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Watershed News and Views Summer 2021
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Drought - a "Creeping Phenomenon"
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Agriculture and Agri-food Canada define drought as a “creeping phenomenon” – difficult to define and measure, slow to develop, continuous, cumulative, and long lasting. They also add that “There is no universally applicable tool for measuring drought; as impacts are non-structural, spread over large areas, and best described by multiple indices”.
Read our latest article to learn more about the Canadian Drought Monitor, and the dry dry summer of 2021 ...
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SEAWA held its 14th Annual General Meeting (AGM) on July 8, 2021 via zoom. The nine newly elected and re-elected directors of the board (and their seats) are:
Jean Beriault - Industry, Mike Zmurchyk - Licensee Irrigator, Greg Paxman - Municipal Government Urban, Ron Linowski - Outdoor Recreation & Tourism, Amber Zary - Provincial Government (AEP), Brent Smith - Educational Institution, Tina Regehr - Environmental NGO, Ryan Davison - Member-at-Large, and Selene David - a declared open and available seat.
Directors whose terms are ongoing and whose seats were not due for election at the AGM are: Stuart Murray - Agriculture, Alf Belyea - Municipal Government Rural, Karen Saffran - Member-at-Large, Laurie Oulette - Aboriginal, and Allison Campbell - a declared open and available seat (AGM 2020). Directors of the Board total 14 plus the Past Chair, Garry Lentz.
Officers of the SEAWA Board were elected at the Board meeting following the AGM: Ryan Davison - Chair, Alf Belyea - Vice Chair, Tina Regehr - Secretary, and Karen Saffran - Treasurer.
We look forward to a productive year ahead, and are happy to share our accomplishments of the past year - SEAWA Annual Report 2020-2021.
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Written by Marilou Montemayor.
Concerns about threats to nature and our existence and well-being have prompted organizations to prepare plans and recommendations, educate the public, and take actions to preserve and protect nature. These include plans such as the United Nations plan to end ecological destruction, and Rescue plan for Nature, with recommendations on how to restore an ecosystem.
General recommendations relevant to the grassland ecosystem of southeastern Alberta and the SEAWA watershed are (quoted):
Grassland and Savannah:
Degraders: Conversion to cropland and pasture; overgrazing and soil erosion; unsustainable resource extraction; invasive species
Restorers: Active clearance of woody vegetation; reseeding native grasses and replanting native shrubs and trees; reintroduction and protection of native fauna.
The impacts of necessary land use activities such as growing our food, building human settlements and infrastructure, and other economic activities must be balanced with nature protection and ecosystem restoration activities. SEAWA has been very active in ecosystem restoration since 2018, prior to the existence of international recommendations that we are delighted to be in alignment with. To date, SEAWA, in partnership with landowners, has planted and cared for 1100 surviving and thriving native shrubs and trees along riparian areas in this challenging semi-arid climate of Southeastern Alberta and its grassland ecosystem. In addition, SEAWA has conducted experiments on the management of invasive species (Russian olive trees) and noxious weeds (leafy spurge, downy and Japanese brome), created awareness about consideration for native wildlife, and educated - and continues to educate - watershed stakeholders and the public on these topics. A great example has been set by the St. Mary River Irrigation District (SMRID) by reclaiming grazing leases around its irrigation reservoirs and converting them into wildlife habitat in partnership with conservation groups as well as with SEAWA. This newsletter issue has several articles on SEAWA riparian restoration activities.
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Twice a week watering, shading, and supplementary water for the weekend helped newly planted wolf willows survive this summer’s early and prolonged heat wave. Wolf willows planted in 2019 are thriving. SEAWA riparian restoration Yeast site, Seven Persons Creek, TWP Rd. 104.
Photo credit: Marilou Montemayor.
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SEAWA welcomes motivated volunteers to participate in our committees, outdoor events, and restoration field work. Get valuable experience and fresh air with SEAWA! We are always looking for a few volunteers - learn more on our website.
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Spare the Beaver, Plant More Cottonwoods
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Cottonwood sprouts in August 2020 from a single tree felled in July 2018.
Photo credit: Hannah Sabatier.
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Written by Marilou Montemayor.
I’ve been observing beaver activity at Connaught pond since a mature cottonwood was felled by beavers in July 2018. Thereafter, willow trees were felled one after the other. Poultry wire netting was installed on some remaining willow trees. A clump of mature chokecherries was also felled. The invasive weedy Russian olive trees flourished untouched by the beavers. From the lone cottonwood that was felled grew 60+ bunches of sprouts spread along its wide root system, with each bunch having between 1 to 30 stems per bunch.
