River Valley News - May 15/25

The people have spoken, and they chose the magpie!

Galen McDougall photo

You don’t have to look far to find Edmonton’s new city bird. Bird Friendly Edmonton announced on Saturday that the black-billed magpie won top spot out of six year-round resident birds who entered the ring in October.

Nick Carter, with Nature Alberta, said more than 40,000 votes were cast in two rounds of voting. “The magpie got almost 40 per cent of the votes out of the six candidate species,” he added. “People in Edmonton have definitely spoken and it seems like the magpie has really become embraced.”

According to the Canadian Encyclopedia, the magpie belongs to the crow family. Of the 20 magpie species known worldwide, only the black-billed magpie lives in Canada. The iridescent and intelligent bird beat out downy woodpeckers, red-breasted nuthatches, boreal chickadees, the blue jay and northern saw-whet owls.

In 2022, Edmonton became the eighth Canadian city to earn a Bird Friendly City certification from Nature Canada. The black-billed magpie will now represent the city’s ongoing commitment to making itself a safer place for birds.

“We are hoping to have the decision officially recognized by the City of Edmonton,” Carter said. “The magpie gets, I think, hopefully a little bit more respect in the community.” The announcement was made at Big Lake in Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park on World Migratory Bird Day. https://www.ctvnews.ca/edmonton/article/love-it-or-hate-it-magpies-crowned-edmontons-city-bird/

Fulton creek business proposal denied at public hearing

Fulton Creek Business Park photo

A rezoning application that would relocate a creek in southeast Edmonton and remove thousands of trees to allow for more industrial land failed at a public hearing at Edmonton's city hall last Wednesday. The vote ended in a 6-6 tie during the public hearing meeting. 

City administration told council they were in support of the rezoning application after weighing the pros and cons of the project. An approved application would have seen an expansion of 4.9 hectares of land for industrial use and create up to 400 jobs. 

Other public stakeholders like the Edmonton River Valley Conservation Coalition were staunchly opposed to the application. "We're very relieved that this proposal did not pass," Kristine Kowalchuk, coalition chair, told CBC in an interview. 

"This landscape formed over thousands of years, and you can't just replace trees … you can't just replant them and redevelop an ecosystem, a functioning ecosystem, in 10 years," Kowalchuk said, noting the land was found to have at least 20 species of birds in an environmental assessment made public as part of the hearing at city hall. 

"We did a site visit just a few days ago to take a look at this creek, and right now, the creek is full of frogs singing. So it's not a heavily degraded land. This is land that is functioning as important habitat and a wildlife corridor today." https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/business-park-proposal-that-would-relocate-fulton-creek-remove-6-900-trees-fails-to-pass-1.7529293

Hoary bat first identified in Pennsylvania by “Master Pancake”

Jose G. Martinez-Fonseca photo

The hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus) is a species of bat that lives throughout most of North America, including Edmonton. It was first described as a new species in 1796 by Palisot de Beauvois. Beauvois noted that the holotype was collected in the US state of Pennsylvania by an individual identified as "Master Pancake". 

The hoary bat averages 13 to 14.5 cm long with a 40 cm wingspan and a weight of 26 g. It is the largest bat normally found in Canada. Its coat is dense and dark brown, with white tips to the hairs that give the species its 'hoary' appearance for which it is named. Their body is covered in fur except for the undersides of their wings. 

The bat normally roosts alone on trees, hidden in the foliage, but on occasion has been seen in caves with other bats. It prefers woodland, mainly coniferous forests, but hunts over open areas or lakes. It hunts alone and its main food source is moths.

While not listed as threatened or endangered, hoary bats suffer significant mortality from wind turbines. Across the United States in 2005, 40% of all bats killed by wind turbines were hoary bats. One common theory explaining this is that bats are attracted to the tall structure, possibly believing them to be trees that can be used for rest. https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/40523-Lasiurus-cinereus

Time travel on May 24 with ANPC’s “Plants through Time” workshop 

ANPC’s 2025 workshop is happening on May 24th in Red Deer, Alberta. Virtual attendance is also available at a reduced rate. Some of this year’s workshop will highlight how plants, habitats, conservation and people’s knowledge have evolved through time, from decades to thousands of years.

