River Valley News - Aug 22/24

New pedestrian and cyclist bridge will improve access to Whitemud Creek

Construction has begun on a new bridge as part of stage two of the Terwillegar Drive Expansion project. The 142 St pedestrian/cyclist bridge will improve access and connectivity for walking, cycling, and rolling in southwest Edmonton and beyond. Construction is underway and expected to be completed in 2025.

The bridge, located across Whitemud Drive near 142 St, will link Brookside and Brookview neighbourhoods to existing active transportation routes. It is a major component of a broader initiative to enhance pedestrian and active transportation infrastructure through the Terwillegar Drive Expansion project.

Key project upgrades include a new shared pathway along the east side of Terwillegar Drive, dedicated pedestrian and cyclist bridge adjacent to the westbound Rainbow Valley Bridge providing access to Whitemud Creek, and upgrades to the shared pathway from 122 Street to 142 Street.

Stage three of the project will include a new pedestrian bridge spanning Anthony Henday Drive between Terwillegar Drive and Rabbit Hill Road. https://www.edmonton.ca/projects_plans/terwillegar_drive/142-street-pedestrian-cyclist-bridge

Volunteers needed to take part in EALT annual snake relocation project

Since 2022, the Edmonton and Area Land Trust has conducted a relocation initiative for Red-sided garter snakes close to one of its conservation lands, maskihkîy meskanaw or Glory Hills. EALT was informed of a garter snake hibernaculum located just outside the boundary of Glory Hills Conservation Land in Parkland County.

 
The current snake den is next to a paved township road in the ditch, making snakes that move onto the road for warmth at risk of being run over. This snake den was unintentionally created when road access and a culvert were developed for the subdivision.

In collaboration with Alberta Government Species at Risk Biologists and an Alberta Conservation Association biologist and herptile expert, EALT created an artificial hibernaculum at the Glory Hills property in late summer 2022. In early fall, biologists and volunteers monitored the old hibernaculum for snakes returning to this location, trapped them, and relocated them to the new hibernaculum.

Results suggest that EALT has been successful in encouraging snakes to use the human-made hibernaculum. This was further corroborated by findings in Spring 2024 trapping sessions during the snakes' spring emergence. EALT is now recruiting volunteers to assist with the Fall relocation effort, which will take place from September 3 to October 11. https://mailchi.mp/ealt/february-volunteer-opportunities-bkk9jb42s0-17392852?e=3224277182

Fort Saskatchewan to Lamoureux bike tour on September 15

River Valley Alliance is hosting a scenic 20km bike tour at a leisurely pace on Sunday, September 15 from 9:30am to 11:30am. Perfect for everyday riders, this adventure takes you along smooth trails. Whether you are a seasoned cyclist or just looking for a fun way to enjoy the outdoors, this ride offers a wonderful way to connect with nature.

The tour begins at the picturesque West Rivers Edge Pavilion with a 5km loop around the West Rivers Edge trail. After returning to the pavilion, the ride will continue across the underslung bridge to Lamoureux. On the way back, the ride will take an additional smaller loop to highlight the new City Centre Park. The entire route is approximately 20 km, mostly on paved trails.

Bring your own bike or E-bike and ensure your bike is in good working order. Each participant must have a helmet and a bell to participate in this ride. A RVA member will be available to assist with any bike issues and will have a first-aid kit on hand. Dress according to the weather conditions and bring a water bottle to stay hydrated. Parking is available at West Rivers Edge Pavilion. Register at https://rivervalley.ab.ca/events/fort-saskatchewan-lamoureux-rva-bike-tour/

Thimbleweed a flowering plant in the buttercup family

Anemone cylindrica is one of several plants known as thimbleweed. It is a perennial plant native to the prairie ecozone region including the Edmonton ecozone, where it can be found growing in prairies, in dry open woods, along roadsides and in pastures.