Beavers don’t kill cottonwoods; they regenerate cottonwoods, a native riparian tree of our semi-arid grassland region. Public concerns arise when planted non-native trees are felled and don’t regrow or resprout fast enough to become big trees again. Cottonwoods are shade intolerant and will not grow under the shade of or on the fringe of dense thickets of thorny Russian olive trees that have dominated the shores of Connaught Pond. Beavers prefer cottonwoods and willow trees for their palatability. They rarely use Russian olive, which is unpalatable and protected by thickets of thorns. We’ve inadvertently planted the wrong trees and have gradually been depriving beavers of food, materials and habitat.
One may ask, what is the use of those numerous cottonwood sprouts? They provide for deer (and other ungulates) browse and deer-rub materials (not just because they are feeling itchy but are sending a communication scent to other deer, indicating this location for food, rubbing materials, and potentially finding a mate). The pressure of rubbing and browsing will leave a few stems of the 60+ bunches that could grow back to full trees; and nature knows that. In addition, a single root system determines how many it can support as bunches grow and will naturally thin out stems (entire bunch or bunches wither). With a high population of deer, management to ensure a tree or few trees grow back from a single felled tree will require protective cages.
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Cottonwood sprouts for deer rub started in spring 2021. Average height = 1742mm and average diameter at centre of rub = 16mm.
Photo credit: Marilou Montemayor.
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Connaught pond is a naturalized body of water. If the reservoir was not constructed, there would have been a wetland at its location (a natural depression) with water provided by natural springs (currently flowing) and surface runoff collected from several natural channels from hillsides (now stormwater installation). Beavers would have created their own dam and lodges and thrived along with native shrubs and trees – a natural ecosystem. Therefore, we humans should share this space with beavers by understanding and providing for their needs. Wildlife and its habitat have to be actively and ecologically managed within an urban area to be useful to both humans and animals that are native to that habitat.
We need to manage cottonwood planting, maintenance and harvesting by beavers similar to the long-term planning of “sustainable forest management”. An analogy is that the beaver is the forestry industry and should be provided its “annual allowable cuts”. Do not cage all trees! The availability of food and materials will automatically control the beaver population. This sustainable management system ensures that there are always trees standing, there is always regeneration, and there is always sustainable harvesting (by beavers).
Let’s keep planting cottonwoods around water bodies and along the river especially where there are beavers. Beaver activity and the complexity of the riparian areas it creates, support deer, other wildlife, and aquatic system needs. This is ecology right here within the city. Connaught pond is an ideal educational spot to demonstrate native vegetation restoration in addition to having become an active recreational spot during the pandemic. When humans use wildlife habitats, they must be managed sustainably by incorporating resource management methods and ecological principles.
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Cottonwoods and a red osier dogwood were started over winter, then grown in the yard after frost was over. They were ready for transplanting in the field by August.
Photo credit: Paula Dumonceaux.
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Grow Your Own Cottonwoods!
Written by Paula Dumonceaux.
Hello All! As summer winds down and signs of fall emerge with a relief in cooler temperatures, we are reminded how important it is to address climate change on a global scale. With severe droughts and forest fires that burn out of control across Canada, it is imperative to make necessary steps forward, no matter how small, to care for our planet and replenish our trees that continue to be lost at alarming rates. It has been my joy and privilege to do my part as I complete my second season of growing native trees to contribute to the young woodlands generated locally in Medicine Hat through SEAWA.
I collect stem cuttings in mid-winter and place them in glass jars filled with water and allow them to develop roots for a solid month or longer. I transplant them into pots filled with soil several times as their size grows throughout the seasons from winter to summer. This allows them to grow anywhere from 1 to 2 feet in a planting season. From there they find a spot at one of the riparian restoration sites in the city where the amazing staff and students at SEAWA help in planting and caging trees, followed by weekly watering and weeding maintenance. SEAWA welcomes volunteers to help in weeding and watering.
My contribution this August 2021 included ten native cottonwood trees (Populus deltoides) and one Red osier dogwood shrub (Cornus sericea) that I propagated this winter. These were planted on the repaired south bank of the Seven Persons Creek at Saratoga Park that lacked woody vegetation due to the damage caused by the flood of 2013. Thanks to all the wonderful people who work with SEAWA in their proactive endeavour to make our world better. Cheers! Let’s continue to inspire!