The Keynote Speaker will be Jenny L. McCune with the University of Lethbridge speaking on Plants through Time: From the Distant Past to the Invisible Present. She will be discussing her experiences studying plant communities, highlighting the challenges and intrigue involved in understanding the short-term and long-term history of plants, and discuss these challenges to plant conservation in Canada.

There will be a banquet dinner after the workshop and a short field trip the morning of May 25 to Morris Flewwelling Ranch, located in the Pine Lake Moraine. This is an approximately 30 minutes drive southeast of Red Deer. Find more information and a link to register athttps://anpc.ab.ca/?p=11502.

NSRVCS welcomes a new communications coordinator
Liz says "Thank you Harvey for your years of delightful communications about our wonderful river valley. It has warmed my heart and called me to be more often in the river valley. Thank you Brook Kelela for taking on this volunteer task. I look forward to reading your thoughts and joys about the river valley."

Vital Formation by Liz Ingram, City Hall https://www.edmontonarts.ca/public-art/vital-formation

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 - May 8/25

NSRVCS welcomes a new communications coordinator

Photo of Harvey Voogd

Brook Kelela officially took over responsibility for NSRVCS’s communications on March 10, when Harvey Voogd did not stand for re-election to the Board of Directors. Brook is the editor of the weekly River Valley News online publication, and posts material on Facebook, Instagram and X.

Voogd initiated River Valley News in March 2017 as a biweekly and circulation grew to 528 emails by year’s end. Feedback was positive and every newsletter generated reader response. In 2018, the newsletter became a weekly publication. The newsletter had 2,336 readers at the end of 2024.

Harvey reactivated the Facebook page in October 2018. At the end of 2024, it had 1904 followers. Instagram was added in October 2020 and has grown to over 417 followers. Twitter, now known as X, was activated in February 2022 and has 332+ followers.

“I am delighted that Brook has taken on this creative, exciting and demanding volunteer position,” said Voogd. “She has been in charge of the newsletter and social media accounts since the beginning of January and done an excellent job! I look forward to her energy and enthusiasm reshaping NSRVCS’ communication platforms.”

Brook stays in constant awe of the river valley and enjoys finding any excuse to travel through or pass by it. She is passionate about environmental social theory and strives to think critically about nature, society and environmental governance. Brook believes that we can’t begin to address our current environmental landscape without first making room for all the diverse perspectives and histories tied to these spaces. https://emeraldfoundation.ca/aef_awards/the-north-saskatchewan-river-valley-conservation-societys-river-valley-newsletter/ 

Legislature library yet to find the missing “Saskatchewan River gold” key

Provincial Archives of Alberta photo

Deposits of precious metals, like gold and platinum, can be found in alluvial deposits (sands and gravels) in modern or ancient river beds, and occasionally glacial deposits. The gold found in the North Saskatchewan River occurs as flakes that are so small, they are commonly known as gold flour.

Although there are no nuggets to be found in the North Saskatchewan River, gold mining activity in the Edmonton area still peaked between 1895 and 1897. It’s estimated that over 300 miners arrived to work the sand bars along a 100km stretch of the river upstream and downstream of Edmonton.

By 1898, gold mining activity slowed substantially along the NSRV as miners moved northward to join the more lucrative Klondike Gold Rush in the Yukon. However, despite the short life and limited quantities of gold recovered in the Edmonton region, North Saskatchewan River gold did enjoy a notable moment in the spotlight.

On September 3, 1912, the Governor General of Canada, HRH the Duke of Connaught, officially opened Alberta’s new, and still unfinished, Legislature Building. He did so by “unlocking” the front doors of the building with a ceremonial key made of “Saskatchewan River gold.”

