Trout Unlimited Canada’s National Newsletter 1
Volume 18, No. 3 Summer 2012
Duffins Creek — time for renewal!by Silvia D’Amelio, Ontario Provincial Biologist
Du
ffin
s C
reek
, ON
. TU
C p
hot
o.A few years ago Trout Unlimited
Canada (TUC) biologists identified
six watersheds across Canada with
high rehabilitation potential and with strong
community support. Watersheds where TUC
could strategically work on a large scale to
improve water quality, increase stream health
and engage local residents to become active
stewards of their home waters. Duffins Creek
is an example of one of these watersheds.
Located east of Toronto, the 283 km2 Duf-
fins Creek watershed flows from the Oak Ridg-
es Moraine through Whitchurch-Stouffville,
Uxbridge, Pickering, Ajax and Markham. Duf-
fins Creek is home to a large number of natu-
ral areas and green spaces rich with abun-
dant groundwater resources. Amongst its 45
fish species, a number of native coldwater spe-
cies, including brook trout, thrive in the upper
reaches, providing an indication of ecosystem
health and coldwater resource potential.
Due to its proximity to large urban centers
and the development of a planned airport,
the Duffins Creek watershed faces increased
stress and potential degradation.
As urban growth increases, so does demand
for water, development space, runoff, litter
and pollution. Increased development reduces
green space. Green space plays an important
role in air purification, water filtration, tem-
perature reduction and habitat for a variety
of plants and animals.
With so much improvement potential and
an increased need for protection, TUC iden-
tified the Duffins Creek watershed as a high
priority for inclusion as a National Flagship
Conservation Program. Enbridge Gas Distri-
bution Inc. (EGD) agreed and generously do-
nated $200,000 to kick start the first year of
the five year Program.
Trout Unlimited Canada along with proj-
ect partner Toronto and Region Conservation
TUC ‘digs in’ in Ontario...
Currents: Volume 18, No. 3 • Summer 20122
PERSPECTIVES ON THE FUTURE OF STEWARDSHIP
(TRCA) and founding sponsor Enbridge Gas
Distribution, officially launched the Duffins
Creek Headwaters Renewal Program on April
24th, 2012. Enbridge Gas Distribution employ-
ees pitched in to plant over 150 trees in Ajax
Ontario’s Greenwood Conservation Area. The
trees will help filter water, purify air, decrease
temperature, and most importantly link two
existing green spaces, improving safe passage
for the movement of animals and seeds for
plant growth.
The Duffins Creek Headwaters Renewal
Program is a strategic plan to conserve, pro-
tect and restore the watershed from its head-
waters downstream. Working within headwa-
ter reaches to improve water quality provides
compound benefits as work progresses down-
stream. The renewal program is made up of
three components:
• Restoration — Restoration efforts such as
dam removals, erosion mitigation, substrate
improvements, pollution reduction/mitiga-
tion this program will improve the health
of the watershed local residents rely on and
recreate in.
• Education — Education and engagement
of the local community through children’s
and family events creates a sense of com-
TroutUnlimitedCanadaOUR MISSION: To conserve, protect and re-store Canada’s freshwater ecosystems and their coldwater resources for current and future generation.
OUR GOALS:• to conserve and protect Canada’s freshwa-
ter fish and their ecosystems and restore their coldwater resources to a healthy and productive state;
• to develop and apply effective, science-based and measurable coldwater conser-vation solutions in the field;
• to inform the public about coldwater con-servation issues and educate communities about their watersheds;
• to build and sustain a healthy organiza-tion.
Help us help the trout! Visit tucanada.org
munity around the
river and improves
local knowledge and
therefore stewardship.
Stewardship — By
fostering a sense of
pride and steward-
ship within the wa-
tershed TUC will
provide landown-
ers with tools to
improve their own
properties through
workshops and com-
munity events.
Trout Unlimited Cana-
da will be active and busy
within the Duffins Creek
watershed this summer
supporting these three key
project components.
