NSRVCS News - Jan. 30, 2020

Flying Canoë Volant this weekend
This festival, which runs January 30-February 1, is a creative, interactive, cultural event where you can celebrate local history and everything that is great about a long winter’s night. Inspired by the legend of The Flying Canoe and French Canadian, First Nations and Métis traditions, this event celebrates Edmonton's beautiful Mill Creek Ravine and the newly established French Quarter. Events are also held at École Rutherford School and La Cité Francophone.
 
Channel your inner voyageur with light, music, legends and dance! Festival information at https://www.flyingcanoevolant.ca/

Elk in the river valley
A beautiful young Elk was spotted near Suzuki School in the Capilano neighbourhood last week
https://www.instagram.com/p/B7tNH4YA6Bz/?igshid=lgxjhrzqnueq&fbclid=IwAR2VI4I2xZQQPvpETzXHGliQuNbd9xMKUlZndjjeRN-vdBIB4_wzurxj58w
 
The North American elk, or wapiti, is the largest form of the red deer species and are sociable animals. They are seldom found without other elk nearby. Although they may travel widely, each elk is strongly attached to certain localities within its home range. Some in fact have home ranges of only a few square kilometres
 
Settlement of the Canadian prairies deprived the elk herds of their habitat. However, scattered populations continued to exist throughout the forest regions skirting the prairies and in the mountains of the west. Elk are long-lived animals: males survive to an average of 14 years, whereas females live as long as 24 years. Learn more at http://www.hww.ca/en/wildlife/mammals/north-american-elk.html

Funicular to Walterdale bridge trail
This trail takes you to the iconic new Walterdale Bridge through Louise McKinney Park, Irene Parlby Park and Rossdale with river views and big trees to gawk at along the way. Not to mention you’ll pass by historic buildings like the Rossdale Brewery and Rossdale Power Plant.
 
From 100 St, just south of the Hotel MacDonald, take the funicular down to its base, then the elevator and take a right down the trail, following signs for Irene Parlby Park. At the park, you can go off the paved trail and walk closer to the river along the dirt path. The park features lots of benches to stop and admire the view, or a playground for a break if you’re walking with kids.
 
At the end of Irene Parlby park, continue on the trail that goes through an open gate. You’ll pass by a beautiful bench spot and cross a little bridge. The trial is easy, bikes and dogs on-leash allowed and is 1.5 km one way or 3 km there and back. More information at https://rivervalley.ab.ca/news/trailtrek-how-to-100-st-funicular-to-walterdale-bridge/

Children books about the environment
As climate related disasters continue to make headlines, parents today are understandably concerned with raising kids who care about the environment. There are many ways to teach children to take care of the planet and one simple, yet powerful, approach is through books. If you know a good kid’s book about Edmonton’s river valley, let us know!
 
Countless children’s books offer meaningful messages about nature, recycling, environmental activism and more. The link features 25 books that teach kids to care about the environment
https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/childrens-booksenvironment_l_5d66f45de4b063c341fa409c Share river valley event, job posting, or news
If you have a river valley event, job posting, or news that you would like to see published in this newsletter, please send the info to nsrivervalley@gmail.com

Sincerely yours,
Harvey Voogd
North Saskatchewan River Valley Conservation Society
780.691.1712
nsrivervalley@gmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/NSRVCS/
http://www.edmontonrivervalley.org/

NSRVCS News - Jan. 26, 2020

Strathcona Country delight - Riverside nature trail
Riverside nature trail in Strathcona County is a hidden gem of a trail that you can do as either a 5 km in-and-out route, a 5 km loop, or walk 11 km all the way to Fort Saskatchewan and the West River’s Edge trail.
 
Eventually this trail will connect to Edmonton via a pedestrian footbridge over the river to the East End Trails, which are visible from this trailhead. This is an easy-moderate walk on flat gravel and dirt trails with slight inclines. Bikes and dogs on-leash are allowed. There is one garbage can at the trailhead, but no outhouses or bathrooms.
 
To get to the trailhead, follow Township Road 540 all the way west to its termination. You can access Township Road 540 from Sherwood Drive/Range Road 232. The trailhead has a small parking lot. More info at https://rivervalley.ab.ca/trail-treks/trailtrek-how-to-riverside-nature-trail/

Gondola feasibility on Council agenda
A gondola with five stations from Gateway Blvd & 82 Ave to Telus Plaza at 100 St & 100 Ave will be on the Urban Planning Committee’s agenda on January 28. Prairie Sky, the gondola proponent, intends to operate a service 360 days per year for 16 hours per day to satisfy urban commuters and generate a winter city experience that touches the river valley year-round.
 
Prairie Sky wants to generate an events and festival business in West Rossdale. It claims an unprecedented level of engagement with indigenous communities on the significance of the 8000-year history of West Rossdale and states the entire experience of Prairie Sky will share and celebrate the people and the land.
 
Prairie Sky anticipates 3,062,000 trips in the first year from 637,000 unique customers who will ride the system more than once, though it notes ridership forecasts are notoriously fickle. The company wants successful negotiation of an agreement framework with the City of Edmonton by June 2020. To access this item and its two reports, click on agenda item 6.1 at
http://sirepub.edmonton.ca/sirepub/mtgviewer.aspx?meetid=2647&doctype=AGENDA
 
If you wish to speak to this item, contact the Office of the City Clerk at city.clerk@edmonton.ca or 780.496.8178 to register to speak. The other option is to show up before meeting begins at 9.30 am at City Hall and inform the Clerk that you wish to speak.