This ceremonial gold key went missing almost immediately after the opening ceremony and despite many efforts by research staff of the Legislature Library to track it down, it has never been relocated. https://albertashistoricplaces.com/2016/07/28/edmontons-river-valley-the-glitter-of-the-gold-rush/

Foams used to fight wildfires sometimes contain “forever chemicals”

Rocky View County photo

While the visible scars of wildfires include scorched landscapes and displaced communities, there are some consequences that go unnoticed—especially when it comes to water quality. Here are six surprising ways that wildfires affect drinkable water.

To start, wildfires strip the land of trees and plants which stabilize the soil, causing rainwater to carry ash, sediment and pollutants into rivers and lakes that would otherwise be filtered by the natural systems. This can make drinking water treatment more difficult and expensive. 

Second, burnt vegetation and exposed soil releases nutrients such as phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium into waterways, which can trigger algal blooms. These blooms can be deadly to vegetation, fish, and shore birds, as well as pose health risks to humans and pets if the water is ingested. 

Third, wildfires can release heavy metals and chemicals. As plants and structures burn, they release metals like iron and manganese into the environment. When rain falls on scorched land, these metals can wash into waterbodies, contaminating drinking water supplies. 

Firefighting efforts can also contribute to water contamination. Foams used in fighting wildfires sometimes contain substances like per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and heavy metals. PFAS are known as “forever chemicals” because they persist in the environment and accumulate in water sources long after they are initially applied. 

In addition, the high temperatures from fires can melt plastic water pipes above and below ground, releasing benzene and other harmful chemicals directly into the water supply impacting water storage systems, treatment plants, and distribution systems. 

Finally, ash, soil, and debris from vegetation that enter waterways during a wildfire increase the levels of carbon in the water. This carbon can react with chlorine in water treatment plants to create disinfection byproducts, a class of chemicals known to be harmful to human health. https://www.swimdrinkfish.ca/blog/how-do-wildfires-impact-drinking-water

Parade II by Gabe Wong, Lewis Farms Transit Centre https://www.edmontonarts.ca/public-art/parade-ii  

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 - May 1/25

Mark Steiger photo

The 2025 golf season has now begun!

The City, in partnership with proshop contractors and food services providers, welcomes all golfers back to its three municipal courses and driving range for the 2025 season. Whether you are a beginner or seasoned golfer, a City golf course has something to offer.

Victoria Golf Course opened on Wednesday, April 23 and Riverside Golf Course opened on Thursday, April 24. Victoria Driving Range is also now open from 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. To add, Rundle Golf Course is open with tee times running from 7 a.m. - 7:30 p.m., weather dependent. Rundle is also excited to announce that the new local Shortees restaurant is now open.

Tee times and lessons for youth and adults can be booked at movelearnplay.ca. Edmontonians can visit edmonton.ca/golf for deals, such as the Golf Rewards card, updates and more information on lessons and programs.

City of Edmonton photo

Proposal to expand business park relocates creek and downs 6,900 trees

The Fulton Creek Business Park in southeast Edmonton has requested a rezoning to expand its footprint. This rezoning would require a creek to be relocated and the loss of 6,900 mature trees. City administration supports the business park’s application to rezone natural land for industrial purposes in order to create a more contiguous land parcel.

This relocation of the creek “poses considerable ecological risks,” according to a report from city administration. It would clear 5.38 hectares of the North Saskatchewan River Valley and Ravine System that acts as wildlife habitat and a carbon sink.

The applicant would plant approximately 6,000 new trees where the creek is proposed to be relocated, but city administration said it would take decades for the new area to reach the same level of ecosystem functioning. As a result, this project would hinder the city’s goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.

The application also explains how the business park has engaged with First Nations communities. It states that, while six nations asked how they could be involved and/or expressed concerns about the project, no Indigenous communities have opposed the proposal. To add, Paul and Siksika Nations have written non-objection letters.

