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Photo: John Hallet
For the County of Grande Prairie, the key AESA program priorities focus on water quality, riparian and grazing management practices and recommended beneficial management practices (BMPs). Many of the projects are in partnership with the West County Watershed Group (WCWG), formed with assistance of the AESA Program.
“My main priority is working with farmers to incorporate BMPs that improve water quality, whether that’s through riparian fencing, off-site watering or other grazing management practices,” says Bonnie Nielsen, Conservation Coordinator for the County of Grande Prairie and the West County Watershed Group. “Some producers have shifted their riparian grazing from spring to fall, when the riparian areas are less susceptible to grazing impacts.” There is also a lot of interest in riparian plantings and vegetation, partly enhanced by the increased interest in woodlots. Some producers have fenced off riparian areas and are looking for future options for managing those areas.
Another important program in 2005 was the Alberta Environmental Farm Plan. “I think people are warming up to the program, and as they see more fellow producers get involved and realize the benefits, it will continue to gain more interest,” says Nielsen. The benefits were also emphasized to producers last year, when a pollution event occurred on the Beaverlodge River. “A couple of our producers were in the fortunate position of having completed the workshops and their environmental farm plans and had already implemented some changes,” explains Nielsen. When Alberta Environment started investigating, they had the information to show they weren’t part of the problem.
“When all was said and done, the producers felt pretty good that they had taken their own initiative to assess and make positive changes in their operations,” says Nielsen. “I think this probably was a huge catalyst for a lot of producers.” Nielsen emphasizes that it also showed the benefits of belonging to a watershed group and the support it provides, because the producers didn’t have to go it alone. “This event really solidified our position as being there only to provide assistance, support and encouragement, not enforcement.”
The West County Watershed Group has several partners, from across government and industry. “We also have a lot of local support that is a bit different, and it brings a lot of benefits with it,” says Nielsen. For example the UFA in Grande Prairie is a partner, and offers a discount to members of the Group when they are buying supplies that relate to riparian watershed improvements. “We’re also excited about a new partner that just came on board, Encana. They have a lot of activity going on in the community and are interested in participating in some of the development meetings with our partners.” Encana has expressed interest in helping and contributing funds where they can. The Group’s 2006 priorities will focus on water quality monitoring.
Nielsen is excited to be the area hosting the AESA Council Tour this summer. “We just getting geared up in the planning, and expect to have a couple of major projects completed for the Council to tour,” says Nielsen. “One of the projects is a relocation of a winter feeding site, and tour participants will be able to see the results of that project.”
Nielsen is looking forward to another productive year, and feels working one-on-one with producers or in very small groups is much more successful in her area. In larger groups, producers often didn’t ask questions or participate as much, and felt slightly intimidated. “One of the things I try to remember when things get challenging, are words from a US workshop speaker in Red Deer a couple of years ago,” says Nielsen. The expression was something like ‘there is no right way, no wrong way, you just can’t ever give up’. “I think we have to remember that what doesn’t work with one landowner or producer may work well for another. Get to know your audience and understand where they are coming from, know they have their own set of fears.”
For more information, contact:
Bonnie Nielsen at (780) 532-9722 or email: bnielsen@countygp.ab.ca |
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