the promise to The people had to treat their own and animals and people also use the site is near the unite British Columbia with the water until a water treatment plant water for fishing, swimming, boat- four eastern provinces, the Cana- was built. ing and for other recreation. When source of the dian government began construc- water quality is poor or water levels tion of the nation’s rail way to link Heather Dempsey, a Park Inter- are lower it affects all of these us- Bow River and the west and the east cost. preter from Banff National Park, ers. says that the water quality in Banff what people do In 1885 the town site of Banff was Town site is quite clean. But does it The Banff town site is near the with the water established and in 1888 the Banff stay that way? source of the Bow River and what Springs hotel was built. In 1911 the people do with the water there af- there affects all coach road was built and people Banff is a beautiful place and it has fects all of the life downstream. So with cars could finally go to Banff. over 4 million tourists come to the if Banff doesn’t take care of the of the life In 1990 Banff became an incorpo- town site in a year. With that many water, the Bow River will be less fit rated municipality within the Na- tourists more water is used and for life and cause troubles further downstream. “ tional Park affects the water quality down- downstream. stream. Wastewater is collected The town of Banff is very near the and treated in the town’s wastewa- U.E.S. Staff Writers: Mitchell, source of the Bow River, which is ter plant. It is cleaned and disin- Alex, Ali Banff Park Museum
The museum was made when in Banff National Park. It had glass Sanson quit as curator it was ne- people were drawn to the hot lanterns, some open spaces and big glected. After a while they decided springs and a town began to form. windows for light before electricity that it should be mostly about the In 1887 Banff had six hotels, nine was invented. Park’s history and things that were stores, two churches, and a post not related were sent to other muse- office. The government decided to It is located one block away from ums. Some things were create Banff’s first Natural History the Information Center beside a replaced and that’s how museum in 1895. Most of the muse- bridge that cross’s over The Bow the museum was formed ums specimens are from John Ma- River. It contains bison and birds and some of its history coun and Dr. Harlan Smith. It was including the museums oldest the oldest standing federal building specimen the red breasted mergan- U.E.S. Staff Writers: ser, which is a duck. Also there are Mitchell, Alex, Ali some big horn sheep and wolves, plus a mountain lion and a few BANFF deer.
FIELDTRIP Our class entering the Banff Park In the 1950’s people thought the Museum April 2006. Check out our museum was a firetrap but they did class video. not demolish it. When Norman PAGE 4 Animals Need Water Too! The Bow River is an impor- those closer to the city. Some We imagine in the future, if tant part of life. Animals need animals like coyotes and foxes people keep on putting waste it for food, water and shelter. can survive along the river in into the river, it would be a Without the Bow, some of the city but not bigger animals disaster to the animals that live these animals would die and like bears, elk, deer and moose. in or near the Bow River. If the without these animals people’s Mr. Mackay told us that the animals die so would the plants lives would be very different. water quality was pretty good and that can be a problem to us There are cougars, bears, up in the mountains but in the because sometimes we get wolves, coyotes and red foxes city it is more polluted because food from the plants and ani- at the top of the food chain. of factories, oil and gas opera- mals. There are large mammals like tions, pesticides and herbi- mule and white tailed deer, elk cides, and because of people. We could start cleaning up, and moose. Beavers, squirrels, This affects the food chain. not only helping the animals weasels and other fur bearing Animals and insects in the but helping ourselves too. We small mammals water can get sick, store have been thinking of ways to Deer grazing in Bow Rodents, birds, amphibians, chemicals in their body or die. help. Such as: Valley Provincial Park reptiles, fish and bugs are at When insects die or get sick, so Start taking a bus to http:// the bottom of the food chain. can the fish and the birds be- school and if you www.bowvalleycampgrounds.co cause they eat the insects. live close walk be- m/b-valley/010.jpg We interviewed an Alberta