Lac La Nonne Riparian Improvement Projects

1. Lac La Nonne Riparian Improvement Projects Lac La Nonne Enhancement and Protection Association www.lepa-ab.com

2. An hour NW of Edmonton, south of the town of Barrhead you’ll find the Lac La Nonne Watershed

3. This 300 km-square sub-shed of the Athabasca/Pembina river basin consists of rolling farmland, aspen forest, streams, wetlands and lakes. Including two of the regions recreational lakes Lac La Nonne & Nakamun Lake

4. around whose shorelines numerous subdivisions and 2 summer villages make up the majority of the watershed population.

5. Concerns about declining water quality and quantity in the watershed resulted in the launch of the Water Quality Assessment and Improvement Project by the Lac La Nonne Enhancement & Protection Association in the spring of 2004 Which included the development of three on-farm riparian beneficial management practice demonstration sites.

6. Area Farm families were approached with the idea of sharing their land to Demonstratedifferent strategies for grazing livestock in riparian areas (green zones of lush vegetation next to streams, lakes, ponds and wetlands) The focus of these riparian BMP demonstration projects is to increase awareness of how agricultural impacts on natural resources can be mitigated through a combination of off-site water development, fencing and controlled grazing strategies while maintaining the economical viability of the agricultural industry

7. managing livestock access to riparian areas can reduce nutrient inputs to surface waters and provide critical rest to willows and native grasses during spring and fall deep-rooted vegetation is important for maintaining healthy riparian areas

8. Kirchner in 2004 Lac La Nonne Enhancement & Protection Association-LEPA working together with Kirchner Farms established the first Riparian Beneficial Management Practice Project south-east of Lac La Nonne

9. N to demonstrate the Improved Utilization and Sustainability of watershed resources on productive agricultural property PROJECT SITE IN RED

10. A riparian assessment on the property by Alberta Riparian Habitat Management Society - Cows and Fish identified the extent of damage to stream and riparian areas from some 50 years of livestock grazing SITE IMPACTS

11. PROJECT ACTIVITIES Field staff from Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration and Alberta Agriculture, Food & Rural Development assisting volunteers and owner to layout project activities

12. A shallow well was excavated to find a clean groundwater source adjacent to riparian zone

13. a 16 foot culvert was set in place with washed gravel for a well casing resulting in a good clean water source with adequate flow for livestock operation on the property

14. Solar panels, batteries and a water pump were installed and the immediate area fenced to protect animals and equipment

15. A 1250 gallon tank with electric float-switch to control pump operation was placed on nearby hill for regulation of water flow to livestock trough

16. Water distribution lines were buried between well, storage tank and watering trough by an agricultural member. Plow supplied by PFRA

17. With assistance from landowner, a new fence and gates were erected around stream wetlands creating a RIPARIAN pasture

18. Completing project, volunteers positioned 350 gallon livestock water trough to supply all three pastures as livestock is rotated cattle being transferred to another pasture

19. 2ndpasture trough tank well pasture #1 Riparian pasture GRAZING STRATEGY Management of riparian areas by seasonal livestock rotation controlling grazing during critical growing cycles – only A working BMP demonstration site

20. PROJECT OUTCOMES Restoration of native riparian grasses, willow and shrubs to provide shelter and forage for livestock and wildlife Cottagers and farmers worked side by side to achieve the first riparian management demonstration site in the region

21. Tour On September 22, 2004 area agricultural producers and lake residents were invited to tour Demonstration Project and participate in grande opening

22. George VanderBurg MLA Whitecourt/Lac Ste Anne (on right) and Harvey Thompson LEPA President unveil project signage

23. Alberta Agriculture and PFRA staff describing BMP development and operation to area cottagers and farmers

24. measuring sustainability of riparian areas and natural pastureland presented by Cows and Fish (Alberta Riparian Habitat Management Society)

25. Kirchner family and visitors viewing project components

26. A lunch and discussions on the Water Quality Assessment & Improvement Project and future BMP opportunities completed the tour

27. Wood In financial partnership with John & Norma Wood second Riparian Demonstration BMP Project was established in 2005 on Majeau creek, a major tributary feeding into Lac La Nonne

28. This demonstration project involves two sites on the Wood farm 33 N the second a wetland feeding into creek one spanning Majeau creek

29. SITE IMPACTS Area #2 – overgrazing results in contaminants draining into area waters from nearby uplands Area #1 stream banks and bed devastated by years of livestock foraging

30. PROJECT ACTIVITIES Landowner in consultation with volunteers regarding riparian fence positioning along creek and wetlands

31. this included selecting a suitable location for a dugout adjacent to Area #2 wetlands

32. working around farming activities (haying - harvest) volunteers string barbwire through pastures along Majeau Creek and wetlands fence posts were installed by land owner for LEPA

33. some new recruits learning the ins and outs of fencing

34. A major aspect of this project was the development of an adequate water source, for this a 200 x 80 x 18 foot 4960 cubic yarddugout was excavated after freeze up providing a 3-year water supply

35. contractor trenching channel for supply line to off-site well e/w solar system and water bowl to provide a safe access to year round livestock watering source

36. Landowner and volunteers working together completed fencing dugout and off-site well the following spring a Job Well Done

37. Solar powered, motion controlled winter watering system an “all seasons” water source for a 60 cow/calf operation

38. GRAZING STRATEGY providing a better alternate to seasonal use of stream course and drainage ponds With a good, safe year-round water source, the plan is to leave the stream and riparian areas reestablish themselves

39. BMP OUTCOMES sustaining Majeau Creek as a habitat for fish and wildlife reemergence of native plants - filtration for agricultural runoff sediments and nutrients

40. DeZaeyer In partnership with the Watersheds two Stewardship groups the Lac La Nonne Watershed Stewardship Society the Lac La Nonne Enhancement & Protection Association and DEVELOPED THE De Zaeyer Farms working together to demonstrate that agriculture production and environment protection objectives can and do coexist

41. N aerial photo looking south with the new De Zaeyer demonstration site Kirchner site in the foreground and Lac La Nonne South on right

42. hectares of watershed marsh and open pond at risk due to livestock grazing and watering SITE IMPACTS

43. PROJECT ACTIVITIES volunteers from both watershed group with direction of supplier assembling windmill tower

44. 21 foot tower nearly complete?

45. windmill assembly transported to site and volunteers prepare to erect unit on shallow well established at edge of the pond riparian zone temporary portable fencing setup

46. The completed 30 foot windmill c/w 8-foot aeromotor blades being erected using truck (behind bush) and guided with tractor a difficult undertaking for volunteers

47. To facilitate raising and lowing of windmill assembly, a hinged platform was welded atop well casing

48. System pump & rods 11/2” waterline and 3” overflow drain-line from tank attached to well

49. using PFRA plow landowner buries waterlines and tracer-wire below pasture grasses

50. Storage tank set on nearby hill and gravity-fed watering trough placed at lower level