The River Valley Alliance supports the project and is excited about the new trails that are planned for the relocated creek. However, Sierra Club Canada, an environmental conservation group, said it does not support relocating the creek. And the Edmonton River Valley Conservation Coalition has stated its concern about the project and asks to be kept informed. https://edmonton.taproot.news/briefs/2025/04/25/business-park-proposes-relocating-creek-and-downing-6900-trees-to-expand?utm_source=Taproot+Edmonton&utm_campaign=dc361153b9-TAPROOTYEG_SPEAKINGMUNI_305&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_ef1adf0932-dc361153b9-421448676&mc_cid=dc361153b9&mc_eid=2d1826a535

Creeping buttercup causes skin blisters and deters herbivores with toxin
Creeping buttercup (Ranunculus repens) is usually a less hairy plant than other buttercup species. It has long-stalked basal leaves which are larger and looser than those of tall buttercup and are divided into three stalked leaflets. Its stem leaves are smaller and relatively fewer. 

Creeping buttercup is even less common in the Edmonton area than tall, but it does form two or three extensive patches in different places close to the creek in Whitemud Park South. Its occurrence there is likely related to the fact that some bridge renovation work was carried out in recent years. 

The species is a typical flower of hayfields in northern Europe. And a fun fact is that just like all other buttercups, it also contains a toxin. This is a bitter tasting substance that deters herbivores. The sap can also cause skin blisters.

https://www.enps.ca/post/plant-profile-buttercups-part-3?utm_source=emailoctopus&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Wildflower%20News%20April%202025

Keith Diakiw photo

Learn from the land on Saturday July 19 with Keith Diakiw

Embark on a journey into Edmonton’s past this summer on the River Valley Askiy-Geo Discovery Tour. This hike centers around historic and sacred sites within the Edmonton River Valley. And it follows the footsteps of Indigenous Peoples who continue to visit this sacred gathering place on Turtle Island for the last 10,000 years.

The walk is led by Keith Diakiw, a professional Métis geologist and the GEO (Geo Experience Officer) of Talking Rock Tours, the world’s first geo-educational adventure company that is 100% Indigenous-owned and operated. On this tour, Keith shares the extensive history of our region’s fur trade, stretching across 112 years from 1795 to 1907.

Two upcoming walks are scheduled for Saturday July 19th at 9AM – 1PM and 12PM to 4PM. Spaces are limited, and registration will close when the event reaches capacity on July 14, 2025. https://www.ualberta.ca/en/events/external-relations/river-valley-askiy-geo-discovery-tour-with-keith-diakiw.html

April 17 Newsletter
Lise says "I love your newsletter and always learn something new! The article about dabbling/diving ducks was very informative. I so enjoy watching the dabbling ducks on our reservoir pond in Nanton, with the orange legs in the air. This year we hardly have any ducks! Just one pair of mallards. We are suffering drought again and the pond is quite shallow so this must be why, as I learned from the article. I’ve seen at least five different species there in the past. We need to protect our water sources, for our sake and the sake of our wildlife. Thanks for the newsletter!
Oh and I’ve always admired the Mansions and didn’t know the origin story! Merci!"

Jeanna writes "Thanks for printing Megan and Matt’s comments. I was one of the naysayers, but I didn’t understand where the [bike skills] park was to be located. This makes some sense."

Message from the Edmonton Mountain Bike Alliance
"The Edmonton Mountain Bike Alliance (“EMBA”) would like to take this opportunity to provide some information regarding our volunteer Community-Led Project to fund and build the Bike Skills Park which is a component of the City Council approved 2013 Queen Elizabeth Park Master Plan.

