River Valley News - March 31, 2022

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March 31, 2022

Edmonton-Strathcona County Footbridge Survey
This footbridge will link Edmonton to Strathcona County and connect to the trail systems within the North Saskatchewan River Valley. It will connect 167 Avenue on the Edmonton side to Township Road 540 on the Strathcona County side of the river.

The City of Edmonton, Strathcona County and the River Valley Alliance are partners in funding the planning, design, and construction of the new footbridge over the North Saskatchewan River.

Participate in a survey about the preliminary design for the proposed footbridge and open spaces on each side of the North Saskatchewan River until April 8 at
https://www.edmonton.ca/projects_plans/roads/edmonton-strathcona-county-footbridge

Off-leash dogs and impact on wildlife
As someone who likes to walk my dog off-leash in Edmonton’s river valley, a recent story from Calgary about the impact of off-leash dogs was enlightening.

Three years of pictures snapped between 2017-2020 by a Calgary wildlife camera program showed thousands of dogs on the run in parks where leashing is required. Of 20,000 photos collected of dogs off-leash, 89 per cent were in areas where they should have been on a lead.

Spring is an important time for birds. Nature Calgary's Kaya Konopnicki said it's a time they are getting ready to mate and nest. Some birds in Alberta don't build their homes high up in trees. Instead, shorebird species and killdeer nest by burrowing on the ground.

When dogs walk through grassy areas they could be treading on nests or scaring the parents away. "When their parents are scared away from the nest that way, they might not return," Konopnicki said. "All of a sudden you've got a failed nesting season. And there is a concern these little effects start building up."

Wildlife groups want dog owners to understand the rules aren't random, they help animals thrive. Read more at https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/calgary-off-leash-dogs-1.6399337

From gravel pit to gem, West River’s Edge park in Fort Saskatchewan
Across the river from northeast Edmonton, this 194-hectare green space includes winter ski trails, an enormous enclosed off-leash dog park with a pond, a wetland conservation area, an interpretive forest, and a boat launch onto the North Saskatchewan River.

Walking trails lead to a variety of lookout points providing beautiful views of the river and its banks. Fishing, hiking, and mountain biking are this park’s main attractions. Trail options include paved and a network of single track mountain bike trails.

The parks services manager for the City of Fort Saskatchewan says it is a far cry from the area's previous life as a gravel quarry a quarter century ago. "This is our gem, this is our park we are developing over time and it's really important to the community," says Jenelle Hart. "This past winter when we provided skating on the pond for the first time it was the talk of the town." Learn more at https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/west-river-s-edge-fort-saskatchewan-wendi-crowe-nordic-ski-club-jenelle-hart-1.6370970

Library River
Long ago the library flowed
Knowledge was borrowed, stories well told
Wisdom historical spoken by heart
Hear, beside Library River

Poem by Garth Ukrainetz, presented on the Walterdale Bridge
March 15-18, 2022.

Comment or contribution
Please note that articles may not reflect the position of NSRVCS. River Valley News is meant to be a clearinghouse for the wide variety of opinions and ideas about Edmonton’s River Valley.

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

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March 24, 2022

River Valley News - March 24, 2022

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March 24, 2022

River Valley can’t be everyone’s outdoor playground
In an Edmonton Journal opinion piece, P.J. Cotterill says greater river valley access provides obvious benefits for recreation and for “getting in touch with nature,” but human presence offers little advantage to natural ecosystems. An example of how increased access militates against ecological integrity is the Terwillegar Park footbridge.

Mountain bikers fresh from the Terwillegar trails have created a network of ever-widening dirt trails in Oleskiw’s riparian forest, including right alongside the river. However, the bikers are not the only culprits: hikers, runners, sledders, dog-walkers, view-seekers and dogs also use many of these trails and promote their proliferation.

The result is that the river valley is now showing a patchwork of human disturbance that destroys vegetation and soil structure, reduces habitat and connectivity for wildlife, increases erosion, introduces invasive weeds and looks unsightly.

