February 2013

National Parks: First Celebrate, Then Eviscerate Shhh?…Freedom of Information in Alberta Logging the Cradle of Bull Trout Toasting the Milk River Management Committee Editor: Ian Urquhart CONTENTS Graphic Design: February 2013 • VOL. 21, NO. 1 Marni Wilson Printing: Colour printing and process is sponsored Features Association News by Topline Printing 4 Canada’s National Parks: 23 lorne Fitch, Aldo Leopold, We Celebrated Them in 2011, and Living a Land Ethic: The Eviscerated Them in 2012 Fifth Annual Martha Kostuch Lecture 11 access to Environmental Information in Alberta: Where Wilderness Watch are we today? 25 Updates 14 A Private Little Matter: What’s Happening in Hidden Departments Creek? Alberta Wilderness Association 29 Reader’s Corner: The Beaver 18 Celebrating the Good Things Manifesto “Defending Wild Alberta through We’ve Done Awareness and Action” Alberta Wilderness Association is a Events Cardston County: Composting charitable non-government organization 21 dedicated to the completion of a Cows to Conserve Carnivores 31 Events protected areas network and the conservation of wilderness throughout the province. To support our work Cover Photo with a tax-deductible donation, call Through the lens of Cliff Wallis’s camera it’s not hard to see why Writing on 403-283-2025 or contribute online Stone Provincial Park is regarded by First Nations as a sacred landscape. at AlbertaWilderness.ca. Wild Lands Advocate is published bi-monthly, 6 times a year, by Alberta Wilderness Association. The opinions expressed by the authors in this publication are not necessarily those eatured rtist F A of AWA. The editor reserves the right Dan Hudson is a Canadian artist based in Canmore, Alberta and Berlin, to edit, reject or withdraw articles and Germany. He received a BFA in Visual Art at York University in Toronto and letters submitted. studied anthropology at the University of California at San Diego. Dan’s art practice includes photography, video, painting, and sculpture. He has received Please direct questions and comments to: numerous awards for his art and his exhibitions have garnered much critical 403-283-2025 • [email protected] attention. Dan’s work is exhibited internationally and is represented in the collections of museums, public galleries and private collections throughout Subscriptions to the WLA are $30 per North America and Europe. year. To subscribe, call 403-283-2025 While working as an artist, Dan also conducted a highly successful career or see AlbertaWilderness.ca. as a photo journalist with more than 60 international cover shots as well as thousands of images in major publications around the world. Adventure photography assignments involving extreme mountain sports in some of the wildest places on the planet brings a unique perspective to Hudson’s art practice. He connects an intimacy with nature to everyday life in contemporary culture. For more information about Dan Hudson’s art and photography please visit: http://www.danhudson.ca/ Box 6398, Station D, Calgary, Alberta T2P 2E1 403-283-2025 AWA respects the privacy of members. Lists are not sold or traded in any manner. AWA is a federally registered charity Toll-free 1-866-313-0713 and functions through member and donor support. Tax-deductible donations may be made to AWA at Box 6398 Station D, www.AlbertaWilderness.ca Calgary, AB T2P 2E1. Ph: 403-283-2025 Fax: 403-270-2743 E-mail: [email protected] www.AlbertaWilderness.ca [email protected] ISSN 1192-6287 A Bit of This, A Bit of That

You’ve been on the road all day. You’re national parks reminds me of elder The features section wraps up famished, dog-tired too. You hate take abuse – it’s serious, it’s taking place right with Nigel Douglas’s enlightening out. The last thing you want to do is under our noses, and not enough of us are examination of a promising Cardston stop to pick up groceries. You hope that demanding that it stop. County program to manage predator- when you get home you’ll discover the The exception noted above is landowner relationships in the county – makings of a decent meal. Finding a bit Adam Driedzic’s piece on freedom of cow composting. of this in your fridge and a bit of that in information legislation in Alberta. It’s The epicentre reference to Hidden your cupboards you improvise and the quite an optimistic appraisal of how Creek is taken from Lorne Fitch’s Martha end product is…not bad, damn fine in Alberta’s Office of the Information Kostuch lecture of last November. This fact. and Privacy Commissioner helps issue offers you a synopsis of Lorne’s This issue of the Wild Lands Advocate conservation organizations such as AWA views on the work of Aldo Leopold, a might be viewed this way. Unlike past fulfill their mandates. North American conservation icon. I issues one theme doesn’t animate the Sean Nichols then opens the blinds to hope our summary of Lorne’s lecture features section. Instead, what we’ve what is taking place in Hidden Creek, will lead you to do what I did – find and done is share, with one exception, a “the epicentre of bull trout spawning read a copy of Leopold’s A Sand County number of pieces on different subjects in for the Oldman watershed.” Road- Almanac. that have been saved in the editorial building and logging in this watershed In our upcoming issues the features vault for a number of months now. They highlights glaring shortcomings in the section will again be oriented around haven’t reached their expiry dates and province’s risk assessment process. specific themes or issues: April will look each piece is an important ingredient Next, Christyann Olson invites you at the federal government’s changes to producing what the Advocate aspires to a party, a party celebrating the 20th to environmental legislation, June will to – helping readers build a damn fine birthday of the Milk River Management feature articles celebrating nature and understanding of this crazy, wonderful Committee. This committee, where outdoor activities, and August will place we call Alberta. many land-use interests are represented, present an assessment of the land-use I lead off with an indictment of the has worked hard and well to promote framework that will be two years old by federal government’s national parks responsible land stewardship in southeast then. policy. The damage being done to our Alberta. - Ian Urquhart, Editor

Correction Occasionally, we don’t get things as right as we would like to. A case in point was our December 2012 article “Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute and the Willmore Wilderness.” We were mistaken to identify the Willmore Biodiversity Research Project as an ABMI project. It isn’t. The primary partnership is between Alberta Tourism, Parks, and Recreation (ATPR) and Alberta Innovates – Technology Futures (AITF). ABMI has helped fund the project but its support, while very welcome, amounted to less than 10 percent of the project’s budget. The majority of the funding came from Tourism, Parks, and Recreation; ATPR and AITF implemented the program. AWA applauds the fundamental role these organizations played in the Willmore Project. Canada’s National Parks: We Celebrated Them in 2011, Eviscerated Them in 2012

By Ian Urquhart, Editor

If a tree falls in the forest does ou decide. What lyric best fits proportionately. The unlucky ones are anybody hear? the path the federal government shown the door. Anybody hear the forest fall? Yplunged Parks Canada down I like to think I’ve been a friend of Cut and move on on at the end of March and April of this Canada’s national parks ever since my Cut and move on year? On March 29 Ottawa unveiled first trip to Banff National Park as a wee its 2012 federal budget; on April 30 the lad. I still remember that 10 year-old’s - Bruce Cockburn, “If a Tree Falls” federal government publicized the first first view of Mount Rundle. Far-out. round of “work force adjustment notices” I’ve learned since then that being a the Conservatives will make as they try friend of our national parks isn’t always The smoke of our fire rises to cut federal spending. A work force easy. Telling our two little rockhounds, to the skyscraper pines and fir. adjustment notice - in more honest, less Andrea and Kali, that they couldn’t take We’ll sit around it all evening and Orwellian language - means you may treasure home with them from Jasper sing lullabies back to the birds well lose your job (here at the University prompted many tears, glares, and a drop - Parks Canada, “The Park Song” (a of Alberta my bosses refer to terminating in popularity even ice cream couldn’t campfire song written to commemorate employees as “job disruptions”). Lucky restore. the centennial of Parks Canada in 2011) work force “adjustees” only see full- Today is again one of those times when time employment shrink into part-time friendship demands actions that court status; sadly their mortgages and other unpopularity in some quarters. Today, costs of living a good life are not reduced my hope to be a good friend of our

4 WLA | February 2013 | Vol. 21, No. 1 | features Cavell Glacier, Jasper National Park © M. Bradley

corporate plan put the agency’s forecast $139.7 million, 19.7 percent less than the spending for the 2011/12 fiscal year spending forecast for 2011-12. at $709.7 million. As Table 1 shows, Spin doctors might try to soothe our this plan suggested that, three years anxiety here by noting the sharp drop in from now, Parks Canada plans to spend planned spending in the Townsite and $110.5 million less than forecast for this Throughway Infrastructure program year. This cut is crippling. What other activity. A significant portion of the term should be used to describe a cut spending devoted recently to this program of 15.6 percent. When the additional activity was part of the government’s cuts announced in the 2012 budget temporary economic stimulus program. are added to what the corporate plan Expenditures there drop by $56.2 million already promises this cut grows to (38.9 percent). national parks inspires caring criticism. Table 1: Parks Canada Forecast/Planned Program Activity Good friends, after all, don’t turn blind eyes or sit silent when they see friends Spending, 2011-12 to 2014-15 ($000s) act self-destructively. It’s time to tell % change our politicians and senior management 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2011-12 to in Ottawa that, on balance, they are 2014-15 plunging our national parks down a dark, destructive path. These leaders let the Heritage Places 18,510 15,751 15,718 15,718 -15.1 ideal of our national parks down; they let Establishment us down; they let our children and grand- children down; they let down the public Heritage Resources servants who have devoted their lives 167,872 163,965 156,953 154,350 -8.1 Conservation to being caring stewards of Canada’s national parks. Public Appreciation/ 50,030 46,481 41,388 40,892 -18.3 Far Fewer Dollars, Even Less Sense Understanding Ottawa delivered the first blow of its 2012 double-whammy to Parks Canada Visitor Experience 244,497 239,852 237,666 237,553 -2.8 when it announced three-years of cuts to the Parks Canada budget: $6 million in Townsite/ the budget year we are nearing the end of, Throughway 144,402 113,933 93,241 88,241 -38.9 $19.7 million in the 2013-14 fiscal year, Infrastructure and $29.2 million the next year. Such cuts might be more digestible if they weren’t Internal Services 84,388 71,546 68,111 62,471 -26.0 coming on top of significant cuts already planned for in the agency’s budget future. Parks Canada’s 2012-13/2016-17 Total Planned Spending 709,699 651,528 613,077 599,225 -15.6

