News

New Online Stewardship Directory Goes Live

Posted April 10, 2012 by LSC

Connecting Stewards

Over the past several months, Land Stewardship Centre has been working on developing a new online Stewardship Directory to support the efforts of and help connect the stewardship community. We are pleased to announce that the new online Stewardship Directory is now live.

Easy to Use

This new, easy to use, web-based Directory will help community stewardship groups, organizations, businesses and government find and connect with each other in order to share their experiences and lessons learned in stewardship and natural resource management. It is also a quick and easy way to get stewardship-related groups, organizations and businesses noticed on the web.

Check out the new Stewardship Directory.

Get Listed

If your group, organization, business or government is involved in stewardship, be sure to get them listed in the Directory. Set up an account for your organization by clicking on the “Register” button on the home page. Once the account request has been confirmed, just follow the few simple steps required to complete your organization’s profile in the Directory.

Questions or Comments?

If you have any comments about this exciting new stewardship tool, or if you have any questions about registering your organization in the Directory please email directory@landstewardship.org or phone 1–877-727–5276 extension 222.

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Deadline for Alberta Ecotrust Community Grants April 17

Posted March 26, 2012 by LSC

Spring is here and Alberta Ecotrust is now accepting Community Grant applications.

Is your non-profit or charity working on an environmental project on the themes of air, climate, energy, water or wilderness conservation? Would $7,500 help you towards achieving your project goals? Apply today to Alberta Ecotrust Foundation’s Community Project grant program.

Alberta Ecotrust supports grassroots organizations working on meaningful projects that seek to improve Alberta’s environment. Applying organizations must be based in Alberta or have working chapters in Alberta. See our website for additional eligibility requirements.

Apply Today
Smaller, grassroots, community-based environmental projects are encouraged to apply for up to $7,500 through our Community Grants program. Visit Alberta Ecotrust’s website for more information.

The deadline to submit a Community Grant application is Tuesday, April 17 by 11:59 pm.

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Get Your Green Acreages Guide Today

Posted February 28, 2012 by LSC

It’s here!

The much anticipated Green Acreages Guide: Stewardship for Small Acreages workbook is now available. It is THE stewardship resource for acreage and recreational property owners.

Stewardship for small acreages

The Green Acreages Guide is a workbook developed especially for acreage, hobby farm and recreational property owners, to help them develop and implement stewardship practices that conserve and protect the valuable natural assets, such as air, land, water, wildlife, associated with their properties.

Get yours today

Click here to learn more about the Guide and order your copy today.

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Meet the 2011 Watershed Stewardship Grant Recipients

Posted September 8, 2011 by LSC

Grass roots watershed stewardship groups are making a difference in communities across Alberta.

Read on to learn how these groups will be putting their 2011 Watershed Stewardship Grant to work in a variety of community-based stewardship projects. Then click here to learn more about the Watershed Stewardship Grant (WSG) Program.

Castle-Crown Wilderness Coalition
The Castle-Crown Wilderness Coalition will focus on increasing the number of volunteers and stewards by providing numerous stewardship training courses, setting up field days for youth to understand the importance for caring for watersheds and wild lands. In addition, in an effort to recruit new volunteer stewards, the group will attend a variety of public events, from festivals and hikes to school outreach.

Clear Hills Watershed Initiative
The Clear Hills Watershed will continue to monitor water quality within the county to add to an ongoing database of watershed information. They will also raise awareness of the watershed through various public events such as Alberta Water Quality Awareness (AWQA) day, where children will be engaged in water related activities such as restocking fish in a lake.

Clear Water Landcare
Clear Water Landcare is in the process of building their awareness and education group locally. The group intends to help revitalize stewardship groups and share Landcare concepts more broadly by bringing an expert from Australia to speak to Landcare practices in that country, and discuss how they can be applied to Alberta situations.

Cochrane Branches and Banks Environmental Foundation
This group will restore habitat at Bighill Creek, plant 500–1000 native trees to stabilize slopes at Cochrane Ranche, and work with the Cochrane Environmental Action Committee (CEAC) to plant trees in a highly impacted wetland area. The group will also raise awareness with and engage the public and youth to assist at planting days.