If the river valley is to survive as a natural corridor rather than a splintered and degraded city park of impoverished wildness, ecologically literate Edmontonians will have to undergo a paradigm shift in thinking and behaviour. Council, administration and Indigenous peoples must lead the way to a widespread culture of respect for and appreciation of the river valley’s naturalness.

The city must ditch the assumption that the finite space of the river valley can meet the outdoor recreational needs of an infinite number of people, even with wise management. Instead, it must look to enlarging (through restoration) and appropriating (bringing management plans onstream) the city’s green network in the uplands. Read the opinion piece at https://edmontonjournal.com/opinion/columnists/opinion-edmontons-river-valley-cant-be-everyones-outdoor-playground

Paranormal tours at Fort Edmonton Park
Fort Edmonton Park is giving visitors the ultimate tour of its most haunted buildings from March 20-April 27. Tours will feature paranormal equipment, such as electromagnetic field readers, motion detectors, and infrared night vision cameras to help capture any supernatural events.

The three hour guided tour will take you to three of the park's most haunted locations, Mellon Farm House, Egge’s Stopping House and the Firkins House, to explore and hear how paranormal investigations take place, and the stories behind the park's most chilling ghost stories. Information at https://www.fortedmontonpark.ca/events/featured-events/paranormaltours

Belgravia Arts Park Labyrinth
Described as a community jewel, the Belgravia Arts Park at the corner of 115 Street and 73 Avenue was redeveloped with an artistic flair in 2008. The park’s open design, variety of sculptures, and outdoor labyrinth invite play and reflection.

There is a sign near the labyrinth that explains what it is and is not: “The labyrinth is not a maze. There are no tricks to it and no dead ends. It has a single circuitous path that winds its way into the centre. The person walking it uses the same path to return from the centre and the entrance then becomes the exit.”

The sign explains who the labyrinth is for: “The path is in full view, which allows a person to be quiet and focus internally. Some people come with questions, others just to slow down and take time out from a busy life.” More about the park at https://transforming.edmonton.ca/closer-to-home-belgravia-arts-park/

Rich dinosaur history in conservation lands
Coates conservation land is an 80 acre natural area in Leduc County open to the public under the stewardship of the Edmonton and Area Land Trust. A 1.3 km trail meanders through the forest to the bottom of Willow Creek which connects with the North Saskatchewan River a few kilometres away.

In the early 1990s Hadrosaur footprints were extracted from the area via helicopter and brought to the Royal Tyrrell Museum. Shortly after that they found Albertosaurus skin impressions as well as dinosaur bones.

"It's a pretty cool story," says Philip Currie, paleontology professor at the University of Alberta. The skin impression of an Albertosaurus, a type of tyrannosaur, was found at the bottom of the creek. The fossil may have fallen from the cliff above although, Currie says, they weren't able to pinpoint the exact spot.

It's now in the collections of the Royal Tyrell Museum in Drumheller, where researchers are still studying it. "In fact, it has attracted a lot of attention over the years because skin impressions of tyrannosaurs are pretty rare," Currie says. More at https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/coates-conservation-lands-nikki-paskar-dinosaur-leduc-county-ealt-1.6386972

Whitemud Reserve and Ribbon of Green
Ray writes “I live near Whitemud Ravine and am a long term user of the River Valley, both walking and cycling. I am concerned at the number of casual trails that have spouted up, deliberately made and others growing with casual use, including my own as a walker/hiker.

The city should do a survey of casual trails, create a steering policy committee with representatives from users, people who walk, run, dog walk or cycle the trails with the aim of creating a plan for trails other than the city made. Some non-authorized casual trails should be closed and restored, and others improved. I believe that a specialist in soil erosion should be included in such a committee. If we don't do surveys and create plans, the entire Ribbon of Green will eventually look like the Whitemud ravine.”

Incline railway, Edmonton’s first funicular.