Bigger animals, for example cause you don’t now Fish and Wildlife Officer, the bear, eat the fish and they how much exhaust is named Ken Mackay, about the can get sick from the fish, and being released “We imagine in animals that live near or in the this pattern keeps going on to Clean up the ground river and the risks that they the top of the food chain. around the river the future, if might face. Mr. Mackay told Sooner or later people are af- Most of all, spread the us that big threats to the ani- fected too. word around our people keep on mals are the roads and train community telling tracks that are built along the Downstream from Calgary, people about the putting waste river. They are built along the because of human waste, more importance of the into the river, it river because the land is flatter weeds grow. Sometimes this is animal habitat in our there. Some times animals are good for the insects and fish, city. would be a killed or hurt when they try to but it is a problem because it is So start helping the Bow cross the roads or train tracks. not natural and it harms other River! disaster to the plants and animals. Animals near the Upper Bow U.E.S. Staff Writers: Cath- animals that live have fewer problems than erine, Oribel, William
in or near the Bow
River.” Did You Know? The beaver is the largest The beaver is the we know are important habitat and coats made of beaver pelts. rodent in largest rodent in for fish, frogs, bugs, etc. Thankfully today, the beaver’s North Amer- North America and a population is thriving. ica and a very very important one at So you see, beavers have a lot important that. He’s known for of friends in nature…even if U.E.S. Staff Writers: Cath- his amazing engineer- they don’t all know it! Back in erine, Oribel, William one at that. ing skills and ability the 1600 to 1800s, beavers http:// www.nps.gov/ to construct intricate were nearly all hunted and acad/kids/images/ dams and lodges. trapped to extinction. WHY? beaver.jpg Beaver dams help Because, at that time it was form wetlands, which fashionable to wear fur hats
KNOW THE BOW? VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 PAGE 5 Birth of the Bow Basin The mountain base Bow Glacier is important to the Bow Lake & was originally in the Bow River because it is a source of Glacier shape of a V. After water. According to the Bow River http:// the glacier moved Basin Council, about 2.5% of the ima- ge54.webshots.com/ through the base of Bow River’s water comes from the 54/1/87/70/40961877 the mountains it Bow Glacier. In dry years, when 0qioZKG_ph.jpg eroded the base into there isn’t as much snow or rain, a U shape. As it the glacier gives only about 1% to carved the base it the Bow River. made it wider and deeper. The gla- Today the Bow River is a peaceful cier overtime moved and grew Global warming is making the river that slowly flows down stream through the path between the moun- Bow Glacier melt faster and the from the Bow Glacier through the tains. hotter temperatures are creating town of Banff and the foothills of drought conditions more often. The “Global warming the Rocky Mountains, past the City There is another type of glacier water volume in the Bow River is is making the of Calgary then through the beauti- called a continental glacier. A con- getting less and less as a result. ful prairies, ending its journey when tinental glacier is a huge mass of ice There are many things that people Bow Glacier it joins with the South Saskatche- that covers a lot of land. Continen- can do to stop the global warming wan River. tal glaciers formed over millions of that affects the Bow Glacier and the melt faster and years, from one layer of snow Bow River. The Pembina Institute Approximately 100,000 years ago building up over time. Eventually says that the most important thing the hotter there was an Ice Age. The tempera- you have many layers of snow built to be done is for the Government to temperatures ture got very cold so that snow up. The bottom layers have lots of make new polices to reduce green couldn’t melt. Over many years weight on them. The more weight it house gases. For things that you are creating layers of snow and ice built up and has, the thinner and denser it be- can do by yourself or with your formed glaciers. As the alpine gla- comes because the weight on the family to reduce greenhouse gases drought ciers formed they pushed, smashed top layers push down and compacts see the Canadian Government Site and broke rock. Some of the rocks the bottom layers into ice. Conti- at http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/english. If conditions more were