River valley – Edmonton’s natural climate solution
Our river valley, ravines and natural areas contain a magic machine that sucks carbon out of the air, costs very little, and builds itself. It’s called a tree. Trees are examples of a natural climate solution. They take carbon out of the air and lock it away. Nature is a tool we can use to repair our broken climate. We need to protect, restore and fund Edmonton’s natural climate solutions.
 
The City needs to protect existing natural areas which serve as natural carbon sinks. The removal of these areas due to land conversion leads to the release of carbon and reduction in available carbon sinks. Protection of the City’s natural systems also promotes climate resilience and maximizes the benefits provided by ecosystem services.
 
Edmonton must focus on natural area restoration, a city-wide naturalization program and increased support for the North Saskatchewan river valley and ravine system. We need to develop a program to identify, prioritize, and invest in restoration and naturalization projects.
 
Trees contribute to negative emissions as they sequester carbon and reduce building energy demands due to shading and cooling. Natural climate solutions like planting trees can help Edmonton reach our emissions-reduction targets. Learn more about natural climate solutions by viewing the video at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-S14SjemfAg Share river valley event, job posting, or news
If you have a river valley event, job posting, or news that you would like to see published in this newsletter, please send the info to nsrivervalley@gmail.com
 
Sincerely yours,
Harvey Voogd
North Saskatchewan River Valley Conservation Society
780.691.1712
nsrivervalley@gmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/NSRVCS/
http://www.edmontonrivervalley.org/

NSRVCS News - Jan. 16, 2020

Life under the snow
Snow affects more than just the way the world looks. It alters the lives of creatures living in and beneath it. The role of microbial life beneath the snow may have serious ramifications for how we measure and gauge the effects of global warming. How much carbon microbes release is closely tied to when snow falls.
 
Subnivean microbes also absorb nitrogen from the snow and from decomposing plants in the soil. As snow melts in the spring and these organisms die, nitrogen is freed at precisely the time plants emerging from winter need it to grow. The microbes provide a critical nitrogen banking service for vegetation in seasonally snow-covered ecosystems.
 
Animals like voles and deer mice survive under the snow at the mercy of conditions. Their success in any given year drives ecosystem health. Populations of animals from snowy owls to grizzly bears are, in part, regulated by the number of rodents that survive beneath the snow. The more voles, shrews, and mice there are, the more predators there will be. Learn more at https://www.audubon.org/magazine/november-december-2010/life-under-snow#

Public swimming not in Hawrelak Park lake plans
On January 29, Community and Public Services Committee will discuss potential upgrades to improve the water quality of the lake at Hawrelak Park, that could be done in tandem with the infrastructure upgrades currently being considered to rehabilitate the park. The reports do not consider options for regular public swimming or other public activities that regularly include direct water contact.
 
William Hawrelak Park opened to the public in 1967 with the centrally located lake being the defining feature. The lake is an artificial water body designed as an ornamental park feature. Over the years, the water feature has become a habitat for a variety of waterfowl. The lake is fed primarily by diverting water from the North Saskatchewan River and through surface run-off and natural precipitation. Water is discharged from the lake through the park’s irrigation system, natural evaporation and occasionally by release into the river.
 
The City hosted the first ITU Triathlon World Championship event in 2001 and the lake function was expanded to support the swimming portion of the event. Chemical applications are required to meet the water quality requirements to host the swimming portion of the ITU triathlon race. To access the report and its two attachments, click on agenda item 6.1 at
http://sirepub.edmonton.ca/sirepub/mtgviewer.aspx?meetid=2498&doctype=AGENDA
 
If you wish to speak to this item, contact the Office of the City Clerk at city.clerk@edmonton.ca or 780.496.8178 to register to speak. The other option is to show up before meeting begins at 9.30 am at City Hall and inform the Clerk that you wish to speak.

Songbird that behaves like a raptor
Northern Shrikes hunt insects, snakes, rodents, and small birds. Shrikes are called butcher birds and have been known to take birds as large as Blue Jays and Mourning Doves. They will often impale their victims on a thorn or barbed wire, which is thought to be a way of marking their territory and attracting mates, and for short-term storage of food.
 
Shrikes are only about 10 inches long, but they have a sharp hooked beak like a falcon.  They sit on high perches and scan for prey, then swoop down on it.  Sometimes they hover over the ground to watch for prey.
 
Both male and female Northern Shrikes sing throughout year. The male sings especially in late winter and early spring. These birds breed in the high arctic but there are always some here in the winter. Read more at https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Shrike/overview

Giant ice castle in Hawrelak Park
Step into the ultimate winter wonderland when you visit the enchanting castle that has been crafted by hand using only icicles and water. Ice Castles opened earlier this month.
 
A new galleria room contains rotating exhibits from Edmonton-area artists. Ice Castles also features frozen tunnels, fountains, slides, a throne and cascading towers of ice lit with colour-changing LED lights.
 
The tallest part of the display is about 10 metres. This is Ice Castles fifth year in Edmonton, one of six locations in North America and the only one in Canada. Learn more at
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/ice-castles-hawrelak-edmonton-1.5414412 Share river valley event, job posting, or news
If you have a river valley event, job posting, or news that you would like to see published in this newsletter, please send the info to nsrivervalley@gmail.com
 
Sincerely yours,
Harvey Voogd
North Saskatchewan River Valley Conservation Society
780.691.1712
nsrivervalley@gmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/NSRVCS/
http://www.edmontonrivervalley.org/