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SEAWA Staff: Farewells (and one Welcome)
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The send-off lunch for Ben White (centre) at downtown Medicine Hat’s Local Public Eatery.
Photo credit: Public Eatery server.
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Ben White, Stewardship and Communication Assistant, is continuing his studies at the University of Saskatchewan this September. He completed his Environmental Reclamation diploma from Medicine Hat College. He has worked with SEAWA for more than a year consisting of three full seasons (2019, 2020, and 2021) of riparian restoration field experience, as well as a full year (July 2020 to July 2021) of communication work that included the website, newsletters, and social media, as well as office tasks. Alexi Nelson, Riparian Restoration Assistant, worked with SEAWA for the first two months of summer 2021 as well as the full season of 2020. A graduate of Lethbridge College, she has left us to take on a new position with a consulting firm.
Larry Paik, Riparian Restoration Assistant, a student from Medicine Hat College, filled in the position that was vacated by Alexi, from July to mid-August 2021. Larry also worked as a casual contractor with SEAWA’s riparian restoration projects for the past two seasons, 2019 and 2020. Larry returns to school this September. Ian Mahon, Riparian Restoration Assistant has worked with SEAWA for the first time this season 2021. His work contract ends at the end of September 2021.
We would also like to welcome Sydney Taplin who will join SEAWA as our Stewardship and Communication Intern next month.
We wish Ben and Larry success in their academic endeavours and future careers. We wish Alexi and Ian success as they start to build their careers. We thank all of them for their hard work and dedication while being part of SEAWA’s riparian restoration team. SEAWA’s riparian restoration has been a great achievement that they can be proud of.
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Become a SEAWA Member!
Do you live, work, or play in the SEAWA watershed? Please join our community of watershed enthusiasts! Check out our website or send us an email, we'd be happy to chat with you.
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Environment Week 2021 Celebration
Written by Alexi Nelson.
On June 5th, 2021 SEAWA staff and volunteers gathered at Connaught Pond in Medicine Hat to celebrate Canadian Environment Week. SEAWA staff presented on various native plant species and their characteristics, the current applied research on Russian olive sapling control, and an experiment determining the effectiveness of caging cottonwood saplings to prevent browsing from deer and removal from beavers. The importance of beavers within a riparian ecosystem was also discussed.
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Ben White showing native plants to participants.
Photo credit: Ian Mahon.
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Gerry Ehlert from the Grassland Naturalists provided information and identification resources about common noxious weed species within Medicine Hat with emphasis on European buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica). Gerry also demonstrated the efficiency and effectiveness of uprooting Russian olive saplings with an Extractigator tool. Both European buckthorn and Russian olive trees surround Connaught Pond, choking out native vegetation.
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Gerry Elhert demonstrating the use of the "extractigator" tool on a Russian olive sapling.
Photo credit: Ben White.
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Tree Planting in the City
Written by Ben White and Marilou Montemayor.
With the heatwave of July finally subsiding, SEAWA was able to plant the trees that were propagated from stems by staff and volunteers. At the end of July, 90 new cottonwoods and five Manitoba maples were planted at the Connaught Pond restoration site. Some of these plants were used to replace trees that were damaged by vandals back in March, and the rest added density to our native revegetation efforts. The cottonwoods were all grown from cuttings taken in late winter and early spring from trees within the city and by the South Saskatchewan River. We also found balsam poplars (Populus balsamifera) at a stormwater pond and propagated a few. Some of the propagated trees were adopted by volunteers until they could be put outside. We have now planted over 200 native trees and shrubs at Connaught Pond since 2018!
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Bob Deis, SEAWA and Policy Committee member, helping SEAWA staff plant at Connaught pond, Medicine Hat.
Photo credit: Marilou Montemayor.
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Additionally, new trees were planted at our Saratoga Park site in early August. Volunteers Paula Dumonceaux and Brandy Hammond donated, in total, 30 seedlings, including Manitoba maples and cottonwoods. These trees were planted along the creek across from our existing shrubs. This site is meant to revegetate and repair the damages from flooding in 2013. The site has made some remarkable progress since restoration began in 2019, and is now home to over 130 native shrubs and trees cared for by SEAWA.
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Paula Dumonceaux, SEAWA and Communications Committee member, helping SEAWA staff plant at Saratoga Park, Medicine Hat. Across the creek is a row of 100 thriving native shrubs (five species) that were planted in 2019.