smashed so much that they nental glaciers can grow to be 5 the climate continues to change, often. “ made a rock flour, fine as flour that kms thick. This is the type of gla- there might not be a Bow River. we use for baking. As the glaciers cier that covered the land around This will affect agriculture, indus- formed they picked up rocks debris Calgary, Alberta. try, people and nature. It will and rock flour. This is called pluck- change our life. ing. The glaciers acted like sand The Bow Glacier is an alpine gla- paper, carving the mountain. This is cier located in the mountains just U.E.S. Student writers Brennen, called scouring. outside of the Banff town site. The Josh, Austin, Sana Bow Glacier Recession Since 1898
Bow Glacier (pictures from Bow River Basin Council Fact Sheet, 2003) PAGE 6 Cry of the Bow The Bow River is a sacred the river taking advantage of which are water, fire, earth and river to T’suu Tina, Nakoda the bison going to drink there. air are very important in our and Blackfoot people. The The First Nations people lives. Of course, the Bow name of the Bow River comes hunted the bison for food, took River is part of the water ele- from plants that the First Na- the hides for clothing, tepees, ment and water is important for tions People used to make the bones for weapons, and life and so are the other ele- bows and arrows. These plants used the horns for spoons. The ments. The water element is grew along side the river, bison was very important to the sacred. they called the Bow. First Nations people and they The Bow River has been im- used every part of the bison for The Bow River has been part portant to the First Nations something. The river was part of the lives of First Nation’s people for at least ten thousand of the circle of life. If there people’s for at least ten thou- years. There are archeological were no river, there would be sand years. There are burial sites all along the riverbanks no bison and if there were no sites on the land near the river that tell us that First Nations bison, people would have a and many artifacts have been Blackfoot Tepee People lived by the river. The harder time to find food. covered by the land. The Bow http://www.google.ca/images?q=tbn:aYu3cXCu- First Nations people hunted Where the Elbow River and River is an important place to RtUTM:www.canadianheritage.org/images/ regular/10089.jpg many kinds of plants that they the Bow River meets, there are go to remember their ancestors used for medicine, food and two large flat plains, they are and the stories of their people. tools. They found animals for called the Blackfoot River food, like the bison, elk, deer, Crossing. This place is impor- If we pollute the Bow River or and moose. They trapped bea- tant for the First Nations Peo- use the water carelessly, we ver, weasel and other small ple, the Blackfoot and the can hurt the lives of many and mammals for their fur for T’suu Tina. They camped we aren’t being very respectful clothing along the river, which there and hunted the bison by to the First Nation’s Ancestors they used and sometimes using slopes for Buffalo and we are doing wrong to the traded. They gathered water Jumps. They also could cross water element. This isn’t a “The Bow River has and timber from the edges of the river there. In 1877, Crow- good way to remember the life the Bow River. Lodge Pole foot, the leader of Siksika met before us or welcome the life been important to Pines were used to make tepee officials of the Canadian Gov- to come. This is the cry of the poles. They considered the ernment to talk about a treaty Bow. the First Nations banks of the Bow their home. to preserve the Bow. The bison needed the water in U.E.S. Student Writers: Esther, people for at least the Bow River to drink from. Many First Nations people Eric, Gaby, In Kyoung So the Native people came to believe that the four elements ten thousand years.” The Bow River and Agriculture THE HISTORY OF IRRIGA- to land that otherwise could not grow so the Bow is an essential TION have been farmed. water source. The First Nations people were the first to find the Bow River. WATER USE IN AGRICUL- PLANTS AND ANIMALS Irrigating the prairies www.brid.ab.ca The first recorded irrigation TURE DEMAND MORE WATER scheme was developed in Farmers and ranchers mostly How much water do I 1879. It was a small use water for feeding animals need to grow? gorge that brought and/or watering crops. Farmers One pound of lettuce, water out to remote and ranchers have pumps in the tomatoes, potatoes, dry land called a prai- ground for drinking water. or wheat each need rie. Without this pre- Now, in 2006, farmers are about 95 liters of cious water farmers limited to the amount of water water to grow. would never have they may take on a certain day A pound of chicken re- successful crops. Irri- for irrigation. Plants and ani- quires 3,089 liters gation brought water mals need a lot of water to A pound of pork and beef
