Summer 2008Volume 14 No. 3

Finding Alberta’slast best hopeOnce the most widespread and plentiful of east slopes trout species, nativewestslope cutthroat troutnow teeter on the edge ofthe Species at Risk list...So where do we go, and what do we do to protect them?by Mike Robinson & Brian Meagher

Currents is Trout Unlimited Canada’s national newsletter. We are proud to be published in The Canadian Fly Fisher.

Sear

chin

g fo

r p

ure

-str

ain

cu

tth

roat

tro

ut

in A

lber

ta.

Mik

e R

ob

inso

n p

ho

to.

There are many different issues facing native fish species across Canada, including the introduction of non-

native species, habitat alteration and water quality. The cumulative impact of these influences has forced changes in how provincial and federal governments protect these important species.

Westslope cutthroat trout (Oncorhyn-chus clarkii lewisi) in Alberta have been classified as threatened by the Commit-tee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. This native species may soon be listed within the federal Species at Risk Act which would essentially offer a different level of protection for these populations through the federal Fisher-ies Act.

The initial task was to identify waters containing cutthroat trout populations, collect tissue samples to determine whether they were pure native remnant populations versus those displaying evidence of hybridization with rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and iden-tifying impassable barriers on these streams.

Another aspect of the survey was to identify any barren waters that might pro-vide suitable habitat where self-sustain-ing populations of westslope cutthroat trout could be established upstream of barriers. These barren waters could be the best way of preserving genetically unique populations of westslope cut-throat trout in streams that are likely to

A team was assembled that could identify the issues facing this species and take the necessary steps towards the Alberta population’s recovery. The team included The Department of Fish-eries and Oceans (DFO), Alberta Sus-tainable Resource Development, Parks Canada and Trout Unlimited Canada. In 2007 sampling was conducted by two teams of two. One of the key players in this field work was Mike Robinson, an employee of Interior Reforestation Co. Ltd, who had done graduate work on westslope cutthroat trout. The effort will continue again in 2008 to complete some of the sections that could not be accessed in 2007 due to the extreme for-est fire hazard.

strategies for the protection of Alberta’s dwindling pure-strain cutthroat trout

2 | CURRENTS:VOLUME14,NO.3•SUMMER 2008

be extirpated due to invasion by exotics. Nearly 200 sites were sampled between July and October of 2007. This project will greatly add insight to the status of westslope cutthroat trout in Alberta.

All fish captured were identified, weighed and measured for length to identify population health. A key part of the process was to obtain a fin clip from each cutthroat trout for genetic analysis to identify pure native strains within each watershed. DNA lab analysis is cur-rently being completed. A portion of the funding for this fieldwork came directly from Trout Unlimited Canada’s Coldwa-ter Conservation Fund program.

This past winter, DFO developed and posted a public consultation workbook regarding the listing of westslope cut-throat trout on their website. The data is now being compiled from this activity

and the results will be available short-ly. Once the fieldwork components are completed and the DNA work is final-ized, the next step of the process will be the development of a recovery plan for Alberta populations. This process will involve a variety of stakeholders, includ-ing Trout Unlimited Canada.

If you would like more detailed infor-mation on this issue or other Species at Risk, please do not hesitate to contact us at www.tucanada.org.

In the species survival game, Alberta’s westslope cutthroat have gone head to head with the competition — and lost. Displacement and hybridization by introduced rainbow trout means few genetically pure strains still sur-vive within the province. Finding bar-ren waters suitable for self-sustaining cutthroat trout populations upstream of impassable barriers could be

Finding Alberta’s last best hope...

the best way to preserve genetically pure strains of westslope cutthroat in streams where they otherwise are likely to be extirpated due to continued hybridization or invasion by exotics. Karl A. Geist illustrations.

Mik

e R

ob

inso

n p

ho

tos.