WLA | February 2013 | Vol. 21, No. 1 | features 5 Fair enough. But, look what’s going million or 15.6 percent less than what issued; 76 people were “surplussed”; to happen to the Heritage Resources the government said in 2011 it would another 68 were “affected.” Conservation activity. Heritage resources devote to that activity. Heritage places These numbers should impress you and conservation (along with Heritage Places establishment forecast spending drops by inspire concern or outrage. If they don’t, Establishment) is the lifeblood of our 18.6 percent. try viewing them through other lenses parks system. It requires government to Things are, temporarily at least, or from other perspectives. Imagine you improve “ecological integrity indicators much better for road pavers. From last own a small business in one of Alberta’s in national parks, and the state of year’s corporate plan to this year’s plan national park communities. What will cultural resources of national historical Townsite and Throughway Infrastructure these cuts mean for your livelihood and significance... in national historic sites...” forecast spending for 2011-12 ballooned future? PSAC reports that, in Jasper The government’s intention is to reduce by $21.5 million (17.5 percent). When National Park, 21 people were informed this program activity by $13.5 million Parks Canada tells you that this year’s they were surplus to the organization’s (8.1 percent). forecast spending is actually up from plans while another 31 were notified that The lens offered by the Parks Canada last year’s be sure to point this out to they would be affected. Effectively, up to 2012-13/2016-17 corporate plan actually them. They are spending less money on 50 families in the community were told obscures the fiscal damage being inflicted ecological integrity; they are spending to get by with less, perhaps with much on these two foundations of our parks more money on highway integrity. less. This is unlikely to be good for your system. What that plan doesn’t reveal After planning to suck out so much business; it’s unlikely to be good for your are the additional cuts made to Heritage financial blood out of Parks Canada over community. It helps explain why people Places Establishment and Heritage at least the next few years who could in Jasper sponsored advertisements and Resources Conservation between the have been surprised that the second events proclaiming how much their 2011-12 corporate plan and the 2012- blow spilled the blood of the agency’s neighbours who work for Parks Canada 13 corporate plan. In other words, stewards. According to the Public Service mean to the health of their community. Minister Kent’s budget numbers for these Alliance of Canada (PSAC) by April 30, Hang on to the community perspective activities now are significantly lower than 2012 1,689 Parks Canada employees had for a few more moments. Think now they were in the previous year. received notices that they could lose their though of ecological communities and Table 2 exposes that significant jobs. This action is at least as staggering consider what these cuts will mean for change by comparing what the two most as the financial cuts. More than one-in- their integrity. What will the cuts mean recent corporate plans reported about three Parks Canada employees received for the scientific and technical staff in spending in the 2011-12 fiscal year. For these notices. Nearly 10 percent of all the the agency? Bill Fisher, a senior Parks example, forecast heritage resources Parks Canada employees who received Canada official, told theCalgary Herald conservation spending in 2011-12 is now work force adjustment notices by then that the agency will no longer be able to reported at $167.9 million; that’s $31.0 live here in Alberta; 144 notices were do the amount of scientific and historical research it has done to this point. He said that, because of less professional Table 2: 2011-12 Fiscal Year Parks Canada Forecast/Planned Program and technical capacity, “(s)ome projects Activity Spending, by Corporate Plan ($000s) will have to halt, some will be delayed.” This conclusion was echoed in the Globe % change from 2011-12/2015-16 2012-13/2016-17 and Mail: “Many of the scientists and 2011-12 plan to Corporate Plan Corporate Plan technical staff hired over the last decade 2012-13 plan to help protect the ecological integrity, or Heritage Places health, of the parks, are being let go.” 22,751 18,510 -18.6 Establishment George Mercer, a recently retired Parks Canada employee, uses language and Heritage offers observations in his “Write Nature” Resources 198,921 167,872 -15.6 blog that reiterates these messages. Conservation “Science capacity in the form of park Public biologists and ecologists who provide Appreciation/ 34,155 50,030 +46.5 the information that park interpreters use Understanding to help educate Canadians about their national parks,” he wrote, “was all but Visitor 235,521 244,497 +3.8 obliterated at service centres and at many Experience national parks.” Townsite/ Finally, pick up an historical lens Throughway 122,625 144,402 +17.8 and ask yourself what these cuts will Infrastructure mean for our ability to better understand the human and natural communities Internal Services 81,562 84,388 +3.5 of bygone eras. What’s taking place Total Forecast/ in the Calgary office of Parks Canada 695,535 709,699 +2.0 Planned Spending compounds the wrongheadedness and

6 WLA | February 2013 | Vol. 21, No. 1 | features misery of these cuts. PSAC reports This brief look at the U.S is Tonquin caribou, that, in that office, 23 of the 24 work enlightening for several reasons. It shows Jasper National Park force adjustment notices served are that, even when governments face fiscal © M. Bradley surplus - losing your job - notices. In stress, they have choices. It shows that Calgary historians, social scientists, and the political executive in the U.S. (a Peter Kent where he invited the Minister archaeologists join biologists to make country in much deeper financial trouble to applaud the go-ahead for Brewster’s up the majority of those being cuts. than Canada) is much more supportive Glacier Discovery Walk. Thankfully, Eighty percent of the staff archaeologists of national parks than our political the Speaker recognized the game being studying these issues are being dismissed. executive. It further suggests that played here and cut off the Minister in With respect to these cuts the Calgary ideology plays a key role in shaping the mid-reply. Herald quoted a union official as saying, respective support national parks receive Blake Richards spoke once about with considerable understatement, “that’s in the Oval Office and 24 Sussex Drive. Banff National Park - a “special place a real shame for Canadians.” where tourists enjoy some of the world’s Alberta’s “Sit On Their Hands Gang” most pristine wilderness combined with What About Elsewhere? Millions of Canadians annually visit incredible visitor experiences.” Like his Some of my Conservative friends (yes, Alberta’s national parks. Thousands of political neighbour to the north Richards I have some) respond to my objections Albertans depend on the national parks used that occasion to extoll the economic to this evisceration of our national parks located in Alberta for their livelihoods. contribution Alberta’s national parks system by arguing that times are tough What then did our elected members of make to the Canadian economy. all around the world. Ottawa, the claim parliament say about the future of our Outside the House of Commons, therefore goes, really had no choice but national parks? What did they say about he showed chutzpah when he wrote to cut public spending generally and the cuts of March and April? in the Canmore Leader that the on national parks in particular. That Essentially, they said nothing. For Harper government was proud of its argument is weakened when you consider the most part they have been as mute in environmental record. National parks the support the Obama administration the House of Commons as the political figured prominently in his letter: “We is trying to give the U.S. National Park statues MPs pass on the grounds of expanded the area protected by Parks Service (NPS). President Obama’s Parliament Hill on their way to Question Canada by more than 50 per cent - an February 2012 budget request tried to Period. Thinking that the Alberta MPs area larger than Greece. The expansion of sustain support for the National Park who would be most likely to speak out Nahanni National Park, in the Northwest Service (NPS). Obama’s call for $2.6 on behalf of national parks would be Territories, was the conservation billion in funding for America’s national those with the mountain parks in their achievement of a generation.” Where parks was a mere $1million below what constituencies I focused my attention on the financial and personnel resources the Congress approved for the previous Jim Hillyer (Lethbridge - Waterton Lakes will come from to make the six-fold year. He called for a reduction of just NP), Hon. Rob Merrifield (Yellowhead expansion of Nahanni anything more than 0.04 percent to the NPS budget. When it - Jasper NP), and Blake Richards (Wild a symbolic conservation achievement is comes to NPS full-time staff his budget Rose - Banff NP). Using the indexes something that neither Mr. Richards nor request will cost some employees their to the proceedings in the House of Minister Kent seem as willing to talk jobs, true: if Congress approves the Commons and in House committees for about. Obama proposal there would be 21,689 the current session of Parliament I looked Jim Hillyer, a rookie MP, has not said a full-time equivalent NPS positions. But for comments from these MPs about the word about national parks in Parliament this is a reduction of just 218 jobs, a national parks and cuts to Parks Canada. since being sent there by the electors of cut to full-time positions of just under The period examined covered more than Lethbridge in May 2011. one percent. More than a third of Parks a year, stretching from June 2, 2011 to the Given the enthusiasm both Mr. Canada positions are being disrupted passage of the 2012 federal budget at the Merrifield and Mr. Richards have for the in Canada; less than one percent of end of June. economic importance of the mountain full-time positions would be lost under Rob Merrifield spoke on two occasions parks I hoped to hear something, the President’s proposals. But, like in in the House of Commons on matters anything, from them during the budget Canada, NPS seasonal employees are related to national parks. In September debate about what their government is likely to be hit hard. 2011 he promoted the Jasper Dark doing to Parks Canada. There wasn’t None of this is to say that, at the end of Sky Festival; he applauded the record anything there - not a peep, not a whisper. the day, Congress will give the NPS what numbers of tourists who had come to This is somewhat surprising since even the President requested. Republicans in Jasper, the significant amount of jobs natural allies of these Conservative Congress, like their Conservative cousins the federal government had created in politicians - boosters of the Glacier in Canada, are calling for deeper cuts to Jasper, and the economic significance of Discovery Walk such as the Association public spending. The NPS will bear some tourism. In February 2012 he described for Mountain Parks Protection and of that attack and will probably end up our national parks as “national treasures... Enjoyment - have voiced publicly their faring worse than it would have under creating sustainable jobs for thousands concerns over what the announced budget the President’s plans. But, it’s unlikely of Canadian families.” This was his cuts will mean to the future of our parks. that anything like the magnitude of the preamble to the friendly, pre-arranged While Conservatives like Merrifield may Canadian cuts will be visited on the NPS. question he put to Environment Minister point out to constituents that the budget

WLA | February 2013 | Vol. 21, No. 1 | features 7 was subject to many hours of debate and forwarded again; the official would ask to illustrates this. In early May 2012 examination he couldn’t find the time in be copied on the anticipated reply to me; Jim Pissot, representing WildCanada his parliamentary schedule to speak about the official would follow up in a few days Conservation Alliance, asked Pam it. Neither could his colleague from Wild if there still wasn’t any response to my Veinotte, the then Banff Superintendent Rose. When it comes to Parks Canada question. (she’s now the first Superintendent of they illustrate well the Oxford definition That was the last word I heard about the just-created Rouge National Urban of a fair-weather friend: “someone who my inquiry. Park), if there would be any possibility of cannot be relied on in a crisis.” I know I’m not alone when it comes consulting the public about the proposal. to trying to lift the government’s veil The Superintendent said no; in her The Politics of Control of secrecy. The Parliamentary Budget opinion, this policy decision had been The phrase “The Politics of Control” Office is one prominent institution made in the 2007 federal budget. is the sub-title of Lawrence Martin’s also struggling to get answers from I went back and searched the 2007 bestselling book Harperland, a probing the government about its spending budget for some sign that the government look at the growth of Prime Ministerial reductions. In mid- April Kevin Page, the had indicated that this specific initiative power during the reign of Stephen Parliamentary Budget Officer, wrote to all might go ahead at some point in time. Harper. Secrecy, muzzling, minimizing deputy heads in the federal government There was no mention of it there. So, I access, controlling the message - these asking for more information about thought that perhaps the Superintendent terms and phrases are among the legion the savings measures ascribed to their might have been mistaken about the Martin uses as he paints a worrisome organizations by the budget. By the end specific budget year this green light had portrait of how the Harper government of May only 18 of 82 departments and been given. The closest I could come runs Canada’s affairs. agencies had supplied the information the to finding anything in a federal budget These terms and phrases are not parliamentary officer sought. that could be linked - but just very, very strangers to what’s been happening to and Parks Canada joined many other tangentially - to privatizing these hot in Parks Canada. When it comes to trying federal organizations in refusing to springs was buried in an annex to the to understand how our Park’s stewards answer the Parliamentary Budget 2008 budget. It read, in part: are having their lives “adjusted” Jasper’s Officer’s questions. The Fitzhugh bemoaned just how hard it Kevin Page then secured a legal “Parks Canada is streamlining operations is to get complete, comprehensive data opinion to buttress his position and in order to enhance its ability to achieve about cuts and Parks Canada. Amen. wrote to the Clerk of the Privy Council its core mandate of protecting sensitive Several times I asked Parks Canada for (Canada’s highest public servant). land and species and ensuring that details about what positions and what He said: “It is in the interests of Canada’s cultural and natural heritage are services/program activities were being Parliament and the Canadian public preserved. These efforts will include the cut. When I first raised this issue with that such information be made available rationalization of some activities that Parks Canada in early May I was told immediately. As I have mentioned before, can be delivered more effectively and they would see what they could do but it is only with such information that efficiently by local communities and Parks Canada was “sensitive to the fact Parliament can exercise its constitutional the private sector.” (my emphasis) that many of the affected employees are role of controlling public finances.” still dealing with this change in their Parks Canada, like most federal It still seems a long way from this kind of life circumstances, and we don’t wish to organizations, continued to stonewall. statement to the Banff Superintendent’s provide information that would impact By early November Parks Canada still position that, since privatization generally their privacy at this time.” refused to supply the Parliamentary was endorsed years ago, there’s no need I couldn’t agree more with the Budget Officer with requested personnel to consult with the public about this privacy point and reiterated that I wasn’t reduction and service level impact data. proposal. interested in a list of names but believed The budget savings data supplied was The 2007 and 2010 Banff Management it was important to have more complete unhelpful because it was so general. Plans also offer nothing to suggest Parks and detailed information about how Page wrote on November 6, 2012: Canada was considering seriously this program activities would be affected “The lack of disclosure will prevent privatization initiative. Mike McIvor, a from the personnel perspective. Parks the PBO from providing Parliament veteran defender of ecological integrity Canada said they would see what they and parliamentarians with independent in our national parks, pointed out to me could do. analysis on the state of the nation’s how naive it has become to expect these Six weeks later I asked how my finances and the estimates of the types of documents to outline specifics. request was going. “It’s impossible,” I government.” He suggested: “The ‘wonderful’ thing wrote, “to even try to hold the politicians In studying the situation in Parks about the 2010 Management Plan is accountable for their actions without Canada since the budget/personnel cuts that Parks Canada senior management detailed information.” The official were announced I have been struck by had made an internal decision about I’d been corresponding with seemed just how illusionary or fictitious Parks the way it would write these plans. surprised to hear from me. My request Canada’s rationales for its actions and So there has been a fundamental shift had been forwarded and the official proposals have been. The proposal to from plans with specific direction - and thought that someone would have been privatize Banff upper hot springs, Miette therefore room for accountability - to a in touch with me. My request would be hot springs, and Radium hot springs document that provides only strategic (continued, page 10)

8 WLA | February 2013 | Vol. 21, No. 1 | features In October 1989 Jon Whyte, the President of Bow Valley Naturalists, wrote the federal Environment Minister Lucien Bouchard to express the group’s concerns about the development of a new “marketing strategy” for the national parks. They worried that, in the wrong hands, the strategy would sacrifice national park values as expressed in the National Parks Act on an altar of crass commercial exploitation. Minister Bouchard’s answer is reproduced here. From my reading of that letter our national parks would be better served if Lucien Bouchard was today’s Minister of the Environment.