KNOW THE BOW? VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 PAGE 7
needs 6,178 liters and closely so that these delicate land- 19,761 liters of water. The three irrigation districts along scapes are not destroyed. Farmers 30.5 cm of rainfall or irrigated the Bow River, the Western Irriga- and ranchers are not allowed to water is needed to grow tion District, the Bow River Irriga- have their cattle right beside the one average crop. tion District and the Eastern Irriga- Bow River. This stops the manure tion District use 96 percent of all from going into the river and caus- HOW FARMERS ARE PRESERV- water taken from the Bow. This is a ing pollution. ING WATER threat because not very much of the Irrigation is a BIG threat to the water gets put back into the Bow I think the Bow is important to Bow River. Farm Irrigation starts in River. life, because without it crops and May and continues until October. plants couldn’t grow. We would not As previously said, farmers are Riparian areas occur along streams have some of our essential foods limited to take a certain amount of and wetlands, like the Bow, where like grain and vegetables. In fact we water at a certain time. There are moist soils and shallow water tables wouldn’t even have meat or eggs farmers who don’t have irrigation allow water-loving plants to grow. because animals need water to grow the only way they get water is by These 'green zones' in the prairies their food as well. To keep the Bow rain. If farmers took too much wa- and foothills provide habitat for River alive and fit for life we will ter, the rushing Bow would be re- wildlife, make the stream banks need to limit our water use and try duced to a stream. If a farmer does stronger, and protect water quality. not to pollute it. take too much water, he/she will get Cattle grazing in the areas very U.E.S Student Writers: Regan, fined a large amount of money. close to the Bow must be monitored Liam, Brodie, Brendan
“It has been hard finding the information I need, like for example, when irrigation got started and what the challenges really are out there. This is information that the experts are just figuring out.” ~ Regan
No More Flow? Save The Bow!
Water is a good thing to have mended that people along the Bow of dirty dishes. In your yard, use a because without it, humans and all River reduce the amount of water timer on your sprinkler and don’t other species would die!! Did you that they use. If they don’t our over water. Catching water in a rain know that every living thing needs water level may not support life in barrel provides a healthy source of “As Calgary water to survive? Did you know the future. We should use our water water for plants. In the laundry that every living thing is mainly supply wisely. room, use a frontloading washing and the towns made of water? Water is important machine, which uses less water. to everyone and everything!! Here are some ways you can cut Throughout the house, Always re- along the Bow back on how much water you per- pair leaky taps. River grow in The Bow River supplies water to sonally use: The Bow River is not an unlimited many towns and the large city of In the bathroom, replace old toi- population so Calgary. People use this water for lets that use 13 litres of water with supply of water. We will run out of water in the future if we are not industry, recreation, irrigation and low flush toilets that use 3-6 litres. does the water homes. As Calgary and the towns Follow the rule, “If it is yellow, let careful with how much we use to- day. We need water for life and the along the Bow River grow in popu- it mellow; if it is brown, flush it demand.” lation so does the water demand. down.” By taking shorter showers Bow River gives us life This is a problem because if our using a low-flow showerhead or water demand grows, the water taking fewer baths you also save U.E.S Student Writers: Marissa, level in the Bow River can go water. Did you know that you Derek, Ty down. Also, there have been dif- could water your garden flowers ferences in the overall water level with left over bathwater? Turning of the Bow River because of cli- off the tap while brushing your mate changes like floods and teeth or shaving also reduces water droughts. This is a big problem! use. In the kitchen, keep a jug of What can we do about it? Experts water in the fridge so that you from the Alberta Government and won’t have to let the tap run. Only the City of Calgary have recom- use the dishwasher when it is full PAGE 8 The Bottled Water Debate
