Help decide the future of our river valley and ravine system
Edmonton’s City Plan, approved by City Council in 2020, describes the North Saskatchewan River Valley and Ravine System as the most important feature of our city. It is a vital ecological corridor, a valued recreation destination, a place of incredible cultural significance and a draw for visitors throughout the region.
The River Valley Planning Modernization Project seeks to renew the city’s strategic planning for the river valley and the processes and tools for evaluating and regulating development that is proposed within the system.
The question at the heart of the project is this: How will we ensure that the river valley, the backbone of our open space network, remains vibrant and ecologically resilient as the city grows?
The city wants your feedback through an interactive portal and a public survey no later than February 17 at https://www.edmonton.ca/city_government/initiatives_innovation/ribbon-of-green-public-engagement
Great Backyard Bird Count is Feb 18-21
Each February the world comes together for the love of birds. Over four days, people are invited to spend time in their favorite places watching and counting as many birds as they can find and reporting them
Launched in 1998, the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) was the first online citizen-science project, also referred to as community science, to collect data on wild birds and to display results in near real time. GBBC uses eBird, one of the world’s largest nature databases.
These observations help scientists better understand global bird populations before one of their annual migrations. Learn more, including how to register and participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count at https://www.birdcount.org/
Research shows cities across country losing green space
Statistics Canada’s first survey of urban green space shows that cities, including Edmonton, are losing their green spaces. The survey used satellite data to compare changes in parks, urban green spaces, yards, and other areas in 2001, 2011, and 2019.
Studies show benefits of vegetation include trees removing air pollutants, reductions in energy use, and human health benefits. Green spaces also reduce what is called urban heat islands, bubbles of high temperature around cities.
Sandeep Agrawal, a geographer and urban planner at the University of Alberta, has found the temperature difference between a city such as Edmonton and the surrounding countryside can be as high as five or six degrees. That differential is linked with the amount of urban green. “If the tree cover goes down, the urban heat island effect goes up quite a bit,” he said.
Heat islands can help cause human health problems such as respiratory failure or heat stroke, a problem worsened in heat waves such as that experienced last summer over much of Western Canada. Read more at https://rdnewsnow.com/2022/02/01/long-term-statistics-canada-research-shows-cities-across-country-losing-green-space/
Beaver Hills, Papaschase and the dinosaur man
The Beaver Hills, 20 minutes east of Edmonton, was designated as a biosphere in 2016 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. UNESCO-designated biospheres are regions in which people live and work in harmony with nature. The Beaver Hills Biosphere encompasses an area of approximately 1600 square kms that includes portions of five counties and Elk Island National Park.
Joseph Tyrrell, famous for discovering dinosaurs near Drumheller, made an 1886 survey through the heart of the Beaver Hills meticulously documenting what he saw. An historically significant legacy of this journey is a map sketched by Chief Papaschase in the back pages of Tyrrell’s field book.
Tyrrell got lost entering the Beaver Hills and doubled back to Papaschase’s camp at Two Hills, now known in Edmonton as Huntington Hill and Mount Pleasant Cemetery, which was adjacent to Two Hills Lake later drained by city planners.
Papaschase drew a map of the trail, the Beaver Hills and marked down 3 places where Tyrrell should camp. The 135-year-old map he drew provided a complete picture of one of the oldest and very few paths that wound through the Beaver Hills in 1886. A 20-minute informative and entertaining video of this history, titled BHB Episode 8-Tyrrell and Papachase, Part 1, is at https://www.beaverhills.ca/explore/videos
Time to turn Edmonton's river valley golf courses into public parks
Liz writes “It is time to turn our river valley's golf courses into public parks. It is outrageous that so much precious park space is reserved for golfers. I was amazed that the previous city council gave a new 50-year lease to the private Mayfair Golf club to use that wonderful space only for their members.
Hawrelak Park, which we need to change back to Mayfair Park, will be closed for three years. I go to this park many times a month. Where will I turn for the three long years that it is closed for renovation?”
Hawrelak Park closure
Ria emails “It is with great dismay that I heard about Hawrelak being closed for three years for improvements to be carried out. Does the entire park have to be closed for the work to happen? Is the work really necessary? I can't imagine the southside without Hawrelak.”
Comment or contribution
If you have a comment, concern, or question, contact us at nsrivervalley@gmail.com Please also email us river valley photos or event information. Your friends, neighbours and colleagues can sign up for this newsletter on our web site https://www.edmontonrivervalley.org/
Sincerely yours,
Harvey Voogd
North Saskatchewan River Valley Conservation Society
780.691.1712