Transcript Lac La Nonne Enhancement and Protection Association www.lepa-ab.com An hour NW of Edmonton, south of the town of Barrhead you’ll find the Lac.

Lac La Nonne Enhancement and Protection Association
www.lepa-ab.com
An hour NW of Edmonton, south of the town of Barrhead
you’ll find the Lac La Nonne Watershed
This 300 km-square sub-shed of the Athabasca/Pembina river basin
consists of rolling farmland, aspen forest, streams, wetlands and lakes.
Including two of the regions recreational lakes Lac La Nonne & Nakamun Lake
around whose shorelines
numerous subdivisions
and 2 summer villages
make up the majority of the
watershed population.
Concerns about declining water quality and quantity in the watershed
resulted in the launch of the Water Quality Assessment and Improvement Project
by the Lac La Nonne Enhancement & Protection Association in the spring of 2004
Which included the development of three on-farm riparian
beneficial management practice demonstration sites.
Area Farm families were approached with the idea of sharing their land to
Demonstrate different strategies for grazing livestock in riparian areas
(green zones of lush vegetation next to streams, lakes, ponds and wetlands)
The focus of these riparian BMP demonstration projects is to increase awareness
of how agricultural impacts on natural resources can be mitigated
through a combination of off-site water development,
fencing and controlled grazing strategies
while maintaining the economical viability of the agricultural industry
managing livestock access to riparian areas can reduce
nutrient inputs to surface waters and
provide critical rest to willows and native grasses during spring and fall
deep-rooted vegetation is important for
maintaining healthy riparian areas
K
in
i 2004 Lac La Nonne Enhancement & Protection Association-LEPA
r
working
together with Kirchner Farms established the first Riparian
c
Beneficial Management Practice Project south-east of Lac La Nonne
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n
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to demonstrate the Improved Utilization and Sustainability
of watershed resources on productive agricultural property
PROJECT SITE IN RED
A riparian assessment on the property by
Alberta Riparian Habitat Management Society - Cows and Fish
identified the extent of damage to stream and riparian areas from some
50 years of livestock grazing
SITE IMPACTS
PROJECT ACTIVITIES
Field staff from Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada
Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration
and Alberta Agriculture, Food & Rural Development
assisting volunteers and owner to layout project
activities
A shallow well was excavated to find a clean groundwater source
adjacent to riparian zone
a 16 foot culvert
was set in place
with washed
gravel for a
well casing
resulting in a
good clean water
source with
adequate flow
for livestock
operation on the
property
Solar panels,
batteries and a
water pump were
installed
and
the immediate area
fenced to protect
animals and
equipment
A 1250 gallon tank with electric float-switch to control pump
operation was placed on nearby hill for regulation of water flow
to livestock trough
Water distribution lines were buried between well, storage tank
and watering trough by an agricultural member.
Plow supplied by PFRA
With assistance from landowner, a new fence and gates were
erected around stream wetlands creating a RIPARIAN pasture
Completing project, volunteers positioned 350 gallon livestock water
trough to supply all three pastures as livestock is rotated
cattle being transferred to another pasture
2nd pasture
GRAZING
STRATEGY
Management of
riparian areas by
seasonal
tank
livestock rotation
controlling
grazing during
critical growing pasture #1
cycles – only
A working BMP
demonstration
site
trough
well
Riparian
pasture
PROJECT OUTCOMES
Restoration of native riparian grasses, willow and shrubs
to provide shelter and forage for livestock and wildlife
Cottagers and farmers worked side by side to achieve the
first riparian management demonstration site in the region
T
o
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r
On
September 22, 2004
area
agricultural producers
and
lake residents
were invited to tour
Demonstration Project
and
participate in
grande opening
George VanderBurg MLA Whitecourt/Lac Ste Anne (on right)
and Harvey Thompson LEPA President unveil project signage
Alberta Agriculture and PFRA staff
describing BMP development and operation
to area cottagers and farmers
measuring sustainability of riparian areas and natural
pastureland presented by Cows and Fish (Alberta Riparian
Habitat Management Society)
Kirchner family and visitors
viewing project components
A lunch and discussions on the Water Quality Assessment &
Improvement Project and future BMP opportunities completed the tour
In financial partnership with John & Norma Wood
W
second Riparian Demonstration BMP Project was established in 2005
o
o on Majeau creek, a major tributary feeding into Lac La Nonne
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This demonstration project involves two sites on the Wood farm
the second a wetland feeding into creek
one spanning Majeau creek
SITE IMPACTS
Area #2 – overgrazing
results in contaminants
draining into area waters
from nearby uplands
Area #1
stream banks and bed
devastated by years of
livestock foraging
PROJECT ACTIVITIES
Landowner in consultation with volunteers regarding riparian fence
positioning along creek and wetlands