Water is something that peo- runoff in the Elbow and the from the University of New ple depend on. Drinking clean Bow Rivers and this affects the Hampshire. The “20/20” test water is necessary to our well water quality. During the showed that most people pre- being. In the last few years spring, you might notice more ferred the taste of tap water. more and more people are of a chlorine smell and taste in In fact, some bottled water becoming worried about the the water and the chlorine is comes directly from a tap. The quality of the drinking water put in by the City Waterworks organization, Inside The Bottle, coming from the tap. Some to make sure the water is safe. reports that “25% of bottled people think that tap water can Aside from chlorine, what water including Pepsi’s Aquaf- make you sick. There is a well might affect the water’s taste in ina and Coke’s Dasani, before known tragedy where seven Calgary? being processed, is the same people died and 2,300 people The City Water Works ex- water that flows from your became ill in the Ontario town plains that the water is “hard” tap.” Other sources of bottled of Walkerton in May 2000. because of the amounts of water come from artesian wells This tragedy has raised the calcium and magnesium. (a well that is under a layer of Taste Testing Station awareness of many Calgarians In our classroom this spring, rock or sand), mineral water during May Student Led to the safety of our drinking we did our own research to see (water with more than 250 water. if people thought that tap wa- parts per million total dis- Conferences staffed by Is our tap water safe to drink? ter, spring water or mineral solved solids), purified water Lecia. Yes. In 2004, the City of Cal- water tasted better. We asked (distilled or reverse osmosis), gary Waterworks, reported that 50 people to taste each kind of sparkling water (carbon diox- our drinking water was safer water without knowing which ide added) and spring water and of higher quality than all one was which kind. They then (water from an underground Canadian Government guide- rated the taste of the water. source). Bottled water compa- “Bottled water lines and Alberta Environment What we found out is that tap nies take this water, put it in a companies take water quality standards. There water received nearly the half bottle, put on a label and they this water, put it are more than 100,000 water the votes for tasting the best, ship it off. They spend lots of in a bottle, put on analyses that are done in the followed by spring water and money on advertisements to a label and they City’s labs each year on tap then mineral water. make people think that bottled ship it off. They water. ABC News did a similar test water is better. spend lots of If our tap water is safe to drink, with Americans last May and From our research, we think money on why do people in Calgary they had the same kind of re- that the people in Calgary that advertisements to drink bottled water? sults as our tests. The televi- buy bottled water are wasting CBC News Marketplace sion program “20/20” did a test their money and assuming the make people think (2005) reported that Canadians with 5 national brands of bot- wrong thing about taste. We that bottled water bought more than 700,000,000 tled water and a sample of tap also found out that in fact bot- is better.” liters of bottled water in 2004. water from a water fountain in tled water is expensive, bottles Some people think that the the middle of New York City. pollute the earth and bottled bottled water tastes better than They tested the water for safety water companies do not neces- the tap water. In Calgary, the and they found that, “There sarily promote recycling. City Waterworks adds some was actually no difference chlorine to disinfect the water. between the New York City U.E.S Student Writers: Lecia, In the Tap Water and the bottled Sydney, Mohammad R, Nasta- spring, there waters that we evaluated,” said ran is more microbiologist Aaron Margolin
“This is nothing like Grade 1 or 2. This is huge change. We’ve really started to change our personalities with this. We had to work hard with others and with hard thinking. We have really learned so much that this makes us smile when we look back and see all this good work. A couple of times, I just stop and smile since we know so much now.” Madison & Kristina
Tap water was the most popular in our Taste Testing!
