Volume 16, No. 2 Spring, 2010 Trout Unlimited Canada’s Currents finds a brand new home Alberta’s Raven River: an example of conservation in action by Phil Rowley he Raven River, a tributary of the threats facing the Raven. The Edmonton The Raven River project was broken Red Deer River, is located in Cen- chapter backed by the Lloyd Shea Fisheries down into four key components. T tral Alberta just west of Red Deer. Enhancement fund looked for additional • Assessment of fish habitat and riparian 1983 saw the completion of the Dickson funding and project partners to begin work (river bank) conditions Dam forming Gleniffer Lake which the on the Raven. • Gaining a measure of the existing brown Raven River now spills into. Flowing over The Lloyd Shea Fisheries Enhancement trout population 102 KM in an easterly direction from the Fund was created in memory of Lloyd Shea, • Assess the relative abundance, diversity slopes of the Rocky Mountains the Raven an ardent fly fisher, hunter, advocate for and distribution of all fish species in the River carries agriculture, forestry and the conservation and founding member of the River oil and gas industry on her shoulders. The Edmonton chapter. In honour of Lloyd’s Photo by Ryan Popowich. Raven is held close to the hearts of local fly memory and legacy Dave Johnston from • Identify critical spawning areas used by fishers as one of Alberta’s premier brown the Fishin’ Hole proposed that the Edmon- brown trout trout fisheries. As with any river system ton chapter establish the fund with their Assessment of existing fish habitat and exposed to human activity the Raven faces assistance, driven by a primary mandate river bank conditions was done both on a number of threats to its health including to conduct studies on brown trout streams foot and through the unique use of a low sedimentation, cattle damage and an over- in central Alberta. The Edmonton chapter flying ultra-light aircraft to provide a vi- all concern regarding water quality. approached the Alberta Conservation As- sual catalogue of the entire river length. In light of the threats facing the Raven sociation (ACA) for partnership funds and Through this assessment 35 areas of con- Trout Unlimited Edmonton (now know as with Golder Associates who provided time cern were identified. Many areas of concern Northern Lights Fly Tyers-Trout Unlimited and equipment toward the Raven River were preventable problems that could be Edmonton) spearheaded by then president project. Golder Associates (www.golder. addressed, such as unofficial stream cross- Michael Dell looked for funding partners com) is a global ground engineering and ings and cattle damage, typical of rivers to help identify and address some of the environmental services company. within a populated area. As a result of this Trout Unlimited Canada’s National Newsletter 1 CONSERVATION IN ACTION Alberta’s Raven River Upper Raven River photos courtesy of Ryan Popowich. inventory the Cows and Fish organization Assessing the current state of the Ra- In 2008 Edmonton TUC chapter members, became involved with the goal of fostering ven’s brown trout population was another Northern Alberta Institute of Technology an understanding of how improvements key component. In 1978, prior to the con- (NAIT) students, local residents and Gold- in riparian areas could enhance landscape struction of the Dickson Dam, a survey er staff identified 614 redds over the same health. Cows and Fish or the Alberta Ri- was completed in two locations. Near the stretch of river, an increase of 347 since the parian Management Society is a not-for- headwaters and just above the confluence 1997 survey. Based upon these findings the profit organization that works with Alberta with the Red Deer River. The faster flowing future for brown trout of the Raven looks landowners to promote improvement and headwaters region proved to be ideal brook promising but there is still much work to awareness of riparian areas. For more in- trout habitat while the slower reaches near be done. formation please visit the Cows and Fish the confluence offered a more diverse fish Looking forward, ongoing work towards website at www.cowsandfish.org. population. In the slower moving stretches monitoring, repairing and maintaining ri- Electrofishing was carried out in six spe- there was a noticeable decrease in all spe- parian regions of the Raven must be con- cific sites along the river to determine the cies populations including brown trout, tinued. Shoreline fencing projects to limit status and health of the brown trout popu- although small numbers of large fish were cattle damage and ongoing education and lation along with the relative abundance noted. awareness with local farm owners through and distribution of all fish species in the The final aspect of the project involved the Cow and Fish program are two ongoing river. Eleven different species presently determining critical spawning areas uti- initiatives. Redd surveys will evolve into an inhabit the Raven. During this assessment lized by the resident brown trout popu- annual event and the addition of creel sur- observations were also recorded regarding lation through redd surveys. In 1997 the veys will also provide additional clues to the the state of the shoreline areas and within Edmonton Trout Club surveyed the river state of the brown trout population the six sampling sites. identifying 272 redds over 64km of river. and density throughout the Raven. 