1. Municipal Watershed Partnerships
Overview of the Sturgeon River Watershed Alliance
May 23, 2018
Lac Ste. Anne County- Council Meeting
AnnLisa Jensen, Chair
SRWA

2. Sturgeon River Watershed
European settlements dating back to 1800s
Very favourable soils for agriculture
4 counties (Parkland, Sturgeon, Lac Ste Anne, Westlock)
Major urban centers Stony Plain, Spruce Grove, City of Edmonton, City of St. Albert, Morinville, Bon Accord and Gibbons

3. Sturgeon River
Sturgeon River is a small, precipitation and groundwater fed prairie river
260 km in length
3,301 sq km watershed area
High variability in water level and flow
Significant riparian and upland habitat diversity
It covers an area of about 3300 km2 and has very low relief – a mere 270 m difference between the headwaters and the confluence with the NSR.
The surface geology is a mix of end moraine and lacustrine deposits with a few buried river valleys that are major aquifers
The area is about half in the dry mixedwood forest ecoregion and half in the Central Parkland ecoregion.
One of eighteen sub-watersheds in the North Saskatchewan Basin
Consider one of the Middle Reach sub watersheds along with Modeste, Strawberry, Beaverhill and White Earth
It flows eastward from its headwaters near Hoople Lake / Entwistle approximately 260 km to its confluence with the NSR across the river from the City of Fort Saskatchewan.

4. Sturgeon River Watershed Land Cover
71% agriculture
20% natural features
5% water
4% developed
Over 70% of the land used for agriculture. Crops make up about 45% and pasture 35%
Around 20 % natural features such as treed areas, wetlands and riparian areas still exist
5% water features such as rivers, tributaries and lakes
4% developed with urban development, roads, pipelines, oil and gas, etc.

5. Sturgeon River Watershed Land Use
Urban Areas have 74.5% of population with high growth rates
Country Residential
Crops and Livestock
Gravel extraction
Roads and pipelines

6. Sturgeon River Watershed Challenges
Rapid urban development
Loss of natural areas, riparian buffers and wetlands
Low and fluctuating water levels
High nutrient inputs and poor water quality
Increase in stormwater runoff and pollution

7. State of the Watershed Report
What is the current condition of the watershed?
How does this compare to past conditions?
What are the critical or emerging issues?
What are the data/knowledge gaps that need to be addressed?
What mechanisms are in place or need to be in place to maintain and protect the health of the Sturgeon River watershed?

8. SOW Overall Grade and Key Issues
Minimize impacts of urban sprawl
Prevent further loss of natural areas especially wetlands and riparian areas
Reduce amounts of pollutants entering the watershed - fertilizers, pesticides and road salts
Establish a municipally led watershed group
SHOW REPORTS

9. Sturgeon River Watershed Alliance

10. Sturgeon River Watershed Alliance
Establish a municipally led watershed group
Municipalities have a significant influence on land development
Watershed management at the sub-watershed level is effective as each area has its own issues related to variations in the landscape, land uses and types of development
Municipal focus due to large amount of influence municipalities have on the landscape
Members include Parkland County, Sturgeon County, City of Edmonton, City of St. Albert, Lac Ste Anne County, Town of Onoway, City of Spruce Grove, SVLACE, Town of Morinville and Town of Gibbons
Started in 2013
Steering Committee – elected officials – communicate with their respective councils on SRWA activities
Technical Advisory Committee – municipal planners, NGOs

11. Sturgeon River Watershed Alliance
Parkland County
Town of Onoway
City of St. Albert
SLVACE
Sturgeon County
Town of Morinville
City of Edmonton
Town of Gibbons
Lac St. Anne County
City of Spruce Grove

12. SRWA Technical Studies
SRWA partnership has been able to secure over $500,000 in grants
NSWA able to coordinate grants and consultants
Municipal staff are able to collaborate and use information to develop and align planning and environmental policies
Numerous GOA studies from 1970s-1990s – concerns about water levels and flooding
Lakes have tremendous impact on water levels in the Sturgeon River
ALCES project
Water quality sampled in 2017
AEP reviewing historic data

13. SRWA Technical Studies
Water Quantity
Lake water balance studies for Isle Lake and Lac St. Anne
Watershed modelling to show impacts from development
Groundwater overview and potential impacts from gravel development
Ecosystem Health
Riparian habitat condition assessment of river, creeks and lakes
Fish habitat condition assessment including dissolved oxygen in winter
Water Quality
Overview of current and historic conditions
Intermunicipal Policy Alignment
Review of existing policies and legislation; recommendations for municipal policy/bylaw alignment

14. Next Steps

15. Next Steps Completion of technical studies
Communication of results to Steering Committee
Determine key areas to address with policies- partnership approach
Development of Integrated Watershed Management Plan

16. What is an IWMP? Outlines actions and responsibilities for:
Water quality protection
Water supply management
Aquatic ecosystem protection
Groundwater protection
Alignment of land and water
Planning at regional scale

17. Collaboration is key
There is no real precedent for watershed planning work
We need to speak as one voice in our watersheds
Create cohesion through leadership and collaboration
Indigenous engagement is essential

18. Questions for Elected Official
How do the decisions I make affect the watershed?
Where do I need to gain knowledge?
How can my experience help others make good decisions?
What can I do to move it forward?
Where do conversations need to happen? – the importance of advocacy

19. Thank you!
Questions?