Signs of Life

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Overview of the Signs of Life Project

“The act of naming a feature brings it into focus and out of the background.
Bringing it into focus raises people’s awareness of their place.  And an awareness of place
is the first step in fostering the idea of stewardship.”

Sue Lincoln, Coordinator for the Androscoggin River Source to the Sea Canoe Trek, Maine, USA

Introduction

Natural water bodies provide us with many vital benefits such as sources of drinking water, habitat and resources for fish and other wildlife, flood storage, water for use in the home and as a basis for many of our industries including agriculture, paper pulp, oil production and tourism, as well as countless recreational opportunities. However, the health and functioning of many of our water bodies is threatened by an ever-increasing number of challenges from old drop culverts which prevent fish passage, to run-off or point source pollution or encroaching urban or industrial development.

With the implementation of Alberta’s Water for Life Strategy  from 2003 onwards, considerable attention is being focused on watersheds and water courses. Many community-based groups are being encouraged to take up the challenge of improving their local streams, lakes or wetlands.

It is human nature to value less something that does not even have a name. Where the names of water bodies are not readily identified, they may also be perceived as having little value in the eyes of the wider community.

Many water bodies currently remain un-signed even along primary and secondary roadways (1-3 digit highways). The simple act of labelling/signing water bodies - like rivers, creeks or lakes - where they cross or visibly border major highways, is an important step to fostering greater awareness and stewardship of these water bodies and their watersheds.

In some cases, it may be that the water body is not officially named.  Before a water body can be signed, it's name must first be registered within the Geographical Names Program database which contains a listing of all official names in the province.

Publishing information about the water body can also help encourage collective community efforts to help restore or maintain the health of a water body.  Based on all of the above factors, the Signs of Life project was conceived.

Purpose

Working with local community groups and agency partners across the province, the purpose of the Signs of Life project is to foster appreciation and stewardship of Alberta's valuable water resources by Albertans and visitors alike.

Project Outline

The project began in 2006 with engaging potential partners and compiling some of the necessary data. We are currently working with the Battle River Watershed Alliance on a pilot. The project includes the following five main components:
  1. encourage community-based naming of water bodies without official names (e.g. wetlands, ponds, creeks, etc.) in association with the Geographical Names Program;
  2. facilitate on-line access to data on Alberta's water bodies and watersheds in association with Alberta Stewardship Network, and the Watershed Stewardship Directory (under review);
  3. work with Alberta Transportation to encourage signing of water bodies currently without signs visible from major highways (1-3 digit) in Alberta;
  4. support community groups preparing a fact and information sheet about their local water body; and
  5. based on the fact sheet series, publish a provincial guide to water bodies on major highways in Alberta.
*The Signs of Life Toolkit below, once fully complete, will include information and links for components 1-4 of the Project.  For component 5, in addition to a print publication, it is anticipated that Fact sheets for water bodies in the province will be collectively housed on-line (grouped by the major watershed they belong to).   (See Future Plans for more information.)

Signs of Life Toolkit: Guide to Naming, Signing and Sharing Information about Water Bodies in Alberta
 

Below you will find the Signs of Life Toolkit: A Guide to Naming, Signing and Sharing Information about Water Bodies in Alberta.  Please note that you do not have to follow the sections in this toolkit in step by step order but can pick and choose the activity your group is most interested in, as appropriate to a water body near you - whether it is naming, signing possibilities, or compiling a fact sheet!

If you are in Alberta, and are volunteering or working with a community-based group interested in fostering broader stewardship of your local river, creek, lake or wetland, please register your interest and questions with us by following the link to this short form.
 

Click here to register interest or questions


At this time, we are particularly looking for those interested in working on a fact and information sheet for the following rivers, creeks, lakes and more (downloads).

We welcome your comments on how useful you find this format, and whether its content meets your interests and needs.  We expect the full on-line toolkit to be completed by January 2009, including incorporating any changes based on your feedback.  With your feedback, we hope to improve this resource further!

I: Naming water bodies in Alberta   


Background:  As an important precursor to signage, the water body must first have an officially recognized name. There is a process nationally for officially naming a geographical feature, including a water body, called the Geographical Names Program (GNP). In Alberta, this program is housed under the provincial government department of Alberta Culture and Community Spirit. Once a water body is officially named, this is the name that will officially appear in maps, signs or other information about the area.

Some of Alberta's water bodies have not yet been officially named.  This becomes increasingly true for smaller or seasonal water bodies (although these may be no less valuable for their role in the wider watershed).  There are very few officially named wetlands and yet these make up about a fifth of the province and provide us with important ecological  services (purification of water, mitigation of floods and droughts, and maintaining a rich biodiversity). 

Perhaps there is an aboriginal name in existence from our First Nations people, or residents in the area may have a local nickname for a local water body, but if this name is not registered, it will not typically appear in maps, signs or other public information.  Yet, few are aware of their ability to contribute to the GNP process of officially naming a water body.

