This 4-page fact sheet explains why healthy lakes and wetlands are important. (for more information on lakes and shorelines see Caring For Shoreline Properties, produced by the Alberta Conservation Association)
A simple riparian health checklist that quickly identifies how healthy your lakeshore or wetland is. Can be used as a first step when looking at riparian health, prior to a more in-depth riparian health assessment.
A simple riparian health checklist that quickly identifies how healthy the riparian area along your river, creek or stream is. Can be used as a first step when looking at riparian health, prior to a more in-depth riparian health assessment.
In the tension between land and water, water always wins. Healthy, well vegetated riparian areas slow the rate of erosion and balance erosion in one spot with bank or shoreline increases through deposition elsewhere. It is extremely difficult to solve erosion problems overnight but once the threat of erosion becomes obvious we tend to want a quick fix. Regaining streambank and shoreline stability may require the temporary use of erosion control structures, especially where insufficient riparian vegetation exists. Solutions may also require a watershed view to see all of the things that contribute to instability.
Cows and Fish and the Southern Alberta Land Trust Society (SALTS) partnered with ranchers to look at two streams in the foothills of Alberta in the Bow River watershed. The goal of this project was to assess trends in riparian health along two streams where ranching is the dominant land use and where ranchers are actively engaged in riparian management. This factsheet summarizes the project goals and results. Learn how ranching and watershed health can go hand in hand.
Demonstration sites test and display riparian management options. They are places where existing riparian management is modified and new techniques are incorporated. Examples include changes in livestock management such as: implementing a rotational grazing or riparian pasture system, adding new water sources, or applying new technology.
Wondering how to measure the health of your riparian area? This 4-page fact sheet will give you some ideas on why you may want to look at the health of your riparian area, and how you can use the information to make management decisions. It also describes the differences between riparian health assessment and inventory, the benefits of both, and how Cows and Fish can help.
What does riparian health look like? What makes a site healthy or less than healthy? See Riparian Areas: A User’s Guide to Health for a colourful, image based, 46-page booklet to help you tune your eye to what makes up riparian health.
To answer the question “Is this riparian area healthy?”, consider doing a Riparian Health Assessment, and request one of our landowner’s guides to riparian health, better known as Riparian Health Assessment Field Workbooks. These are pocket guides for landowners to easily determine the health of their riparian area and as an education and awareness aid for resource managers:
Would you like to better understand the health of your riparian area? The Riparian Health Training fact sheet provides answers on the type of training provided by Cows and Fish and how to choose the right training for you.
To obtain printed copies of these publications, please use our Online Order Form.
Demonstration, profile and reference sites are cost effective methods of displaying and testing riparian management options using local producers. Other producers and community members are given the opportunity to educate themselves about riparian management options as well as to discuss and evaluate the benefits and applicability to their region by touching, seeing and examining the site. Demonstration, profile and reference sites are valuable and practical tools for producers and communities. Learn how to select effective demonstration, profile and reference sites.
A fact sheet on the strategy to create successful partnerships with producers and their communities to effectively address riparian land issues. This community-driven approach may be useful for your group or agency to consider.
Find out how wetlands can provide more local precipitation, reduce the damaging affects of floods, improve water quality and recharge groundwater supplies in this information packed 4-page fact sheet. After reading this you’ll realize that wetlands aren’t just for ducks and frogs.
How do riparian areas improve water quality? What are the benefits of improved water quality? How can you promote healthy riparian areas? A brief, but useful fact sheet to address these questions.