Elbow River Watershed Partnership
Elbow River Watershed Partnership is developing and implementing a pilot groundwater monitoring program using wells drilled for a wastewater treatment plant. Their findings will be used to support the recommendations set out in the Elbow River Water Management Plan and the Bow Basin Watershed Management Plan, as well as determine what activities in the watershed are still contributing to decreasing water quality in the Elbow River.

Friends of Fish Creek Provincial Park Society
The Friends of Fish Creek Provincial Park Society have are involved in various projects including water and wildlife monitoring, invasive weed control, beaver management, speakers’ series, park watch, and park and trail care. They are going to expand their public outreach to engage the larger community, which will allow them to involve more volunteers in all of their projects.

Friends of Kananaskis Country Cooperating Association
Post-secondary students have been trained to deliver watershed protection programs to elementary, junior and senior high students. The intention is to teach students about sustainable watershed management and how to care for the water systems. The group is also planning a stewardship day during which students will plant willow stakes along the Elbow River.

Friends of Little Beaver Lake Society
The Friends of Little Beaver Lake Society are developing a visual gallery which includes locally made videos, tabletop displays, posters, photographs and a parade float. The group aims to use these resources to increase awareness and knowledge of local watershed issues, which will lead to increasing community support and the adoption of practices to help protect the watershed.

Ghost Watershed Alliance Society
Working with Cows and Fish, 42 riparian health inventories will be carried out over 109 kilometers of riparian areas and wetlands in the Ghost Watershed. The results of these inventories will be used as baseline data for management planning within the watershed, and to provide groups members, volunteers and the general public with a better understanding of the importance of riparian health.

High Prairie Riparian Action Team
The High Prairie Riparian Action Team plans to conduct three riparian health assessments, two at new sites and one site reassessment. The group will use the assessment sites as a measurement of progress and change in the riparian areas during and after restorations. The results of these assessments will determine if the sites may require offsite watering systems or exclusion fencing.

Highwood Water Management Plan Core Group
The Highwood Water Management Plan Core Group is working with a consulting firm to perform a surface water and groundwater quality assessment, which will provide the group with an overview of the ground and surface water quality, and illustrate the interactions between the two sources. The results will be used to advise stakeholders, revise a management model, and used to build a technical memorandum.

Keepers of the Water-Pembina River Watershed
The Keepers of the Water are consulting with a water ecologist to continue a water monitoring and watershed assessment, which will be used to help develop an outreach program for the community. The group wants to encourage citizens to take responsibility for observing and reporting on the health of the water and wetlands to the Keepers through a toll free number.

Lac La Nonne Watershed Stewardship Society
The Lac La Nonne Watershed Stewardship Society project includes creating The Nakamun Handbook, which will include site-specific details such as lake boundaries, environmental reserves and zoning, recreational features and more. The group is also hosting a weed education day, which will enable residents to identify noxious and invasive weeds around the lake, and help them understand why controlling noxious and invasive weeds is important for the health of the watershed.

Love the Lake
The Love the Lake group at Pigeon Lake will hire summer students to patrol the shoreline and remove the invasive Himalayan Balsam, educate lakeshore homeowners, encourage volunteers to participate in invasive plant removal, and present at the Summer Villages Annual Information Meetings. Students will be trained on proper invasive plant removal and handling by Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development, and they will also document the results of their shoreline patrols.

Mayatan Lake Management Association
The Mayatan Lake Management Association will be documenting and summarizing all of the current information available about Mayatan Lake in a State of the Watershed Report. The report will include information such as history, watershed characteristics, water quality and aquatic ecological information. The report will then be used to develop a Mayatan Lake Watershed Management Plan in the future.

Milk River Ranchers Group
The Milk River Ranchers Group will be designing invasive weeds awareness signs to address the concern of the spread of invasive weeds throughout the watershed, and to create a learning opportunity for watershed residents, group members and visitors to Milk River.

Moose Lake Watershed Society
The first part of their project is a Watershed Show & Share, which consists of a daylong workshop that allows local watershed groups to gather in one place and share their programs, concerns and successes. Moose Lake Watershed Society will also coordinate the Walking with Moose day-long field trip for Grade 5 students to learn about the local ecosystem and watershed and understand how every-day decisions affect the watershed.