KNOW THE BOW? VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 PAGE 9 Farmers and Ranchers tion against germ spreading by a while, then they move their cows Riparian Area supplying water troughs for their to the other water source. If the along the Bow animals to drink from and prevent cows leave their waste behind, then germs from inhabiting the river the grass along the river bank will River water. use it as a natural fertilizer. http:// www.cowsandfish.org /riparian.html All animals owned by ranchers and Farmers and ranchers use these farmers have tags that contain infor- ways to protect the water source mation about the animal. The tag close to them: trapping sediment, Why are farmers tells people about where the animal maintaining their banks, storing and ranchers not allowed to let their came from, and when it was born. If water, recharging their underground animals drink directly from the the animal spreads any diseases, aquifer and storing ice water. Bow River? If you want to know other people will know where to more about this topic, keep on read- call and ask the owner of the animal In the future, if we keep on letting “In the future, if ing! Ranchers and farmers are not about what the animal was fed and our animals drink or use the Bow allowed to have their animals near a other things that might have caused River as a washroom, it’s going to we keep on river because of these reasons: the the animal to get the disease. pollute the river. If that happens it’s animals can cause ground erosions going to use more money to get letting our and silt will go into the water caus- Riparian is an area that can be clean drinking water, because it’s ing water pollution and spawning found along the banks of water going to take more materials to animals drink problems for fish; animal’s waste sources. Riparian areas usually have clean it. So it would help so much will slide into the river; and if the trees and shrubs. The trees and to not let your animals go near the or use the Bow animal has a disease and they drink shrubs usually have very deep roots river. from the river the disease could go so that it makes the soil stay firm, River as a into the water and possibly spread which will prevent the soil from U.E.S. Student Writers: Jack, to other living things. getting into the water. If the soil Siddhartha, Mohamed A. washroom, it’s gets loose, then the trees and shrubs Ranching areas have to have a can trap them and use the soil or going to pollute space between the river and their dirt to live. Some farmers let their farms, so that the animal’s waste cows graze and drink at the banks the river.” will be able to decompose and there of the river, but they will usually won’t be a lot of germs left in the have another water source so that waste. Farmers are also using cau- they only graze and drink there for
Watt Dam? The Bow River is one of the most on the Bow River. ual power production. dammed rivers in Alberta. There Cascade Plant Ghost Plant are 11 hydro-electric facilities along The Cascade was built in 1942 is at Ghost Dam was built in 1929. In its length. The facilities create hy- the junction of the Cascade River, 1954 the plant was expanded. The dro-electric power. Hydro- Ghost River and the Minnewanka plant is downstream of the Ghost electricity comes from water driv- River. It produces 52, 612 MwH River. The Ghost plant generates ing a water turbine and generator. energy for peak power demand. 172,033 MwH. It provides electric- TransAlta utilities operate these Spray Lakes Plant ity for peak demand and continual hydro-electric stations. According Spray Lakes was built in 1951 and power usage. to TransAlta, these stations generate is on Spray Lakes near Canmore. It Bearspaw Dam about 838,000 megawatt hours of produces 287,800 MwH for load The Bearspaw Dam is at the west- electricity a year. This sounds like a control and peak power demand. ern limits of the City of Calgary. lot but actually it isn’t. It only helps Horseshoe Plant Bearspaw Dam was constructed in Calgarians have enough electricity This plant is at Horseshoe Falls 1954. It produces 70,691 MwH. It during “peak periods” at dinner and near Seebe and the Stoney Reserve. regulates river flows and is for con- night and for load control, which is Built in 1911, the Horseshoe Plant tinual power production. when lots of electricity is used at was TransAlta’s first power plant. Bassano Dam once. The Horseshoe Plant generates Bassano dam is one of the largest These are some of the major dams 83,200 MwH and is built for contin- dams on the Bow River. The Bas- PAGE 10 sano Dams main purpose is to rivers, this changes what ani- So, in some ways dams make supply water to farmers for mals and plants can live in or the Bow River unfit for some irrigation. Construction of the near the river as water levels life. In other ways, they help. Bassano Dam began in the change. They make additional wildlife spring of 1914. In 1935, a When water is held in the habitat for some species above group of farmers in the Brooks reservoir of a dam, the quality and below them. Water in the area acquired the canal system. of water is changed in lots of reservoirs, like Bassano, can be The Bassano dam is located on ways. One way is that the used by farmers for irrigation, the Bow River, 6km southwest temperature of the water which helps them grow food of the town Bassano. It is in changes and when it does it for all of us. Dams aren’t all the East Irrigation District. can affect aquatic life. Aquatic bad. Good Things and Bad Things animals and plants have a pre- Generating electricity and about Dams ferred