Why we must change our ways
 

Folks,

It is without question that the residents of Alberta cannot continue the abuse of thier lands. Water means life.
Here is a sobering article.

https://albertaviews.ca/safeguarding-the-source/#

Don

Thanks for the post. Interesting read.

x2

Excellent article Don, thanks for posting.

Good balanced article... it's good to see foresters and environmentalists sharing thoughts on what's achievable. Need everybody at the table to make some tough choices, sooner than later.

X2

Thanx for posting Don. A very good read.

A nice conclusion to a thoughtfully written article.


"No amount of careful resource stewardship and business innovation, however, can restore Alberta’s headwaters to their full potential if every seismic cutline, cow trail or abandoned logging road is open to abuse by off-road vehicles. A limited number of off-road trails makes sense; allowing recreational anarchy to continue turning wetlands into mudbogs, eroding hillsides and choking streams and reservoirs with silt does not. Riding an off-road vehicle is fun for some; water is life for all."

It just comes down to respect, respect for each other and the land. Unfortunately even with laws,regs we still got abuse...some just don't get it until the "ban" or closure comes into effect and then they complain...

Unfortunately
 

The author recognizes beaver dams as a holding device for riparian water but doesn't recognize that beavers are a renewable resource so he suggests "surely their dams are worth more than their fur". sounds like a call to end trapping in the eastern slopes. My grandfather trapped for a living and knew that his livelihood depended on managing his line to ensure the beaver population remained healthy. A call to end trapping is not a solution to water shortages.

This article is well written with lots of great info. Thanks for posting.

The one thing the article does not address about our rivers health is the gravel operations on our rivers. Such as the North Sask for example. If a person looks on google earth at the length of the NS river between the foothills and Edmonton there are gravel operations on many of the inside bends. I believe that long term, the removal of these gravels will definitely affect the water quality. Those gravels are important as they help with "filtration"of the waters. The loss of these gravels will most likely result in more silt and less oxygenaton of those waters.

The individual need to be more educated and responsible with the water they use too. If we don't get a grasp on our water usages our grandchildren will have to walk 2 hours one way to fill their water jugs at the mudhole like so many third world kids have to now.

Google the authors name and see his views on wolf hunting and trapping in Alberta. He would like to see that ended too.

Ever time I see anything with his name on it I want to puke.

No rest till the y2y have everyone punted out....

This article is scary. It is very well worded, for most reading it they can take away that we have messed up the headwaters and therefore we need to shut down all activity in them. This will lead to the whole Eastern Slopes being restricted to all but the elite.

This article states that dams are good. but they are bad. Trees are good but they are bad.

The reduction of water in the headwaters is related to usage of that water. Downstream.
They talk about dams loosing 1 liter for every 100 they store. That is called evaporation. They talk about snow being evaporated from the tree canopy, causing a shortage of ground water. Then they talk about the tree canopy helps protect evaporation.

Why don't they look at the historical water levels for the past 100-200 years. Then we might get a bit more realistic values.

Downstream use really needs to be evaluated more then the head stream production.
We may need to manage flood ranges/ times better and figure out a way to store that water and replenish our underground aquifers instead of allowing that water to run amok downstream.

This article is Scary because it makes a simple person think wow it is trying to defend all sides. In fact this article is filled with anti use of the Eastern slopes.

Bingo! Someone who actually understands what’s going on.

Kevin Van Tighem, there’s that throw up feeling again...

The thrash and trash crowd cannot be convinced there is even a problem. They figure there is an unending supply of wilderness for them to destroy.

You forgot the online anonymous trash talk part