Clear Water Landcare Builds Community Ownership for Healthier Headwaters

By Carolyn Campbell, AWA Conservation Specialist

ow does release surface and ground water; these Creek’s was good and Horseguard Creek’s support for lands contain the headwaters of the North was fair. Hsustainable Saskatchewan River, the Clearwater River (a Those results built an interest not water management large tributary of the North Saskatchewan), only in improving the “fair” and the practices grow deep and the Red Deer River. “good” assessments, but for valuing what roots in a region? In Rocky Riparian Group started as contributes to “excellent” conditions. the case of Clear Water a community-based group to foster More events were organized to learn Landcare, it’s through discussion about water quality and land about possibilities, and to hear or see what building relationships and sharing practical use practices. An important early project various producers were trying and how information. For years, it was working. In 2008, this group has fostered the group also linked a widening network of with the Junior Forest community volunteers Wardens program to who demonstrate provide volunteer support how good upland and for tree and shrub planting creekside practices can programs designed to benefit oneself, one’s stabilize streamside banks. neighbours and the The shared vision was for environment. the agricultural community Clear Water Landcare to be a leader in protecting operates in Clearwater and preserving this County in west-central headwaters region. Alberta, though they Glenn Mainland, a welcome participants board member of Clear from nearby counties. Water Landcare, was Its predecessor involved with Rocky organization, Rocky Riparian Group from its Riparian Group, beginnings. His own story was created in 1999. of watershed beneficial Since then, dozens of practices dates from the volunteers have planned mid-1980s; he took early Rocky Riparian Group, now called Clear Water Landcare, partnered with and promoted events, retirement from an energy RiverWatch in 2002 to train local residents in water quality sampling. The company and moved from spoken at meetings, and volunteers collected samples for three years on tributaries of the North led tours. The group Saskatchewan and Red Deer Rivers in Clearwater County. Calgary to land along has received important PHOTO: © CLEARWATER COUNTY the North Raven River support from Clearwater to try his hand at raising County through County Agricultural involved residents of several agricultural cattle. The North Raven, renowned for Services staff who help organize events communities in the eastern part of the its abundant brown trout, offers one of and supply a link to broader networks and county gathering baseline water quality Alberta’s premier fly-fishing opportunities. resources. Though Clearwater County staff data. County Agricultural Services Glenn’s river side lands had been damaged was at the fore of its earliest days, they now staff arranged for Alberta’s RiverWatch from past practices, as well as from the take a background role to volunteers. group to train volunteers in concepts and cattle he was starting to raise. Glenn recalls Land management practices in techniques of water quality sampling. From that “soon after I bought my land, I had Clearwater County are vital; for example, 2002 to 2004, they sampled Horseguard Alberta government people on the phone they affect downstream water users in Creek (which flows to the Medicine River encouraging me to put up a five wire high- Edmonton, Red Deer, and across the central and then into the Red Deer River), Cow tensile fence.” Instead he put up a single prairies. The county is situated in the Rocky Creek (a small North Saskatchewan River wire electric fence which was effective at a Mountains and Foothills natural regions; tributary) and Prairie Creek (a Clearwater much lower cost. “There’s no question, the its western border is formed by Jasper and River tributary). From that data, an way the cattle were moving, it was badly Banff National Parks. Clearwater County environmental consultant prepared a 2005 damaging the banks.” lands, like the national parks to their west, report that concluded the overall water Glenn got involved with Rocky Riparian accumulate snow and store, purify and quality of Prairie Creek was excellent, Cow Group after hearing about it through the

