Bridging the Gap: Edmonton's Next Major River Valley Project
The Wellington Bridge was originally constructed in 1932 and serves as an arterial roadway with four lanes of traffic (2 lanes in each direction), and a sidewalk on each side of the bridge. It is a major link between Edmonton’s city centre and communities to the west. The bridge crosses Ramsey Ravine which features a shared pathway connecting the community of Glenora to the river valley. The bridge is also part of West Central Bike Routes’ 102 Avenue shared-use pathway (SUP).
Replacement of the aging Wellington Bridge is yet another major infrastructure project that is getting underway in Edmonton. Construction is anticipated to begin in mid-September 2025 and will include a new clear-span girder structure with dedicated pathways for pedestrians and cyclists. The project is strategically timed to align with the Valley Line West LRT construction to minimize disruption and is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
Some trees in the project area will be removed to enable construction. A comprehensive vegetation restoration plan is being developed to restore the area post-construction. To protect the local bat population, bat boxes have been installed at two locations south of the bridge, offering alternative roosting sites for bats currently residing in the bridge structure.
Bat and Garter Snake Advisories Hit Edmonton as Seasons Change
For Edmontonians, the end of summer has brought two unique wildlife news stories, focusing on two very different species: bats and garter snakes. Experts say these events are a normal part of the seasonal cycle, and could have to do with how each is migrating to their winter hibernation habitats.
In Alberta, there are at least nine bat species, two of which are endangered due to white-nose syndrome. These bats are a crucial part of our ecosystem, acting as natural pest control by eating insects like mosquitoes, flies, and agricultural pests. In fact, a single little brown bat can eat up to 600 mosquitoes in one hour!
Over the past few weeks, there has been a significant increase in bat sightings across the city. This is primarily due to young bat pups, born in the spring, leaving their roosts to find new territories. These inexperienced fliers are often spotted in unusual places, such as on patios, in garages, or near doorways.
If you encounter a bat, never attempt to handle bats without heavy leather gloves. Like any animal, bats will bite to defend themselves. If a person is bitten by a bat, contact Alberta Health Link at 811 as soon as possible. For additional information on what to do when you see a bat, see Bats in Alberta: What to do if you find a bat.
Alberta Parks has issued a warning to outdoor enthusiasts to watch for migrating garter snakes near the Cooking Lake-Blackfoot Provincial Recreation Area and Miquelon Lake Provincial Park. As the snakes make their way to communal hibernation sites, or hibernacula, drivers should be aware of the increased presence of these common Alberta reptiles.
The province is home to three species of garter snake—red-sided, wandering, and Plains—all of which are now journeying to traditional dens to survive the winter. These hibernacula are often used for many years by hundreds or even thousands of snakes.
The Alberta Capital Airshed, Helping Us Understand Our Air
An airshed is a geographical area where local topography and meteorology limit the dispersion of pollutants away from the area. Alberta Capital Airshed is responsible for monitoring, evaluating, and reporting the outdoor air quality, including the Air Quality Health Index. They also actively engage with communities to raise awareness, share data through knowledge translation, and provide education to individuals and organizations about outdoor air quality, empowering informed decision-making. ACA welcomes members from industry, municipalities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), educational institutions, and the public to join them in working together for cleaner air.
The Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) is a scale that shows the health risks associated with outdoor air quality. It provides a number and related health risk categories to help you understand the potential impacts of air pollution on your health. The AQHI health risk categories range from low (1-3) to very high (10+). Each category represents the level of health risk associated with the current air quality. To see the live air data map for Edmonton and surrounding areas visit Live Air Data Map - Alberta Capital Airshed (ACA).
Additionally, the ACA "Teacher's Corner" provides free, Alberta curriculum-aligned air quality educational resources for educators. The materials are categorized by grade level, offering full resource sets for Grade 5, Grade 9, and Science 30, which include presentations, teacher's guides, and classroom activities. The site offers a variety of printable resources like posters and activity cards, as well as classroom videos.
A Tale of Two Caterpillars
Mark writes:
“I'm sure you'll hear from Botanists saying that Fall Webworm and Forest Tent Caterpillar only do cosmetic damage and the tree will recover, from Entomologists saying that insects are misunderstood, and from Ecologists listing the many species that consider these "pests" to be an important part of the food web, but as a Soil Specialist I'd like to offer another point of view.
A growing number of researchers (AB Andersen, H Atthowe, T Dykstra, H Mella) are demonstrating that only stressed plants succumb to insect invasion. Plants that lack specific nutrients are unable to make corresponding defenses and insects take advantage of that deficiency. The sickest plants are the most vulnerable, but the solution is never to just address the insect, it is also to provide the missing nutrient (V Fernandez, J Kempf), or improve soil with compost and mulch (E Ingham, J White).
When we recognize insects as symptoms of poor plant health our landscapes become much easier and less expensive to maintain. Better advice for people noticing these caterpillar species is to ensure the soil is mostly covered with high-carbon mulch, provide compost in spring and summer, and only use products with the Certified Organic logo.”
Biota - Glass artwork by Keith Walker
Muttart Conservatory main centre court area
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