- Ian Urquhart

WLA | February 2013 | Vol. 21, No. 1 | features 9 direction that usually is so vague it can be disciplinary action except in undefined that potential clashes between various interpreted any way you want.” It’s hard exceptional circumstances. If you were loyalties are part of daily life for the to see anything in the recent record that a Parks Canada employee would you be ethical public servant. Consider this quote seriously challenges this view. ready to roll the dice and speak out? from the Professional Qualities section of Finally, Parks Canada employees have I expect this effort to discipline the code: been told to shut up – not to make any employees will succeed even if there’s critical public comments – about the no specific language about a “duty of “All Parks Canada employees must 2012 budget’s “streamlining measures.” loyalty” in the Code of Ethics. The work within the laws of Canada and Don’t talk to the press about them (unless spectre of punishment has a way of demonstrate political neutrality, as well you’re an external relations as support for the agenda and manager), don’t post on objectives of the Government Facebook about them, don’t of Canada and the objectives tweet about them, don’t say of the Parks Canada anything about them in large Agency, as they undertake meetings or “in other forums” the responsibilities of their (whatever those may be). position.” (my emphasis) This message was delivered in an email entitled “Duty Potential clashes abound in of loyalty and freedom of the quote. Loyalty to the laws expression.” A title more of Canada, for example, may faithful to the message’s conflict with the obligation substance would have left out to support the agenda and any reference to freedom of objectives of the Canadian expression. Senior managers government. Section 8 (2) of used this email to offer their the Canada National Parks Act employees a shortened, privileges ecological integrity. management interpretation of It establishes ecological the duty of loyalty they see integrity as “the first priority of outlined in the Parks Canada the Minister when considering Agency’s Code of Ethics. all aspects of the management Employees were told the of parks.” (my emphasis) email would give them what Gutting the natural and social they needed “to make the sciences capacity in the best possible decisions” for Calgary office of Parks Canada themselves and for the Agency. may fit with the Conservative “The duty of loyalty,” government’s agenda and according to the email, objectives but why shouldn’t “includes the duty to refrain it also be interpreted as from public criticism of the violating the legal obligation to Government of Canada when maintain and restore ecological speaking as an employee of integrity? the Parks Canada Agency.” Publicly criticize the A Better Tomorrow government and you may find Sparrow’s-egg Lady’s Slipper along the Athabasca River Any recovering addict will yourself facing disciplinary Jasper National Park tell you they only discovered action. © M. WIlson and chose the road to a better life after Is this duty absolute? When, they had hit bottom. It seems to me if ever, is public criticism acceptable? doing that to people. It should be noted that the job for all friends of Canada’s The note is chillingly ambiguous in though that language in the Code of national parks system is to help Minister these respects. The duty is not absolute; Ethics calls into question management’s Kent, Alberta’s MPs, and senior Parks “exceptional circumstances” may justify straightforward interpretation that loyalty Canada management recognize that the open criticism. But there are no examples demands public servants toe the Harper Parks Canada Agency has hit bottom. of what constitutes an exceptional government’s party line. Other objects of If we want recovery, if we want a better circumstance. Nothing more than the loyalty are identified in that code. This is tomorrow for our parks, we have to stand following vague statement guides surely implied when the code talks about up and through our voices and actions employees: “To determine whether public the need for employees in their work to strive to build the broad coalition needed criticism is acceptable, the duty of loyalty be conscious of “the balance between to persuade the federal government to must be balanced against other interests, democratic, professional, ethical and take our parks off the dark path it has such as freedom of expression.” people qualities.” placed them on. Public criticism then may lead to Sometimes the code clearly shows

10 WLA | February 2013 | Vol. 21, No. 1 | features Access to Environmental Information in Alberta: Where are we today?

By Adam Driedzic, Staff Counsel, Environmental Law Centre

any an environmentalist date has focused on the disclosure of and Access to Justice in Environmental has learned that chasing government expenses. This is a welcome Matters is becoming hard law. In Mgovernment information can get development but it is not a leading South America, the Inter-American one lost in a different kind of wilderness. concern for environmental information Court of Human Rights ruled in 2006 Readers of this magazine may be familiar seekers. in favour of the Chilean non-profit with epic quests under “FOIP,” short Third would be the government’s organization Terram Foundation that for Alberta’s Freedom of Information showcase for Right to Know Week last sought information on the Rio Condor and Protection of Privacy Act. FOIP September. The Minister of Service logging project. The emerging pattern introduced Alberta to the language of Alberta made a speech that I felt showed is that governments can no longer deny “transparent government” that has since a solid understanding of the issues. I information without reasons. In the right become a mainstay of political rhetoric. heard how information without spin is case, access to information becomes a It’s fair to say that the province and its fundamental to democracy, that open “gateway right” necessary to exercise major departments have made some gains government needs to become reality, freedom of expression. on the transparency initiative. It is equally and that this approach would empower Alberta was no original leader in this fair to question the extent to which the public to make better use of the movement. The post-Charter decade environmental advocates have benefited. information it receives. Using paramount saw concerns about the impact of gas Let me start with some statements by clauses to trump FOIP would be limited blowouts, oil sands pollution, secret people closer to the source than I. to legitimate cases where people deserve meetings with environmental advisors, First would be a newspaper letter by more privacy than FOIP can provide. steep fees for information and attempts the outgoing Information and Privacy This showcase focused heavily on the to question the motive of information Commissioner at the time of the 2011 successes of Alberta Environment in seekers. However, FOIP has been in Conservative Party leadership race. The making information publicly available place since the 1990s and the amount Commissioner’s advice to leadership online. of environmental information made hopefuls was part indictment of public increases to this day. All of the bureaucratic secrecy and part checklist Are we leading yet? ‘big three’ of Alberta’s environment for transparency. He exposed tactics used Being transparent is hard. The structure and natural resource departments have to avoid creating records and questioned of government is an impediment even if contributed to this positive trend in some why Alberta is slow to adopt the “open the political will to be transparent exists. way. The descriptions below are based on data” style of electronic disclosure that Ministers represent the Crown, the public the departmental structures and records promotes open government. He explained service is cloistered from the public, prior to the merger of Environment and the problem with allowing FOIP to be and legal rights to information require Sustainable Resource Development in trumped by confidentiality legislation (aka legislation. Parliamentary democracies are Alberta Environment and Sustainable “paramount clauses”). The Commissioner fertile ground for government secrecy. Resource Development. asked our leaders to do many things. Yet rights to information are definitely Three that stood out were: to show no increasing. The turning point in Canada mercy on public officials who deceive, was likely the 1982 enactment of to create written policies that make the Canadian Charter of Rights and “The title of the Act involved information publicly available, and to Freedoms, followed within a year by increase its FOIP staff and to listen to the federal Access to Information Act. In here, the Freedom of those experts when they say “disclose.” 2010 the Supreme Court of Canada found Information and Protection Second would be a June 2012 in Criminal Lawyers’ Assn. v. Ontario of Privacy Act, suggests that letter from the Premier containing the (Ministry of Public Safety & Security) that this legislation involves a mandate for the Associate Minister access to information can occasionally balancing between those in of Accountability, Transparency and receive protection under the Charter. Transformation. This new position Environmental advocates have been society who want to know will help Service Alberta recommend a major force in the global access to everything and those who amendments to FOIP and develop information movement. In Europe, the want to reveal nothing.” transparency legislation. No legislation Convention on Access to Information, Shields vs. Information and has been introduced yet. Action to Public Participation in Decision-Making Privacy Commissioner (2004)

WLA | February 2013 | Vol. 21, No. 1 | features 11 Alberta Environment 017]. Likewise the Energy Resources disclosure and one for fee waivers. FOIP Alberta Environment is the relative Conservation Board (ERCB) can grant requires the release of information about transparency leader. The department’s confidentiality to oil and gas operators a significant risk to the environment or written policy “Commitment to under multiple regulations. However, health and safety. Such information must Openness” is upheld by Ministerial the ERCB helps identify available be released even if no requests were Orders and paramount clauses that information and fees in advance of made or if requests would otherwise grant disclosure far more often than requests and it excels at providing be denied. Obtaining this disclosure, confidentiality. Programs that post technical data without spin or reliance on however, requires making a request and regulatory information online include private industry. being denied so that the Information the Environmental Site Assessment The future Alberta Energy Regulator Commissioner has something to consider. Repository (ESAR) for records of land increases transparency concerns. By Claimants need to prove a reasonable condition and the Oil Sands Information taking over functions from AESRD the expectation of probable harm and there Portal (OSIP) for data maps about the Regulator could become a consolidated have been few successes to date. industry. Countless FOIP requests and source of environmental information on The potential for public interest fee Information Commissioner’s orders the industry. The new Responsible Energy waivers is much better. Environmental are now unnecessary. The reports of Development Act provides no equivalent groups that disseminate information and information seekers are mostly positive duties to make information public like contribute to public debate are ideally with few allegations of discrimination or AESRD. The worst case scenario is positioned because the Commissioner needing to know insiders. “one-stop shopping” with less in store. will consider whether the public would Alberta Environment can do best by benefit from the records being released to maintaining its positive trend and making Transparency for all? the specific requester. more information publicly available. Dissatisfaction with information access Fee waivers can be crucial in forestry The OSIP format may be the best is often highest among environmental cases due to the potentially large size transparency measure for environmental groups. FOIP is intended to provide one of the records. The leading example is advocates to date. law for all but the way in which it is the request for information on Sunpine tempered by privacy considerations and Forestry by the Rocky Mountain Sustainable Resource Development a user-pay system tends to raise extra Ecosystem Coalition [OIPC order 99 Sustainable Resource Development concerns for information seekers with – 015]. The company made one binder (SRD) is in the middle of the road. SRD “public interest” motivations. The formal of forestry plans publicly available has no openness policy like Alberta FOIP process ensures accountability but a FOIP request to the department Environment. As of 2011, paramount but it also creates procedural hurdles to produced ten boxes of records. Beyond clauses offer routine disclosure of information that would ultimately be the fact that the requester would spread some information about public lands disclosed. Delayed responses, demands the information, the Information dispositions but forestry information is for fees, and appeals to the Information Commissioner found that the department not on the list. The Minister may order Commissioner can render information should not be relying on industry to make further disclosure “in the public interest” useless for time-sensitive purposes records publicly available. This brings us but there are no orders yet. Information like participating in public hearings or to the next public interest concern. seekers report any experience from consultations. Paramount clauses for environmental disclosure to stonewalling with a typical information usually make the information comment being “it depends who you talk “Public bodies need to available. The issue is that departmental to.” procedure can favor private players. The The effect of the 2012 merger of remember that this legislation AESRD system for routine disclosure Alberta Environment and Sustainable is about making it possible requires information seekers to identify Resource Development (now “AESRD”) for ordinary Albertans to and ask industry operators before asking on departmental transparency remains access government records. the department. The concern with relying to be seen. SRD could use a longer . . A decision about the on private industry to make information disclosure list and greater consistency in public in the Sunpine case has not gone the proactive release of publicly available public interest dimension in away. If anything this concern has information. records cannot be decided in increased due to reliance on industry a vacuum, away from what is self-monitoring for the creation of Alberta Energy going on in the real world.” environmental data. However, when the Alberta Energy is notorious for - Office of the Information and department’s system trumps FOIP the confidentiality legislation. The Privacy Commissioner 2001 Commissioner gets no say. Commissioner’s Report on the Use of A second example is the need to “Paramount” Clauses cites examples have legal land descriptions to locate including minerals exploration and One poignant question was raised environmental concerns. Legal land energy royalties. The Commissioner’s by the AWA’s Nigel Douglas about the descriptions are needed to search ESAR order on royalties found that these Castle Logging FOIP-- “what is the for signs of contaminated land, to ask provisions “create distrust and suspicion public interest, and who decides?” FOIP the ERCB for the location of abandoned where not needed” [OIPC Order F2009- has two “public interest” tests: one for gas wells, or to monitor applications for

