River Valley News - May 12, 2022

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May 12, 2022

Edmonton earns bird friendly city designation
Edmonton has become the eighth city in Canada to earn the designation of certified Bird Friendly City. NSRVCS has worked in collaboration with Nature Canada and other community organizations to make our city a haven for wild birds.

The city’s bird friendly actions include: Protecting natural habitat to conserve, restore, grow and connect natural spaces to support biodiversity; A strong commitment to climate change mitigation and adaptation; Celebrating World Migratory Bird Day; and Providing opportunities for residents, including youth, to learn about and appreciate wild birds around the city.

Birds play an essential role in maintaining healthy and resilient ecosystems in our communities. But there are three billion fewer birds in North America today than 50 years ago. Much of these losses are caused by human activities. As urban expansion continues, cities must act quickly to ensure that bird populations are protected and supported. Learn more about the bird friendly city certification program https://naturecanada.ca/defend-nature/how-you-help-us-take-action/bfc/?

Lu Carbyn Nature Sanctuary promotes avian conservation
This beautiful 155-acre property, a haven for birds and other wildlife, opened to the public in July 2021. It was donated to the Edmonton & Area Land Trust by Lu Carbyn, a renowned wildlife biologist and Adjunct Professor at the University of Alberta.

The sanctuary is located close to the Lily Lake Natural Area, as well as several other Crown Lands, significant lakes, natural areas, and other types of protected lands. Collectively, they provide extraordinarily significant habitat for wildlife, and conserving this quarter section assures landscape connectivity for wildlife as they live and move in the area.

Several small lakes and wetlands provide breeding areas for many types of waterfowl, including loons and trumpeter swans. A wide array of other wildlife, both large and small, are frequently spotted here or on the wildlife cameras here, including toads, fishers, beavers, deer, moose, and even bears and cougars.

Dogs are not allowed, and trails are prone to flooding in some spots. The sanctuary is an hour drive west from Edmonton and recommended for intermediate or experienced hikers due to the remote location. Directions, parking, trails and visiting guidelines at https://www.ealt.ca/lu-carbyn-nature-sanctuary

Cleaning up the river and using it for recreation are modern notions
In the early days, recreation in the Edmonton Area took place on land. The river was a stinky stream, carrying away waster from homes, businesses, sawmills, coal mines, brick yards, tanneries, breweries, meat packing plants, dairies, and hog, chicken, turkey, and mink farms.

In 1882, the first European sporting organization in Edmonton, the Edmonton Cricket Club, was formed. Edmonton had a population of 350 at the that time and was not yet a town. When Edmonton became a city in 1905, part of the celebration was a cricket play down.

A Rugby Football Club was organized next, followed by lacrosse in 1883. Organized baseball emerged in 1884, the Edmonton Rifle Association in 1886, Edmonton Tennis Club in 1891, and finally hockey clubs in 1894, in both Edmonton and Strathcona.

Edmonton’s first golf club came into being in 1896. By 1899, there were women hocky clubs in Edmonton. Text from Living in the Shed by Billie Milholland, published by the North Saskatchewan Watershed Alliance https://archive.org/details/livinginshedalbe00milh/

Edmonton Paddlers Boat & Gear Swap – Location change
After much work & marketing, the City of Edmonton has asked that we move the location to the Kinsmen Centre overflow grass parking lot, which is just beyond the main parking lots. Details at https://ceyanacanoeclub.wildapricot.org/event-4768929

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 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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May 5, 2022

River Valley News - May 5, 2022

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May 5, 2022

Gibbons Cactus Prairie a piece of badlands near Edmonton
The Gibbons Cactus Prairie is a desert-like area located in Gibbons. The cactus patches are along the dry south facing slopes of the Sturgeon River Valley on town parkland. This is the only known place on public land where cacti grow wild in the Edmonton Metropolitan Region.

The Sturgeon River has cut deep into the bedrock in this area, exposing sediments laid down 60 to 130 million years ago. This has created a unique badlands zone along about 750m of the Sturgeon’s west bank that is similar to what you’d encounter near Drumheller.

Some 155 plant species are here, including the brittle prickly pear cactus, native grasses, as well as butterflies, birds, and other animals. It has features of both forest and riparian zone habitats, and has been mostly undisturbed by farming, making it a sort of living museum of the pre-settlement prairie.

There is concern regarding damage caused by snowmobiles and off-road vehicles. Learn more at https://www.stalberttoday.ca/local-news/gibbons-badlands-under-threat-kathleen-mpulubusi-patsy-cotterill-2149162

Coyote awareness and perception survey
The City of Edmonton would like to know how you perceive urban coyotes and their behaviours, how you would react when you see a coyote in various scenarios, and when you would call 311 or expect assistance from the City. Participate in the survey until May 15 at https://bit.ly/38v2iEs

Buffalo Bean flower an indicator bison bull hunt can begin
This native plant’s bright yellow flowers bloom in mid to late May or early June and its range extends from southern Alberta to Edmonton. The name buffalo bean comes from First Nations people who used its flowering time to indicate that bison bulls were now ready for the spring hunt.

Indigenous people made a dye from the flowers to colour skin bags and arrows. Petals were dried and smoked, and the flowers were also used as a cure for stomach disease. The brew was drunk, causing the person to pass what was bad. Roots were used for a horse medicine.

Buffalo bean provides both nectar and pollen for bees, unlike flowers of other species which provide only one or the other. More at https://plantwatch.naturealberta.ca/choose-your-plants/golden-bean/index.html

Edmonton naturalization and tree planting survey
The City would like to understand perspectives on naturalization and tree planting, identify opportunities for education and awareness, understand at a high level how Edmontonians use naturalized and open spaces in the City and where they would be supportive of naturalization and tree planting.

