Protecting Edmonton’s South-West Ribbon of Green

Edmonton’s Conservation Challenge

As with many major centers in Canada, Edmonton has experienced explosive growth in housing and industrial development over the last 10 years.  Indeed, Edmonton’s footprint has now reached 684 square kilometres, making it one of the largest urban centers by area in all of North America. 

Unfortunately, despite the City’s many recent sustainability initiatives, parks creation and conservation designations have not kept pace with its urban sprawl.  This is especially concerning since survey after survey confirms that residents feel a strong connection to Edmonton’s remaining wild spaces, and believe the City should act quickly and decisively to protect its most valued natural assets for future generations.

Edmonton’s Unprecedented Conservation Opportunity

Located in Edmonton’s southwest corner is a 500 hectare world-class natural area which could be used in perpetuity for the purposes of public enjoyment, education, and conservation. With another economic boom anticipated it is important to act now if Edmonton’s most important, and last remaining, largely undisturbed natural area is to be protected. 

Big Island/Woodbend Natural Area:  Urban Biodiversity at Its Best

Proposed by the North Saskatchewan River Valley Conservation Society as an ideal candidate area for permanent protection, the Big Island/Woodbend Natural Area lies in the City’s southwest corner, between Winterburn Road (215 Street) and the eastern bank of the North Saskatchewan River Valley.  Spanning approximately 500 hectares it is Edmonton’s largest and most complex natural area, containing:

•          Edmonton’s largest and most distinctive riparian complex of wetlands and springs;

•          a rich and diverse fishery and an important backwater river channel;

•          the City’s only intact sand dunes;

•          habitat of the Capital Region’s largest population of deer, other wildlife; and

•          an old growth forest.

 

The entire Natural Area proposed for protection is shown within the green line in the Google map.  This region of Edmonton’s river value has been identified by the City of Edmonton’s Office of Natural Areas as one of only two primary biodiversity core areas remaining within Edmonton in its Natural Connections Strategic Plan.

The Big Island/Woodbend Natural Area presents a unique opportunity to preserve natural lands in the river valley that have been largely unchanged since Edmonton became a gathering place for fur traders and First Nations peoples.  Protecting this wild area would:

•          represent a significant commitment by the City to its own conservation goals;

•          contribute to the conservation vision of the River Valley Alliance and Provincial land use planning initiatives;

•          provide an economical and accessible wilderness experience for the public’s pure enjoyment of nature within the City of Edmonton; and

•          preserve an environmentally significant and vulnerable area for wildlife, conservation education and scientific research.

 

For a more detailed report outlining the attributes of this special area please go to <link to full report>

•          Big Island: an important historical recreational area that was proposed in Edmonton’s River of Green to be one of five major parks in the river valley.

•          Old growth forest: a largely unlogged majestic poplar and white spruce tree stand of over 110 years old.

•          Woodbend Natural Area (“Bigger Island”) composed of:

o   a distinctive riparian complex of wetlands and springs,

o   a rich and diverse fishery of 27 species,

o   an important backwater channel along the river, and

o   habitat for the Capital Region’s largest population of white-tailed and mule deer, as well as moose, porcupines, and other large and small mammals, amphibians and birds.

•         Steep sided ravine:

o   Edmonton’s only east-west oriented ravine with very steep banks and unique wildlife and vegetative characteristics;

o   a critical corridor for moose and deer, and

o   contains Edmonton’s only known natural occurrence of Common Juniper.

•          Significant Natural Area NW384:

o   Edmonton’s first natural area dedicated for conservation by the City,

o   contains one of the City’s last white birch-dominated tree stands, which is uncommon in Edmonton's upland areas, and

o   contains Edmonton’s only intact sand dunes.

•          The Wild East side: eastern river bank that includes a floodplain, steep banks and natural wetlands.

Providing new communities with wilderness opportunities: The Big Island/Woodbend Natural Area is the last remaining natural area of significant size in Edmonton’s river valley.  It is the City’s most extensive, largely undisturbed natural resource.  Such a resource cannot be recreated, especially in the midst of a growing urban population.