Whats New?

NEW Fact Sheet!  A Pond of Gold.  Storing Water Naturally. 

Many people believe that water will be the new gold of the future. As the reality of climate change becomes ever more apparent, we will need to catch and store water more effectively. We’ve given water lots of advice, in the form of expensive dams and big reservoirs but is that always the best solution? Likely not. Have we overlooked a natural ally in our efforts to conserve and manage water? Yes, consider the beaver!

French Language Fact Sheets!  We have translated three additional fact sheets into French language.  To view the fact sheets available in French visit our publications pages. 

New Pilot Project - Ecological Goods and Services in County of Vermilion River. On January 20, 2010, the ALUS Partnership Advisory Committee, in cooperation with the County of Vermilion River launched the Alternative Land Use Services (ALUS) Pilot Project.  ALUS is a concept pioneered by grassroots farm organizations across Canada to help meet the growing demand for environmental products, such as clean air and greenhouse gas reductions, clean water, fish and wildlife habitat, conservation of species at risk and development and maintenance of appealing agricultural landscapes.  To date partner organizations that support ALUS, with funding or direction, include the Alberta Conservation Association, Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, County of Vermilion River, Cows and Fish, Delta Waterfowl, and Wildlife Habitat Canada. PAC producer members include Doug and Cheryl Livingstone, Sean McGrath, Trent Selte, Ed Parke and Ralph Chamberlain.  View the recent press release here. 

Cows and Fish Gala and Appreciation Event. On Dec 3, 2008, we held our Cows and Fish Appreciation Gala, to celebrate nearly 18 years working on riparian areas in Alberta.  It was a wonderful opportunity to acknowledge the support provided by landowners, watershed groups, partners and members, to celebrate our successes, and share our experiences.   The evening gave us a chance to reflect on our past, visit with friends and look forward to many future years to come.  In early 2009, check back on our website for a video of the event, including the opening address from Hon. Ted Morton, Minister, Sustainable Resource Development.

"It was rejuvenating to see the passion and dedication of individual landowners and staff to make a difference. It is truly worthy of a celebration and much is owing by Albertans to the efforts of Cows and Fish staffers to not only get the message out, but show that individual action can safeguard our riparian systems on a very busy landscape. Well done. "     

Ken Crutchfield,

Executive Director, Fisheries Management Branch, Fish and Wildlife Division

 

Riparian Health Provincial Roll-Up.  Cows and Fish has recently completed an analysis of riparian health in Alberta for 1997 to 2006 data.  View the report here. 

Looking for a riparian image? Check out the NEW Cows and Fish Photo Gallery for a selection of riparian images available for download.

Donate to Cows and Fish Online!  Visit the About section and then click on Supporting Cows and Fish to make an online donation.  Or Click Here.  You can join our Youth Education, Emission Reduction or Technology Team by making a donation today!

Cows and Fish Has Won the Alberta Emerald Award in Education!
We are very honoured to accept this award for Cows and Fish.  The Emerald Awards recognize "outstanding initiatives and achievements in dealing with many environmental challenges".  We are very proud on behalf of our hard-working staff and our program to have been included in this prestigious event.  This Emerald Award, coupled with the national Canadian Environment Gold Award in the "Environmental Learning" category (2003), provides a tangible sense that our role, as a stewardship program providing education and awareness, is being increasingly recognized for its utility, focus and high standards.  These awards are recognition that education, a process of conveying information in a way that changes beliefs, can also change the way we interact with, and care for the world.  Perhaps this is also an acknowledgement that education is a process that takes time, and to be effective requires patience and persistence.

We recognize that our accomplishments result from the help of many individuals, organizations and agencies over a broad range of time, beginning with the formation of our program in 1992.  Our funding, which fuels the engine of Cows and Fish, comes from a wide range of sources.  Our support network includes: Alberta Beef Producers, Trout Unlimited Canada, Alberta Conservation Association, Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, Alberta Environment, Alberta Community Development, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (PFRA), Canadian Cattlemen's Association, Alberta Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture (AESA) program, Canada-Alberta Rural Development Fund (Ag and Food Canada), Canada-Alberta Beef Industry Development Fund, FortisAlberta, Wildlife Habitat Canada and Canada's Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Program and Habitat Stewardship Program. [see Members and Supporters and Donors]  Especially important are the open, willing landowners and community groups that allow us to work with them to achieve their riparian goals.  We are most grateful for the support provided.  In a real sense, this Emerald Award is shared with those organisations, agencies and individuals, in recognition and acknowledgement of their role and continued support of the program and what it represents.

How is the water you drink related to a cattail growing in your backyard? Are you concerned about the quality of water you're drinking? Did you know riparian areas can improve water quality? Click here to find out more about the link between riparian areas and water quality and what you can do to improve water quality.

What do a white-tailed deer, tiger salamander, piping plover, and a brook trout have in common? Of course they're all species found right here in Alberta but another common thread, actually a green ribbon, ties all of these species together... click here to find out more.

Are you curious what other communities in Alberta are doing in their riparian areas? What are people saying about working together on riparian issues? Is there any good news in the agriculture industry? Our Community Stories fact sheet series highlights the "good news stories" of some local communities. Click here to look over the fence at what some of your neighbours are doing.

Want to find out what the health of your riparian area is? Check out our new Alberta Riparian Health Assessment and Inventory Forms and User Manuals. We also offer workshops and training sessions in using the Riparian Health Assessments for streams, rivers, lakes and wetlands.