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

Guest User

March 18, 2022

River Valley News - March 17, 2022

Guest User

March 18, 2022

Hawrelak park closure and construction plan continues
Executive Committee’s agenda on March 23, includes agenda item William Hawrelak Park – Environmental Impact Assessment and Site Location Study. Council approval is needed so construction can begin in 2023. The current construction plan includes a full park closure for a duration of up to 3 years.

This would start in spring 2023 with most of the work being completed by fall 2024. Many people are concerned about this lengthy loss of park space. The city says although a full park closure is impactful, it allows the best opportunity to minimize park downtime for day users and avoid impacts to festival organizers over an extended period of years as in a staged approach.

Hawrelak Park opened in 1967 and is the most intensively used park in Edmonton. Prior to the park opening, the area served as a gravel pit in the 1950s. Small portions of the park are located within the City’s Flood Protection Overlay.

Members of the public may participate at Committee meetings in person or remotely. To present, contact the City Clerk at city.clerk@edmonton.ca or 780-496-8178. Executive Committee begins at 9:30am on March 23.

To read the three reports, click on agenda item 6.4 at
https://pub-edmonton.escribemeetings.com/Meeting.aspx?Id=ab98dfb3-b8d3-487a-b0d2-370c6fbd308b&Agenda=Agenda&lang=English

Edmonton region national urban park process formally begins
On March 10, Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Tourism and Edmonton MP, announced the launch of the pre-feasibility phase to explore the creation of a national urban park in the Edmonton region.

Parks Canada and the City of Edmonton will work closely with Indigenous partners to ensure that a national urban park in the Edmonton region showcases Indigenous stewardship, voices, and stories, and offers opportunities for connections to the land and water based on Indigenous knowledge and values.

A national urban park in the Edmonton region will mean better access to quality green space for Edmontonians and promote better mental and physical wellbeing as people spend more time in nature. It would also create jobs, strengthen the local economy, and compliment the City of Edmonton’s tourism.

For nature, urban green spaces provide habitat for animals, including species at risk, and can serve as crucial corridors for wildlife. They are great examples of nature-based climate solutions, helping to cool cities and absorb rainwater during extreme weather events. They can contribute to Canada’s climate change objectives by sequestering carbon, and to Canada’s commitment to conserve 25 per cent of its lands and waters by 2025, working toward 30 percent by 2030. Watch announcement at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heIW6MiECfE

Howling coyote sculpture part of the fun at this playground
Sir Wilfrid Laurier Park, more commonly known as Laurier Park, is named after Canada’s eighth Prime Minister. Its amenities include a natural playground, which was the first of its kind in Edmonton. The elongated playscape features the iconic howling coyote sculpture alongside a timber tower, multiple log climbers and other kinetic play pieces.

The desire for a natural play space evolved through public engagement with neighbourhood residents. Neighbours indicated a strong preference for natural materials and non-prescriptive play opportunities.

The one-of-a-kind howling coyote is a unique sculptural play piece to represent a prevalent predator in the River Valley. The design of the coyote maximizes play value in a relatively small footprint. Children can explore the inside of the canine as well as crawl and climb up multiple routes on the exterior of the sculpture. Learn more about the playground at https://www.earthscapeplay.com/project/sir-wilfrid-laurier-park-edmonton-coyote-playground/

Gray Catbird able to mimic other birds
Eric writes “When Environmental Impact Assessments were done for the Funicular and Valley LRT, they showed a fairly high incidence of bird life on the north bank, which was covered with shrubbery. The grey catbird was identified as one of the birds occupying the north bank of the river. Both projects, which are close to each other, required the removal of shrubbery. Unfortunately, measuring cumulative effects was not one of the features of either of the EIAs. One hopes the modernization of the river valley ARP process will correct this.”

An Ode to Spring
Vicky says “My son took this video https://youtu.be/-hwo4uKeESw in Spring 2021 at Beaverhill Lake, approximately 60 km southeast of Edmonton. Beaverhill Lake formerly drained through a creek in its north end to the North Saskatchewan River, but no longer due to recent drought conditions. Conservation of wetlands is so important; more than 20,000 shorebirds land on this lake annually. I call this video An Ode to Spring.”