temperature. When this gathering water for irrigation Some people think that chang- changes, sometimes there is by having dams on the Bow ing the course of a river for a more growth and sometimes River affects life in and around dam is not right just because there is less. Aquatic animals the Bow River for both good humans are changing nature. have adapted to reproduce in and bad. If you care about the When a dam is built, the water certain temperatures and when Bow River then you need to level behind it rises. When the the temperature changes it look at how you use electricity water rises, vegetation is de- affects this as well. Another and how we irrigate. How can Ghost Dam stroyed and animal habitats are way that the water can change you help reduce usage? What Photo courtesy of R. Russell lost. It has a big impact on the is in chemical composition are you willing to change? life of plants and animals that such as oxygen and carbon live along the shores of the dioxide levels. This can impact U.E.S. Student writers: Tyler, river downstream. When dams what survives. Roxy, Sean, Saptashwa control the flow of water in “Generating
electricity and
gathering water “This project has been more important than any other thing we have ever done for irrigation by in school. We can even study it at our homes as the river is part of our lifestyle.” Tyler having dams on
the Bow River
affects life in and
around the Bow
River for both
good and bad. “ Things To Do- On, In and By the Bow The Bow River is beautiful in going through waves with the river. You go on a regular surf many ways, like its white rush- boat tilting, bouncing, and board in the water and float ing water, and lots of plants jumping wave to wave. There’s downstream with the current and animals living in it and a wonderful white water trip through water obstacles like around. It can be enjoyed by that begins close to Banff, rapids and whirlpools. Before adults, elders, and children, passes Canmore, and ends you go out professional guides who bring back with them shortly after passing Calgary. give a safety training session. wonderful stories and memo- Also, there is another trip, Once on the river your guide ries of their visits to the river. through the Bow River Horse- and safety kayaker will show Canoeing, one of the many There are adventurous activi- shoe Canyon that offers glori- and tell you the way, by giving recreational ties on the Bow River like ous scenery and grade 3 to 4 continuous instructions, and activities available. white water rafting, and more white water. provide a safe journey. http://www.google.ca/images? peaceful ones. White water White Water Riverboarding Another new way of travel- q=tbn:AIlPV3E4e1NGlM:www.ab rafting is for those who love is a new sport where your ing through the water of the adventure and excitement by whole body gets right in the Bow River is by inflatable
KNOW THE BOW? VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 PAGE 11 kayaks. You will feel accomplishment Weather counts a lot, cloudy weather is usu- and Elbow Rivers in Calgary. The rule pro- and great after this trip. Again before ally the best, but sometimes sunny is good tects the fish, wildlife, and lets people who having fun, there is pre-trip instruction, too. are there to enjoy the river do so safely and and you will be given safety gear, and Fly fishing is best on the Bow River, and quietly. equipment to keep you warm and happy, more common to see on the River. There are The Bow River is beautiful and there are and a guide to help with the trip. They more bugs and flies on the Bow so it is better fun activities to enjoy. If we keep the Bow will carefully explain all features of the to fly fish. Other ways are good too, so go River clean and healthy we will have many River, to make sure that you’ll be safe out and try them all. more years to take pleasure in all it has to and have a wonderful experience. The Bow River can also be used to view the offer. The Bow can be enjoyed in many ways Here is a peaceful trip that most people beauty, and to relax, or view birds and ani- such as white water rafting, fishing, or simply would love, a nature float on the Bow mals from shore. sitting back and viewing scenery and beauty. River. There is slow and calm water Bird watching is a nice hobby, and can be Try all of the activities at the Bow River! unlike the other activities. It all starts at done all along the Bow River. Taking strolls Enjoy! Banff, and is a nice two hour trip on the or a walk can be done a lot too. Many paths Bow. The trip offers a good view of the are on both sides of the river, almost from U.E.S. Student Writers: Dylan, Rawand, Three Sisters Mountains, and animals where it starts to the end. Andy, Maytham like osprey, beaver, elk and more. There Hiking is a good way to see the Bow River also are quick stop to see plants and and have a fun trip. You can see animals and more for taking pictures. The guide will experiencing the warm sun filled mountains share information on the trip about the and valleys. Bow Valley’s natural and local history. Bow Valley Provincial Park is where it hap- Fishing is a very popular sport on the pens, and it is less than an hour drive west of Bow River, and attracts fishermen from Calgary. You can have a short walk, or a day around the world. The amount of fish hike! It is all up to you to decide. Witch ever, you catch is always different. It depends you’ll chose it will be a great experience. on the weather, what you’re using, and Did you know? some days the fish just won’t bite. It is illegal to use power boats on the Bow
I LOVE TO FISH! DO YOU?