2 Currents: Volume 16, No. 2 • Spring 2010 TUC’s FEATURED CHAPTER Nova Scotia’s Tusket River Chapter by Bill Curry he sight of over one hundred Grade Primary to 6 students in one spot T might be a bit overwhelming for some, but to the members of the Tusket River Chapter of Trout Unlimited Canada, the sight is heart warming. The Chapter hosted its fifth annual Earth Day activity last spring, an event that now involves kids in large groups, and is in evidence in more than half of the Tri-County Regional School Board’s (TCRSB) schools. During the event, which is organized and supported by the Chapter, students learn about watershed ecosystems and habitat management. TCRSB teachers, with Tusket River TUC members at their side, take their classes out to do various age-appropriate activities designed to introduce young people to the concepts of watershed stewardship. Young students perform riverside clean- Flycasting on the Tusket River. Photo courtesy Bill Curry. ups, proudly displaying their haul of trash while cogently explaining why it is impor- ings and do actual stream repair work, and populations in the areas the chapter tant not to litter near a river or lake. Older overseen by Tusket River TUC members. serves. The chapter is currently partner- Elementary students are introduced to Last year, the chapter’s Earth Day ef- ing with the Nova Scotia Provincial De- using GPS receivers and mapping, skills forts involved well over 1000 students in partment of Inland Fisheries to do a trout they will use in Junior High to perform the various activities. One school decided population study on Big Meadow Brook pH monitoring and other in-stream work. a day wasn’t enough, and had their Ele- (BMB) in a fairly remote area of Yarmouth The GPS receiver is used in a game called mentary students working on projects all County. Big Meadow Brook is a stream ‘Geocaching’, and on Earth Day the Tusket that was impacted by a mining operation River Chapter hides Tupperware boxes for tin over 20 years ago. Chapter mem- full of trash bags, gloves and special gifts bers noticed that while much of the Tusket (TUC pins and stickers are favorites!) near River is heavily affected by acid rain, BMB a watershed in an activity dubbed “Cache seems to be buffered, and consequently In, Trash Out”. The Teacher is given the may be a very good candidate for special coordinates, and the students using a GPS trout management status. The former tin receiver try to find the box, known as a mine used lime to settle tailings in a pond ‘cache’. Once located the students use the near the headwaters of BMB, and this may contents to clean up the area the box is have a positive effect on the trout breeding located in. The students and teacher track Students netting insects and minnows on in the area. The chapter proposed a study the Tusket River with Provincial Fisheries the students’ travels and clean up efforts officer and Tusket TUC members. Photo of the trout population to the Province. courtesy Bill Curry. on Google Maps. The study got under way last year and Junior and Senior High students do ac- month! The chapter is busy planning for continues this season. Depending on the tual in-stream work, overseen by chapter this year’s event. Initial estimates indicate results, Big Meadow Brook may become members who have also obtained funding that the number of students may top last a catch and release only watershed. The through the Provincial Adopt-a-Stream year’s totals. thought being that the chapter would like Project. These groups of young environ- The Tusket River chapter also has a fo- to promote the fact that with effort some mentalists take pH and temperature read- cus on trout habitat including research of the historically superb trout fishing in ings, record various flora and fauna sight- into methods to enhance trout habitat the area can still exist. The chapter is ac- Trout Unlimited Canada’s National Newsletter 3 TUC’s FEATURED CHAPTER TUC FUNDRAISING UPDATE FROM PREVIOUS PAGE Big fish once again lend gener- ous support to the little fish! By Phil Rowley n Thursday, March 18, 2010 O close to 600 people rendezvoused at Calgary’s Hyatt Regency Hotel for the 2010 National Conservation Dinner and Auction.