Tobogganing opportunities at city parks
You may be wondering where one can feel the urge to soar down a snow-covered hill and feel the brisk wind nip your cheeks. City maintained toboggan hills, with safe runouts, safety signage and reduced hazards, are located at several locations.
Hills can be found at Emily Murphy, Gallagher, Government House, Queen Elizabeth, Rundle and Whitemud parks https://www.edmonton.ca/activities_parks_recreation/toboggan-hills
Dogs are not permitted at city toboggan hills. Tobogganing can result in serious injuries. Though the city is concerned for safety, it is your responsibility. Slide at your own risk.
There are more tobogganing opportunities than the hills the city maintains. If you’re looking for places to toboggan with the family, the following link is a great place to start. It is filled with suggestions for toddlers to thrill-seekers, so you will find something for everyone.
Check out 11 Family Friendly Toboggan Hills in Edmonton + Area at
https://justanotheredmontonmommy.com/2016/12/friendly-toboggan-hills-edmonton-yegkids/
Edmonton city water history
In 1902, when the city’s population was 4,176 Edmontonians paid $1.25/m3 for water hauled by bucket from the river by a waterman. Edmonton Water and Light Company constructed the first water treatment plant at Rossdale in 1903.
It included one pumphouse complete with one low lift and one high lift pump and one sedimentation basin. It cost $140,000 to build, served 5,500 people with 16km of watermains, 55 fire hydrants, 103 water services, and one 330,000 litre elevated storage tank.
In 1914, when city’s population was 72,516 residents paid $0.09/m3 for water. People who had a tub and toilet paid an extra $8 yearly. In 2003, when the city’s population reached 700,000 Edmontonians paid $1.10/m3 for water and could have tubs and toilets at no extra cost.
By then Epcor had 3,600km of water pipe, 14,000 hydrants, 200,000 water services, and 800 million litres of water storage. Text and information from Living in the Shed by Billie Milholland, published by the North Saskatchewan River Watershed Alliance https://www.nswa.ab.ca/
Solitary predators provide valuable pest control
Edmonton's badger population is on the rise as they expand their hunting grounds in the capital region into the city, feasting on a growing number of city-dwelling pocket gophers, says Colleen Cassady St. Clair, a conservation biologist at the University of Alberta.
Native to Alberta, American badger have distinctive black-and-white facial markings with a line down the bridge of their noses. They prefer grasslands, especially areas where small rodents are plentiful. Badgers are opportunistic nocturnal omnivores. While considered essential to the prairie landscape, they are rarely seen.
Historically, badger territory didn't reach far outside southern Alberta but the critters have been increasingly common in northern and central parts of the province over the past decade, Cassady St. Clair said.
Trail cameras have captured a badger ambling through heavy snow on the northern outskirts of the city. Set up across Edmonton, the cameras are used in an ongoing survey of urban wildlife that is a collaboration between city wildlife officials and researchers at the U of A. More at https://www.cbc.ca/news/
Cross-country skiing in the river valley
The City of Edmonton has many groomed cross-country ski trails, and our river valley is home to many of them. These trails are accessible, open to everyone and regularly groomed to accommodate different levels of skiers. Most trails are set for both classic and skate skiing cross-country techniques. Information at
https://www.edmonton.ca/activities_parks_recreation/cross-country-skiing
The word “Ski” comes from the Old Norse “Skid,” meaning a board or a piece of split wood. Archeological finds show that skis have been used in large parts of Siberia and Northern Europe for 5-6000 years. The Edmonton Nordic Ski Club, founded in 1978, is one of Canada’s largest Nordic ski clubs.
Over the past 20 years, the club has developed the ski trail system in Goldbar and Goldstick parks. The two adjoining river valley parks feature 10 kilometres of interconnected, illuminated ski trails ranging from the very easy to the more challenging. Information at https://www.edmontonnordic.ca/
Fisher a predator of porcupines
Richard writes “Thanks for the interesting info on the fisher/porcupine relationship. As you probably know, fishers were re-introduced to Elk Island Park and were monitored there by the Friends of Elk Island. I have only seen one in my life on the high trail of the Canmore Nordic Center. Thanks again for your ongoing monitoring of the NSRV.”
Chilly winter weather part of YEG lore
Patrick emails “I remember that winter well. For me, it became a personal baseline for cold. Edmonton is the only place I’ve lived where my car tires would freeze overnight and, in the morning, I’d bump along on square tires for the first mile or so. Since 1972, I’ve lived in several places (B.C., MT, ID and CO) but none were as cold as Edmonton.”
Comment or contribution
If you have a comment, concern, or question, contact us at nsrivervalley@gmail.com Please also email us river valley photos or event information. Your friends, neighbours and colleagues can sign up for this newsletter on our web site https://www.edmontonrivervalley.org/
Sincerely yours,
Harvey Voogd
North Saskatchewan River Valley Conservation Society
780.691.1712