TROUTUNLIMITEDCANADA’SNATIONALNEWSLETTER | 3

Trout Unlimited Canada has over 30 chapters in 8 provinces across Cana-da. These chapters make up the grass

roots part of our organization. Without these chapters support and hard work

“on-the-ground” we would cease to ex-ist. Often people will ask “what does achapter do?” or “what happens when Ijoin a chapter, what work goes on?” Two chapters in Nova Scotia, theCumberland County River En-hancement Association andTusket River Chapter are twogreat examples of what anactive TUC chapter canaccomplish. As welook back onthe year2007

and pro-gress intothe summer of 2008 these two chapters show what it means to be active.

Cumberland County River Enhancement AssociationHabitat Restoration and Stock Enhancement Work

The Cumberland County River En-hancement Association Chapter (CCREA) continued to work on habi-

tat restoration projects in the River Phil-ip watershed. These projects focus on stabilizing cold water in-stream habitat for brook trout and Atlantic salmon. In 2008, in-stream restoration is planned again for 2nd River, Polly Brook, Black River and Little River.

The objectives of this project are:An assessment of the current state of the river, including identification of key processes and root causes of in-stability. This would be followed by development of a restoration strategy that prioritizes the areas in the great-est need of stabilization (based on the

•

need to restore healthy cold water fish habitat, and protect riparian habitats) while also identifying the areas that are the best candidates for successful restoration.

YARMOUTH

TUSKET RIVER WATERSHEDAll restoration recommendations and work will address the root cause of in-stability, while enhancing aquatic hab-itat and the riverine ecosystem. This project will be used as a model and demonstration for a larger full scale geomorphic watershed assessment for the entire River Philip watershed. The CCREA will also be opening a satellite rearing hatchery in conjunction with Depart-ment of Fisheries and Ocean (DFO) and provincial fisher-ies. This facility will be used for stocking programs using wild salmon and brook trout brood stock. These stocking programs will be smaller in scale and will only be used to jump start populations in areas where we have completed res-toration work.

Scientific Monitoring ProgramsCommunity Aquatic Monitoring Pro-gram is a DFO program that the CCREA participates in. This program looks at species biodiversity and richness in the River Philip and Pugwash River estuar-ies. Once a month, the CCREA seine sev-eral sites in each estuary and record the number of individual species of fish and their abundance. We also record salinity levels, water temperatures, and collect water and bottom soil samples.

•

AMHERST

RIVER PHILIP WATERSHED

This data is then forwarded to DFO for analysis and recording. The program will give a long term pic-ture into the health of the estuaries of these two systems.

The CCREA also conducts electro-fishing and monitors several sites within River Philip watershed each year for ju-venile Atlantic salmon densities.

Spring Atlantic Salmon Research Project (5 year project 2007-2011)In 2007, the CCREA initiated a monitor-ing program on the River Philip for At-lantic salmon. The CCREA uses angler volunteers to angle for black salmon (spawned out Atlantic salmon returning

to sea) to c o l l e c t scale and DNA tis-sue sam-ples. From the scale samples, we are able to d e t e r -m i n e w h e r e

and when these fish went to sea, how many years they were at sea, their overall age, and whether or not they are maiden or repeat spawning fish.

The DNA tissue samples will be ana-lyzed by an outside source to determine how many distinct family groups make up the River Philip’s salmon population. From this data we hope to gain a better understanding of how stable and geneti-cally diverse the River Philip’s popula-tion of Atlantic salmon is. This will aid in stocking programs that the chapter is

N o v a S c o t i a : A Conservation Community

CCREA’s Danny Ripley wrangling Atlantic

salmon broodstock. Author’s photo.

Dynamic examples of what active TUC chapters can accomplish

4 | CURRENTS:VOLUME14,NO.3•SUMMER 2008

A Conservation CommunityAmherst’s Cumberland County River Enhancement Association and the Yarmouth-based Tusket River Chapter

County (with Barrington Municipal High School and the three Elementary feeder Schools — Evelyn Richardson Memorial Elementary, Cape Sable Island Elementary and Forest Ridge Academy — all having put forward a connected plan and budget request).