12 WLA | February 2013 | Vol. 21, No. 1 | features 4 Elements is an ongoing series of photographic works based on Dan Hudson’s Kananaskis (2012) outdoor experiences as he traveled through various landscapes. The 4 section 28”x72” © Dan Hudson compositions represent the ‘4 elements’ (earth, air, fire & water). The landscapes we see and experience are histories of the interaction between these elements. Our perception of place is flavoured by the 4 elements too. For example, fierce wind, cold rain, or warm sun will completely change our experience of the same landscape. In other words, our perception is filtered through an emotional response to the ever-changing interplay of the 4 elements. The intricate combination of events that produce any situation or any journey can never be duplicated even if we revisit the exact same place. These works are a tribute to the uniqueness of each passing moment. future energy projects. These systems on contaminated land was being felt on test for public interest disclosure that help corporate, industry and real estate the bottom line of the entire government. matches the test for fees or a guarantee players do their due diligence but they Until the general public starts requesting that paramount clauses will not trump are barriers for environmental watchdogs. factors behind a logging decision baseline access. OSIP could be an improvement because it environmental groups are going to need Transparency is not a passing fad. puts regulatory information about the oil to use FOIP. It is ideologically distant from our sands into a map format. institutional heritage but the practical Information delivery systems are not Where are we going? arguments are mounting. The choices just the product of what government Finding that environmental groups are basically to put more resources into wants to share and what it thinks it can have benefited from the transparency the FOIP system or to release more hide. Departments must also weigh the movement really comes down to a information. It is a case where budget cost of responding to requests against the defense of FOIP. It is a defense that constraints could actually benefit the cost of proactively releasing information. could be due. The results of having environment. This is also the age of Information that is frequently sought departmental FOIP staff appears to WikiLeaks and proactive disclosure could and likely to be disclosed under FOIP be a reduced need for Information do more for a government’s public image is the most likely to be made publicly Commissioner orders and ultimately than cover-ups. available without requests. Information more routine disclosure without FOIP. I might end by recalling where the that is less often sought but still likely The Commissioner is independent from access to information movement has to pass FOIP will be routinely disclosed the departments and can be a champion been. Environmental issues are apt but only on request. Information that is for access. Commissioner decisions to invoke concerns with democracy, rarely sought or could be withheld will address the “public interest” in a empowerment, and meaningful be left to FOIP. The number of requests thorough way that favors environmental expression. Eventually the right case for regulatory information far exceeds advocates over private interests. If will be a human rights case. I cannot call the number of requests that dig into only the same could be said for the that case, but there is no doubt that the government deliberations. In the case of departments that permit environmental importance of access to environmental Alberta Environment, there are thousands impacts. FOIP is complicated but it information in Alberta will increase. of downloads from ESAR a year. The isn’t broken. Some small reforms could sheer number of requests for information go a long way. Examples include a

WLA | February 2013 | Vol. 21, No. 1 | features 13 A Private Little Matter: What’s Happening in Hidden Creek?

By Sean Nichols, AWA Conservation Specialist

“Blink and You’ll Miss It” n Alberta’s secluded Hidden Creek, the last few trucks are pulling out of Class ‘A’ Watercourse Agreement Ithe valley as a rapid-fire “blink and The Participating Organizations hereby recognize and agree that: you’ll miss it” logging operation comes 1. Class ‘A’ watercourses are critical fisheries habitat and/or are a to a close. Gone, too, from the valley buffer for this critical habitat. are the roughly 235 loads of timber that 2. Due to their sensitive nature, these areas should not be exposed once graced the steep hillsides plunging to risk of negative impacts from development activities. down toward the creek. And it will only 3. Negative impacts from activities in Class ‘A’ watercourses pose be a few scant weeks, according to the a risk to the continued viability of Class ‘A’ watercourses and schedule laid out in the area’s harvest their fish communities. plan, before the final disappearing act 4. To coordinate the exchange and review of relevant information in takes place: the removal and reclamation accordance with the protocol outlined in Appendix C. of the access road chiselled into those Excerpted from the Working Agreement: Class ‘A’ Watercourses, hillsides. found at: http://environment.alberta.ca/documents/ So once all these things are gone, what WorkingAgreementClassAWatercourses.pdf will be left behind? One thing we know will remain with the valley are the disruptive effects of the operation on the hillside soils, vegetation, recognition that its few remaining viable A Class “A” Watercourse? and ground cover. spawning grounds – like Hidden Creek – But what is given with one hand is One thing we hope will remain are the need protection to ensure the survival of sometimes taken away with another. In populations of threatened bull trout and the species. Forestry officers with Alberta Hidden Creek, that is the case with many westslope cutthroat trout whose spawning Environment and Sustainable Resource of the protections that should be afforded grounds in Hidden Creek are some of Development (AESRD) clearly agreed. by the Class A status. A very substantial the most important in the entire Oldman They directed Spray Lake Sawmills portion of the access road – almost 2km River Basin and all of southern Alberta. (SLS) to treat Hidden Creek “as if it in total length – has been constructed Alberta’s provincial fish, the bull trout, were” a Class A watercourse (the official within the 100m buffer zone that the was designated as a threatened species redesignation is pending: it is currently designation provides, per the Operating in 2012. With this designation came the Class B). Ground Rules (OGRs). Those rules state that “within riparian areas and water source areas” for a Class Water Body Class Definitions A watercourse, neither “tree felling” nor “equipment operation” are allowed The class of a water body is based on the “sensitivity” of fish habitats “without specific Alberta approval.” and their known distribution. The sensitivity for the class of water body Was that approval given here? As is as follows: the joke goes, it depends on what your Class A – highest sensitivity; habitat areas are sensitive enough to be definition of “is” is. The answer would damaged by any type of activity within the water body; known habitats seem to be yes, albeit covertly. The same in water body critical to the continued viability of a population of fish OGRs require that a summary table of species in the area. “block and road specific ground rule Class B – high sensitivity; habitat areas are sensitive enough to be deviations” from the regulations must potentially damaged by any type of activity within the water body; be submitted by SLS, to be approved habitat areas important to continued viability of a population of fish by the province. This was indeed species in the area. done in this case… for the one small Excerpted from the Code of Practice: Watercourse Crossings Guide, section of cut block 0752 that also falls found at: within the 100m buffer. That deviation http://environment.alberta.ca/documents/WatercourseGuide.pdf does, sure enough, exist in the official documentation, along with the expected

14 WLA | February 2013 | Vol. 21, No. 1 | features annotations delineating the justification for the diversion, and the AESRD sign off. The much longer road with which AWA takes issue, however, does not. It only appears on internal SLS and AESRD documents, including the Detailed Harvest Plan map and the planning “matrix” which are not made public and which do not have the same requirements for specific justification or sign off on OGR deviations. But, in AWA correspondence with Minister Diana McQueen we were assured that only a “small” deviation to the OGRs had been permitted. Are we then to understand that the Minister was unaware of the road at all, and was only referring to the cut block 0752 deviation included in the public documentation? Or did the Minister consider that 2km of access road lying right next to this sensitive river to be a “small” deviation? For now we can only speculate.

A Private Little Matter This issue is highly illustrative of the larger concern AWA has for this entire logging operation, and all those like it in southern Alberta. That concern is with the secrecy, the surreptitiousness, surrounding the entire enterprise. That concern is with the attitude concerning these developments happening on public lands, developments that have massive effects on the health of wildlife as well Road proximity to Hidden Creek. The silt fencing is the same in both photographs (seen on as the entire forest and water ecosystem the right of the top photo, and on the left of the bottom). There is nearly 2km of this road that on which millions of Canadians living is within 100m of Hidden Creek, in a significant but undocumented deviation of the OGR downstream depend. The attitude that provisions for Class A designation. these developments and all their effects photos: © C. Campbell are a private little matter between the logging company and AESRD’s Forestry present. It’s this mindset that forces AWA Plan (FMP). C5 extends from the Division is worrying in the extreme. to regularly make time-consuming and southern boundary of Kananaskis down Yet that seems to be the inescapable expensive requests under the Freedom of to Waterton Lakes National Park, and conclusion here. Far from being an Information and Protection of Privacy Act includes Hidden Creek, as well as the open process where AESRD is willing (FOIP) to obtain information that often rest of AWA’s Livingstone-Porcupine and to demonstrate their responsible proves illuminating. Castle areas of concern. stewardship of lands held in the public We had to do this in the Castle, for This FMP, approved in 2005, required trust, all matters concerning the logging example (see articles by Nigel Douglas public consultation at the outset. But, of Alberta’s southwest forests have been and Sean Nichols in the October 2012 aside from a 10-year review at its happening behind closed doors. Forestry issue of WLA). A FOIP request is midpoint, the plan will not be open officers have divulged information currently pending for Hidden Creek; AWA to this consultation again. No specific reluctantly, if at all. They have been has been led to believe that the results will consultation is required for any of unforthcoming in email exchanges, be substantial. the individual forestry operations preferring instead to hold conversations From a broader perspective, public undertaken within the C5. The initial where no paper trail can be traced back consultation regarding forest management public consultation was too limited; only to them. After numerous attempts to on the southern Eastern Slopes is lacking. ranchers grazing in the area were able to arrange a joint tour of Hidden Creek with All logging done in the C5 Forest offer input. Although this was a good start representatives from SLS and AESRD, Management Unit is done under the what about hearing other concerned and we had to settle for a tour without AESRD auspices of a 20-year Forest Management interested voices?

WLA | February 2013 | Vol. 21, No. 1 | features 15 we didn’t understand bull trout and westslope cutthroat trout habitat needs and population pressures as well as we do now. Specifically, since that approval, bull trout were designated a threatened species. That being the case, AWA strongly believes that this change would constitute precisely the kind of “major new issue or information” regarding a “species of special management concern” referred to by the OGRs. When questioned about this possibility, AESRD Forestry officials allowed that it could happen “if the Minister decided to make it an issue.” AWA has raised this with the Minister but has yet to receive a response. Compartmental Assessments such as this could include many of the types of risk assessment, including hydrological assessments and road disturbance assessments that AWA believes are essential. Road disturbance assessments are currently done only at the level of the individual cut blocks: any access roads outside the cut blocks themselves are not included. This means that the 2km of access road within 100m of Hidden Creek, but that lies outside the cut blocks, has had no road disturbance assessment done on it. AWA regards this as a glaring omission given the disturbance that it is almost certainly causing.