Thimbleweed is an upright growing, clump forming herbaceous species of flowering plant in the buttercup family. Plants grow 30–100 centimetres tall, flowering early summer but often found flowering till late summer, the flowers are greenish white.

After flowering, the fruits are produced in dense rounded columned spikes 20–35 millimetres long. When the fruits, called achenes, are ripe they have gray-white colored, densely woolly styles, that allow them to blow away in the wind. The genus name is said to be derived from the Greek word anemos meaning wind. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anemone_cylindrica

Black flies found worldwide except in Antarctica

Lise writes “Love your newsletter. Really enjoyed the Black Fly NFB video. Typical NFB, reminded me of being a kid in school. I could almost hear the film projector rolling. We never saw that one in school though. Made me smile, though I too, hate black flies!”

The Dove of Peace by Edward J. Williams, Gallagher Park in Cloverdale

Dean Stanford Blade photo

https://www.edmontonarts.ca/public-art/the-dove-of-peace

Comment or Contributions

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

Email river valley photos, event information, comments, or questions to nsrivervalley@gmail.com

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River Valley News - Aug 15/24

How fire ready is Edmonton’s river valley

Rick Bremness photo

As an out-of-control wildfire rages on in Jasper National Park, many Edmontonians have wondered about the wildfire risk in their home community. Edmonton's river valley along the North Saskatchewan River is one of the largest urban parks in Canada with 4,500 hectares of natural area, said Courtney Teliske, a City of Edmonton ecologist working in natural areas.

Specialists say several factors make Edmonton more resistant to a fast-spreading wildfire. "The likelihood of a fire getting out of control in the city of Edmonton is much lower than, say, in the northern parts of the province," Teliske said in an interview.

A major factor is the type of tree that dominates Edmonton's natural areas. Deciduous, leafy trees like poplar, birch and aspen are slower to ignite and spread, while coniferous trees like pine and spruce burn more quickly. 

The sap in evergreen trees is easy fuel for fast-moving wildfires, such as the one that is burning in Jasper National Park. The trees grow closely together so the tightly packed needles make it easier for fire to jump from treetop to treetop. 

One higher-risk area of Edmonton is in the northwest along Anthony Henday Drive, where evergreens are clustered, Teliske said. "They're like black spruce, they're really dense. There's a lot of trees that have died. So those are our higher-risk areas from a fuel standpoint." Structures and homes can also be high risk, especially on south-facing slopes along the banks and river valley, she said. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/how-fire-ready-is-edmonton-what-canada-s-largest-urban-park-means-for-wildfire-risk-1.7292882

Residents concerned with plan to apply chemical to Guinevere Wetlands

Residents of the Glastonbury community are concerned by a plan to apply the chemical piscicide rotenone to eradicate invasive goldfish in their local stormwater pond. They believe the proposal poses significant risks, not only to the targeted species but also to a wide array of other aquatic and semi-aquatic life, including species that play a pivotal role in their local ecosystem.

When the neighbourhood was first up for development in 1998, the planners and City of Edmonton recognized the unique and vibrant ecosystem that was the 'Triple 5 Wetlands'. The enabling bylaws incorporated the wetlands into the storm water management system to preserve that natural ecosystem for future generations.

Alberta Environment and Protected Areas (AEPA), which manages fisheries in the province, is the primary sponsor for the rotenone treatment. For AEPA, one goldfish is too many. Since AEPA does not recognize the ponds as a wetland, they don’t need to follow their own guidance in protecting the Guinevere ponds.

They have directed Epcor to eliminate all goldfish from the ponds as it operates the storm water facilities in the Glastonbury area into which the ponds are integrated. Epcor also does not recognize Guinevere as a wetland. They only view the ponds as a storm water facility. This activity is planned for late August 24, 2024.

