Sturgeon fossil discovered in YEG river valley
A fragment of a 72-million-year-old sturgeon has been unearthed in Edmonton’s River Valley. The discovery was made by hikers in Capilano Park in February 2023. What they thought might be a fragment of dinosaur skin turned out to be a skull belonging to an ancient sturgeon.
Researchers at the University of Alberta believe the fish would have been two metres long when it was alive. This is the first new species of fossil fish discovered within Edmonton, according to researchers, who have named the species Boreiosturion labyrinthicus. The name references the labyrinth or maze-like patterns on the skull.
Sturgeons are found in North American freshwater environments and still exist and live in the North Saskatchewan River as a protected species. https://globalnews.ca/news/10219279/edmonton-sturgeon-skull-fossil-discovery/
Tent communities not new to Edmonton
By the 1900s Edmonton was growing quickly, and high housing costs and low availability forced many people to find diverse ways to live. A 1907 survey conducted by the Edmonton Bulletin showed that there were 1,098 tents in Edmonton, sheltering 3,294 people. Considering Edmonton's population in 1906 was just over 14,000, this was a staggering number.
Tent communities developed all over Edmonton, including in Fraser Flat (Riverdale), Galagher Flat (Cloverdale), past the Canadian Pacific Railway tracks (109 Street) in the west end (Oliver), behind the Dreamland Theatre on Jasper Avenue, and east of 95 Street near the Canadian Northern Railway tracks (between 104 and 105 Avenues).
Reacting to the growing number of tent dwellers in the City, Council passed Bylaw 121, stipulating that people could live in tents, but only if they applied for a licence and paid a $1 fee. These tents would then be known by health officials and would have to conform to the local health code. In 1912 the Edmonton Bulletin published another survey, counting 2,671 tenters in the City. https://www.edmonton.ca/city_government/edmonton_archives/early-tent-communities
Province seeking feedback on Edmonton and area flood maps
The Alberta government is seeking public input on new flood maps for the North Saskatchewan River in the Edmonton area. The flood study's authors want members of the public to review the maps and review the reports that go with them.
"We'd like to get any technical comments that they have about it," said Jim Choles, a river engineer with Environment and Protected Areas Alberta and the project lead for the study. "There may be errors, or something that needs to be addressed," Choles said. "Public engagement is an integral part of our flood studies."
The draft flood maps are an update to existing flood mapping. Studies that produced the previous flood maps were done in 1994 and 1995, Choles said, and they were extended to Fort Saskatchewan and Devon in 2007. The provincial survey closes February 12. https://www.alberta.ca/north-saskatchewan-river-flood-study-engagement
Choles said the Edmonton area is not especially vulnerable to flooding. The North Saskatchewan River valley is fairly deep and narrow compared to other areas, and there isn't a great deal of development in the valley. "We do have some, but a lot of it is forested, and so we don't find that there's a lot of areas that can be flooded," Choles said. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-draft-flood-maps-1.7075697
Bohemian waxwings meet their Waterloo
Louisa Bruinsma photo
Louisa writes “We had hundreds of Bohemian waxwings visit our home, Jan 13. Unfortunately, some of them weren’t watching where they were going or ate fermented mountain ash berries. Not sure, but they met their Waterloo by hitting our window. Usually, we have 1 or 2 fatalities by our west facing front window, but this one was massive.
They hit at one time because I heard a big bang and thought something had fallen over in the house. My husband made little cones for them and put them in the freezer. They will find their resting place with Darcy Visscher at King’s University, who will have his students make study skins from them.”
Amiskwaciw Waskayhkan Ihtawin by Destiny Swidersk, Michael Phair Park
https://www.edmontonarts.ca/public-art/amiskwaciw-waskayhkan-ihtawin
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Please note that articles may not reflect the position of NSRVCS. River Valley News is meant to be a clearinghouse for the wide variety of opinions and ideas about Edmonton’s River Valley. Email river valley photos, event information, comments, or questions to nsrivervalley@gmail.com