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Apr 2013

Riparian Stewardship Program

By developer

The Friends’ Riparian Stewardship Program is part of our larger, overarching Watershed Stewardship Project that provides a wide range of opportunities for people to lend a hand in the care of Fish Creek Provincial Park. We continue to work with a strong and dedicated team of community partners and keen volunteers to execute riparian* restoration work along the easternmost stretch of Fish Creek; hands-on tasks such as planting native trees and shrubs, preparing the site and spreading mulch and locally-sourced native seeds help restore some healthy balance to this area that has been heavily impacted by human use. In 2017, this work took on a new focus through our ReWilding Through Restoration Program.

Since beginning this work in 2014, we have learned a great deal about what it takes to successfully plan, organize and implement restoration projects. This year, we’ll be expanding the scope of this program to include a focus on training volunteers in higher-level positions, allowing us to increase our overall capacity as an organization to execute this important work. As a Riparian Steward volunteer in our Riparian Stewardship Program, you will take part in a variety of different tasks that may include tree and shrub planting, general site preparation, spreading mulch and installing temporary fencing as well as site monitoring, watering and maintenance throughout the season. Opportunities also exist to take a leadership role and lead stewardship outings with small groups of volunteers; for more information, please see the Riparian Steward Crew Leader section.

We are grateful for the ongoing support from the following funders which has allowed us to continue to build our Riparian Stewardship Program:

Alberta Environment and Parks’ Watershed Resiliency and Restoration Program
Land Stewardship Centre’s Creative Sentencing Grant and Watershed Stewardship Grant
Alberta Ecotrust Foundation
Alberta Conservation Association

For more information on our Riparian Stewardship Program or questions about volunteer opportunities, please contact Katie Bakken, Program Coordinator, at katie@friendsoffishcreek.org or call our office at 403-238-3841.

Apply to Volunteer with the Friends

*A Riparian area is the strip of vegetated land next to a water resource which provides numerous essential ecological services. Acting as a natural buffer, it protects water from negative impacts associated with pollution, provides shoreline stability to prevent erosion, protects water quality and offers a movement corridor and wildlife habitat to the rich diversity of species who use it for parts or all of their life cycle. At times, however, these areas can become so impacted by human activity that they lose their ability to provide these services, and the “health” of the riparian area becomes compromised. To learn more, visit the Cows and Fish Website.

A successful example of stewardship in action!

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