This feedback will be used to inform the greening initiatives and help prioritize and sequence naturalization and tree planting citywide. Survey is open until May 16 at https://bit.ly/3vV4PQf

Where is City leadership on eco-system degradation
Myron writes “My home backs onto a ravine, as do the homes of thirty other Grandview residents. Since the first trails were cut in 2016, we have seen a steady erosion of our ravine eco-system. We too have observed the improper and excessive cutting of trees to make way for new mountain bike trails.

I have tried to work with City officials, seeking to implement change. Over time, I have discovered that there is no there there. In other words, responsibility for our river valley is diffused over several departments; individual employees are empathetic to preserving our river valley, but they can’t seem to -in aggregate- implement changes that discernibly improve this diminishing resource. Who will provide leadership?”

River Valley Patrol needed
Ivan emailed “Found the letter last week about a patrol, especially for destruction of trees for the sake of mountain biking, really interesting. I live near Ravine Drive. Mountain bikers have been cutting trails in the valley for years.

I met with Parks Enforcement on one occasion and was told that without solid proof of cutting down trees and cutting trails, there was not much they could do. Unfortunately, there are mountain bikers in the City who feel very entitled. They are the few who make the vast majority of cyclists look bad.”

Proposed Edmonton-Strathcona County footbridge connecting 167 Avenue to Township Road 540.

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April 28, 2022

River Valley News - April 28, 2022

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April 28, 2022

Ease up on mowing and participate in No Mow May
Started in the U.K. and picking up steam in Canada, No Mow May is a call to help wild pollinators and other wildlife in the greenspaces where we live. Trying to increase your lawn’s diversity is important for urban nature because lawns are one of the largest green spaces in our cities. Canada has an estimated 6.2 million lawns.

If you imagine dozens and dozens of backyards doing things to improve habitat for native pollinators and migratory birds, this can have a big impact on nature and the quality of our urban ecosystems. By letting flowers bloom on your lawn, including dandelions, you can provide an important source of nectar and pollen for wild bees, butterflies, and other pollinating insects.

Bees and butterflies are the most familiar insect pollinators, while moths, flies, beetles, and ants are lesser-known pollinators that still play an important role. In recent years, there has been a sharp decline in some pollinator populations due to climate change, habitat loss, loss of native plants, and pesticides.

A U.K. study found that changing a mowing routine and allowing plants to flower can create enough nectar for ten times more pollinators. It is suggested to mow your lawn every four weeks, which results in a higher number of flowers on your lawn. Tips on how to attract pollinators at https://www.natureconservancy.ca/en/blog/archive/saving-the-bees.html#.YmmUjdrMI2x

Edmonton Paddlers Boat & Gear Swap
This event will be Saturday, May 14 from 10am to 1pm at ReMax Field Parking Lot #2, between Rosedale Rd & 104 St. There is no fee for buyers, but all purchases are cash only. Sellers need to preregister.

Items will include canoes, kayaks, and stand up paddleboards, as well as paddling and camping gear and gadgets. Proceeds to support the Edmonton Paddling Centres Association programs and facilities.

Paddlers think the only way to see the river valley is by canoe, kayak, or SUP, as it involves so little environmental disturbance. And what better way to enhance sustainability than to assist the reuse of useful paddling and camping gear. More info and sellers’ preregistration at https://ceyanacanoeclub.wildapricot.org/event-4768929

Edmonton Folk Music Festival history
With the Folk Festival returning this August, after a two-year hiatus due to covid, you may be interested in the history of how this annual music event in the river valley began. In 1980, with Alberta celebrating its 75th anniversary, an idea was hatched to hold a folk festival in Edmonton.

The province granted the fledgling organization $89,000 out of the $75 million it had set aside for anniversary celebrations. Gold Bar Park was the site of the first festival, and most acts as well as the PA system, came thanks to a concurrent anniversary folk celebration, the Travelling Goodtime Alberta Medicine Show.

The province, in the anniversary year, donated money to have a school bus full of artists like Sylvia Tyson, Connie Kaldor and Stan Rogers travel around Alberta performing. That was the nucleus of the first Edmonton Folk Music Festival.

The second year didn’t go as smoothly. Funding did not come immediately for the festival and it looked as if 1980’s celebration might be a one-time event. However, SummerFest, the board set up to fund Edmonton’s summer festivals, decided to give the festival $15,000 after first refusing to fund it.

After 1981, EFMF’s funding became more or less assured, and the festival found a permanent home in Gallagher Park. Learn more at https://citymuseumedmonton.ca/2015/08/05/edmonton-folk-fest-how-did-we-get-here/

River Valley Patrol needed
Johanus writes “I love our river valley and strongly believe in preserving it as much as possible, so do not like it when people go off trail, especially when they are in protected areas.

I was running on a trail when we came across a spot where someone had chopped down a large tree and built it into a drop-off ramp for mountain biking. This was a large ramp, at least 3m long and over a metre high. They had bent back and broken several bushes to clear the way.

Further on we found where a healthy tree had been cut into pieces and placed over bushes which stop soil erosion, pushing them down so that the bushes wouldn't stick out onto the trail and interfere with quick bike travel in that area.

I wonder if there is anything that can be done about this kind of behaviour? What does the City do about it? Is there any kind of patrol that monitors this? If not, I am thinking of trying to organize a volunteer patrol.”