In addition we have had two other schools express interest in joining the

“movement.” Islands Consolidated and Port Maitland Elementary have indicated they would be interested in doing plan-ning and then joining the groups. Islands is looking at an interpretive trail sur-rounding a watershed near the school; Port Maitland is looking at adopting the Western portion of Beaver River - the part that flows from Darlings Lake behind the school into Port Maitland (Churchill’s Lake) and into Beaver Lake. This latter ef-fort would be heavily subsidized and en-couraged by our Chapter as it is of intense local interest. There is a remnant sea trout run into this system and smallmouth bass seem to be confined to the Port Maitland Lake (Churchill’s Lake)/Cedar Lake and Darling’s Lake portions, while good trout habitat and populations still exist in the flowing parts of the river system particu-larly near Leapfrog and Reuben’s Lakes.

The Chapter sponsored student en-vironment clubs from Meadowfields Community School, South Centennial Elementary and Yarmouth Junior High, who could be seen around the Yarmouth Wal-Mart participating in a major Earth Day clean up. These clubs have adopted Broad Brook which is located behind the Yarmouth Wal-Mart. Seven other student environment clubs from Weymouth Con-solidated, Barrington Municipal High, Evelyn Richardson Memorial Elementary, Forest Ridge Academy, Cape Sable Island Elementary, Hillcrest Academy and Port Maitland Consolidated participated in Earth Day clean up activities all spon-sored by the Tusket River Chapter and supported by our members.

To add an element of fun and excite-ment to the clean up efforts, most of the environment clubs incorporated a geo-caching activity called CITO (Cache In Trash Out) into the day’s activities. The Chapter commends these students and their clubs’ organizers for taking an ac-tive approach to help keep our environ-

involved in with Nova Scotia provincial fisheries and DFO.

Watershed Temperature Monitoring Program

The CCREA is currently monitoring watershed temperatures in the River Phil-ip watershed at several sites throughout the system from June to September. This project requires computer programmed temperature probes (Vemco Ltd.) to be deployed at predetermined sites. These probes are set to record temperature once every hour. Once they are picked up, the data is downloaded on computer and graphed. This data does three im-portant things. First, it gives the chapter an overall idea on how the watershed is doing in temperature for cold water species such as brook trout and Atlantic salmon. Second, it pinpoints tributaries that are the coldest and may benefit the quickest from habitat restoration works. Third, it shows the chapter which trib-utaries and sections of the main river need more riparian restoration to pro-vide more steam shading. This year the program will be expanded to the Farrell River in Parrsborro, which is a small Bay of Fundy brook trout stream.

River Watch Monitor ProgramThe CCREA chapter has long been in-

volved in the River Watch fisheries mon-itoring program. This program trains anglers to be eyes and ears on our wa-tershed and how to deal with observed violations in a non-confrontational way.

Cumberland County article and photos contributed by Danny Ripley, president of the Cumberland County River Enhance-ment Association Chapter.

Tusket River Chapter Trout Unlimited Canada Initiatives

The Tri-County Regional School Board (TCRSB) Environment Clubs Initiative, sponsored by our Chapter, continues

to grow well. We have seven schools in-volved in the Trout Unlimited Canada/TCRSB projects — with the schools now working on both Broad Brook in Yar-mouth (with South Centennial, Yarmouth Junior High and Meadowfields School all having put forward budgets and plans) and the Barrington River in Shelburne

N o v a S c o t i a :

Top photos: Cumberland County River En-hancement Association projects include the removal of this dam on 2nd River, which had blocked spawning access for Atlantic salm-on and trout since the 1930s.

Salmon and trout quickly entered the up-per river, but were unsuccessful at spawn-ing, as years of impoundment had degraded spawning areas, affected pool habitat and diminished streamside bank cover. Since the CCREA started in-stream work, however, salmon redd counts and fry densities have skyrocketed and numbers of brook trout adults and juveniles have increased signifi-cantly.

Bottom photos: In 2006 the CCREA built this fish ladder on Davidson Brook to al-low upstream migration of Atlantic salmon into approximately 30 km sq. of watershed they’d been denied access to for more than 50 years. Photos by Danny Ripley.