An Ecosystem-based Approach to Forest Management This also applies to other stretches of access road outside that 100m Access road cutting across steep slope down to Hidden Creek: before (top) and after (bottom). buffer where the road is cutting across What kind of erosion can be expected to occur here? How will this be reclaimed to its pre- extremely steep and bare slopes. In these development state? What does this mean for sedimentation of the creek? places, development-related erosion can Top photo: © L. FITCH be expected to result in highly significant Bottom photo: © S. NICHOLS amounts of sediment running down the slope and into the creek. This sediment One Size Rarely Fits All ever done for Hidden Creek. will further threaten the viability of the The “one size fits all” approach to The one provision in the regulations bull trout and westslope cutthroat trout requiring consultation only at the time of that would seem to apply is for a populations. initial approval for the 20-year C5 FMP Compartment Assessment (CA) to be AWA understands that conditions extends to other aspects of that plan. Risk done. Compartment Assessments can imposed on SLS regarding wintertime- assessments are one such vital aspect. be triggered by a number of different only operations attempt to mitigate such As with public consultation an initial circumstances. In the C5 Operating erosion potential. However experiences hydrological assessment was done but Ground Rules, one of the triggers for a in the Castle and other similar terrains only at the level of the entire C5. Now CA is stated as: “CAs are necessary when have demonstrated that erosion occurs that logging has started in specific areas major new issues or information that long after the actual operations cease. and individual creeks and valleys, no have been identified since FMP approval Even if the road is reclaimed “fully” (an further risk assessment will be done. The make the (Spatial Harvest Sequence) outcome that strikes us as questionable specific needs of the many watercourses inappropriate.” A few specific examples given the nature of the slope and or their associated ecosystems are not are then given, including “species of terrain), such effects still persist. On considered. In this case, for example, special management concern.” our December tour, SLS representatives no specific hydrological assessment was This FMP was approved when assured AWA that silt fencing will

16 WLA | February 2013 | Vol. 21, No. 1 | features check these effects; however, similar silt to AWA that the deviations to the Class to be out of the question. fencing elsewhere (for example in SLS’ A buffer were allowed “because steep This is where the Compartment operations in the Castle) has quickly ground precludes construction of new Assessment comes in as a tool for deteriorated and proven useless. We access.” re-opening that decision in the light of expect this result to be repeated in Hidden This is an understandable rationale new knowledge about the importance Creek as we are unaware of provisions for for not building the road outside the of Hidden Creek. This is also where ongoing monitoring and maintenance. buffer zone. But it raises an obvious AWA’s call for greater transparency The issues identified with these roads question: If the only feasible logging and greater public consultation comes and fencing, with the undocumented technique severely undercuts the Class in. Let’s not treat logging approvals on substantial deviations to the Operating A designation that everyone agrees is Alberta’s public land as a private little Ground Rules, and with the lack of public needed for this waterway then doesn’t this matter. Let’s, instead, ensure everyone consultation and formal risk assessments, mean that this valley should not be logged is at the table, including most especially point in the same direction. They point at all? the fishery scientists and experts not to a discrepancy between the ideal of AWA is by no means calling for a currently part of the inner circle, so that landscape-based management and the cessation of all logging everywhere in decisions can be made responsibly and reality of management on the ground. Alberta. However Hidden Creek is a vital we can have the ecosystem-based forest AWA understands the Class A spawning ground for Alberta’s imperilled management we all want. designation to be indicative of a holistic provincial fish – a fact reflected in its In October, AWA was pleasantly landscape- and ecosystem-based approach re-designation as threatened. The crucial surprised to hear about the AESRD to forest and watercourse management, role that Hidden Creek must play in the decision to halt logging in the Castle a principle that AESRD has stated it survival of the bull trout in the entire pending the outcome of the South intends to uphold. We also think there’s Oldman basin, and indeed all of Alberta, Saskatchewan Regional Planning process a paradox here. The department intends demands that logging be prohibited there. (see the update from Sean Nichols in to adopt a reasonable standard while it At AWA’s meeting with AESRD the December 2012 issue of WLA). Yet, allows the standard to be undermined Forestry officers, we raised the same at the same time, we had reservations with deviations and exceptions that question. They informed us that approving about what this would mean for logging compromise the habitat so desperately in the FMP for the entire C5 meant that elsewhere in the C5 FMU. Would SLS need of protection. logging in Hidden Creek would go ahead. use that decision to argue for new, fast This returns us to the crux of the matter: That was the end of it. Re-evaluating that approvals elsewhere? It seems we may both SLS and AESRD communicated decision, according to this logic, appears now have an answer.

Dawson Falls (2001) 28”x48” © Dan Hudson

WLA | February 2013 | Vol. 21, No. 1 | features 17 Celebrating the Good Things We’ve Done by Christyann Olson, AWA Executive Director

here are some Inside were more friends and more The table was set for a delicious roast wonderful back lively conversation. The hall had been beef buffet, prepared by some of the local Troads in Alberta transformed into a display case. It ranch women. It was a real pleasure to and I try my best to cover showed off maps and other treasures of see a handful of youngsters in the crowd new ones each year. As the past. Some of those treasures, such for this celebration. In their eyes I saw I drove along Range Road as the century old barb wire William hope that they will carry their elders’ 132 with Cheryl Bradley and Lorne Fitch, King showed me, may have needed the perspectives into hearts and minds of we headed east and watched for raptors connection those in attendance had to the generation they would bring into this and pronghorns against the Sweet Grass the grasslands to be truly appreciated. “It world. Hills. I hadn’t been to the Grain Hall in doesn’t have barbs all the way around,” Eager to engage in conversation, Aden before, but knew from the map that he explained, “just on one side.” He’d folks were pretty welcoming, although it would be on a corner at the junction with made up a special award with the wire when someone asked who I was with, secondary road 500, just after we passed that he would present later in the evening. it wasn’t long before I heard “we don’t Miner’s Coulee. The Sweet Grass Hills We loved it. really like environmentalists you know.” were magnificent and we mused about On the wall there were two large It reminded me how painful it had been finding time to hike in them. I’d driven paintings done generations ago that had at times during the past 30 or so years this road before but that was a long time been rescued from the bar in Milk River to move conservation forward on this ago. When we arrived at the Grain Hall, when new owners decided to change the landscape. Some still live in that world. friends were there to greet us and I took a decor. The paintings were landscapes There was plenty of talk about the moment for one more look at the hills. The of the Sweet Grass Hills and Chief closure of the XL meat processing plant evening sun was beginning to fall, the hills Mountain vistas dotted with cattle grazing and worry about the sale of calves; others were silhouetted, and the prairie grasses in the foreground. They appreciated and talked about the recent grassfires they glistened from the rich golden rays the punctuated the 360-degree view only the had fought off, some with help from sun offers at the end of a late September prairie grassland offers. Other walls were neighbours they hadn’t’ seen for a long day. We entered the hall for a 20th decorated with wooden plaques showing time. It had been a very dry year and the anniversary celebration. We were there to the brands of the families that ranch this fear of fire is a constant worry for these celebrate a conservation commitment – the area, some much older than others (there ranchers. birth 20 years earlier of the Milk River are 3rd and 4th generation ranchers in Cam Lockerbie, Park ecologist, South Management Committee. this part of Alberta). Region of Alberta Parks and Chairman of the Milk River Management Committee began the proceedings after our meal. The Milk River Management Committee (MRMC) was formed in June 1990 based on a recommendation of the Milk River Task Force. We were here to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the “Operational Management Plan - Milk River Natural Area and Kennedy Coulee Ecological Reserve.” Terry Hood of Public Lands and Joyce Gould from Alberta Parks had prepared the plan the committee endorsed it in 1992. The MRMC has an interesting history and its membership includes representatives from Alberta Parks, Alberta Public Lands, Fish and Wildlife Enforcement, the County of Forty Mile, the ranching community, the Alberta Sweetgrass Hills from the Aden Grain Hall. Fish and Game Association, Alberta photo: © C. Olson

18 WLA | February 2013 | Vol. 21, No. 1 | features Milk River Ridge Sunset. photo: © D. Olson

Wilderness Association, and Southern aesthetic character of this outstanding various stakeholders to ensure that those Alberta Group for the Environment. Most and representative example of the Mixed traditional uses were included in the plan. of the committee members were present. Grassland Natural Region. It was a long planning exercise but the Some of today’s committee members The committee generally meets about ultimate the product – the management signed and endorsed that original twice a year and takes field trips into plan – was worth the effort. The Plan management plan: Terry Hood, Cliff these areas. It has a collegial approach found a happy medium between use and Wallis, William King, and Ken Kultgen. and isn’t afraid to explore controversies protection and demonstrated that you can The committee has matured; it’s come a in search of a good solution. A unique find a balance between different activities long way from the angry confrontational feature of this committee is the Milk on the landscape. Grazing, recreation, group that met in Lethbridge in the River Management Society, a sub- and ecosystem protection can walk hand- mid 1980s. That was a time when fists committee that is a registered non-profit in-hand-in hand. were raised and some attendees invited society and is composed only of non- Cliff Wallis, with help from Cheryl others to settle things outside. Cooler government members of the committee. Bradley and Cleve Wershler, assembled heads prevailed and a Task Force was The society’s work is to manage the an inspirational slide show that walked established; they were successful in funds received from grazing in the Milk the viewers through the area, its values, creating a document that included River Natural Area and use 100 percent the stewards, the vision, and the legacy recommendations to keep the process of the money for resource management being created here. The slide show raised moving forward. activities and monitoring within the two questions, sparked discussion, and I think AWA has been a part of this process sites. helped build a consensus in the hall. John from its inception and we are fortunate As the program proceeded Terry Hood Ross, Chair of the Milk River Watershed that Ray Sloan and Cliff Wallis were took a step back and reviewed the history Council Canada, felt the two committees able to take such a strong stand and help of efforts to develop a management could be more aware of each other’s work develop the vision required to maintain approach where different uses could and that there would be ways to work and improve the ecological integrity be accommodated. Terry recounted together. Other questions and discussion of both Milk River Natural Area and three waves of proposed protection that clarified and created better awareness. As Kennedy Coulee Ecological Reserve. the local community weathered before I listened to the questions and discussion The management plan is based on landing on a designation that best suited I realized that many of the people there minimal human interference and seeks the traditional uses for the site. They then weren’t sure what the MRMC was to improve the ecological integrity and worked closely with government and about. Later, when we were mingling

WLA | February 2013 | Vol. 21, No. 1 | features 19 The current members Milk River Management Committee, which is an advisory group for Milk River Natural Area and Kennedy Coulee Ecological Reserve are:

• Lee Finstad - Ranching Community • William King- Ranching Community • Joan Hughson - County of 40-Mile • Cliff Wallis- Alberta Wilderness Association Milk River Management Committee Members: Joan Hughson, William King, Terry Hood, Cliff Wallis, Cam Lockerbie, Ian Dyson, Cheryl Bradley. • Ken Kultgen- Foremost Fish photo: © C. Olson and Game • Cheryl Bradley - Southern Alberta Group for the again, I overheard more than one person minimal along designated routes and Environment comment that the evening’s program and the spectacular landscape of badlands, • Rob Morrison - Fish and interaction was really good and that we river canyon, deep coulees and rolling Wildlife Enforcement need to have these get-togethers more grasslands endures. • Terry Hood - Alberta often. The lively discussion eventually led Environment and Sustainable As the evening began to wind down, to the award Cam Lockerbie had been Resource Development Cam Lockerbie invited William King, waiting to present to William. Signed by (Public Lands) long-time member of the MRMC and all the MRMC members, it was one of • Darwyn Berndt - Alberta local rancher to make a few comments. the original signs marking the Ecological Tourism, Parks and As William opened his copy of the Reserve. William was thanked for his Recreation (Alberta Parks) management plan he passionately service and dedication. • Cam Lockerbie (Chair) stated that after 20 years we still hadn’t In turn William presented Cam with – Park Ecologist, Alberta achieved the goals outlined on the pages his “Barb Wire” award. The evening Tourism, Parks and he held. This prompted Cliff Wallis wrapped up with conversations and a Recreation (Alberta Parks) to suggest to the audience later that, little more mingling. As I was getting despite William’s disappointment that ready to leave, the fellow who let not all elements of the management me know how he really felt about plan have been implemented, we have environmentalists came over and invited made great progress. We have one of the me to come by his ranch some time. He The original mavericks longest running biodiversity monitoring added that if I ever needed help to come and members of the Milk programs in the dry mixed grasslands of by and ask for it. It was a good sign that southern Alberta. The species of concern this wouldn’t be the last celebration of River Task Force: are largely thriving in the area as a result the partnership established a generation of the diversity of approaches to grazing ago. • Tom Gilchrist, Chairman and not grazing the most sensitive lands. I headed down secondary highway • Warren Brower While William protested that there isn’t 500 with a full harvest moon helping • Terry Butterwick enough grazing in some areas, there is light the way. Despite the moon, the • Julian Guay more grazing in the natural area than stars were bright enough to pick out a • Ken Kultgen there was in the decades prior to its few constellations As I drove I thought • Don Laqua establishment. John Ross confirmed this; about the folks that steward and care so • Dopug Miller John’s extended family once held the passionately for these prairie grasslands. • Len Mitzel grazing leases in the area. As a result How fortunate we are to have their • Leonard Piotrowski of the mosaic of moderately grazed and passion and tenaciousness; they make our • Ray Sloan ungrazed areas, some of the highest province strong and will ensure there is a • Cliff Wallis densities of some of Alberta’s rarest legacy of protected areas for generations • Al Hyland – Ex Officio plants and animals occur in the Milk to come. • Norbert Kondla – Resource River Natural Area and Kennedy Coulee Person Ecological Reserve. Vehicle access is