For more information on
the Duffins Creek Headwa-
ters Renewal Program and
for upcoming program events,
please visit the Duffins Creek
Headwaters Renewal Program webpage
on the Trout Unlimited Canada website,
www.tucanada.org and the Duffins Creek
Blog at www.duffinscreek.blogspot.com.
•
Top: ???,???, ???, Jeff Surtees, TUC, ???, ??? and ???, Enbridge Gas
Distribution. Above, ???, Jeff, ??? and ??? dig in to kick off Trout
Unlimted Canada’s newest National Flagship Conservation Pro-
gram. TUC photo.
Enbridge Gas Distribution planting crew volunteers at Duffins Creek. TUC photo.
Trout Unlimited Canada’s National Newsletter 3
TUC and other organizations are urging the
Province to use measures such as no live fish
in possession or being transported from water
bodies where they were captured. We also are
urging the Province to make it illegal to stock
non-nat ive
fish species
in waters
con t a i n i ng
native fish
species. It is
hoped in this
way that the
spread of non-
native fish
species can be
controlled and
those popula-
tions that now
exist can be
managed to
limit their im-
pacts on the na-
tive species still
existing in the Province and the Mari-
times as a whole.
Maritime Invasive Species: Should we be concerned?
Jack G. Imhof-National Biologist, Director of Conservation Ecology
A creeping crisis has
been developing in
the Maritimes
over the last 40 years,
the illegal intro-
duction, both
passive and active,
of non-native gamefish to
waters formally only holding
native salmon and trout. It is dif-
ficult to pinpoint exactly where these
non-native gamefish such as rainbow trout,
smallmouth and largemouth bass and chain
pickerel came from, but their introduction to
Maritime waters has been progressing at an
alarming rate. Some say the illegal introduc-
tion of non-native gamefish was inevitable.
Trout Unlimited Canada (TUC) believes that
most of these illegal colonization’s are likely
the result of passive introduction (e.g. bait
buckets) or in some cases active introductions
by those that want these fish for their sport,
ignoring both the legality of their actions and
the negative implications to remaining native
populations. Nowhere is the issue any more of
a concern than in New Brunswick, Nova Sco-
tia and PEI.
Recently, Trout Unlimited Canada and its
Tusket River and Cumberland County chap-
ters submitted a proposal to the Nova Scotia
government. In essence, Trout Unlimited
Canada is concerned about the expansion or
stocking of non-native fish in Nova Scotia
waters where native fish are or have been his-
torically present. This concern is supported by
the best science available which indicates that
non-natives often negatively impact native fish
species. Their introduction can suppress na-
tive gamefish recovery when restoration work
is underway, affecting both the biodiversity
of the region and its natural heritage. This is
position is supported by TUC’s National Con-
servation Agenda and its policy on Protection
and Restoration of Coldwater Fish Communi-
ties. Specifically TUC stated to the Nova Scotia
government:
“Native trout and salmon and their habitat
are the major interest of Trout Unlimited Can-
ada in Nova Scotia given the region’s historical
legacy of coldwater resources.”
TUC and its provincial chapters in Nova
Scotia have implemented programs to protect
and restore native coldwater species and their
communities through constructive dialogue,
habitat restoration, encouragement of proper
harvest and angling regulations, research
and monitoring. Non-native, but naturalized
coldwater species are also a management fo-
cus for TUC, as long as these species do not
compromise the health and integrity of native
fish species, or where they are replac-
ing a native salmonid species that
can no longer survive in a particular
waterbody. The management of non-
native fish species is of concern to
TUC where they pose a potential
threat through introduction, compe-
tition or disease to native coldwater
communities and where they may
out-compete and reduce the ability of
native coldwater fish to thrive in their
historical native habitats.”
In a letter to the Nova Scotia gov-
ernment, TUC and its Nova Scotia
chapters encouraged the develop-
ment of a Provincial Strategic Fish-
eries Management Plan to clearly ar-
ticulate the Provinces’ role in inland
fisheries, its key goals and objectives
including its strategic direction for the man-
agement of native versus naturalized species.
