The Fish Creek Watershed Association (FCWA) is a newly formed watershed stewardship group in the upper Fish Creek watershed, Bow River basin.

Water supply and availability, water quality, fisheries and headwaters management are among the top priorities for the FCWA based on a preliminary review of community concerns in the watershed. However, these issues have not been well documented or described.

The FCWA intends to document the scope of issues, including water quantity, water quality, riparian areas, biodiversity and land use in a single, easy to read state of the watershed report to build a common understanding of watershed condition among the community and stakeholders.

This initiative will be successful when there is a consolidated report that characterizes the watershed or supports an evaluation of watershed condition for area residents and landowners.

This grant will improve the FCWA’s capacity to build partnerships with all stakeholders (e.g., residents, NGOs, industry, and local, provincial and First Nation governments), and create a common understanding of watershed resources, including riparian areas and wetlands, through the Upper Fish Creek state of the watershed report.

This project will be led by Sandi Riemersma (Palliser Environmental Services Ltd.) with in-kind support from Cows and Fish and FCWA. This work supports the Cows and Fish mission to improve riparian health, as well as promote and achieve voluntary stewardship through locally led initiatives.

The Upper Fish Creek State of the Watershed Report will:

• Build a common understanding among stakeholders to identify issues and develop a plan of action,

• Improve understanding of how natural features and processes influence watershed conditions,

• Provide insights into the linkages between watershed health and past and current land and water uses

• Identify sensitive, at-risk areas

• Provide basis for future watershed planning and

• Provide direction on where the FCWA could focus its efforts (i.e., prioritize activity)

Photo credit: Sandi Riemersma