20 WLA | February 2013 | Vol. 21, No. 1 | features Cardston County: Composting Cows to Conserve Carnivores By Nigel Douglas

f you were making a list of positive fed on (a dead cow) they will come back, says Romanow. Funding from Alberta conservation measures implemented sometimes year after year to the same Sustainable Resource Development (now Iin Alberta, composting cows wouldn’t location, hoping to find a free meal,” says Alberta Environment and Sustainable necessarily be one of the first things that Rod Foggin, Agricultural Fieldman with Resource Development - AESRD) and sprang to mind. But, in fact, Cardston Cardston County. the Waterton Biosphere Reserve was County in southwestern Alberta has been The impetus for both the Drywood crucial in setting up these early programs. showing tremendous leadership in taking Yarrow group and Cardston County to The next challenge was how to make measures to reduce conflicts between look at alternative ways to deal with the program sustainable in the long term. carnivores and livestock. Composting the growing problem was provided by Collecting livestock carcasses was just cows is a significant part of Cardston’s program. In the August 2012 issue of WLA the story “Good News Bears” looked at some of the initiatives carried out by the Drywood Yarrow Conservation Partnership to help local residents live with locally healthy grizzly populations. Here we highlight Cardston County and its shining example of how one forward- thinking local municipality can itself play an enormous role in reconciling two goals that too-often are seen as incompatible: keeping the County’s people and livestock safe while allowing carnivores such as grizzlies to go about their business. Tim Romanow, Executive Director of Milk River Watershed Council, is a former Conservation Extension Specialist with Cardston County. He points out that, since the advent of BSE (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy) in Alberta in 2003, dead livestock have become a Active deadstock compost pile 6-8 months old. One of the issues with composting on this scale growing problem. “There used to be a is keeping the piles moisture levels high enough to maintain the microbial digestion. This is the market for deadstock,” says Romanow. job of the sprinkler on top of this pile. photo: © T. ROMANOW “But BSE destroyed that; it became cost prohibitive to collect carcasses.” Before the Oldman Watershed Council with a part of the picture; they still had to be 2003 southern Alberta processors used 2008 visit to the innovative Blackfoot disposed of and the County still had to take 1,300 carcasses a year from Challenge program in Montana. Cardston to pay to transport them to the nearest Cardston County. That number “dropped was quick to adopt the Blackfoot rendering plant for disposal. While to zero,” says Romanow. Challenge practice of providing large temporary funding may be available Of course 1,300 extra dead animals metal carcass disposal bins to offer to set up such a collection program, it lying around on the landscape were residents a safe, economical way to would not necessarily be a reliable source not going to go unnoticed by local dispose of their dead livestock. “We of maintenance funds for evermore. carnivores. Increasingly bears and wolves could provide a service that’s beneficial “Funders are results-based,” points out were drawn to investigate the easy food to ratepayers to address health concerns Romanow. “It is easy to find start-up source and the potential for conflict and also show we are doing our part as dollars but what happens when the grants increased dramatically. “Once they have producers to deal with the issue locally,” run out?”

WLA | February 2013 | Vol. 21, No. 1 | features 21 A second visit to the Blackfoot Challenge program led to the somewhat startling solution of carcass composting. Surprising as it may be, given the right conditions an entire cow carcass will compost in a matter of months. “You use woodchips and straw to get the process started,” explains Foggin. “With the right amount of moisture, heat generates so it will decompose.” The Blackfoot Challenge program services three municipalities and works as an effective partnership. “The department of highways supplies the truck,” explains Romanow, “one of the municipalities supplies a trailer; a producer does the farmyard pickup. It provides a part-time job for a producer.” Deadstock composting in Canada comes with its own complications. Ironically, regulations south of the border make it harder to pick up deer carcasses than livestock carcasses because of the associated risk of chronic wasting disease. In Canada the opposite is true: because of BSE, regulations are much stricter in relation to moving cattle carcasses. “The finished compost can’t leave the site,” points out Foggin, “so it will be used in the landfill for landscaping.” The set up costs for the composting facilities are around $100,000, and these are due to be paid by a grant from AESRD. Once established, the economics of the composting program are impressive. Operating costs are expected to be in the order of $10,000 per year. Currently it costs Cardston County eleven cents per pound for a processor to pick up carcasses. Composting is expected to price out at three cents per pound. The program also has the flexibility to pick up hogs and horses, even sheep, though Romanow points out that sheep wool can present a challenge. The new facility will give Cardston the capacity to handle 444,000 pounds per year, equivalent to 1,100 carcasses. This is nearly the number of carcasses that were picked up every year in the days before BSE. Construction of the new composting facility is currently underway. Piloting should have started this fall so the facility should be ready for operation for the start of the calving season in February 2013. Though nothing like this composting facility had ever been built in Alberta, Cardston County, to its credit, was willing to take the initiative and to get ahead of the parade. “We presented it to the county as an opportunity to showcase and be the first in the province to do this and provide a service to the ratepayers,” says Romanow. “The county got on board right away. Council has been very supportive, particularly considering few councillors are directly impacted.” Part of the strength of Cardston’s attractant management program is that it was very much locally driven, the impetus provided by local producers trying to find their own solutions to problems. “My thought was to distance ourselves from a government of Alberta project and make it a landowner-driven stewardship initiative,” says Romanow. “The County and councillors agree; they have ownership of the project. This is a shift from the way it’s happened in the past.” Though he no longer works for Cardston County, Romanow is understandably “quite proud of” Cardston’s carnivore program. “Producers are carrying it on and the county is keeping the ball rolling.” And the success of the Cardston program is already having a knock-on effect beyond the County’s boundaries. “Pincher Creek, Top: Bin composter (starter) with two 1,500 lb plus cows. Willow Creek and Ranchlands are all working on carnivore projects,” says Romanow. “Grande Prairie and Clearwater have looked at our Middle, Bottom: Carway area deadstock bin. This bin projects to adapt to their own issues.” This is good news for livestock sign ironically was peeled off and chewed in the spring of producers and good news too for carnivores in Alberta – particularly 2012 by a resident sow and two cubs. Bins were confirmed threatened grizzly bears. bear proof as the bears couldn’t get into the bin at the carcasses being stored for pickup. photos: © T. ROMANOW Thanks to Tim Romanow for providing the photographs for this article.

22 WLA | February 2013 | Vol. 21, No. 1 | features Association News Lorne Fitch, Aldo Leopold, and Living a Land Ethic: The Fifth Annual Martha Kostuch Lecture by Ian Urquhart, EDITOR have many long lists. Chores undone, evolution of ethics. It was time, and puts it this way: “…his explanations of books unread, and important talks don’t forget that he was writing in the the natural world – its intracacies and I missed. Reading the transcript of late 1940s, for a “land ethic,” for an how we fit – have a conversational feel, Lorne Fitch’s 2012 Martha Kostuch ecological ethic that would restrain our a way of discussing complex subjects in Wilderness and Wildlife Lecture I realize freedom to do whatever we pleased to the ways that most could grasp.” I have another important talk to add to land, animals, and plants. Leopold wrote Lorne also attributes Leopold’s success that list. I wouldn’t say I know Lorne that, without such an ethic, these objects in writing clearly and directly about well. But what I do know of Lorne makes of our attention would remain no more conservation in ways that all could grasp me want to know him better and to count than property to be disposed of as “a to “The Shack,” the old, weatherworn him as a close friend. Those appealing matter of expediency.” chicken coop the Leopold family qualities – his passion for the natural Embracing a land ethic demanded converted into the cabin that became their world, his knowledge and ecological then, and demands now, accepting that rural retreat from life at the University of sensitivities, and his wit – animated his Wisconsin in Madison. On those 80 acres talk to the friends of Alberta’s natural “We end, I think, at what the Leopold family rejuvenated an abused spaces who packed the Hillhurst Cottage might be called the standard landscape. They took the first steps to School last November. His topic was paradox of the twentieth restore ecological health to a farm whose Aldo Leopold, an icon of conservation. forests had been mined by a bootlegger. Lorne offered Leopold’s famous century: our tools are better The compelling character of Leopold’s statement of ecological sensibility, A than we are, and grow faster work is attributed to the fact that Leopold Sand County Almanac, as a key to our than we do. They suffice to was a part of the landscape he wrote ability to meet the challenge “to live the crack the atom, to command about. His conservation message was good life on Earth without abusing the the tides. But, they do not “nourished by a personal contact with the generosity of our hostess.” I hope I can soil, the landscape and wild creatures.” do justice to Lorne’s remarks in what suffice for the oldest task Lorne’s description of his own follows. in human history: to live pilgrimage to “The Shack” is a on a piece of land without testament to how receptive he has been On Leopold spoiling it.” to Leopold’s style and substance. In Lorne described his copy of Leopold’s - Aldo Leopold, 1938. simple, straightforward, yet evocative, A Sand County Almanac as “well- words Lorne takes you there and lets the thumbed, dog-eared, taped together.” imagery of falling snow on the weathered It’s as familiar to Lorne’s senses as its economy and ecology must be seen homestead and the songs of sparrows and message should be to society today. In A as two sides of the same coin. Good juncos in a reclaimed landscape testify to Sand County Almanac Leopold preaches economic health, as measured by the value of the land ethic. a gospel of environmental sensibility. economic growth, didn’t mean that the Ecology, like religion, offers a vital moral larger society was healthy. “Economic On Alberta foundation for the good society. self-interest,” Leopold said, “assumes In his Kostuch lecture Lorne used Lorne suggested that Leopold’s falsely…that the economic parts of the Leopold’s views on conservation as understanding of conservation hinged biotic clock will function without the a lens to offer a mixed assessment of on two ideas. The first pertained to uneconomic parts.” As Lorne said, that circumstances in Alberta. Few in the citizens and their place in communities; conclusion applies very well to today’s room seemed surprised when Lorne everyone had an obligation to think about Alberta. observed that economic self-interest managing the land, not just for herself, I think the way in which Leopold dominates too much of what passes but for the interests of the broader delivered his message impresses Lorne as for thinking about conservation in the community. The second pertained much as its substance. Leopold had what halls of power. It is our monoculture. to the ethical treatment of the land. I would call an “everyman” quality. He Here Lorne was skeptical of how far Leopold wrote succinctly, cogently, related very well to all people, not just to and quickly corporations, given their and powerfully about the extension and his fellow scientists and professors. Lorne single-minded pursuit of profit, would

association news | February 2013 | Vol. 21, N o. 1 | WLA 23 By sharing knowledge with landowners, by working at the community level, and by encouraging stewardship Cows and Fish stands out as an important conservation success in Alberta. Lorne said it best: “It starts, as it did with Leopold, with a conversation, builds into a relationship, and inevitably facilitates attitudinal shifts that are accompanied by behavioural changes, often in management of landscapes. So landowners, when suitably equipped and motivated, can write their own versions of goodness in the land.”

