PINCHER CREEK of 17

ATERTON GLACIER f Free Summer Newspaper Serving the Waterton - Glacier International Peace Park Region ijJAÛN PARKT July 29,1998 '. \'% .Vol 7, Issue 9 <**&&. Good fishing - Some ofthe best fishing in Waterton Lakes National Park can be found at Cameron Lake. And like the bird, the early riser gets his or her choice of canoes and boats to choose from. Photo: David McNeill - •1'? Weed Wars What's Inside S^LEO^ Waging battle in Waterton by Dave McNeill THE WAY IT WAS T&&L WATERTON - Waterton is literally losing ground in a battle Bill McEwen loved- a dance against a multi-pronged attack by weeds - invaders moving page 5 across the international border undetected. Consider these statistics: In 1979 staff of Waterton Lakes National Park detect one IN THE PARKS j non-native plant, the spotted knapweed. It has been taking over . • Bears everywhere in Waterton large tracts of land in both British Columbia and Montana. Page 3 3s By 1981, the knapweed has taken over 15 hectares of Park îssh land. Kendalljbllows tke DNA thread in Glader By 1990, there are six non-native species in Waterton. By 1991, 11 weed species are being controlled in the Park, Page 8 with an estimated 84 hectares affected. By 1996, 83 non-native plant species are identified in IN KALISPELL § Waterton's Ecological Land Classification Project. Tlae Conrad Mansion spiffs ap jbrTV By 1997, 14 non-native plant species are actively being con Page 9 trolled with an estimated 100 hectares affected. By 1998, three additional species are added to the list for a total IN PINCHER CREEK of 17. Powering up jbr tke antique tractor pall Luckily, the weeds Page 21 Regional Map though growing in number and variety have limited their NATIONAL HISTORIC SITES presence to dis Tke Bar U Ranck !^tM turbed sites within Page 7 Accommodation the park, particular ly along roadways, WRITER'S WORKSHOP says the man in charge of weed sup- jrom Coming West fw?f o#M'^# pression, warden Page 6 Centerspread l%et|/ weeds OUR WORD PUZZLE Page 18 continued Page 2 July 29,1998 Waterton Glacier Views Weeds, not part of natural conditions, continued from page 1 K Randall Schwanke. the weeds are a threat to States. As they drive through There are a few reasons farming and ranching. Waterton, the weeds drop off Trail of tfk JJ why Waterton wants to con Most of the mountain car tires and plant themselves trol the weeds. First, says parks of Canada are seeing an along roadsides, in camp Schwanke, being a national increase in non-native plant grounds and in some cases on 'Great Bea park, "We're trying to keep species. But in Banff and river beds. Trails are basical natural conditions." Second Jasper, for instance, many of ly weed-free, says Schwanke, ly, he wants to protect the the weeds are coming on rail so it's neither boot nor hoof On main street • Witerton Park • (403) 859-2009 Park's native plant communi cars and dropping off as they that is taking the weeds deep Gifts • Books • Travel Information ty and thirdly, the Park wants pass through. Waterton does into the park. There is also to be a good neighbour with n't have a rail line, but it is one weed which came in on bordering jurisdictions, the right next to the U.S. border service trucks installing nat Municipal Districts of Pinch and is often the first stop for ural gas lines into the Park's WATERTON COMMUNITY Kg er Creek and Cardston, where visitors coming from the townsite. (In a similar situa tion now, the Park would REDUCE insist on the trucks being HazsLrdous cleaned before being let onto grasslands.) Weuste Waterton uses an integrat ed pest management Drop-Off approach to controlling non- RECYCUS native plants. The techniques D.B.S,, Environmental of 1430 - 33rd Street North, include manual, mechanical, Lethbridge (328-4833) conducts a monthly Toxic Round-Up for all residents of Lethbridge. Bring in your unwanted paint chemical and biological con used oil and any toxic chemicals from your basement, garage, trols. kitchen or bathroom the third Saturday of each month. Though chemicals often For further information about Household Hazardous Wastes, check for the handbook at the Reuse Centre, Post Office or the work best, Schwanke Rocky Mountain Food Store. explains that "being a nation Sponsored by the Waterton Park Community Green Team al park, we do a lot of hand tor Information, call Carol Watt 859-2648 or Plane Amos 859-5140 pulling." So though chemi cals can be used according to Park regulations, they aren't ALPINE STABLES applied where they might (403) 859-2462 • Uhterton affect nearby water bodies, and are basically used when mm^Mm^^L pulling won't have the desired effect. EXPEDIENCE... The pulling is done by two Breathtaking