Photo credit: Marilou Montemayor.
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We thank the city of Medicine Hat for the partnership opportunity to practically demonstrate nature-based riparian restoration. We also would like to thank all our amazing volunteers who helped with caring for and planting trees this season, and those who donated saplings for our projects. Your support and dedication to improving our community is greatly appreciated!
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Cottonwoods propagated from stem cuttings at home by Marilou Montemayor and Ben White. Tree height range was 50 to 100 cm.
Photo credit: Marilou Montemayor.
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Ben White explaining leafy spurge experiments to participants. This particular experimental plot is the "monthly mowing of leafy spurge" treatment. Photo credit: Marilou Montemayor.
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Riparian Tour 2021
Written by Ben White.
On July 24, SEAWA held its annual summer field tour! Staff led a group of eight SEAWA members and other interested individuals on a tour of our Yeast restoration site near Seven Persons. This is the biggest of SEAWA’s restoration sites, with over 600 trees and shrubs planted, and several applied research projects taking place there as well. During the field tour, participants had the opportunity to see the progress made since restoration began in 2018, and learn about the details of the applied research projects. These projects include various non-chemical control methods for leafy spurge, Japanese brome, downy brome, and reed canary grass.
We’d like to thank those who participated for a nice day in the field, and we hope to see you again next year! Follow us on Facebook to keep updated on upcoming SEAWA events!
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A section of the total 800m restored riparian area. Shown on the foreground is a double row of wolf willows, and at the back, adjacent to the creek is a double row of golden currants (to suppress reed canary grass). Photo credit: Marilou Montemayor.
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The Benefits of Native Vegetation
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Growing Native Shrubs to Suppress Leafy Spurge in Riparian Areas
Written by Marilou Montemayor and Alexi Nelson.
SEAWA conducted several experiments (SEAWA applied research) using shrubs with allelopathic (inhibits the growth of another plant) and rhizomatous (vegetative) reproduction characteristics. Two promising plants are silver sagebrush (Artemisia cana) and wolf willow (Elaeagnus commutata). Another advantage of these plants is that browsing pressure is less, compared to more palatable species and, therefore, they do not require fencing. Both shrubs are native to North American grasslands.
Leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula) is a noxious weed that contains a milky-coloured latex that can poison livestock and irritate human skin (Leafy spurge factsheet). The presence of noxious weeds and invasive plants degrades the health of riparian areas. The use of chemicals to control weeds in riparian areas must be avoided to prevent contamination of water bodies and aquatic organisms.
Allelopathic chemicals suppress the germination of surrounding plants, providing silver sagebrush with more space to develop. Silver sagebrush often grows spaced apart as the chemicals produced also suppress the recruitment of nearby seedlings. SEAWA’s applied study involves transplanting sagebrush seedlings into 1m x 1m experimental plots that are infested with leafy spurge. The leafy spurge within and surrounding three sample plots are dug up every month for four months during the growing season. Root length, stem height, number of stems, average number of flowers and number gone to seed, average shrub height, and the average number of basal stems of the silver sagebrush are recorded. Three control plots with no treatments applied are also assessed and compared to the treated plots to determine the overall effectiveness of controlling leafy spurge with silver sagebrush. There are two sagebrush experiments, one started in 2020 and the other in 2021.
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Alexi Nelson and Ian Mahon taking data from a silver sagebrush experimental plot.
Photo credit: Ben White.
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In a similar experimental set-up and system of data collection, wolf willows (Elaeagnus commutata) were also planted with additional sub-treatments of No wood chip mulch and Without wood chip mulch. By the second season of the experiment it was observed that native western wheatgrass started to colonize as its understory, and there has been a significant reduction in leafy spurge growth.
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Ben White, taking plant measurements from a wolf willow experimental plot, five plants per square meter plot. Note the western wheatgrass understory.
Photo credit: Marilou Montemayor.
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Growing native western wheatgrass and silver sagebrush to suppress Japanese and downy brome
Written by Ben White.
SEAWA has recently been battling with invasive grasses at the Yeast restoration site. This site has populations of both Japanese brome and downy brome (cheatgrass), two noxious weeds that are quite prolific in agricultural and urban areas alike. These grasses are closely related, both belonging to the genus Bromus, and can appear quite similar to one another. They thrive in disturbed soils, making construction sites, alleyways, and agricultural fields prime habitat for these weeds. They are able to compete with other species due to their ability to produce large amounts of seed very early in the growing season, often dropping all their seed by mid-summer. In ideal conditions, they can sometimes reproduce further in the cool months of early autumn as well.
