Sunday, January 12, 2014

Forestry industry in dark on effects of southern Alberta land-use plan

The provincial draft land-use plan for southern Alberta suggests forestry activities will be maintained and diversified, but lacks details on how that will accomplished. “There’s a lot of question marks in terms of what the impact will be to us as an industry or to us as a company,” said Gord Lehn, a director with Spray Lakes Sawmills in Cochrane. Forest land use sign post in the Castle Wilderness Area of Southern Alberta on Wednesday October 3, 2012.
Photograph by: Gavin Young , Calgary Herald

Forestry industry in dark on effects of southern Alberta land-use plan

By Colette Derworiz, Calgary Herald January 6, 2014

"“It’s really business as usual,” said Katie Morrison, conservation planner with the southern Alberta chapter of t
he Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society.

The group suggests clear-cut logging and roads affect headwater forests, with land losing its natural ability to regulate water flow during floods and droughts."

Read article here: http://bit.ly/1dtH801

Looking back along the Bow River - 2012 Season

Photo, © 2012 Bow River Shuttles All rights reserved 2012

August 2012

#bowriver #flyfishing

Saturday, January 11, 2014

Off-roaders fear being shut out by southern Alberta land-use plan

Responsible off-road enthusiasts say more enforcement of the rules would be more effective than limiting access to Alberta’s wilderness areas, by targeting the minority who harm the environment. “Ultimately, we have the same concerns about wildlife and water,” says Kevin Martoani, a 4x4 enthusiast who lives in Calgary. “We want clean air and clean water or we wouldn’t be out there.”
Photograph by: Stuart Gradon

Off-roaders fear being shut out by southern Alberta land-use plan

By Colette Derworiz, Calgary Herald January 6, 2014

“There is very little change in the South Saskatchewan Regional Plan,” says Marina Krainer, executive director of the Ghost River Watershed Alliance. “It’s a little bit disappointing.”


She says the problems, which include erosion and sediment entering rivers and streams, are worsening with the growing numbers of off-road enthusiasts in the province.

Read article here: http://bit.ly/JR1bOz

Looking back along the Bow River - 2012 Season

Photo, © 2012 Bow River Shuttles All rights reserved

August 2012

#bowriver #flyfishing

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

"IRON FLY" Fly tying Contest

"IRON FLY" Fly tying Contest from Addi Berry on Vimeo.

Guide fears for wildlife in draft land-use plan

Outdoor guide Jeff Samson, snowshoeing near Canmore, suggests there is little consideration for wildlife in the draft land-use plan for southern Alberta.
Photograph by: Gavin Young, Calgary Herald

Guide fears for wildlife in draft land-use plan

By Colette Derworiz, Calgary Herald January 4, 2014

Jeff Samson, a guide in the mountain parks, loves wildlife. A grizzly bear with cubs, a moose or a herd of elk are often the highlight o
f his hiking or snowshoe tours in the Bow Valley.

Samson worries, though, that they aren't considered in a draft land-use plan for southern Alberta.

"I care a lot about the wildlife," he said. "If there's one thing this plan lacks, it's about wildlife."

Samson, who relies on tourism for his livelihood, is not alone in his concerns.

Read story here: http://bit.ly/1etV1Nw

#SSRP

Looking back along the Bow River - 2012 Season



August 2012

#bowriver #flyfishing

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Flood diversion tunnel plan raises tough questions for city

Wolf Keller, head of the flood mitigation advisory panel, by the Elbow River. A study is planned for the flood tunnel.
Photograph by : Leah Hennel, Calgary Herald

Flood diversion tunnel plan raises tough questions for city

By Jason Markusoff, Calgary Herald January 3, 2014

When flood mitigation experts mused about a tunnel to divert water from the Glenmore Reservoir to the Bow River, it struck even the mayor as something from science fiction.


In the first half of 2014, Calgary will get a Choose Your Own Adventure report on the proposed tunnel.

Should it go under 58th Avenue South or Heritage Drive? Should it protect Elbow River communities from a repeat of 2013’s flood, or a much worse disaster?

Will the benefits be worth the cost of a $200-million tunnel? What if it’s a $300-million tunnel?

And if a flood-sized gusher is siphoned off the Elbow, what damage does it wreak when the water empties into the Bow?

