Great Canadian Shoreline Clean-Up 2014

Proposed Gravel Pit on the North Raven River

Click on the letter to see a larger sized version!

 We should be very concerned about this application! The potential damage to the North Raven water system would be devastating!

Letter to the minister from Don Andersen.

Dear sir:

While I recognize the requirement for gravel there are places in Alberta where the risk to the environment is just too high for a gravel mine.

The headwaters if the North Raven River is just such a place. The lands where the headsprings are located were purchased by the Alberta Conservation Assoc., Trout Unlimited Canada, Central Alberta Chapter of Trout Unlimited and the Alberta Fish and Game Assoc. These purchases 

were an attempt to protect the headspwings integrity and the stream.  Further, the lands directly east of the proposed gravel pit were purchased by the Province who also recognized the importance of protecting the spring source waters.

The North Raven River is a very rare thing in Alberta, a spring creek and as such deserves the millions of dollars spent and thousand of volunteer hours invested to protect it over the past forty years. While the North Raven is not only rare it is also the closest trout stream to Edmonton where public access is possible.

As the co-habitat Chairman of the Central Alberta Chapter of Trout Unlimited, I've spent thousands of my own dollars plus hundred of hours attempting to repair the damaged caused by agribusiness. Dana Woodworth, your Deputy Minister, was a participant in one of these projects on a head spring adjacent to the Gravel Pit Proposal.

I trust that you will see the value of protecting this stream and urge you to stop the the Hankinson Gravel Pit Proposal in the County of Clearwater.

regards,

Don Andersen

co-habitat Chairman

Central Alberta Chapter of Trout Unlimited

5615 54A Ave.

Rocky Mountain House,

Alberta,

T4T 1H6

403-845-2069

Potential New Fish Stocking Policy for Alberta

A new fish stocking policy is being developed for our lakes in Alberta. here is the draft of the policy:

Alberta Fish Stocking Program

Please be sure to send your concerns to the 3 contacts on page 11 of the document!

Bob

Central Alberta Chapter Continues to Support to Local Libraries

On July 21, 2014, Doug Pullan, Secretary of the Central Alberta Chapter, presented donation cheques to representatives from the Parkland Regional Library and the Red Deer College Library. 

This is the fourth year that the Central Alberta Chapter has provided funding to purchase books and other related materials that focus on fish, fish habitat and their surrounding riparian areas.  The books that were approved by the chapter’s executive committee were tailored towards people of all ages as well as college level reference texts. This book purchase program has not only educated people on fish and their habitat but has also brought awareness to the issues of sustainable fish management and the challenges affecting our cold water resources.  The chapter’s executive committee has received  positive input  and has been  encouraged  to continue the program believing that education  is a key factor for people’s understanding  of the issues surrounding  our cold water resources. The idea that clean water that benefits  everyone  as well as our fisheries; encourages individuals to get involved in local projects that  result in the good stewardship  of our waters.   The Central Alberta Chapter believes education is an important part of the mission and goals of Trout Unlimited Canada and will continue with further financial contributions to local libraries in the future. 

Notes relating to photo:

Left to right: Ron Sheppard, Parkland Regional Library, Kristine Plastow, Red Deer College Library, Doug Pullan, Secretary, TUC’s Central Alberta Chapter

2014 Red Deer River Annual Clean Up

Great Canadian Shoreline Clean Up

Collecting Valuable Data on Stauffer Creek/North Raven River

Trout Unlimited Canada

Quick Links Join TUC Donate to TUC Contact UsTUC Website Follow Us On Facebook! Join the Conversation on Twitter! Watch Us In Action On You Tube Fresh Water Clean Future! Greetings! Trout Unlimited Canada wishes to advise you of a volunteer angling opportunity to help collect valuable information on the Stauffer Creek/North Raven River fish population. Alberta Sustainable Resource Development (ASRD)  recently completed the tagging of numerous fish along with a population assessment on the Stauffer Creek/North Raven River. AESRD is now looking to collect seasonal fish movement data within the Stauffer Creek/North Raven River.  Pit tags, small "pill like" tags, have been implanted under the skin of a number of fish. The implanted PIT tags track fish movement within the river and allow for individual fish identification. Each tag emits a unique signal which can only be identified by a handheld PIT tag reading unit. AESRD is looking for movement and recapture rates of fish in Stauffer Creek/North Raven River to better understand the population at this time. Volunteers are asked to participate in the project by: Obtaining and signing out a sampling kit prior to their outing. Follow the simple instructions housed in the kit (using the  PIT tag reader and GPS to scan any fish that you catch and record the locations of fish caught using the included GPS). Fill out the included creel cards completelyduring your outing. Return and sign back in the sampling kit and the competed creel cards at the end of your day. Each kit is contained in a RED pelican case as displayed in the image below.  Each kit is locked to avoid easy access to this equipment by people not participating in the project.  If you participate in this project you are asked to please return the case to the same location you borrowed it from. There are two tagging kits available for use: One kit is housed at a private residence in Edmonton (10224-79st., N.W.) The kit will be under the steps at the side of the house. The lock Combination for the Edmonton kit is, 780. Another kit is housed at a private residence in Red Deer (26 Wiltshire Place) This Kit will be located under a bush right at the north west corner of the house. The lock Combination for the Red Deer kit is, 403.      For any additional information please contact Brian Meagher, TUC's Alberta Biologist via emailor phone, (403) 209-5185. The information gathered will be used to better manage and understand this unique fishery. We thank you for your support and any volunteer time you can add to this important project.