Celebrate National Wildlife Week!

	Image © Brenda Bradley Photo contest entrant
	Click here for a list of this year's NWW events. Register your NWW event by clicking here.

Watersheds… more than just water… explore yours!

Come join the millions of Canadians who take part in National Wildlife Week every year and explore the many wonders of your watershed. Celebrated each year in the week surrounding April 10th, NWW is a nationwide festival of our natural heritage and a campaign for conservation.

This year, celebrate the watershed you live in and learn about the many intricate links between all the watersheds that make up our great nation. You can take part in Canada-wide festivities, link up with others in your community to clean up a neighbourhood stream, or take a snapshot of a special corner of your watershed. The possibilities are endless… let the exploration begin!

What is a watershed?
Did you know that we all live in a watershed? No matter where you live, work or play, you are in a watershed! You might be surprised to know that watersheds are more than just water. A watershed is an area of land that water flows across or through on its way to a particular water body, such as a stream, river, wetland or coast. Think of it as the land upon which precipitation (such as rain) falls and flows to a common, watery place.

2006 NWW poster. Order a copy here.

Watersheds come in all shapes and sizes. They can be very large, spanning several provinces, or so small that they only encompass a small stream or wetland area. They cross counties, provinces and national boundaries. They can be “open systems” — those that eventually drain into an ocean or “closed systems” — ones where water can only escape through evaporation or by seeping into the earth.

Canada has five main watersheds: the Arctic, the Atlantic (which includes the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River), Hudson Bay, the Pacific and the Gulf of Mexico. Each of these massive landscapes contains a network of sub-watersheds, most of which are connected through configurations of tributaries (streams and rivers) that channel water to an ocean. Find out your watershed “address” within one of these five areas by locating your home on the new, giant, full-colour "Discover Canada's Watersheds" map. Order a free copy of it here.

Why watersheds are important
From towering mountains to flat prairies, from the tundra to all ocean coasts, from cities to towns, villages, ranches and modest farms, everyone lives in a watershed. Here’s a list of some of the many vital needs served by watersheds:

• Water: Watersheds supply water — a fundamental need of all living things. Without it, people and wildlife can’t survive.
• Drinking water: People and wildlife need drinkable water. Watersheds provide the water that enters our homes from wells or from systems of pipes from a treatment plant. We use it for cooking and other household needs. Wildlife also needs sources of safe drinking water.
• A place to live: Watersheds are like huge neighbourhoods within which all living things — plants, animals and people — share water.
• Wildlife habitat: Whether it’s a bird, butterfly, bear or bat, all wildlife needs habitat. Water is a vital part of their habitat, which also includes food, shelter and space, arranged just right for each species. Beavers, fish, shore birds, frogs, turtles and snakes are among the aquatic species of wildlife that live in or around the water supplied by a watershed.
• Irrigation: Farmers draw on water in watersheds from the Earth’s surface (such as ponds) or from beneath the ground to irrigate crops for food and provide water for livestock.
• Industry: Most industries draw water from watersheds in manufacturing processes or for cooling and cleaning. Fish industries depend on water from streams, lakes, rivers and oceans.
• Recreation: Watersheds provide the lakes, streams and rivers we use for fishing, boating, swimming, ice fishing or relaxing on a beach.
• Beauty: Scenic waterways or ocean coasts are among the natural features in our landscape that give us cause to reflect, admire and share in the beauty of our environment.

Take a trip down your watershed
You’re in a watershed right now! Take a look around and explore the water, land, people and wildlife. Discover them in your area by using the handy list below.

• Land formations: Both gradual and catastrophic events such as the ice ages and volcanic eruptions sculpted many landforms, such as the mountains and valleys that we see today. Flowing water also plays a current role in forming, shaping and altering river channels, flood plains and their surrounding landscapes. Investigate your watershed for notable landforms.
• Wildlife habitat: Wildlife needs habitat — food, water, shelter and space arranged just right for each species. Without it, wildlife can’t survive. How abundant and diverse are the species of wildlife living in your watershed?
• Shoreline and upland vegetation: A shoreline is where water meets the land. Well-vegetated ones serve as buffer zones as do vegetated areas growing in higher places above a water body (upland). Vegetation anchors the soil and protects edges from erosion. Its presence provides wildlife habitat. Its abundance helps to purify water by filtering out impurities as it flows into a water body. Its shade keeps temperatures cool for aquatic life. How lush are buffer zones in your area?
• Lakes: Lakes are big holes filled with standing water that are typically fed by rivers, springs or precipitation. Different types are found across Canada.
• Rivers and streams: What do rivers, streams, creeks and brooks have in common? Flowing water! Smaller bodies of flowing water are typically called streams; larger ones are known as rivers. They’re always heading downward
• downstream — the path of least resistance. Find out which communities are upstream and downstream from you by noting the direction of the flow of a nearby river.
• River systems: As creeks and streams join other streams, a branching effect starts. This network is a river system. Rivers start at a source (a high point that’s a watery spot such as a spring or a wetland). Gravity propels their flow down channels to their mouth (end point). Ultimately, all river systems drain into the ocean (except in closed watersheds).
• Wetlands: Wetlands are areas that are covered with water for part of a year (or even part of a day as in the case of tidal marshes). Several different types of these immensely productive areas for wildlife occur in Canada such as bogs, swamps and marshes.
• Aquatic ecosystems: An aquatic ecosystem is a group of interacting organisms that depend on each other and their watery environment for nutrients and shelter. Lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands, estuaries and even floodplains are examples of different types. Each offers different habitat to the wildlife associated with it. For instance, fast-flowing streams appeal to wildlife adapted for moving water, such as salmon, which are not found in the still waters of lakes.
• Urban and rural areas: Places where people live and work are also parts of watersheds — including urban and rural areas, industrial parks, manufacturing sites, forests and mines. How we use land and water in these places often affects the quality of water and aquatic communities. For example, water from a rainfall drains into water bodies, along with pollutants we use on land, such as oil from cars or pesticides from lawns and fields. Waste-water treatment is an example of how we use water. Waste-water includes water from tubs and toilets and the water discharged by industries in manufacturing processing. Many communities rely on treatment plants for safe water. How is land and water used in your area?
• Coastal zones and oceans: Coastal zones and oceans are often the final destination of the water in a watershed. Water can flow through an estuary, which is the interface between fresh and salt water, and through deltas where harbour seals, sea lions and seabirds live.

