River Valley News

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Help designate the North Saskatchewan River a Canadian Heritage River
Each year, Albertans and visitors enjoy the extraordinary recreational, cultural, and natural features of North Saskatchewan River. A designation as a Canadian Heritage River tells Canadians and the world that the river matters.

Smoky Lake County in collaboration with other municipalities and Indigenous groups along the river are seeking to extend the honorary designation across Alberta. Our society has also provided a letter of support for the designation. The designation forms a platform to promote celebration, conservation, and exploration of the river.

On April 7 at 7pm, via a free webinar, you are invited to join Alberta Senator Paula Simons, author Billie Milholland, and others for a conversation about the North Saskatchewan River. Register at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/north-saskatchewan-heritage-river-tickets-142933527027?aff=ebdssbonlinesearch

A survey is being conducted to gather information on the recreational, cultural, and natural heritage of the North Saskatchewan River. The survey is open now until April 31 at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NorthSaskRiverSurvey

Learn more about Canadian Heritage Rivers System, Canada’s National River Conservation Program, at https://chrs.ca/en

Planning begins for new river valley provincial park
The Big Island area of southwest Edmonton is moving closer to becoming a provincial park. The Alberta government has given the City of Edmonton and Enoch Cree Nation $300,000 to begin planning a provincial park on the 68-hectare parcel of Crown land along the North Saskatchewan River valley.

The money, $189,000 for Enoch Cree Nation and $109,000 for the city, will go toward ecological assessments and a traditional land-use study. Alberta Environment and Parks projects the park will be operational by 2023.

The ecological assessments and land use study will be completed this year. Public consultations are slated for 2022. More at https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-kickstarts-planning-for-big-island-a-new-provincial-park-in-edmonton-s-river-valley-1.5966321

Survey the beginning of province’s coal policy engagement
The Government of Alberta has launched what it calls a comprehensive public engagement to inform the development of a modern coal policy. All Albertans will have an opportunity to contribute to how the province will manage coal development.

The province has also created a Coal Policy Committee which is responsible for designing and conducting the engagement. The committee will provide the Minister of Energy with a report that describes Albertans’ perspectives on coal development and provide recommendations about the province’s development of a modern coal policy. The committee will provide a final report to the minister by November 15.

Albertans are invited to share their thoughts in an initial survey. The survey is open until April 19 at https://www.alberta.ca/coal-policy-engagement.aspx

River valley concern or contribution
If you have a river valley concern or question, contact us at nsrivervalley@gmail.com
Your friends and neighbours can sign up for this newsletter on our web site.
If you have a photo, information, or event about Edmonton’s river valley and think it should be in this newsletter, email it to us.

Sincerely yours,
Harvey Voogd
North Saskatchewan River Valley Conservation Society
780.691.1712

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