Nose Creek Watershed Partnership
The Nose Creek rehabilitation project involves many volunteer-based restoration activities including native tree and shrub plantings, weed pulls and clean-ups. These activities all focus on educating basin residents about how they can contribute to a healthy watershed. The group also delivers water, riparian, erosion and fisheries monitoring programs, the results of which are presented to the community and elected officials for decision making purposes.

Pigeon Lake Watershed Association
Pigeon Lake Watershed Association offers many stewardship programs including environmental workshops, home site assessments, shoreline clean-ups, as well as various publications for residents to learn about reducing their impact on the lake. The group will to provide information for homeowners and visitors about reducing nutrient loading in the lake which results in blue-green algae outbreaks.

Society of Grassland Naturalists-Medicine Hat Interpretive Program
The Society of Grassland Naturalists is planning a digital storytelling workshop where participant will learn to produce educational videos that will use personal stories and experiences to teach people how to live with beavers in a shared environment. The videos that result from the workshop will be used in displays and posted online.

Tawatinaw Watershed Stewards
The Tawatinaw Watershed Stewards propose to monitor riparian areas damaged by livestock and human activity, and then restore these areas through invasive plant species removal, implementing grazing management systems, and continuing monitoring started in 2010. The group will engage Cows and Fish to help them with assessments and to design the grazing management systems if needed.

Weaselhead/Glenmore Park Preservation Society
The Weaselhead/Glenmore Park Preservation Society is aiming to maintain and restore the natural ecosystem within the park through invasive plant removal and to raise public awareness of invasive species in the watershed. They will host outdoor education programs, which reach 4500 children and 500 adults a year, and attend public events to raise awareness and recruit volunteers.

Wizard Lake Watershed and Lake Stewardship Association
The Wizard Lake Watershed and Lake Stewardship Association will complete their State of the Watershed Report, which highlights the current conditions of the watershed. They plan to use the report to develop action plans for the future, and improve the health of the watershed by raising awareness with local residents.

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NSWA Launches Consultation for Watershed Management Plan

Posted May 5, 2011 by LSC

The North Saskatchewan Watershed Alliance (NSWA), based in Edmonton, has reached a major milestone in its planning process under Alberta’s Water for Life Strategy by releasing the “Discussion Paper for the Development of an Integrated Watershed Management Plan for the North Saskatchewan River Watershed in Alberta”.

It summarizes the planning process over the last five years, the current legislative and policy context, the results of technical studies and conditions across the watershed. The paper presents draft recommendations in the form of five goals, 20 watershed management directions and 61 specific actions on a wide range of water, land and development issues. The recommendations incorporate stakeholder interests expressed to date and present an implementation strategy.

The NSWA has embarked on a comprehensive public consultation and stakeholder engagement program over the next three months to seek input on the draft recommendations. To that end, the NSWA has produced a workbook as a survey questionnaire. It forms the core of this process and gives all parties an opportunity to share their views on and help shape the final recommendations. The NSWA aims to prepare the final IWMP to submit to Government of Alberta and all stakeholders in late 2011.

Both the discussion paper and survey workbook are available on the NSWA website at www.nswa.ab.ca. The survey workbook can be completed online or you can obtain a paper copy by calling the NSWA at 780–442-6363.

For more information, please contact Mr. David Trew, Executive Director, NSWA at 780–496-3474 or email David Trew.

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Alberta Stewardship Network Grant Deadline Reminder

Posted January 20, 2011 by LSC

The Alberta Stewardship Network (ASN) is accepting applications for the 2011 Watershed Stewardship Grant Program.

Stewardship groups can apply for up to $7500 in funding for watershed stewardship related projects to be completed before March 31, 2012.

Groups may submit applications as a registered society or in partnership with an eligible legal entity (see application form pages 1–2 for more details).

• Application deadline: February 1, 2011 @ 4:30 p.m.

• Application form is available at: http://www.ab.stewardshipcanada.ca/index.php/grants

To learn more about the ASN Watershed Stewardship Grant Program or to request
a copy of the most recent Grant Program report, please contact:

Jenna Curtis
Alberta Stewardship Network Grant Coordinator
Land Stewardship Centre of Canada
17503 – 45 Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta T6M 2N3
T: 1–877-7-ASK-ASN (1–877-727–5276) ext. 225
F: 780–486-9599
E: jenna@landstewardship.org

We look forward to receiving your application.