What can I do in my backyard?
Our individual actions can directly affect the quality of watersheds. Here are some simple things you can do to protect your watershed and the wildlife living in it.

• Get to know your watershed: Take a walk around your nearest stream or wetland and discover all the wild species that make their homes there.
• Find out what watershed you live in by visiting CWF’s WILD Education website and linking with Environment Canada’s Know-Your-Watershed web page.
• Take a snapshot of a special corner of your watershed, post it online at www.wildeducation.org and be part of an exciting exploration of watersheds.
• Do a shoreline cleanup along a beach, lake or stream. Cleaning up garbage can make a big impact on wildlife living in your watershed and enhance its beauty for all to enjoy.
• Rehabilitate a wetland or plant some vegetation along stream banks. Plants play an important role in stream-bank erosion control and provide food for aquatic animals.
• Conserve your water: Make sure you turn off the tap when you brush your teeth and use low-flow faucets and shower heads.
• Dispose of batteries, paint and other hazardous materials properly and never pour chemicals, waste oil or radiator fluids down the drain or on the ground.
• Reduce the amount of household chemicals you use because once they are down the drain they can enter our watersheds and harm plants and animals.
• Use native plants: They have low requirements for water, fertilizers and pesticides.
• Get involved in your community and encourage local officials to prioritize the health of your watershed and adopt a pesticide bylaw.

About National Wildlife Week!

National Wildlife Week is a program of the Canadian Wildlife Federation sponsored in partnership with provincial and territorial wildlife agencies, the Canadian Museum of Nature, the Canadian Wildlife Service (a division of Environment Canada) and Parks Canada.

NWW is celebrated each year during the week surrounding April 10, the birthday of Jack Miner, one of the founders of Canada’s conservation movement. Proclaimed in 1947 by an act of Parliament, NWW is a time to celebrate Canada’s natural heritage and play an active role in conservation.

During National Wildlife Week, CWF distributes educational packages to every school in Canada. The kits contain lesson plans and resource materials focusing on the NWW theme. Through this exciting education program, CWF is helping to raise young Canadians’ awareness of the importance of wildlife conservation issues. Schools and youth groups that initiate habitat improvement projects in their schoolyards or communities may also be eligible for funding. Judging by the number of projects and the thousands of hectares of habitat that have already been improved for wildlife in celebration of NWW, the future looks bright for many wild species and spaces. For more information about becoming a WILD School visit www.wildeducation.org.

How You Can Celebrate National Wildlife Week

• Invite outdoor/environmental educators to your community to conduct nature walks and talks on wildlife.
• Get together with friends, family and neighbours to improve habitat in a special wild place in your community such as a park, an urban forest, a pond, or the area surrounding a schoolyard.
• Create a special place in your backyard to share with wildlife. Visit CWF’s Wild About Gardening Web site at www.wildaboutgardening.org for ideas.
• Become a volunteer at a local naturalist/environment club.
• Organize a talent, poster, or story-writing contest with a wildlife theme.
• Adopt a field or park and make it wildlife-friendly.
• Have your municipality proclaim National Wildlife Week (April 10 to 16) and add it to your community calendar.
• Prepare wildlife displays for shopping malls and other high-traffic areas. Local nature clubs may be able to help you.
• Invite local conservation officers or wildlife biologists to speak to schoolchildren and community groups.
• Organize a wildlife film festival at your local library, community center, or school auditorium.
• Ask your public library to display National Wildlife Week posters, available from CWF.
• Organize a tree-planting event at your school, library, or municipal office.
• Keep your backyard a little “wild.” Plant fruit-bearing trees and shrubs to help wildlife.

Celebrate National Wildlife Week with a Festival!

In celebration of NWW activities, events and festivals will be taking place across the country. If you, or your group, plan planning to hold a NWW event in your community, CWF would like to know about it. Please send your name, phone number, e-mail address, along with the name of your event (if any), a brief description of the activities, dates, times, and any other relevant information by e-mail to nww@cwf-fcf.org. You may also register online or call the NWW hotline at 1-800-563-WILD.

Click here for a list of National Wildlife Week events taking place in 2006.

Certify Your Backyard

A great way to create a special wild place is to begin in your own backyard.

And if you have already made an effort to welcome wildlife into your backyard, CWF would like to acknowledge your accomplishments. Our Backyard Habitat Certification program recognizes the hard work of Canadians in meeting the habitat needs of wildlife. In certifying backyards, there are three key areas we look at — wildlife-friendly gardening, earth-friendly gardening, and naturalized habitat. To learn more about certifying or improving your backyard for wildlife, please visit www.wildaboutgardening.org.

Call of the Wild!

Be sure to enter the sixth annual Robert Bateman National Wildlife Week Writing and Art Contest. Open to any student under 18 years of age, the contest encourages young Canadians to get to know their “wild neighbours”.

Robert Bateman’s simple philosophy is that caring begins with knowing. “In the end, we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand, and we will understand only what we are taught.” (Philosopher, Baba Dioum)

For contest details and entry forms, visit www.gettoknow.ca.