On the Future We have choices. I believe this is how Lorne views our future. We’ve behaved badly in the past and Leopold, were he alive today, would chide us for the Lorne Fitch (left) and Chas Cartwright, Superintendent of Glacier National Park, at the end of wounds we’ve inflicted on the land. But a day on the trail during the annual Waterton-Glacier Superintendents’ hike. he might also look favourably at some photo: © I. Urquhart of the analytical tools we have at our move towards privileging other values respondents could identify native and disposal now, such as cumulative effects in thinking about our place on the non-native fishes; 60 percent believed modeling, and see real possibilities landscape. Here we are left to hope that sediment either was good for fish or to make the ethical shift he called for. market-based initiatives and campaigns didn’t know what its impact was; of most But such progress will require sharing such as environmental certification and concern, virtually none of those surveyed knowledge with the public, skilled boycotts may prove effective at linking felt they had personally had any impact at advocacy and, most important of all, the heightened environmental awareness to all on fish or fish habitat. courage to act. corporate profitability. Logging Hidden Creek, what Lorne calls “the epicentre of bull trout spawning in for the Oldman watershed,” typifies this blinkered approach (see Sean Nichols article on page of this issue of the WLA). Decisions that don’t touch the self- interest of corporations – prohibiting anglers from catching and keeping bull trout – were made nearly twenty years ago. Decisions that would tarnish the corporate bottom line – prohibiting logging in this vital spawning area – are regarded as a heresy. They cannot be taken. Lorne was more optimistic with respect to the likelihood of individuals and communities warming to Leopold’s land ethic. He’s also optimistic that if conservationists emulate Leopold’s interest in talking to people about conservation issues people will change their attitudes towards the land. Alberta’s Cows and Fish program stands as a good example of the positive results for our landscapes that this sort of approach may deliver. The program started by surveying Albertans to see what they knew about Alberta’s fish Spiral (2005) 51”x60” and fish habitat. Fewer than half the © Dan Hudson

24 WLA | February 2013 | Vol. 21, No. 1 | association news Updates

Federal Boreal Woodland Extremely. None of Alberta’s twelve Caribou Recovery Strategy populations are trying to exist in habitats with this high a percentage of Finally Appears undisturbed habitat. Nine populations are “Five Years Overdue” – those words found in areas where human activities should have been stamped across the alone have reduced undisturbed habitat cover of the final recovery strategy for to a range of five to 56 percent. When the threatened boreal woodland caribou natural fire disturbance is considered as when Ottawa released the strategy in well, the other three populations also October 2012. Strong public pressure fall significantly below the 65 percent appears to have helped to significantly threshold; they are trying to survive on improve the final strategy: Environment landscapes where just 18 to 43 percent of Canada received 14,000 submissions the habitat is undisturbed. from Canadians on its weak draft strategy For caribou to have a better than during the comment period. 50/50 chance to be self-sustaining this “Five years” may have a more positive means that human disturbance should meaning in the recovery strategy. Every urgently be reduced, not increased, in all five years government must detail caribou Alberta boreal caribou ranges. Industrial population conditions and show what fragmentation of the intact boreal forest Provinces have three to five years to preventative and restorative actions landscape draws in deer and moose and complete range plans to demonstrate how are being taken to secure the strategy’s associated wolves; it and robs the caribou at least 65 percent undisturbed habitat target of ensuring that 65 percent of of the ability to separate themselves will be achieved and maintained. The caribou habitat for each population is in from their predators. Scientists stated strategy states that the provincial plans an “undisturbed” condition. This habitat in 2009 that Athabasca region herds (in should include a cumulative effects goal is absolutely vital to the prospects of northeast Alberta) likely will die out in analysis of current and foreseeable Alberta’s boreal caribou. It’s important the next few decades due to habitat loss future projects. They should also identify to remember that, even if the 65 percent from intensive oil sands, forestry, and conservation measures to prevent undisturbed habitat target is reached, it’s conventional oil and gas disturbances if activities likely to destroy critical habitat. no guarantee that a caribou herd will be ineffective site-level practices remain the AWA will keep up our longstanding self-sustaining. Scientists estimate that main regulatory approach. pressure on the Alberta government for a reaching the 65 percent target will give It also was encouraging to see the conservation-oriented range plan that will a herd a better-than-even (60 percent) final strategy reject the draft strategy’s set in motion the urgent on-the-ground chance to be self-sustaining. unacceptable preference for wolf kills. actions needed for caribou survival in our How important is moving towards this Instead, the final strategy clearly gives northern landscape. target for the future of boreal woodland the most urgency to landscape level caribou on Alberta’s landscape? planning and to habitat restoration. - Carolyn Campbell

Trout Creek in the Porcupine provincial parks notation and AWA has have been high enough to see them. Just Hills Slated for Logging made a formal proposal for its protection. who will pay for the expensive haul roads Trout Creek is not only considered the and bridges required for SLS to operate It might be argued that Spray Lakes most representative example of the in this area is a question worth pursuing, Sawmills (SLS) of Cochrane is the Porcupine Hills, that gentle foothills area especially as we were hard-pressed to see epitome of a “timber beast” – that old just south of Longview, it is one of the any timber of any real commercial value school logging company that finds it last two creeks in the Porcupine Hills as we walked Trout Creek. very difficult to see anything but two by where the very threatened west slope SLS failed in a recent bid to gain fours when it looks at a forest. Healthy cutthroat trout still breeds. The Porcupine Forest Stewardship Certification (see watersheds are not a high priority in the Hills are renowned for their First Nations the June 2012 issue of WLA). It has not timber beast’s view of the world. I worry heritage, their massive, ancient Douglas ensured that the watersheds and critical that Spray Lakes may be about to apply fir trees, and the location where five of wildlife habitat affected by its operations this mentality to Trout Creek – one of Alberta’s 20 ecological regions converge. will remain intact. Trout Creek and its the most pristine and ecologically unique SLS is apparently planning a new native cutthroat are invaluable provincial basins in the Porcupine Hills. road and 14 cutblocks in the headwaters treasures that our government should be By way of a single open house meeting of Trout Creek. But when several AWA recognizing and protecting, not allowing in Blairmore in the spring of 2012, members walked in on the old truck trail them to be traded for two by fours. Spiral (2005) word got out that SLS has designs on over the Thanksgiving weekend, we did 51”x60” Trout Creek. This creek has been under not find ribboned blocks. We may not - Vivian Pharis © Dan Hudson

wilderness watch | February 2013 | Vol. 21, No. 1 | WLA 25 resources, provided the Company’s right to establish, grow, harvest and remove timber is not significantly impaired.” (emphasis added) The ‘provided’ phrase, a limit on the government’s managerial powers, was missing from the 1992 FMA agreement. This limitation on the Crown’s ability to manage wildlife seemed to confirm that a strong timber supply focus rather than ecosystem-based approach still prevailed within the Forest Division. But our spring intervention had one positive procedural result. It opened the door for AWA to contribute to the next planning cycle. In October 2012, Sundre Forest Products contacted AWA as an identified stakeholder to contribute to its Forest Management Plan development. A Forest Management Plan analyzes the forest’s land base, ecological values, and timber supply. Furthermore, it identifies objectives, indicators, and targets for forest management. This public input process will also include public open houses plus suggestions from the company’s public advisory group and other identified stakeholders. AWA accepted the opportunity and met with Sundre’s Forestry Superintendent last October to discuss the process and Sundre Forest Products’ Forest Management timelines. In November we toured parts Area contains important wildlife and of the FMA including the Fall Creek area, watershed values. which we very much appreciated. Fall Creek is a key bull trout spawning and rearing stream in the North Saskatchewan AWA Contributing to Sundre nationally Environmentally Significant River system. Very regrettably, road Forest Products’ Forest Areas; its habitat is home to threatened access for forestry operations and a lack grizzly bears and bull trout. Planning of enforcement presence by ESRD has AWA had written the Alberta Photo: Map of SFP’s renewed FMA fostered heavy motorized recreation government in March 2012 outlining the agreement with map date. vehicle use beside, in, and through Fall ecological importance of the FMA. Our Caption: Creek. A 2010 scientific survey report on letter also called for the FMA renewal Sundre Forest Products Forest bull trout expressed strong concern at the process to include meaningful public Management Area (FMA) agreement was potential negative impact this pressure consultation and to affirm an ecosystem renewed for a further twenty years in July would have on the bull trout population. and water security-based approach to 2012. Situated west of Rocky Mountain We will continue to engage with forest management in the ‘West Country’ House and Sundre and just east of or Sundre Forest Products as the planning as it is known locally. Instead, the FMA overlapping with AWA’s identified Area process develops to try to advance the was negotiated in secret – an unfortunate of Concern in the Bighorn (see map), the ecosystem-based forestry perspective in custom in Alberta. The FMA stated: “The FMA contains the headwaters of both the this important headwaters and wildlife Minister reserves all rights ... including... North Saskatchewan and Red Deer River area. the right to maintain and enhance forest basins. It also contains provincially and resources, including fish and wildlife - Carolyn Campbell

26 WLA | February 2013 | Vol. 21, No. 1 | wilderness watch Aurora (2002) 36”x72” © Dan Hudson

National Park Trip No Treat thoughts of those nicely maintained park of this extensive burn and, being the only Last August, my husband Dick and trails just ahead. logical place to camp, was badly eroded I decided to try a horse packing trip Eventually we came to a large, from heavy use. through the Dormer River wilderness relatively new sign denoting the national The scenery was magnificent, as we lands of Banff National Park. For reasons park boundary. The first few metres remembered it from our last trip through described in past Wild Lands Advocate beyond the sign were littered with logs the Dormer Valley some 30 years ago, but articles, we have not travelled either by across the trail. My heart sank. A couple the abundant herds of bighorns, goat, and foot or horseback in our national parks of hours later, in cold rain, the trail above elk we saw then were nowhere to be seen. for at least 20 years. But, as ageing a short canyon dropped into oblivion. Parks Canada staff also failed to warn trekkers, we thought a trip over nicely Luckily, Dick was in the lead on a very us that travel in the upper Panther River cut out national park trails and staying steady horse and he was able to turn the was very difficult this year. Fortunately, in well maintained, beautifully situated pack horses and lead them up a steep a passing horse party told us this news. campsites would be a real treat. slope and around the washout. On the So, sadly, we decided to cut our losses Truth be known, we should have had way back we blocked and flagged this and not make the round trip we had second thoughts when it took us a full dangerous spot. planned on and had paid for. Instead, we day to reach a real person who could The trail up the Dormer River had returned early to the provincial lands of issue park permits and a second day to not been maintained in at least 25 the Panther Corners where area outfitters make the trip to the Parks Canada office years. When we finally got to our first maintain the trails and there are plenty in downtown Calgary to pick up the designated camp spot, we were astounded of pretty camp spots with good grass and permits. They cost more than $300. to find that it was in a burn. While water for the horses. We travelled first on provincial lands there was endless fodder for the horses, If you don’t use an area, you don’t up the Panther River. As was the case there was almost no shelter for a camp. advocate for it. We used to be strong with the Wapiabi River that we had been Why hadn’t we been told the Dormer advocates for Banff and Jasper, but I on in July, the Panther had suffered major Valley was part of a controlled burning doubt we will use them much in the spring floods. The old trail was washed program? Days later we moved to our future. out and completely disappeared in places. second designated camp in the upper The going was tough but I was buoyed by Dormer Valley. It was on the very edge - Vivian Pharis

