How fire ready is Edmonton’s river valley
Rick Bremness photo
As an out-of-control wildfire rages on in Jasper National Park, many Edmontonians have wondered about the wildfire risk in their home community. Edmonton's river valley along the North Saskatchewan River is one of the largest urban parks in Canada with 4,500 hectares of natural area, said Courtney Teliske, a City of Edmonton ecologist working in natural areas.
Specialists say several factors make Edmonton more resistant to a fast-spreading wildfire. "The likelihood of a fire getting out of control in the city of Edmonton is much lower than, say, in the northern parts of the province," Teliske said in an interview.
A major factor is the type of tree that dominates Edmonton's natural areas. Deciduous, leafy trees like poplar, birch and aspen are slower to ignite and spread, while coniferous trees like pine and spruce burn more quickly.
The sap in evergreen trees is easy fuel for fast-moving wildfires, such as the one that is burning in Jasper National Park. The trees grow closely together so the tightly packed needles make it easier for fire to jump from treetop to treetop.
One higher-risk area of Edmonton is in the northwest along Anthony Henday Drive, where evergreens are clustered, Teliske said. "They're like black spruce, they're really dense. There's a lot of trees that have died. So those are our higher-risk areas from a fuel standpoint." Structures and homes can also be high risk, especially on south-facing slopes along the banks and river valley, she said. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/how-fire-ready-is-edmonton-what-canada-s-largest-urban-park-means-for-wildfire-risk-1.7292882
Residents concerned with plan to apply chemical to Guinevere Wetlands
Residents of the Glastonbury community are concerned by a plan to apply the chemical piscicide rotenone to eradicate invasive goldfish in their local stormwater pond. They believe the proposal poses significant risks, not only to the targeted species but also to a wide array of other aquatic and semi-aquatic life, including species that play a pivotal role in their local ecosystem.
When the neighbourhood was first up for development in 1998, the planners and City of Edmonton recognized the unique and vibrant ecosystem that was the 'Triple 5 Wetlands'. The enabling bylaws incorporated the wetlands into the storm water management system to preserve that natural ecosystem for future generations.
Alberta Environment and Protected Areas (AEPA), which manages fisheries in the province, is the primary sponsor for the rotenone treatment. For AEPA, one goldfish is too many. Since AEPA does not recognize the ponds as a wetland, they don’t need to follow their own guidance in protecting the Guinevere ponds.
They have directed Epcor to eliminate all goldfish from the ponds as it operates the storm water facilities in the Glastonbury area into which the ponds are integrated. Epcor also does not recognize Guinevere as a wetland. They only view the ponds as a storm water facility. This activity is planned for late August 24, 2024.
The ponds serve as a vibrant habitat for diverse wildlife, including pelicans, ducks, muskrats, osprey, blue herons, geese, seagulls and many other species. This summer, as many as 25 pelicans were observed in the pond. The proposed use of Rotenone, a toxin with known links to severe health risks such as Parkinson’s disease and cancer, raises profound concerns about potential harm to these animals and the humans who live in proximity to this area. https://protect-our-guinevere-wetlands.communibee.ca/
Lady’s leek an edible perennial plant native to YEG ecozone
Known as lady’s leek or nodding onion, Allium cernuum, is a perennial plant native to the prairie ecozone region including the Edmonton ecozone. A native plant is a plant species that exists in a particular region without ever having been introduced by humans.
It is edible and all parts of this plant have an oniony smell when cut or bruised. Although the bulbs and leaves of this plant were once used in cooking stews or eaten raw, it is not generally considered to be of culinary value today.
This species grows in partial shade to full sun and prefers moist to mesic (somewhat well-drained), sandy, rocky, or loamy soils. It is commonly found in prairies, drier areas of wetlands, and along lakeshores. It is easiest to grow from bulbs but can also be grown from seed.
Nodding onion is an attractive and easy-to-grow species that is beneficial to pollinators. Its nectar and pollen are attractive to many species of bees and its foliage and bulbs are a food source for a wide variety of insects.
The Hudson’s Bay company plan for a model community
Elaine writes “I have plans to create a history wall about Queen Mary Park. No one knows we used to be the Prince Rupert Golf Club, prior to housing development in QMP. This was the first golf course in Edmonton. I have a couple of pictures of the original clubhouse building. I managed to obtain an original score card from the course and a set of old clubs that were used. The groundskeeper used to live in a small second-floor apartment in the clubhouse.
Funny tidbit, when they were removing sod from around the clubhouse after officially closing, people in the neighbourhood borrowed from the stacks of grass that was to be relocated to river valley, for the new homes being built in Queen Mary Park. I want to share this story in the main lobby of our community league facility. If your readers have information, photos or articles about the Prince Rupert Golf Course, please contact me at rentals@queenmarypark.ca ”
Editor’s Note - The golf course was built in 1929-30 by the Hudson's Bay Company, who operated it until 1951. In 1950 the course was sold to the City of Edmonton. The Prince Rupert neighbourhood takes its name from the golf course. The course was named after Prince Rupert (1619-1682), the first governor of the HBC
Ritu, Prayer Cloth by Carla Costuros, Edmonton City Hall
https://www.edmontonarts.ca/public-art/ritu-prayer-cloth
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