Read article here: http://bit.ly/1hung3S


 

Photograph by  Darren Francey Calgary Herald

Wild & Scenic Environmental Film Festival - January 9-12, 2014

 

Wild & Scenic Environmental Film Festival - January 9-12, 2014

One of the films that we will be screening at my upcoming Back Cast Fly Fishing Film Festival, from Todd Moen of CATCH MAGAZINE, has been 'Selected' for the Wild & Scenic Film Festival this weekend!

Looking back along the Bow River - 2012 Season

Photo, © 2012 Bow River Shuttles All rights reserved

August 2012

#bowriver #flyfishing

Monday, January 6, 2014

CPAWS Southern Alberta @ MEC for SSRP - Jan 12


The Draft South Saskatchewan Regional Plan (SSRP) is a land-use plan for the South Saskatchewan River basin area of Southern Alberta. 

The land use plan will determine how we use our land and waters for industry, environment and recreation for decades to come. 

The public comment period on the plan is open until JANUARY 15th.  

CPAWS Southern Alberta is holding an information workshop at Mountain Equipment Co-op in Calgary on Sunday, January 12th from 12-2pm in order to:

1) Provide an overview of the Draft SSRP and CPAWS’ main concerns with the plan, and


2) Provide you with a variety of ways to express your views on the Draft SSRP to the Government of Alberta, including writing a letter, meeting with your MLA or filling in a workbook.


Free! All are welcome.

Looking back along the Bow River - 2012 Season


August 2012

#bowriver #flyfishing

Saturday, January 4, 2014

Winds of change are blowing on Alberta's prairie

Kevin Van Tighem
Photograph by: Colleen De Neve , Calgary Herald


Winds of change are blowing on Alberta's prairie
Kevin Van Tighem, Calgary Herald
Published: Saturday, January 04, 2014


Bow River Shuttles writes: From prairie grassland to potato patch? Haven't we been down this road before?

Kevin Van Tighem writes: "Lobbying by special interest groups appears to have won out, because the draft South Saskatchewan Regional Plan contains not one single conservation area east of Highway 2 — where most of our species at risk are found.

Worse, it offers up a third of what remains for sale to irrigation farmers — something the regional advisory committee never even considered. Once plowed, prairie doesn’t recover."


Read article here: http://bit.ly/KrQoei

Your advice on what should be in the South Saskatchewan Regional Plan can go as a simple email to bev.yee@gov.ab.ca

Looking back along the Bow River - 2012 Season

Photo, © 2012 Bow River Shuttles All rights reserved

August 2012

#bowriver #flyfishing

Friday, January 3, 2014

Rancher wants to protect grassland (with video)


Audrey Taylor, a rancher in the Milk River area, wants to put her leased land into heritage rangeland - a designation that would protect it from further development.
Photograph by: Lorraine Hjalte, Calgary Herald

Rancher wants to protect grassland (with video)
Draft plan covers 83,764 square km of Alberta land

By Colette Derworiz, Calgary Herald January 3, 2014

Audrey Taylor's pasture for her cattle is in the middle of the Milk River ridge, an internationally significant grassland that's home to rare fish, birds and plants. Deer and antelope regularly play in her yard.

Read article here:  http://bit.ly/193rEnw

In response to this article, Kevin Van Tighem writes: "We have until January 15 to persuade the planners to protect what grasslands currently remain. They are heading in the wrong direction - the draft plan proposes to sell up to a third of what native prairie still survives to irrigation farmers. Comments can be sent to bev.yee@gov.ab.ca"

Plan called 'multimillion-dollar colouring exercise'

Photo, Alan Maudie, CPAWS Southern Alberta

Plan called 'multimillion-dollar colouring exercise'

By Colette Derworiz, Calgary Herald January 3, 2014

Conservation groups say a draft land-use plan for southern Alberta relies on 30-year-old science when it comes to the protection of watersheds and wildlife.

Read article here: http://bit.ly/19Upa9b

Catch and Release Trout

Looking back along the Bow River - 2012 Season

Photo, © 2012 Bow River Shuttles All rights reserved

Michelle with shuttle clients

August 2012

#bowriver #flyfishing

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Happy New Year to Everyone!

Photo, © 2012 Bow River Shuttles This collage, 'Along the Bow River 2013', includes photos taken each month in 2013, from February through November inclusive (starting top left, left to right), with three photos from our massive flood in June, showing Policeman's Flats, McKinnon Flats and Carseland/Johnson's Island.

Happy New Year to Everyone!

Wishing you all good things now and throughout the coming year!

Kind regards,
Michelle Magotiaux
Bow River Shuttles