Maritime InvasiveSpecies:
Should webe concerned?by Jack Imhof, National Biologist, Director of Conservation Ecology
Top: invasive smallmouth bass in a Nova Scotia lake. Above: chain pickerel. Such species can have a serious impact on native gamefish. Jack Imhof photos.
Currents: Volume 18, No. 3 • Summer 20124
T his is the first of what is going to be a
regular column in Currents where the
CEO of Trout Unlimited Canada pro-
vides answers to questions he has been asked
and raises issues that he thinks TUC support-
ers should be aware of.
“What’s going on at TUC?” is a way that
people often start conversations with me. It’s
a question that I love answering. There is a lot
to talk about — new TUC Chapters in Ontario
(the Niagara Chapter), Quebec (the Château-
guay Chapter) and Saskatchewan (the Doug
Cressman Chapter), our work to inform the
federal government of our members’ views on
Bill C-38, our input to the proposed Canadian
National Conservation Plan, our new Duffins
Creek Headwaters Renewal Program in On-
tario, ongoing work on existing projects across
the country, the extensive work our staff does
providing input and leadership to other organi-
zations... and the list goes on.
The best place to look for information is our
great new website at www.tucanada.org. We
have packed a lot of information on the site
while trying our best to make it easy to navigate.
You can scroll across the drop down menus at
the top of the page to find out just about any-
thing you might want to know about TUC:
• About TUC — our history, our people, our
policies, our legal and financial information
including our complete audited financial
statements and much more;
• Chapters — information about our hard
working Chapters across the country, con-
tact information and links to Chapter web-
sites for those that have them.;
• Support — TUC is a charitable organization.
Our existence depends on financial support
from people like you. You can donate on
line, find out information about upcoming
events, renew your membership or find out
about our planned giving program;
• News — find out the latest and greatest in
our newsroom, it is updated almost daily;
• Conservation Projects - Click on each listed
province to find out about local TUC proj-
ects. Our long term goal is to list all of the
legacy projects completed by TUC chapters
since we started in 1973;
• Education — find out about Adopt-a-Trout
and Yellow Fish Road (which has its own
website at www.yellowfishroad.org;
• Science — this is where we put information
about major scientific initiatives (like last
year’s Arctic Grayling conference) and all
the technical and research reports prepared
by TUC biologists.
Another great way to keep up with what’s go-
ing on is to become a friend on our Facebook
page (just search for Trout Unlimited Canada).
We also have three blogs on the go — one
each for the Bronte Creek and Duffins Creek
Programs in Ontario and one for our long run-
ning Central Alberta Chapter. You can sign up
and get regular updates by clicking on the blog
button on our website home page (on the left
beside the Facebook and YouTube buttons).
We want TUC to be a completely transparent
and accessible organization. If there is informa-
tion you need but can’t find or if you just want
to give your input about something that is trou-
bling you, give us a phone call toll free at 1-800-
909-6040. We would love to hear from you!
What’s Going On?by Jeff Surtees
REBUILDING THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF OUR RIVERS AND STREAMS
Policeman Creek Habitat Enhancement
T his spring, Trout Unlimited Canada
completed the construction phase of
the Policeman Creek Habitat Enhance-
ment project in Canmore, Alberta. The goal of
the project is to build upon previous enhance-
ments of overwintering fish habitat within
Policeman Creek. Due to changes in water
management and groundwater flows, there
has been limited wetted habitat for fish resid-
ing in the creek over winter for most of the last
15 years. Surface water in much of the creek
during the winter months has been limited to
a few shallow, isolated pools. During especial-
ly dry years, several salvage efforts have been
completed in late spring to move fish from
drying pools to functional deep water areas
where they could survive until runoff.
In 2006, Alberta Sustainable Resource
Development, in conjunction with a local
developer constructed overwintering pools
in Policeman Creek near the Spring Creek
Mountain Village. Trout Unlimited Canada
biologists and volunteers conducted elec-
trofishing assessments within three of these
constructed pools in April 2010. The effort
resulted in the capture of 199 fish including
99 brook trout, 78 brown trout, 19 mountain
whitefish, and three longnose suckers. The
electrofishing assessment demonstrated the
importance and functionality of these pools in
Policeman Creek in providing overwintering
habitat to both juvenile and adult trout during
low water years.