wilderness watch | February 2013 | Vol. 21, No. 1 | WLA 27 Tar sands industry toxins The authors conclude: “Industry’s role of the river are caught in the current in northeast Alberta water as a decades-long contributor of PAHs to and because of this, there are naturally bodies authoritatively oil sands lake ecosystems is now clearly occurring contaminants in the water. Data confirmed evident.” from the Regional Aquatics Monitoring Strikingly, the effects of the elevated Program indicates no increase in A January 2013 peer-reviewed paper contaminants were not clear to the concentrations of contaminants as oil jointly authored by Environment Canada researchers because populations of sands development has progressed.” and Queen’s University scientists a sentinel invertebrate were elevated The denial still leapt off the oil sands. has found marked levels of oil sands in these lakes. The authors suggested alberta.ca-water webpage on February industry-fingerprinted contaminants in that climate change effects could be 6, 2013: “The Athabasca River has lakes as far as 90 kilometres from tar outweighing toxic contaminant effects. always had measurable levels of sands operations. They urged much further study of naturally-ocurring [sic] oil sands-derived The authors use their abstract’s ecological effects of development and hydrocarbon compounds, including opening line to take a strong swipe at climate change in this region. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons. irresponsible oil sands management by The paper’s authors remind us that This is because bitumen from exposed provincial and federal governments: “The “[f]ocused environmental monitoring oil sands along the river banks seeps absence of well-executed environmental of oil sands aquatic ecosystems did naturally into the Athabasca River as it monitoring in the Athabasca oil sands not exist before the establishment of cuts through the landscape. Monitoring (Alberta, Canada) has necessitated the RAMP [Regional Aquatic Monitoring stations downstream of mine sites use of indirect approaches to determine Program] in 1997 through industry show industrial contribution cannot be background conditions of freshwater funding.” That is 30 years after oil detected against historically consistent ecosystems before development of one of sands operations began. There has been readings of naturally occurring the Earth’s largest energy deposits.” strong criticism of RAMP’s methods in compounds in the Athabasca River The scientists measured a 2004 scientific review and by many [emphasis in original].” concentrations of toxic polycyclic aboriginal communities, environmental As AWA has long argued, northeast aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and organizations, and independent scientists Alberta’s wildlife and the aboriginal dibenzothiophenes (DBTs), two since then. communities that often depend upon prominent components of Athabasca Despite this criticism, the Alberta them deserve so much better than the area bitumen. They found PAH and government continued to deny oil sands environmental misinformation and DBT increases above natural levels industry impacts to water bodies. Alberta mismanagement that has accompanied starting in 1966 and 1972 respectively; Environment Information Centre’s Oil bitumen development. Now that tar sand they also found a shift to a petroleum sands FAQ web page stated in May 2011: industry contaminants in water bodies burning (distinct from a wood burning) “Are there increased levels of mercury, can no longer be denied, we look to the fingerprint. PAH concentrations were 2.3 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), federal and provincial governments to to 25 times above natural levels while or arsenic in water bodies or animals curb these contaminants and investigate DBTs were 2.6 to 57 times higher. The in the oil sands region? The Athabasca and limit their impacts on wildlife and highest amounts were in lakes east of River region is unique because of the human health. the Athabasca River; those lakes are naturally occurring oil sands that the river - Carolyn Campbell generally downwind of mine operations. runs through. Sediment from the banks

This photo underlines just how close Suncor’s tar sands operations are to the Athabasca River. The Athabasca River is in the foreground; perched on the river’s edge is a tailings pond. photo: © I. Urquhart

28 WLA | February 2013 | Vol. 21, No. 1 | wilderness watch Sheep River Canyon (2000) 21”x48” © Dan Hudson

Re-visiting Water leadership, water license holders would include real protection of Management in Alberta are making choices based on laws environmental flows in Alberta rivers In September 2008, Alberta and policies that, by and large, have prior to any further activation of the Environment Minister Rob Renner done little to foster healthier aquatic water license transfer system. Water stated that a water allocation review was ecosystems. Now that no new surface conservation as now applied - which needed and public consultation would water licenses are being issued, water is to increase productivity so license commence in 18 months. Four and a half conservation measures are occurring holders can either expand operations years later, the government is embarking in the Bow, Oldman, and South or trade water to other uses - will not very tentatively on a public review of Saskatchewan River watersheds. address degraded ecosystem needs, nor some water issues – but not, it appears, However, large licensees such as will engineering more reservoirs. For water allocation. , Through an on-line irrigation districts are expanding river corridors, we should have stronger workbook, and in community meetings operations or leasing water diversion riparian zone protection that includes from February 10 to March 21,the rights to other users. These actions are limits to gravel mining of shallow government will present information not offering any benefits to aquatic aquifers. Another priority is to greatly to Albertans on what it sees as four ecosystems that are already degraded reduce linear disturbances and the water policy priority areas. These are: during low flow years. These decisions impacts of unfettered motorized vehicle water management; health of our lakes, will make future ecosystem-based water access for the headwaters, wetlands including environmental, economic, management choices more difficult. and other ecologically sensitive regions and social aspects; appropriate water Jason Unger of the Environmental Law within watersheds. use for oil and gas fracking; and how to Centre ably outlined in his October For fracking and water use, we sustain the drinking water and wastewater 2008 WLA article that “the user-driven would encourage citizens to urge better systems that are not now run on a full allocation process has vastly outpaced the monitoring of groundwater resources, cost recovery basis. Review of historic government-driven process to protect the application of thresholds for sustainable allocations under the water priority aquatic environment.” This pattern looks aquifer use and to limit fresh surface licence system of ‘first in time, first in set to continue unless there are some water injection, reduction of fracking right’ is “not under consideration”. If signs that more timely action will be fluid toxic ingredients, as well as much Albertans agree with these priorities, taken. more auditing of well casing/sealing then the government will formulate We would encourage AWA members practices and integrity to reduce risks policy proposals by fall or winter 2013 and supporters to participate in this of contaminating groundwater from the that have been reviewed by stakeholders. water consultation to urge a bolder, high-pressure fracking and steaming This process suggests the government more ecosystem-based approach to that’s now pervasive in ‘in situ’ oilsands will take a long, slow, even nonchalant, water management. Requesting an over- development as well as oil and gas. approach on issues that need leadership riding policy principle of ‘living within and action now. ecological limits’ of our watersheds - Carolyn Campbell Without forward-looking government would be a great starting point. That

wilderness watch | February 2013 | Vol. 21, No. 1 | WLA 29 Reader’s Corner European beaver from much of its range, there were an estimated 60 – 400 million beavers in North America. But the huge trade in beaver skins quickly began to make dents in this seemingly inexhaustible supply of fur. As beaver populations were wiped out in Eastern Canada, the trade spread west, finally reaching the Athabasca region in 1778. Fort Chipewyan, Alberta’s first town, quickly became the hub of the region’s fur trade, and within 100 years, beaver numbers there had already been decimated. Hood points out that by 1883 beavers were legally protected in the territory that would become Alberta; by 1907, the new province’s Game Act imposed a five year moratorium on harvesting beavers. Added to the over-exploitation of the fur trade was the enormous loss of wetlands across Canada due to agricultural development. We often read about the devastating ecological effects of the loss of 50 million bison across the plains of North America. But no less important is the loss of comparable numbers of beavers from an equally huge area. “Given their ability to create and maintain wetlands, the loss of this keystone species would have had devastating effects on water resources throughout North America,” points out Hood. Hood’s PhD research into beavers in Alberta coincided with some of the worst drought conditions in more than a century, and she was quick to realize just how important these unassuming animals were at keeping water on the landscape, even in the driest conditions (see the article by Glynnis Hood, book, not least because it’s a very Glynnis Hood in the October 2012 issue of The Beaver Manifesto, enjoyable read, written in a spirited and WLA) This of course helped to underline (Rocky Mountain Books, 2011) accessible style. the importance of maintaining wetlands Hood explains how the natural history on the landscape, whilst challenging the By Nigel Douglas and ecology of the beaver is inextricably perception of the beaver as a nuisance “Beavers are the great comeback linked to the human history of Canada. species, to be controlled or removed. story—a keystone species that survived What is perhaps most astonishing about Hood’s book stands as a tribute to this ice ages, major droughts, the fur trade, this truly remarkable creature is that it is determined, resilient animal; despite our urbanization and near extinction… It still here at all, given the enormous and best attempts over centuries, this vital is one of the few species that refuses to relentless over-exploitation over several environmental manipulator is still with us. play by our rules and continues to modify hundred years. Only now are we beginning to understand environments to meet its own needs and “The country is steeped in fur traditions, how big a bullet we dodged, and just how the betterment of so many other species, that created a mystique of the land and much we benefit from this unassuming while at the same time showing humans a myth of superabundance on which we creature and its complex interrelation with that complete dominion over nature is not still base our ‘wilderness economy’,” she its wetland environment. Hood writes necessarily achievable.” writes. “In many ways Canada is a country as an unashamed fan of this wonderful with a split personality, one that defines animal. “I am inspired by a furry rodent The Beaver Manifesto by Glynnis Hood itself by the very wilderness it nearly with an overbite and a history the size of a is a small book which tells a huge story. destroyed.” country.” This book is a chance for us all Part of Rocky Mountain Books’ excellent When European settlers arrived in to be inspired too. “Manifesto” series, it is an important Canada, having already removed the

30 WLA | February 2013 | Vol. 21, No. 1 | departments Events

At the Calgary Tower – April 20, 2013 Music for The Climb and Run for Wilderness is a great community event celebrating Earth Day. It is suited to folks of any age from babies in backpacks to 93 the Wild year olds and attracts participants from across North America. Last year • Doors open at 7:00 p.m. more than 1,500 registered participants and many more accompanying • Music starts at 7:30 p.m. parents and supporters attended. The Climb and Run for Wilderness is a • Tickets: $15.00 family-oriented athletic event which includes major additional components of • Pre-registration is required: education about the environment and the creation of public art. A family day, 1-403-283-2025 a corporate challenge day, a fun time, and a serious opportunity to test one’s • Online: personal best are all combined in this Earth Day event. www.AlbertaWilderness.ca/events The 22nd annual climb will be held on Saturday, April 20, Saturday, February 9, 2013 2013! Mark your calendar now! Jake Peters All runner and climbers start at the base of the Calgary Tower at their designated times: Jake is an extraordinarily skilled HELP US • Run for Wilderness: 8am PROTECT CARIBOU player with a very broad range • Team Challenge: 8:30 – 1:30 Climb 802 stairs and race 1km of musical interests. He plays or just climb! Register at climbforwilderness.ca • Climb for Wilderness: 8:30 – 1:30 or call 403-283-2025 bluegrass, blues, Celtic, classical, • Wild Alberta Expo: 9am – 2pm ALBERTAWILDERNESS CLIMB4WILD Alberta Wilderness Association folk, gospel, Spanish and Hawaiian • Entertainment and Prizes: all day styles and he does these on a • General Store: all day broad range of instruments. He is • Awards Ceremony: 1:30pm an award winning guitar and banjo picker but he will likely augment Registration and competition details can be found on the climb website: these with ukulele, oud, dombra www.climbforwilderness.ca or other interesting instruments. Jake is a highly sought after artist who has played with Pavlo, Cindy Church, Dick Damron, Ben Crane, Pam Tillis, Lisa Brokop, and Randy Edmonton Solstice Swing Travis to name a few. Saturday June 22, 2013 Opening Act: Copper Moon AWA invites all Edmonton members, prospective members, friends and supporters join us at the Muttart Conservatory to mark the summer solstice. Saturday, March 9, 2013 There will be entertainment, education, good friends, great food and more! Caravana Location: Muttart Conservatory, Edmonton The Caravana Gypsy Jazz Quartet Time: 6:00 p.m. will transport you back to Paris’s Tickets: $80.00 jazz clubs of the 30’s, 40’s, and Pre-registration is required: 1-866-313-0713 50’s. Caravana is Vladimir & Joy Online: www.AlbertaWilderness.ca/events Kaitman, Doug McLean and Don Milne. Opening Act: Glennis Houston & Andrea Petrity, singing blues of the 20’s and 30’s. Tuesday March 5, 2013 Muskwa-Kechika – Location: A Planning Success AWA, 455 12th St NW, With Wayne Sawchuk Edmonton CALGARY Members Time: 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 26, 2013 Cost: $5 per person, Hair Snares for Grizzly Bears: Meet and Greet $1 for children Monitoring Bears in Southwestern 403-283-2025 for reservations Friday, February 22, 2013 Contact: Alberta Pre-registration is advised for all talks With Andrea Morehouse Join staff and board members for a meet and greet evening at Tuesday February 12, 2013 Tuesday, May 14, 2013 7p.m. Details will follow in the Finding Fish in Alberta’s Parkland and Bat Migration coming days. Boreal Rivers – What They’re Telling Us With Robert Barclay With Dr. Michael Sullivan

events | February 2013 | Vol. 21, N o. 1 | WLA 31 HELP US PROTECT CARIBOU Climb 802 stairs and race 1km or just climb!

Register at climbforwilderness.ca or call 403-283-2025

ALBERTAWILDERNESS CLIMB4WILD Alberta Wilderness Association

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Alberta Wilderness Association Box 6398, Station D Calgary, Alberta T2P 2E1 [email protected]

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