TROUTUNLIMITEDCANADA’SNATIONALNEWSLETTER | 5

website at www.riverwatchns.ca.

The website is where potential new members may con-tact River Watch for training, existing members may file online reports of their activities and the general pub-lic may find out about River watch activity. To date the website has been well received and several people have commentedon the ease of use of the online filing system.

River Watch members have now filed an impressive 60 reports since June 2007, ranging from clean up activity of mem-bers to observation reports of illegal ac-tivity which had follow up from enforce-ment. Many of the reports are the simple

“I observed” and the river conditions, which are a brief report of an angler’s ac-tivity, but many also are the result of or-ganized group clean up and river efforts undertaken by the River Watch Monitors. Special mention should be made here of the Valley area River Watch monitors who have held several clean ups of popu-lar fishing areas like Guzzle and Methals Lake and are planning more soon as well as the Yarmouth County River Watch group led by the Tusket River Chapter of Trout Unlimited Canada.

A special point to note, too, these members contacted the Department of Fisheries in response to citizen com-plaints and River Watch Monitor’s ob-servations of a blockage of Beaver River at its mouth which prevented fish from running out into the ocean. The prob-lem was fixed because the River Watch Monitors reported the problem and the Department of Fisheries acted quickly and appropriately.

Signage has been placed at several of the clean up sites which direct the reader to the River Watch website for informa-tion. The public has noticed the efforts with the Methals Road Committee of the Black River Lake Association, pub-

ment clean, healthy and safe for all to enjoy.

As part of the Tusket River Chapter adopt-a-stream project, students also took water samples from various loca-tions along the river and collected data regarding plant and insect life from spe-cific spots. The locations were marked on the Global Positioning System (GPS) and students will revisit the area again to compare plant and insect life. Students were also introduced to the world-wide game of geocaching. Two caches had been hidden along the stream and with the aid of several GPS units, it made for an exciting time for students to try and locate them. Grade 5 students at Wey-mouth Consolidated School used GPS units to find a CITO geocache that con-tained the items needed to participate in the Earth Day events at the school. Once the students found the hidden cache con-taining gloves and garbage bags, they set to work cleaning up the school ground.

River WatchThe Tusket River Chapter was given

the task to “organize, promote and run the Provincial River Watch program on behalf of the Province’s Inland Fisheries Advisory Committee” (IFAC) in June of 2007. The Chapter, with assistance from the Cumberland County River Enhance-ment Association and Trout Unlimited Canada National, has to this point held three River Watch sessions and expanded the River Watch Monitors by 15 people.

The first River Watch session, held on July 11, 2007 in New Minas, involved re-training of 10 River Watch Monitors who had already been in the program, but who are now committed to playing an active role in training new River Watch members in the Valley area. The two other sessions trained the 15 new mem-bers — people who are now recording and reporting their River Watch activities via the River Watch webpage. The Chap-ter has received the training material from the IFAC and has also produced new sig-nage and materials to provide to training sessions for new River Watch Monitors.

In August, the Chapter received finan-cial backing from Trout Unlimited Cana-da’s National Board of Directors to start the program back up. As a result the River Watch program now has its own

are two great examples of what an active TUC chapter can accomplish

Tusket River Chapter volunteers lead a “Cache In, Trash Out” exercise with area schoolchildren. Participants donned gloves and hauled bags to clean up the river banks, while they had an introduction to geocaching. Bill Curry photo.

licly thanking the River Watch volunteers who did the clean up there.

The Tusket River Chapter of Trout Unlimited Canada is continuing to orga-nize, promote and run programs while keeping a database of activity and web-site current as well as planning various training sessions requested by the pub-lic. Future plans are to have a training session in the South Shore area and in Port Morien, Cape Breton. The Chapter would like to thank both the Depart-ment of Inland Fisheries and the IFAC for the opportunity to undertake this impor-tant initiative.

Tusket River Chapter article and photos contributed by Bill Curry, president of the Tusket River Chapter.