Both will tend towards a small growth form in dry conditions, but can grow quite large if there is additional moisture present, with Japanese brome preferring more moisture than downy brome. They can be easily identified by the distinct awns on their seed heads, with those of Japanese brome being long and “kinked”, and those of downy brome being abundant and soft. Additionally, downy brome will be covered in soft hairs, while Japanese brome will only have a fuzzy sheath around the base of the stems. At maturity, downy brome will have a reddish-purple tinge to the plant, while Japanese brome will turn brown/tan. Additional information is found here: Government of Saskatchewan - Downy Brome & Japanese Brome
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Downy brome at Seven Persons Creek riparian area.
Photo credit: Ben White.
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There already is a great deal of knowledge about the control of these weeds using chemicals; however, SEAWA is beginning to explore non-chemical methods. Being annual grasses they can be controlled by digging out the plants as they are identified, inhibiting their ability to reproduce. A thorough effort early in the growing season could remove any chance of new seed being produced in a particular area. SEAWA is also testing the effectiveness of competitive native grasses such as western wheatgrass in controlling Japanese and downy brome through competition. Western wheatgrass is a drought tolerant, rhizomatous grass that has already shown great promise in our experiments with leafy spurge. Additionally, silver sagebrush has been planted as it possesses allelopathic properties that may help it push away these invasive grasses.
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Silver sagebrush was started indoors in peat plugs, subsequently transferred to pots and grown outdoors until transplanting in July and August 2021.
Photo credit: Marilou Montemayor.
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Silver sagebrush was planted in terraces on a steep riparian area that was cleared of Japanese brome at SEAWA’s riparian restoration Yeast site, Seven Persons Creek. Terraces were built by (and photo credit) Marilou Montemayor.
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Marilou Montemayor transplanting western wheatgrass in terraces on a steep riparian area that was cleared of Japanese brome. SEAWA’s riparian restoration Yeast site, Seven Persons Creek. Terraces were built by (and photo credit) Larry Paik.
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Reminder: You can report sightings of these noxious weeds, and many other invasive species, using the Alberta EDDMapS app for your phone!
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From our Friends and Partners
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Local Grade 5 children make a heart warming difference!
A surprising (and truly amazing) gesture by Grade 5 students of Dr. Roy Wilson Learning Centre, Medicine Hat - they raised $618 and donated it to SEAWA! We are grateful for the cash donation and most of all we are delighted that SEAWA has been doing something that was meaningful to the teacher and students.
Stewardship projects involving riparian revegetation with native shrubs and trees and applied research on riparian invasive plant control have naturally evolved as sources of locally developed SEAWA watershed knowledge. These projects have promoted SEAWA’s relevance to its stakeholders, motivated participation within SEAWA’s board and committees, fostered partnerships with local landowners and organizations, and encouraged cash donations in support of projects. Projects have also attracted volunteers to help in fieldwork, community clean-up and invasive plants removal events. Work experience in these projects became academic practicum to students. SEAWA’s locally-derived watershed knowledge has provided a meaningful and relevant basis for its education and outreach activities. A process model has organically developed over a period of three seasons as illustrated below.
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Water Supply Outlook
Check out the current Alberta Environment and Parks Water Supply Outlook on the Alberta Rivers website. The report can be viewed by going to the site and selecting the Water Supply tab (on the upper left side, drop down menu).
Alberta Rivers is also available as a mobile app. Now you can view information from rivers.alberta.ca more easily from your phone or tablet. Download the app here.
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World Rivers Day is a Celebration of the World's Waterways. It highlights the many values of our rivers, strives to increase public awareness, and encourages the improved stewardship of all rivers around the world. Rivers in virtually every country face an array of threats, and only through our active involvement can we ensure their health in the years ahead.
World Rivers Day is annually celebrated on the fourth Sunday of every September (September 26th this year). Last year, several million people in up to 100 countries celebrated the many values of our waterways. Learn more here.
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Got something to say? Have an event you'd like us to share with our members?
Do you have a story you'd like to tell? Are you hosting a watershed-inspired event? Want to share it with over 600 like-minded individuals? Let us know! We're always looking for topics that might interest our members.
executive@seawa.ca
403-580-8980
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SEAWA acknowledges that their office and the majority of their work and watershed are located in the lands of Treaty 7 and MNA Region 3.
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