Nicole Hancock
Indigenous community hosts full moon ceremony ...

Kristen Villebrun and Wendy Bush hoped they wouldn't have to pray for Chedoke Creek, but four years after they first raised alarm about the water's condition, they were part of an Indigenous full moon ceremony to do just that. About 50 people showed up near Princess Point on the dark and frigid Monday evening for the monthly ceremony, which was particularly special as it focused on Chedoke Creek. The body of water that runs into Cootes Paradise had about 24 billion litres of sewage and storm water runoff leak into it due to a gate being left open.

Indigenous community hosts full moon ceremony to heal Chedoke Creek

watershed groups

Watershed groups express concern over water levels as Alberta looks for solutions

Watershed groups express concern over water levels as Alberta looks for solutions

As Alberta grapples with low rivers, dry fields and minimal snowpack, the provincial government is asking for help with its drought modelling for next year. Concerns about water levels are being echoed by watershed groups in the province, as a sustained period of drier-than-average conditions have taken a toll on reserves. The Alberta government recently issued a request for proposals to help conduct modelling throughout the winter, and to work with municipalities, farmers, water users and others to find ways to maximize the province's water supply in the South Saskatchewan River Basin. 

Watershed groups urge P.E.I. to keep road salt away from waterways

Watershed groups urge P.E.I. to keep road salt away from waterways

Watershed groups on P.E.I. have created education campaigns encouraging Islanders to use less road salt — and keep it out of waterways — because of the impact on animals and the environment. The Trout River Environmental Committee (TREC) launched its campaign last week, in partnership with the Wheatley River Improvement Group. "The purpose is mostly just to raise awareness of the issue. A lot of people don't know the impacts of road salt, so we wanted to get the word out," said Shayla Steinhoff, project manager for TREC. 

Watching pollution, 'bottom bugs,' and other signs in Charlotte County water

Watching pollution, 'bottom bugs,' and other signs in Charlotte County water

Wading into the clear water of the Magaguadavic River within sight of downtown St. George, Kalen Mawer notes all the signs of life: aquatic plants, mussel shells, tiny fish scattering with each splashing step. "That's a good thing," said Mawer, the aquatic science program manager at Eastern Charlotte Waterways. "If you get in and you're not seeing anything, then it's a bad sign." Mawer dips a plastic bottle into the river and carefully labels it with a Sharpie. She's out in hip waders near the Day Adventure Centre, collecting water samples to be tested for coliform and E. coli.

P.E.I. watershed groups planting trees in beaver meadows in new climate change project

P.E.I. watershed groups planting trees in beaver meadows in new climate change project

Three watershed groups on P.E.I. are planting trees in beaver meadows this summer, part of a new project to help deal with the impacts of climate change. In the Souris area, trees are being planted in a beaver meadow that is part of the Naufrage River system, created when beavers abandoned a dam there decades ago. The local watershed co-ordinator said not all Islanders will know the term "beaver meadow" but they likely would have seen them.

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