this included selecting a suitable location for a dugout
adjacent to Area #2 wetlands
working around
farming activities
(haying - harvest)
volunteers string
barbwire through
pastures along
Majeau Creek
and wetlands
fence posts were
installed by land
owner for LEPA
some new recruits learning the ins and outs of fencing
A major aspect of this project was the development of an adequate water
source, for this a 200 x 80 x 18 foot 4960 cubic yard dugout
was excavated after freeze up providing a 3-year water supply
contractor trenching channel for supply line to off-site well
e/w solar system and water bowl to provide a safe access
to year round livestock watering source
Landowner and volunteers working together completed fencing dugout
and off-site well the following spring
a Job Well Done
Solar powered, motion controlled winter watering system
an “all seasons” water source for a 60 cow/calf operation
GRAZING STRATEGY
providing a better alternate to seasonal use of stream
course and drainage ponds
With a good, safe year-round water source, the plan is to leave the
stream and riparian areas reestablish themselves
BMP OUTCOMES
sustaining Majeau Creek
as a habitat for fish and
wildlife
reemergence of native
plants - filtration for
agricultural runoff
sediments and nutrients
In partnership with the Watersheds two Stewardship groups
the Lac La Nonne
the Lac La Nonne
Watershed Stewardship and
Enhancement &
Society
Protection Association
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DEVELOPED THE
De Zaeyer Farms
working together to demonstrate that
agriculture production and environment
protection objectives can and do coexist
aerial photo looking south with the new De Zaeyer demonstration site
Kirchner site in the foreground and Lac La Nonne South on right
hectares of watershed marsh and open pond
SITE IMPACTS at risk due to livestock grazing and watering
PROJECT ACTIVITIES
volunteers from both watershed group with direction
of supplier assembling windmill tower
21 foot tower nearly complete?
windmill assembly transported to site
and volunteers prepare to erect unit on shallow well established
at edge of the pond riparian zone
temporary portable fencing setup
The completed 30 foot windmill c/w 8-foot aeromotor blades being
erected using truck (behind bush) and guided with tractor
a difficult undertaking for volunteers
To facilitate raising and lowing of windmill assembly, a hinged
platform was welded atop well casing
System pump & rods
11/2” waterline
and
3” overflow
drain-line
from tank
attached to well
using PFRA plow landowner buries waterlines
and tracer-wire below pasture grasses
Storage tank set on nearby hill and gravity-fed watering
trough placed at lower level
GRAZING STRATEGY
Develop a environmentally friendly, clean water source
as a better alternative to utilizing pond and marsh
PROJECT OUTCOMES
Land owner preserving the bio-diversity of watershed wetlands for
wildlife and livestock
Alberta
Riparian
Habitat
Management
Society - Cows and Fish conducted separate
riparian health inventories of each
project: one within the project area and
another in an riparian area unaffected by
agricultural activities. These inventories
will be used as a monitoring tool for
change
on
these
ongoing
Riparian
Improvement Demonstration projects.
As of the summer of 2006 three BMP demonstration
sites have been completed in the Lac La Nonne
watershed.
In all, four new riparian pastures
totaling ~100 acres have been created to help
manage livestock access to these sensitive areas.
New eco water sources and distribution systems
were developed at each site providing clean easily
accessible water for the landowner’s livestock. It
took 3 km of new fence line plus the cooperation,
dedication and hard work of a core group of
volunteers and technical personnel to achieve
this.
Financial support was received from
Canadian Adaptation & Rural Development - CRP
Alberta Agriculture Food and Rural Development – CAWFP
Alberta Stewardship Network
Alberta Water for Life
Our thanks to:
DeZaeyer Farms, Kirchner Farms & the Wood Farm
Alberta Agriculture and Food
Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada – Prairie Farm Rehabilitation
Administration.
Alberta Riparian Habitat Management Society - Cows & Fish
Lac La Nonne Watershed Stewardship Society
and
Lac La Nonne Enhancement & Protection Association’s
volunteers for
Their Commitment, Support and Time
Lac La Nonne Enhancement & Protection Association
- a non-profit society established in 1983, now with charity status -
Our membership is comprised of local agricultural
producers, recreational users, lake residents and resorts
operators. LEPA's mandate is to preserve the biological
integrity of the Lac La Nonne Watershed and to protect
it from environmental damage. We encourage among our
members and the public recognition of the importance of
the sustainability of all natural areas.
“Working Harmoniously” to improve the health of the
watershed; it’s waters and riparian areas.
Site 1, Box 14, RR#1
Gunn, AB. T0E 1A0
www.lepa-ab.com
Produced & Narrated by:
 Tim Clarke
With assistance from:
 Gisel Bourgeois & Lorna MacFadzen
Technical support provided by:
 Kerri O’Shaughnessy - Cows and Fish
Photography courtesy of:
o Sarah Depoe - Alberta Agriculture and Food
o Jason Vanrobaeys & Perry Sawchuk –AAFC/PFRA
o Lorne Fitch & Kerri O’Shaughnessy - Cows and Fish
o Jerry Wispinski – LWSS
o Tim Clarke – LEPA
Project participating landowners granted LEPA permission
to use their projects and photos for this presentation