6 | CURRENTS:VOLUME14,NO.3•SUMMER 2008

Yellow Fish Road: Is the message getting through?by Roger Kelley

“Sometimes adults should just listen to kids.”

Not a profound or particularly insightful statement, but nonetheless im-portant to the grade four girl participat-ing in a recent Yellow Fish Road™ (YFR) presentation in Calgary.

The YFR’s goal is to help Canadi-ans understand that stormdrains are the doorways to our rivers, lakes and streams and that preventing pollutants from entering our stormdrains is critical to protecting and improving water qual-ity and aquatic habitat. Stormdrain pol-lutants — pet waste, household chemi-cals, paint, oil, fertilizer, etc. — typically come from urban areas. And, typically, the sources of the pollution are you and I, your neighbors, friends and family.

The Calgary student had just finished explaining to everyone that her father washed his car on their driveway and she was anxious to tell him that the soap and dirt ran off the car, down the driveway, into the stormdrain, and into the river. She had just learned that most stormdrains are connected directly torivers, lakes, and streams, not the wastewater treat- ment plant.

Yet, by the time they are old enough to drive vehicles and buy homes this idea of an idyl-lic stream seems to be forgotten or becomes the responsibility of someone else. As adults we forget that individual ac-tions, multiplied by the popula-tion of an urban area, have detri-mental effects on our freshwater resources and thepeople, plants and animals that depend on it. We ignore the neighbor who cleans his cement-caked wheelbarrow into a stormdrain, are inattentive to the amount of fertilizer applied to lawns, sweep the dirt from driveways into the

street, and pretend not to notice oil dripping from a ve-hicle. At the same time we continue to enjoy the bene-fits of clean water and espouse the natural beauty of Canada’s riv-ers, lakes and streams.

Trout Unlimited Canada’s Yellow Fish

Road™ program reminds us that our lawns, streets, sidewalks, and drive-ways are directly connected to our waterways. Using the premise that ‘if we don’t teach the adolescents, how can we expect understanding from the adults’ the program’s young mes-sengers remind their elders that clean rivers, lakes and streams starts with the roads, lawns and stormdrains of our urban areas. Or, to put it another way, “sometimes adults should just lis-ten to kids.”

Roger Kelley is Trout Unlimited Canada’s Director of Conservation Education.

Environmental educa-tors from across North America and the world have been teaching that message for decades, yet non-point pollution re-mains a primary source of surface water pollu-tion from our urban areas. Clearly, the message is not reaching everyone and may not be remembered by everyone who hears it. The Yellow Fish Road™ pro-gram’s primary participants are children ages 9-12. Typically at this age they do not change oil, wash cars, fertilize lawns or do any of the other actions that result in pollution from stormdrains.

Elementary and middle school aged children seem to intuitively understand what comprises a healthy environment. When asked to draw a healthy river or stream their pictures are usually of streams meandering through trees. These pictures do not include the myriad of pollutants now affecting our streams.

This photo, taken in Calgary in early May, is

a reminder of the need for the Yellow Fish

Road™ program. TUC photo.

These artistic young students from Swan River, Manitoba understand the impor-tance of minding what we put into our storm-drains. Do you? TUC photo.

The Yellow Fish Road™ is con-stantly seeking new partners throughout Canada to dis-

pense and maintain stormdrain stenciling kits and collect/report stenciling activity. Yellow Fish Road™ partners are typically mu-nicipal governments or non-gov-ernmental organizations with an interest in protecting Canada’s freshwater resources. All mate-rials are provided free by Trout Unlimited Canada. If you know of an organization that may be interested in becoming a Yellow Fish Road™ partner please con-tact info@yellowfishroad.org.

Help Wanted!

TROUTUNLIMITEDCANADA’SNATIONALNEWSLETTER | 7

The life and times of TUC’s Oldman River Chapter

How acquiring a crown lease gave this chapter a new lease on life... by Clive Schaupmeyer

The Oldman River Chapter was formed in 1983. At that time mem-bers were involved with stream habi-

tat projects in southwestern Alberta. The chapter began sponsoring fundraising dinners — in 2000, 2002 and 2003 — moving away from being a “do stuff” chapter to become a “dinner” chapter, and its educational and habi-tat projects fell by the wayside.