The Bike Park will be located on a brownfield site, the former location of an EPCOR waste water treatment facility. Attached are a recent photograph of the main park site and the site drawing from the Appendices to the 2013 Master Plan showing its location, as well as some photographs of the area where the flow trails are to be located. The photos present a small sampling of the fire damage to this area and the proliferation of garbage and hazardous materials. As the drawing illustrates, the site is centrally located near the event space and toboggan hill developed in conjunction with the Walterdale bridge construction. So in addition to being adjacent to an active recreation area, this amenity will serve to rehabilitate this neglected former industrial site and is conveniently located for easy bicycle access by cyclists of all ages. Those who drive to the Skills Park will find ample parking at Kinsmen Park.

Mountain biking and winter fat biking have grown exponentially in popularity this century. Mountain bikers place a high value on the opportunities to respectfully enjoy nature presented by our vast system of natural surface trails. As the only group doing maintenance work on this trail system, EMBA volunteers work to ensure that the trails are sustainable, reduce environmental impacts, and are available for use by all citizens, including hikers, trail runners and their families. This work is highly regulated through our relationship with the City of Edmonton. As an illustration, the permission to do preliminary route planning for the Queen Elizabeth flow trails contains 66 conditions, authored by eight different City departments, including the requirement for a project specific tree plan.

At the conclusion of the extensive public and Indigenous consultations completed for development of the Queen Elizabeth Park Master Plan, the Bike Park component received 81% public support. EMBA volunteers have worked for years to secure recreation and community facility specific grants from the City of Edmonton and Province of Alberta to make this project a reality. We also believe that this project will result in fewer unsanctioned jumps and flow trails, by providing professionally built and maintained amenities, catering to riders of all ages and skill levels.

In a metropolitan area of over one million people, with a City Plan focused on growth to a population of two million, we strongly believe that this centrally located, admission free park will make a profound positive impact on our quality of life. For the most up-to-date information on the Bike Park project, please visit the project website: https://www.edmbikepark.ca/"

Message from the Edmonton River Valley Conservation Coalition
"A letter in the last River Valley News suggested Edmonton River Valley Conservation Coalition outright opposes a bike skills park. However, as ERVCC's petition against the proposed QE Park location clearly states, after noting the province is giving $613,000 and the city $407,000 to the project, 'The province's portion could be used to fund a bike skills park in a more appropriate part of the river valley (perhaps Sunridge Ski Area, which is wider and more open, has lifts, and has an adjacent parking lot) and the city's portion could instead go to finally funding a River Valley Trails Strategy, which city council has repeatedly stated it would like to undertake but does not have the money for." 

ERVCC would like to see the Edmonton Mountain Bike Alliance demonstrate its care for nature by acknowledging the river valley is a regionally significant wildlife corridor. A corridor only works if the entire length is intact, and Edmonton's central river valley is currently the main pinch point between the Rockies and Hudson's Bay. This area is in need of restoration, not further degradation. The developer's rendering of what the bike skills park would look like here shows it would be anything but natural. This is why we are calling for it to be relocated. The story of the entire river valley is one of restoration; planners in the past did not say, "this area is a garbage dump, we'd might as well just ruin it some more." Instead, they got to work restoring and protecting it, for the benefit of everyone.

Furthermore, there is no guarantee that this park will prevent degradation of other parts of the river valley. EMBA already claimed that if they were allowed to "maintain" the trails, the cutting of illegal trails and building of illegal infrastructure in the river valley would stop. Nothing stopped. Then they said if they could ride in preservation areas, the illegal activity would stop. It just got worse. We would like to see EMBA help close the illegal trails, remove the illegal infrastructure, and publicly discourage mountain bikers from using illegal trails and cutting new ones, to respect the river valley as a wildlife corridor. 

We have a responsibility to everyone in the watershed to protect the wildlife corridor. And within the city, the river valley's enjoyment is for everyone. That includes mountain bikers. However, all use needs to respect and prioritize nature. We need to work together to ensure smart planning and enforcement to ensure this river valley is protected and restored for our own benefit and for the generations to come."

Storm Sketch by Jim Stokes, Edmonton City Hall https://www.edmontonarts.ca/public-art/storm-sketch

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