Pursuing an official name provides the community with an opportunity to collectively recognize the importance of that local water body to the whole community.  Having a name, may also encourage further stewardship efforts from local residents, landowners and visitors.    It can help provide that important sense of place, and strengthen a sense of community.  

Resources:

II: Signing water bodies in Alberta  

Background: Many water bodies remain un-signed even along provincial highways (i.e. primary and secondary roadways, or the 1-3 digit highways). The simple act of labelling/signing water bodies - like rivers, creeks or lakes - where they cross or visibly border major highways, is an important step to fostering greater awareness and stewardship of these water bodies. Signage by 'provincial highways', as they are officially known, is under the jurisdiction of Alberta Transportation.  (Signage in urban centres or by township or range roads, is typically governed by the local municipality or county.)

Resources:

  • Criteria for signage of a water body visible from provincial highway (Alberta Transportation download - coming soon, please register your interest)
  • Alberta Transportation's process for signage of water bodies that meet the criteria (download coming soon!)
  • Support information for additional types of signage ('how to' suggestions for interpretative signage: water bodies, watersheds, different types of highways) - coming soon, please register your interest!
  • Read about an experience of signing on municipal roads (coming soon!)
  • Read about an experience of signing within a First Nation community / bilingual signage (coming soon!)

III: Creating Fact Sheets for Water Bodies and Other Initiatives

Background: Publishing information about the water body can help encourage collective efforts to restore or maintain a water body. Each water body has a story to tell, whether its from the perspective of an ecologist, a historian, or from the memories of times past shared around that river, creek, lake or wetland from a local resident or farmer or from elders of the First Nation community. Information on water bodies exists in a variety of sources from the minds of our elders and seniors, to provincial archives, government databases, local libraries and a plethora of on-line sources.

Given their potential for high public visibility, water bodies by major highways provide the main initial focus of this component.  Some funding support is available to support an honorarium and expenses associated with gathering information about your water body for the fact and information sheet, courtesy of Alberta Historical Resources Foundation.   At this time, we are particularly looking for those interested in working on a fact and information sheet for the following rivers, creeks, lakes and more (downloads).

The fact and information sheets for the selected water bodies will have a common format and be designed to have a professional look. Graphic design of the sheets will be pursued for the full series and contracted by Land Stewardship Centre of Canada.  

Resources:

  • List of water bodies we are seeking fact sheet development for rivers, creeks, lakes and more (downloads)
  • Community Researcher's Pack to support content for fact and information sheet (includes: terms of reference, sources list, honoraria and expense claim form, interview guidance, declaration of sources) - coming soon: please register your interest
  • Additional ways of sharing information about your local water body (how to do a press release or request media presence at an event, on-line information share sites) - coming soon!)
  • Associated School Activities - lesson plans and activities (weblinks - coming soon!)
  • Read about an experience of gathering content for the fact and information sheet  (coming soon!)
  • Download an example fact and information sheet (coming soon!)
FUTURE PLANS: In addition to the fact sheets, this section of the toolkit will also include links to other ways you can share information with the wider community about your local creek, river, lake or wetland - or any other water body of interest!  We also hope to be able to link basic data associated with water bodies to a map showing their location and discussions are underway with data and base map providers. At this time, with Alberta Stewardship Network, we are evaluating  the use of the on-line Watershed Stewardship Directory Atlas of Alberta as a base map for this.  It is anticipated that Fact sheets for water bodies in the province will be housed collectively on-line (grouped by major watershed or by appropriate watershed planning and advisory council for the larger watershed of which the particular water body is part).  
 

Partners, Contributors and Sponsors


Special Thanks to: Fisheries & Oceans Canada

Sponsors:
Fisheries & Oceans Canada - Stewardship-in-Action
Alberta Historical Resources Foundation

Alberta Historical Resources Foundation
Partners/Contributors:
Land Stewardship Centre of Canada (lead agency)
Alberta Stewardship Network (Steering Committee member)
Battle River Watershed Alliance (Steering Committee member; pilot group)
First Nations (Alberta) Technical Services Advisory Group (Steering Committee member)
Alberta Fish & Game Association (Steering Committee member)
North Saskatchewan Watershed Alliance (Steering Committee member)
Alberta Culture and Community Spirit - Geographical Names Program (Steering Committee member)
Alberta Environment
Alberta Transportation
Alberta Sustainable Resource Department - Fish & Wildlife
Inside Education
Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada – PFRA
Alberta Recreational Canoe Association

For More Information:

Click here to register interest or questions

For our most up-to-date budget information, or if you or your organization would like more information on how you can contribute to this project, please contact us. 

Project Coordinator: Sarah Hipkin, Director of Communications & Education, Land Stewardship Centre of Canada