In the past few years, however, the Oldman River Chapter has reverted to its old, vibrant “do stuff” self.

In the late 1990s, Richard Burke and Mike Lamb got wind of the availability of a crown lease covering some 57 hectares of land stretch-ing nearly two kilometers along the Crowsnest Riv-er at Burmis (near Burmis Lake west of the Highway 507 bridge). The potential of this oppor-tunity reignited the chapter.

In order to obtain this conservation/recreation lease, the Chapter first had to become incorporated as a society, which it did in 2002. Subsequently, the Oldman River Chapter received the lease from Al-berta Lands Division that December.

This 25-year lease has been significant in a couple of ways, not the least of which being the revitalization of the chapter by giving it a raison d’être and becoming its focus. Lease work days were organized and have been held every year since 2002. Members have cleaned up the de-crepit fencing and trash, and pulled nox-ious weeds on the property.

Last year the chapter obtained a sec-ond lease east of Hillcrest, with the guid-ance and hard work of Mike Lamb. Many locals will know this area as the ravaged pastureland just east of lower Hillcrest across the Crowsnest River from the sew-age treatment ponds. For years this land was an old coal “fines” dump and was in

rough shape. The area con-tained prohibited weeds, was strewn with rusty scrap metal from coal-min-ing days, and the uplands had been torn up by ve-hicles for decades. (Credit must go to the many lo-cal residents who helped clean up the area over the years before the new lease was signed.)

Vehicle access to the main part of the Hill-crest lease was cut off by a rock fence and gate at the west end of

the property. There are two small park-ing areas and bear-proof garbage bins on site. In the fall of 2007, the upland ar-eas were reseeded with approved native grasses and forage species. It will take a few years for Hillcrest to revert to some semblance of “natural” but the process has started.

The two Oldman River Chapter leas-es provide public access to the river — something that could be threatened by ever-increasing acreage developments in the Crowsnest Pass. The public is freely invited to use the property — provided they are on foot. The chapter has received many compliments on the property and people appreciate the access protection these long-term leases provide.

Money was needed to pay for lease work, so the Chapter held raffles and began applying for grants. Funds were received from the TD Friends of the Envi-ronment Foundation, Alberta Conserva-tion Association and the TUC Coldwater Conservation Fund. Clive Schaupmeyer was the first lease “chair” and today, Mal-colm Bennett is the Chapter’s lead on the Burmis lease.

Five raffles have been held since 2004, raising approximately $15,000 for chapter projects like the leases. Peter deGorter and Murray Dueck have managed the raffles over the past few years.

Dinner fundraisers had been put on hold while the Chapter worked on de-veloping the Burmis lease, acquired a second Crowsnest lease and rebuilt its programs. But in April 2008, the chapter held its first dinner in five years, in con-junction with a two-day conclave at Leth-bridge College. The conclave, managed by Kelly Oikawa, consisted of a series of seminars on various fly-fishing related subjects and was attended by around 35 people, while some 190 people came to the dinner — with their wallets open! The net profit from the conclave and din-ner was close to $16,000.

Prior to 2003, the chapter had held a couple of fishing related events — a con-clave was held in spring of 1998 and a few fly tying sessions were held — but there was no formal educational programming. In 2003, however, the chapter began holding regular meetings which would include an educational component. Meet-ings were used to plan projects, then guest speakers made presentations on fisheries science, water protection and fishing-re-lated topics. Speakers have included area fisheries biologists Daryl Wig, Terry Clay-

A panoramic view of the Oldman River Chapter’s Hillcrest lease, with Turtle Mountain, site of the tragic 1903 Frank Slide, at right. Clive Schaupmeyer photo.

8 | CURRENTS:VOLUME14,NO.3•SUMMER 2008

Life and times of the Oldman Chapter

TroutUnlimitedCanadaOUR MISSION: To conserve, protect and restore Canada’s freshwater ecosystems and their coldwater resourc-es for current and future generations.