TO LEARN MORE PLEASE VISIT MY POWER POINT PRESENTATION~ TYLER Alberta Water Quality Awareness Day (AWQA) The students are excited to be part Our collection will be made along of the water testing team this the banks of the Bow River in Ed- month. Building awareness of water worthy Park. Student representa- resources through local monitoring tives will then entered our data into of Alberta’s surface waters is the the provincial data base. Further main goal of this day. The collect- information can be found at ing of water temperature data is an important part of the day because http://awqa.ca aquatic organisms require a certain temperature range to survive. U.E.S. Staff writers: Madison, Kris- tina, Vanessa, Dallas Regan testing the water tempera- ture along the banks of the Bow River at Edworthy Park
Kristina, Mohammed, Eric, Sean, Dylan, Derek and their families testing the water for temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, and turbidity. PAGE 12 Water Through Rocks The water in the Bow River the filter for water. Every year ters or more. However, most flows from the Wapata Ice millions of cubic meters of of this groundwater is very “It doesn’t rain very field to Bassano in less than groundwater enter the aquifers salty. Only shallow ground often in southern two weeks. It doesn’t rain very depending on rainfall and water is able to drink. Alberta so nature needs often in southern Alberta so snowmelt. Groundwater slowly Most people do not even know nature needs to store water and travels through connected that they drink some ground- to store water and slowly release water in many pores in any rock or sediment water everyday. Groundwater slowly release water in different ways: aquifers, snow that yields useful amounts of under the river feeds the river many different ways: melt, glaciers, and wetlands. water from an aquifer. The & provides more water for the aquifers, snow melt, An aquifer is an underground volume of groundwater below river. glaciers, and wetlands.” storage place for water. This us dwarfs the volume of water Fertilizers and pesticides are water comes from rain and stored in glaciers, lakes, wet- hazards to groundwater. People snow melt and is filtered by the lands, and rivers. are becoming more aware and soil on its way down to the Groundwater and surface wa- government regulations are in aquifer. It is because of this ter are one connected water place to control this. As a com- filter that the water found in an system. Water wells can inter- munity we can help keep our aquifer is almost bacteria free. cept groundwater that may be ground water clean by not The aquifer refills when water on its way to springs that feed using these hazards on our flows over land and absorbs streams and rivers. In southern lawns and gardens. down through to the aquifer. Alberta, oil and gas drilling has Rain and snowmelt infiltrate shown that groundwater is U.E.S Student Writers: Lexi, the ground. Soil and rock act as found to depths of four kilome- Willy, Abdullah
We are like those living upstream from the future and if we don’t take care of the water now then down stream in the future it will be hard, the water will be sparse.” Mitchell Special People, Special Experts! With Thanks!
The Calgary Zoo Staff Danielle Droitsch ~ Bow River Keepers Tracey Franks ~ CAPES artist Sherri Rinkel-MacKay & Sharron Friesen ~ Galileo Educational Network Laurie Montemurro ~ CAPES artist Linda Easthope ~ U.E.S technical support Gord & Erika ~ AISI support Chris Beauchamp ~ Editor of the Gauntlet newspaper “My vessel is telling Heather Ellwood ~ Agriculture expert you that the Bow River travels through Cal- Carrie ~ (University of Calgary) Calgary Flood expert gary. You see nice Heather Dempsey ~ Parks Canada (Banff) ducks travel on the beautiful Bow River. Mike Murray ~ Bow River Basin Council You can see the pretty Amanda ~ Cows and Fish and Cattle Dogs scenery and the beauti- Catherine Bouree ~ Editor extraordinaire ful city of Calgary.” ~Lexi Neil Warner ~ Scientific editor extraordinaire
KNOW THE BOW? VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 PAGE 13 Bibliography
"About the Basin." Bow River Basin. 28 Apr. 2006
“When I first saw that I was going to do this (Publisher) I thought, “Whoa, how can I ever do some of this amazing stuff”. But you know I learned more than the technology. We are really looking so carefully at the Bow River.” ~Madison & Kristina