The ponds serve as a vibrant habitat for diverse wildlife, including pelicans, ducks, muskrats, osprey, blue herons, geese, seagulls and many other species. This summer, as many as 25 pelicans were observed in the pond. The proposed use of Rotenone, a toxin with known links to severe health risks such as Parkinson’s disease and cancer, raises profound concerns about potential harm to these animals and the humans who live in proximity to this area. https://protect-our-guinevere-wetlands.communibee.ca/

Lady’s leek an edible perennial plant native to YEG ecozone

Known as lady’s leek or nodding onion, Allium cernuum, is a perennial plant native to the prairie ecozone region including the Edmonton ecozone. A native plant is a plant species that exists in a particular region without ever having been introduced by humans. 

It is edible and all parts of this plant have an oniony smell when cut or bruised. Although the bulbs and leaves of this plant were once used in cooking stews or eaten raw, it is not generally considered to be of culinary value today.

This species grows in partial shade to full sun and prefers moist to mesic (somewhat well-drained), sandy, rocky, or loamy soils. It is commonly found in prairies, drier areas of wetlands, and along lakeshores. It is easiest to grow from bulbs but can also be grown from seed.

Nodding onion is an attractive and easy-to-grow species that is beneficial to pollinators. Its nectar and pollen are attractive to many species of bees and its foliage and bulbs are a food source for a wide variety of insects.

https://www.inaturalist.org/guide_taxa/1575114

The Hudson’s Bay company plan for a model community

Elaine writes “I have plans to create a history wall about Queen Mary Park. No one knows we used to be the Prince Rupert Golf Club, prior to housing development in QMP.  This was the first golf course in Edmonton. I have a couple of pictures of the original clubhouse building. I managed to obtain an original score card from the course and a set of old clubs that were used. The groundskeeper used to live in a small second-floor apartment in the clubhouse.

Funny tidbit, when they were removing sod from around the clubhouse after officially closing, people in the neighbourhood borrowed from the stacks of grass that was to be relocated to river valley, for the new homes being built in Queen Mary Park. I want to share this story in the main lobby of our community league facility. If your readers have information, photos or articles about the Prince Rupert Golf Course, please contact me at rentals@queenmarypark.ca ”

Editor’s Note - The golf course was built in 1929-30 by the Hudson's Bay Company, who operated it until 1951. In 1950 the course was sold to the City of Edmonton. The Prince Rupert neighbourhood takes its name from the golf course. The course was named after Prince Rupert (1619-1682), the first governor of the HBC

Ritu, Prayer Cloth by Carla Costuros, Edmonton City Hall

https://www.edmontonarts.ca/public-art/ritu-prayer-cloth

Comment or Contributions

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

Email river valley photos, event information, comments, or questions to nsrivervalley@gmail.com

Forward this link to anyone you think may want to sign up for this newsletter https://www.edmontonrivervalley.org/newsletter-signup

River Valley News - Aug 8/24

Beaverhill lake water level ebbs and flows according to rainfall

An important bird migratory habitat, Beaverhill lake in 1987 was designated a Ramsar site under the 1971 Ramsar Convention, an international agreement that identifies and protects wetlands of importance to migratory birds. As a prairie pothole lake, its water level has fluctuated depending on drought or rainfall.

William Rowland remembered “In 1885, the buffalo had to go to the springs in the centre of Beaverhill lake for water.” In the fall of 1899, a rainy cycle that lasted until 1903 replaced the dry years and the lake is reported to have risen 18 feet.

The level remained much the same until 1950-51, when the lake came close to drying up completely. It completely dried up in 2006, the primary cause being a ten-year cycle of drought beginning in 1995.

The birds of Beaverhill lake have been under the eyes of ornithologists since 1920, when Professors William Rowan and Robert Lister of the University of Alberta Zoology department began their 37-year study. The lake and surrounding wetland have been a Ducks Unlimited Canada project since 1969. https://archive.org/details/livinginshedalbe00milh/

The problem with commercial wildflower seed mixes

The Alberta Native Plant Council has been very vocal in warning against the dangers of commercial wildflower seed mixes. The seeds in commercially produced packets are usually of cultivated plants or are invariably not native to the place of purchase of the packet. They are designed to contain mainly annuals which will germinate and grow easily to produce a colourful show that appeals to consumers.