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Elk Island National Park Plans for the Future - Stage Two Date Changes

Posted November 8, 2010 by LSC

Canada’s National Parks, National Historic Sites, and National Marine Conservation Areas belong to all Canadians. In the coming months, Elk Island National Park will be updating its management plan, the foundation of a vision, key strategies, measurable objectives and main actions for the next five to ten years. This plan will help to establish a clear identity for the park and will help to guide park conservation work, facilitation of visitor experience opportunities, partnering, public education outreach, and more.

As part of this process, they will be holding four open houses for the general public. They encourage you or a member of your organization to share your time by attending:

Stage One – Developing plan elements
Monday, August 30, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
U. of A. Lister Hall Conference Centre, Aurora Room

Tuesday, August 31, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Lamont Recreation Centre Meeting Room

Stage Two – Review of the draft management plan
A second stage of open houses had been scheduled for October 20 in Lamont and October 21 in Edmonton as part of the next public review of the draft plan. Please note, these open houses have been rescheduled as follows:

Wednesday, January 12, 2011
6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Lamont Recreation Centre (Meeting Room), 4848 – 49 Street, Lamont, Alberta

Thursday, January 13, 2011
6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Fantasyland Hotel (Medeira Room), West Edmonton Mall, 17700 – 87 Avenue, Edmonton

Further information about the Elk Island National Park Management Plan can be found
on “their website.”:http://www.pc.gc.ca/einpmanagementplan or download the following:

Elk Island National Park Newsletter – English

Elk Island National Park Newsletter – French

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Alberta Public Lands Act Regulation Survey

Posted September 8, 2010 by LSC

Purpose
The province is proposing changes to the regulations within the Public Lands Act to support better land management and stewardship. The Public Lands Act prescribes what is legally allowed or prohibited on public land. The changes will set out specific rules, for example, how visitors can use public land, how the rules are enforced, and how appeals are heard.

Proposed Regulation
The proposed Public Lands Administration Regulation focuses on three key themes. Under each of these three themes, this consultation looks at the main aspects of the regulation:

A. Land Management
B. Compliance and Enforcement
C. Appeals and Dispute Resolution

Public consultation is a key step in the process to develop these new regulations. Public comments will be reviewed and considered in guiding the development of the new regulations.

Public Comment
The province will work with First Nations, the public, and stakeholders to update the regulation. In order to provide your feedback we encourage you to first read through the frequently asked questions for further information on the proposed regulation changes.

The survey provides an opportunity for you to submit feedback on the proposed amendments to the Public Lands Act regulation. It also provides an opportunity to provide general comments on the proposed regulation changes.

Albertans are invited to complete the survey regarding the proposed amendments either online or by mail from August 5, 2010 – September 17, 2010. Complete the survey online.

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SNO Stewardship Forum A Success

Posted August 10, 2010 by LSC

Stewardship Forum 2010: International Year of Biodiversity

The Stewardship Network of Ontario (SNO) held its Annual Stewardship Forum on June 8th, 2010 at Black Creek Pioneer Village in Toronto. There were 57 people in attendance, including a stellar line up of speakers and members of the SNO Leadership Team.

This annual event affords SNO the opportunity to report back to the community on their activities. They are now sharing the results of the Forum in their final report. This report also includes the Power Point presentations given by the speakers, as well as a 2010 participant contact list.

Visit SNO‘s website for more information about the organization and to download a copy of the Stewardship Forum 2010 Final Report.

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New Process, Same Value for Farm EFP's in Alberta

Posted August 4, 2010 by LSC

Alberta farmers and ranchers who wish to complete an environmental farm plan (EFP) or update their existing one, will find that the process has been changed in the province. Program delivery is now coordinated through Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development (ARD).

That’s the only real EFP program change. Resource materials used and the technical assistance available to producers are the same. The reasons to complete an EFP are as strong and valid as ever and producers completing an EFP today join more than 12,000 Alberta producers who have taken those steps since the program’s inception.

“The EFP process is designed to be simple and straightforward,” says program spokesperson, Perry Phillips, who serves in EFP training and support and has worked with the EFP program over the past several years. The EFP is a voluntary self-assessment process for producers to determine strengths and weaknesses of their farming operation from an environmental perspective

To begin their EFP process, producers contact the ARD toll-free helpline at 310-FARM (3276). They will be referred to a Technical Assistant. A paper version of the EFP workbook and a new CD version are available free of charge. Producers can complete an EFP on an individual basis or by participating in workshops where available.