12 WLA | February 2012 | Vol. 20, No. 1 | FEATURES regional forage association that assists continue as it transitioned to Clear Water role in healthy watersheds, not just those producers who manage pasture land and Landcare. He sees a lot more awareness alongside the creeks. graze livestock on it. “I think the benefit compared to fifteen years ago of how an In 2011 Clear Water Landcare elected of Rocky Riparian Group and Clear Water individual’s actions affect neighbours and its first volunteer Board and launched an Landcare has been to create an awareness the water, and how people are actively autumn celebration day to share stories of of the damage that can be done to soft banks managing for better water quality. “There’s success from around the region. In 2012 of prairie creeks, and to create support for a lot of off-stream watering systems now. it will be increasing the frequency and the need for protection. And I give full There’s more use of portable wind breaks breadth of newsletters and meetings. Glenn marks to Clearwater County councilors and that provide shelter to cattle in uplands Mainland says: “We’re still feeling our way. staff for their support.” Glenn has a spot on areas and prevent one area from being We’ll continue our emphasis on creeks and the river where he crosses his cattle to move overused. One important approach of the our groundwater well care, possibly do from one part of his land to another. Over group was that the information presented more water sampling, and look at other the years he has placed a lot of rocks at the was always looking at options and ways to stay active and on the ground in bottom to create a hard footing, and carried implications. Anyone could be involved: the headwaters.” out downstream water quality sampling to you could ease into it or dive into it. A huge Gary Lewis, with Clearwater County’s be sure about the impacts. Neighbours have part of the success is that there’s quite a Agricultural Services department, first helped neighbours with various changes. bit of peer-to-peer activity, supporting each got involved with the group in 2004. He “Now we have very good protection along other in on-the-ground trials and efforts.” continues to provide support to Clear Water the river.” Landcare’s activities – his Rick Anderson worked title, which is Landcare in range management Coordinator, underlines on a provincial the county’s ongoing grazing reserve north commitment. For him, of Rocky Mountain the key to success has House in the early been working alongside 2000s; environmental people and building good considerations were relationships. “We will a key part of his continue to emphasize responsibilities. For relationships, celebrate Rick, one big impact of success, and let the Rocky Riparian Group men and women of the was learning how good community tell their riparian management story of what they’re promotes positive doing and why.” Board water recharge and member Rick Anderson groundwater movement, looks to the future in this which in turn has way: “We’ll go beyond important uplands the creekside focus to the benefits. “I was quite whole land base and whole interested and supportive, A demonstration off-site livestock watering system managed by Rocky Riparian community. So there will soaking up information, Group, now Clear Water Landcare. For five years, this solar-powered system was be more understanding of a loaned out to help people discover the technology’s potential. implementing wherever PHOTO: © CLEARWATER COUNTY whole-watershed approach I could, sometimes to think and plan, with presenting and setting water the end impact. It up demonstration projects.” Rick recalls In 2010, Rocky Riparian Group changed will be important to keep our grass roots when he took the step to manage cattle to its name to Clear Water Landcare. The focus and the opportunities for all of us to keep them out of water dugouts. Within the Landcare name and concept is adopted participate.” season, there was a noticeable difference from very successful groups in Australia There are many good local watershed in how much cleaner the dugout water that work on a broad spectrum of land care initiatives around the province. Clear was, and how long the water stayed. Other issues with the whole community of rural Water Landcare is to be congratulated practices took a few years, such as health and urban residents that impact the land. for real progress in making healthy improvements in stream banks where cattle As Clear Water Landcare, the group has headwaters a community “owned” issue, access was minimized. “The things I did as a sponsored more demonstrations to involve and thus benefitting so many downstream land manager had not just an environmental the acreage owner, such as groundwater well water users. If you are interested in impact, but benefits to me and the business. care. For years, Rocky Riparian Group’s finding out more about them, Clear Water So there’s a strong business case for good successful annual spring fair held in Caroline Landcare’s annual fair “Cows, Creeks and practices.” was called “Cows and Creeks, the Best for Communities” will be held April 26, 2012 Rick now consults on integrated land Both.” In 2010, the event name changed to in Caroline. Their autumn “Celebrating our use issues but it made sense to him to stay “Cows, Creeks and Communities” to signal Success” event will be in Rocky Mountain involved with Rocky Riparian Group and that everyone in the community plays a House on November 15, 2012.

FEATURES | Vol. 20, No. 1 | February 2012 | WLA 13