Sometimes plants that have been legally categorized as weeds can be included in these seed mixes, which, because they grow and fruit easily, can become invasive. Examples are baby's-breath (Gypsophila paniculata) and Iceland poppy (Papaver nudicaule).

In contrast, the Edmonton Native Plant Society sells seed, one species per packet, and seedlings which are native to our local area. As perennials, once established they should live out their natural lifespans and provide a reliable resource of pollen and nectar for local pollinators.

Creating a true native wildflower garden is a difficult task. Bottom line, sowing a commercial wildflower seed mix is not a shortcut to having an authentic wildflower garden and does not provide a long-term benefit to the local ecology. https://www.enps.ca/

The Hudson’s Bay company plan for a model community

When the pre-WW1 real estate boom went bust, the Hudson’s Bay Company was left with 600 acres of unsold land north of downtown. For years, the area comprising the modern-day Queen Mary Park, Central McDougall, and Prince Rupert neighbourhoods sat as a mostly undeveloped expanse of shrub and marsh.

That began to change in 1920, when an acute housing shortage in Edmonton led Hudson’s Bay to offer to supply new homes to veterans and to help kickstart development on its empty tracts. The Company envisioned a model community. They would sell pre-built homes constructed to high-standards and a set of uniform plans.

The City proved enthusiastic and formally ordered the extension of utilities into the reserve on August 10, 1920. Construction on the Bay’s first eight homes began shortly thereafter. Each was located on roomy fifty-foot lots immediately south of Portage (Kingsway) Avenue between 107th and 108th Streets.

The Beaver, the Bay’s employee magazine, stated “They will be moderate in size and fully modern. They will not be elaborate or pretentious in respect of non-essential details, but will be built along practical lines, of good, sound material. Particular attention is being given to a satisfactory heating system.” More followed over the coming years, raising the total number of homes in the small colony to eighteen.

Unfortunately for the Bay, their plans to transform their land reserve fizzled away as an economic slump set in and the Great Depression later took hold. It would not be until the late-1940s when Queen Mary Park and Central McDougall finally filled with housing. https://www.forgottenedmonton.com/blog/the-hudsons-bay-co-houses

Black flies found worldwide except in Antarctica

Black flies are small, dark-coloured insects. Of the world’s more than 2,300 species, at least 164 are found in Canada. They can be found virtually anywhere there is flowing water to serve as habitat for larvae. In Canada, they are especially abundant in northern wooded areas and near large rivers and lake outlets.

Because female black flies need to feed on blood to lay eggs, their biting can be a nuisance to humans and other animals Males do not bite and are rarely seen. Both sexes consume nectar to give them energy to fly, while females use nutrients from blood to produce eggs. Unlike mosquitoes, adult black flies are mainly active during the day.

North American Indigenous peoples deterred black flies using naturally occurring insect repellents found in bracket fungi and in plants such as fireweed and sweetgrass.

A Canadian folk song by Wade Hemsworth, The Black Fly Song, recounts the torment caused by these insects while surveying for a hydroelectric dam in Northern Ontario. The song was adapted as a National Film Board animated film. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/black-fly

City naturalization survey needs your participation

Shelagh writes “I tried taking the survey but it finished after I answered No to the first question. I let the city tech support know.”

Continuum by Cezary and Danielle Gajewski, Century Park LRT station

https://www.edmontonarts.ca/public-art/continuum

Comment or Contributions

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

Email river valley photos, event information, comments, or questions to nsrivervalley@gmail.com

Forward this link to anyone you think may want to sign up for this newsletter https://www.edmontonrivervalley.org/newsletter-signup