OUR GOALS:to conserve and protect Canada’s fresh-water fish and their ecosystems and restore their coldwater resources to a healthy and productive state;

to develop and apply effective, science-based and measurable coldwater con-servation solutions in the field;

to inform the public about coldwater conservation issues and educate com-munities about their watersheds;

to build and sustain a healthy organiza-tion.

Help us help the trout! Visit tucanada.org

•

•

•

•

ton and M i k e B r y s k i (Alberta Environ-m e n t ’ s m i t i g a -tion bi-ologist),

and an-gling ex-perts like Jim and L y n d a M c L e n -nan, Vic B e r g -man and M i k e Gifford. P r o -g r a m c h a i r

Clive Schaup-meyer arranges four to six such meetings each year between October and April.

Since 2005 the chapter has hosted an-nual casting clinics for the public, under the direction of Blair Spence. Around 120 people have attended these free clinics.

Trout UnlimitedCanada

Doug Cressman Chief Executive Officer dcressman@tucanada.org

Patrick Boyle Manager of Communications pboyle@tucanada.org

Kimberly Davidson Membership Coordinator membership@tucanada.org

Lorne Hutchison Director, Finance and Administration lhutchison@tucanada.org

Jack Imhof National Biologist jimhof@tucanada.org

Roger Kelley Director, Conservation Education rkelley@tucanada.org

Don Pike Director, Special Events dpike@tucanada.org

Brian Meagher Alberta Provincial Biologist bmeagher@tucanada.org

Len Yust Executive Director, Ontario lyust@tucanada.org

Silvia D’Amelio Ontario Biologist sdamelio@tucanada.org

National Office: Ste. 160, 6712 Fisher St. SE Calgary, AB T2H 2A7 Tel: 403-221-8360 Fax: 403-221-8368 1-800-909-6040

Ontario Office: Unit 24, 3455 Harvester Road Burlington, ON L7N 3P2 Tel: 905-333-1994 Fax: 905-333-1964 1-877-733-1994

tuc@tucanada.org

www.tucanada.org

Currents layout: David Soltess Design dsdesign@telus.net

In 2007, under the guidance of Allan Caldwell, the Chapter initiated angling regulation changes for Police Lake which came into effect on April 1, 2008. These include a bait ban, a daily limit of one fish over 50 cm and a lake closure from November 1 to March 31.

In 2004, chapter members attended a few Stream Watch Alberta meetings and Peter deGorter arranged for dozens of Stream Watch signs to be placed along riv-ers in the Oldman drainage. The Chapter, however, did not get involved in Stream Watch to the same extent as did the Red Deer Chapter — which vigorously raised money to hire seasonal enforcement of-ficers to patrol Eastern Slopes streams in Central Alberta.

In the fall of 2007, however, Red Deer Chapter’s Barry Mitchell spoke about Stream Watch at one of the Oldman River Chapter’s regular meetings and wheels started spinning. Chapter members pitched in and under the management of Allan Caldwell, raised over $30,000 in just three months between February and April 2008. A seasonal enforcement of-ficer was hired last April and will patrol until September, primarily in the upper Oldman drainage.

What does the future hold for the Old-man River Chapter? We will continue to manage the two leases — which will be renegotiated in 2027, provided there is the will at that time by interested anglers and the government of Alberta. Discus-sions are underway to remove a small dam on Drywood Creek and to return the Crowsnest River to its original course between Coleman and Blairmore. Plans are in place to hold another conclave and dinner in 2010. And we will endeavour to continue our educational programming in the future.

The Oldman River Chapter is just one small player in the Oldman drainage — a few people interested in protecting our rivers for our grandchildren. We’ve come a long way, but there’s a long way to go. While the names of a few chapter mem-bers have been mentioned here, many people have made significant contribu-tions to chapter activities — many quietly working in the background. Thanks to all for your ongoing support.

Oldman River Chapter members have

been busy reseeding roads (above)

and pulling noxious weeds like this

blueweed (below) on their leases.

Clive Schaupmeyer photos.