Carolyn Campbell, from the Alberta Wilderness Association (AWA), gives a presentation about flood resilience and headwaters management. This relates to the goals of AWA, which include protecting representative wilderness and improving land use for healthy watersheds. She discusses such topics as flood mitigation, fish habitat, and the forestry industry, as it relates to the health of rivers and creeks.
When considering flood mitigation, Campbell talks about small benefits that can be implemented to mitigate small scale flooding. The amount of groundwater recharge can affect river and stream water levels, and is affected by hardened surfaces and soil compaction. The role of soil absorption and conifer forest transpiration should also be considered.
Fish habitat and base flows, and the role of soil absorption are important factors to consider before making changes to the land as they are all interconnected. Sediment content, run-off and aeration all compromise the integrity of the habitats of bull trout -- fish listed as a threatened species in south Saskatchewan.
Campbell also discussed environmental damage that occurs due to industry. A specific example given was logging near Hidden Creek in November and December of 2012. This creek is a key habitat for bull trout, and one of the few places in Alberta with ideal spawning conditions, yet there was no compartment assessment done, and an inadequate risk assessment, mitigation and follow-up. All logging was approved by the government of Alberta.
This presentation was a part of the Canadian Water Resources Association, Albert Branch Conference in Calgary Alberta, in March of 2014.