scenery, groups: nine college level wildlife in wilderness habitat & students and inmates, under wildflowers carpeting grassy meadows the direction of their supervi Our guided rides provide western adventure sors, of a nearby minimum for the whole family. security camp. Hourly, half-day, full-day and overnight trips. Mowing is the mechanical technique used, done just before the weeds come into flower. Biological control has been done in the Belly River area, though so far unsuc cessfully. Moths known to attack spotted knapweed Cool Water - Hikers going to Crypt Lake can drink in the were placed in plant locales, Cash Machine ) but the flood of 1995 wiped view of this water fall along the way, douse themselves in its cool gives out the community. water or risk a drink. Photo: Jay Allen Bank Exchange Rate - Public education is another tool Schwanke is using - try ^ZikeJT/omeacmîemoiy ing to tell visitors and resi r ( dents of Waterton alike how Mountain Bikes Scooters Surrys Cruise Beautiful Waierhm Jjtke important it is to be aware of Baby Back Packs Strollers Tennis Raquets the possibility of bringing ill „. „ ,—— i \ non-native plant species into ||t Fishing Supply p Park Fishing Licences Worms & Maggots the park. With Waterton being an increasingly attractive desti Cuban, Dominican and others \ ga^j nation for visitors, Schwanke r- ^ Needs '' anticipates that the battle . I "will not be easily resolved." Ice & Firewood Free Information Fuel .— But, he adds, "The victory MBHU CltiWrnm. i - VallTa is just keeping the plants to High Quality Fleeces the roadsides - and that's hap Great Sweat & Tee Shirts (Waterton's only logos and Canadian) pening." sPs? ^ .-., *•«• - r * -^v. jWA ^ -aJWMlfl ft_ *«*TC*'fc'.^Jfe\ * •< * \ .V.l Canadian & Waterton Souvenirs • . .. i. .. WATERTON INTER-NATION * -t v : - 1 • Morning Coffee & Cookies • Hikers' Sandwiches Sit back and relax in comfort and safety aboard one of our vessels, as expe -pplê plant Specif Newspapers & Magazines • Film rienced Interpretive Tour Guides provide you with an informative, enter ce taining commentary. View spectacular Mountain Scenery and Wildlife as \ '^^^f^^^p&^y leafy •nlaWaW " I you discover "The Jewel ofthe Rockies". ''f|ita^/'%l,rt*diOl» toadflax, CCA/AAA Emergency Road Service • Minor Auto & Tire Repair r&afld'stotfptie, woo|p| Dealers for Giant & Trek Bikes • Full Propane Service Cruise departures from ^Waterton ^TownsiteJlîllein , blue weed, New & Used Mountain Bikes for sale irip: John'|^4|, sulphur Departures Dairy at 9 am, 10 am, 1 pm, 4 pm, 7 pm cirtquefoiL tff&%, Canada Mohawk Fuel and Oil Prod- ^^îjiyl^ddCdarne's with a half-hour stop at Goat Haunt itK5l^';*i|iîp|^jstle, WATERTON LAKES NATIONAL PARK Crypt Lake Landing - Departure Daily at 9 am, 10 am Maltese crpss, scentless - Return at 4 pm, 5:30 pm chamomile, yellow 8 a.m. - 11 p.m. (403) 859-2266 BOX 126, WATERTON, Phone: (403) 859-2362 cfh«iimomite>'Ox-%e daisy ALBERTA TOK 2M0 Fax: (403) 938-5019 downtown across from marina...more than a gas station Waterton Glacier Views July 29,1998 It's a teddy bear's picnic Waterton warden fights in Peace Park fires in Wood Buffalo by Dave McNeill the capital of the NWT. by Dave McNeill bumper crop of berries had a WATERTON - Randall "We didn't want the fires WATERTON - At the war hand in keeping bears in Schwanke has just caught his spreading north towards tim den's compound at Waterton good shape. He also points breath of clean air from, fight ber values lying just outside Lakes National Park, a visitor out that though last winter ing fires in northern Alberta Wood Buffalo; we didn't to the park comes in to report didn't have a lot of snow and in about a week he could want another fire going into that about 20 people are fol which is good for denning be back doing the same thing. cottage country. And we did lowing, on foot, a sow black bears, the lack was offset by n't want the third fire to cross bear with her three cubs, mild temperatures. That led The warden in charge of the highway," he explains. half-way up the Red Rock to good survivability of bear fire control in Waterton Lakes Though a common strategy Road. Information enough and child come spring time. National Park, he's also on one of five fire command for managing fires inside a for a warden to go take a And then, he explains, this teams made up of personnel national park is to let them look, and as he gets ready, year's spring has produced from various national parks. burn, there are occasions, and the visitor adds he's seen 18 lush vegetation with the (There are two teams based in the Wood Buffalo fires was bears while driving from Red heavy rains of June.

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