Producers learn the process and how to use the workbook to review all aspects of their operation and finalize their EFP. One of the first steps in completing the EFP is to assess the farm’s soil and site characteristics. Local qualified EFP Technical Assistants are available for assistance throughout the process.

Once completed, the producer has the choice to submit their plan to a qualified EFP Technical Assistant for a review and feedback. It will be returned with a letter of completion along with any suggestions for improvement.

“The EFP is designed to be a living document,” says Phillips, “built to be implemented continuously from one year to the next according to the priorities the producer has established. Updating on a regular basis makes sense. Recent experience shows producers have documented real progress using the approach of revisiting and updating the EFP.”

Producers understand the value of environmental progress, he says. Some complete an EFP because they want to confirm what is being done properly on their operations and to more clearly understand what is required to meet current standards.

In some cases an EFP are done for business reasons, to apply for support under various programs, or to build producer food branding efforts that meet specific environmental standards of production.

More information is available through the ARD help line at 310-FARM (3276) or on the Alberta EFP website at www.albertaEFP.com. A feature article on this topic is also available on the website.

For more information contact:

Perry Phillips
Training Specialist / EFP Support
Alberta Agriculture & Rural Development
Phone: (780) 636–3366

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Camrose Community Environmental Project Grand Opening

Posted July 20, 2010 by LSC

From the July 19, 2010 Issue of Agri-News

When a local gravel pit is ready to be reclaimed, there are a couple of things that can be done with it – turning it into a 37-acre park and conservation reserve is what Camrose County decided to do.

In 2009, work began on the reclamation and redevelopment of the Blatz Gravel Pit, and on July 31, 2010, the project will wrap-up with the grand opening of the Camrose County Nature Conservation Centre.

Camrose County owns and operates five gravel pits located in the south portion of the County. Each year the county crushes an average of 100,000 – 130,000 tonnes of road surfacing gravel as required. This redevelopment project, like so many other projects in the county, looks to the future by making every effort to ensure that once resources are used, the space is redeveloped for the benefit of the people who live in Camrose and area and for visitors.

The conservation centre consists of several nature trails, with pedestrian bridges placed to give variety to a walk around the lake. The area isn’t just for hikers. Several features have been included in the design, such as a viewing deck, a gazebo, ample parking, washrooms and even a dock for scuba divers, to ensure that the park appeals to everyone.

Camrose County extends an open invitation for Albertans to come and join the county as they official open the Camrose County Nature Conservation Centre on July 31, 2010. The official ribbon cutting will take place at 12:30 p.m., followed by a beef on a bun lunch. The day will be a chance to be part of a very special day in Alberta’s history.

To view photos of the Blatz gravel pit as it was and as it looks now, visit the Camrose County website.

For more information, contact Steve Gerlitz, County Administrator, at 780–672-4446.

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Environment Week, May 30 - June 5, 2010

Posted May 29, 2010 by LSC

Protecting Canada’s natural environment reaps a world of benefits for Canadians, from strengthening the economy to enhancing health and quality of life.

Canadian Environment Week is the perfect time to celebrate our achievements and initiatives in tackling climate change and reducing air pollution.

The United Nations declared 2010 to be the International Year of Biodiversity. Biodiversity can be defined as being the variety of all life on earth. Celebrating the International Year of Biodiversity is a unique opportunity to increase our understanding of the vital role biodiversity plays in sustaining life on Earth.

This year’s theme for Canadian Environment Week is: Embracing Life on Earth.

Learn more about Environment Week and activities happening around the country.

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April 22 is Earth Day!

Posted April 15, 2010 by LSC

Join an Earth Day event near you!

Celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day by getting together with friends, family and co-workers. Mark the occasion by participating in one of the many events being organized by environmental groups across the country! Here?s how you can find one:

Check out Earth Day Canada’s interactive events map. Remember, you can also add your own event for free.

Browse through PlantetFriendly.net’s environmental events calendar.

Visit your provincial or territorial environmental network’s website to see what local groups are planning.

Happy Earth Day!

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