After two years of planning and baseline
sampling including electrofishing and redd
surveys, on April 16, 2012 TUC hired a lo-
cal contractor to excavate five overwintering
pools in Policeman Creek. Felled spruce trees,
provided by Spring Creek Mountain Village,
were placed in the pools to provide functional
hiding cover for fish. A secondary benefit of
the project involved the creation of islands
within the creek that will provide quality wa-
terfowl habitat.
The next phase of the project includes plant-
ing willows and grasses on the islands to pro-
mote a healthy riparian zone benefiting fish
and wildlife. The final phase of the Policeman
Creek Habitat Enhancement Project will in-
TUC NEWS FROM NATIONAL
TUC CEO Jeff Surtees. TUC photo.
Trout Unlimited Canada’s National Newsletter 5
C r o w n e
Plaza. Be-
g i n n i n g
with snow
crab and
a s p a r a -
gus soup
with her-
bed crème
fraiche to
an in-house
maple glazed
cold smoked
salmon fol-
lowed by a
g r a p e f r u i t
sorbet before
the wonderful
main course of
beef tenderloin
with bourbon
maple wild mushroom ragout. A layered milk
chocolate torte with blackberry sorbet topped
off a fantastic meal put together by an out-
standing staff.
The Live and Silent auctions offered some-
thing for everyone, a wonderful array of art
works, jewelry, trips, equipment and much
more. The Bucket and special raffles allowed
clude a multi-year moni-
toring program to assess
fish use of the pools, to
ensure the success of
the island vegetation,
and to evaluate any
changes in spawning
activity in Policeman
Creek.
This project was
made possible thanks
to funding from the
Alberta Conserva-
tion Association’s
Grant Eligible Con-
servation Fund, the
volunteer contri-
bution of the TUC
Bow Headwaters
Chapter, and ad-
vice from Alberta
Sustainable Resource Development – Fish and
Wildlife Division.
Edmonton 27th Annual National Conservation Dinner
O n Thursday May 10th, the 27th An-
nual Edmonton National Conser-
vation Banquet and Auction took
place at the Crowne Plaza Chateau Lacombe
Hotel. Led by Dinner Chair Richard Iwaniuk
from BioWare and the Dinner Committee, the
dinner was a tremendous success as both a
fun-filled evening for the many guests and
as a fundraiser for Trout Unlimited Canada’s
programs and projects. With gross revenues in
excess of $115,000, the dinner continued its
successful run as a major contributor to TUC’s
projects and programs.
Financial boosts were received from Silver
Sponsor Comstock—an EMCOR Company as
well as donations from Orion Drilling Com-
pany of Corpus Christie, Texas and John
Mitchell. Additional sponsors included Millar
Western Forest Products, Sentry Select Capi-
tal Corp., Wesclean Equipment Cleaning &
Supplies, Jack Fuller, Richard Iwaniuk, Doug
Lynass, Bill Lywood, Ross McCrady, and Ron
Pearson.
Once again one of the many highlights
of the evening was the meal served by the
who helped make Edmonton’s 27th annual
conservation banquet and auction a tremen-
dous success.
Don Pike, Director of Special Events, Trout
Unlimited Canada
Trout Unlimited Canada Welcomes Two New Chapters
T he Niagara Chapter of Trout Unlimited
Canada is committed to the restoration
and preservation of cold water habitat
in the Niagara Region. Initially the primary
focus of the chapter’s efforts will be Twelve
Mile Creek, the Niagara region’s only cold wa-
ter watershed with an existing population of
brook trout. Since its formation in the spring
of this year, the chapter has identified pre-
cise mapping of the stream, barrier removal,
stream bank restoration, and landowner in-
volvement as projects to develop.
If you reside in the Niagara region and are
interested in becoming involved please con-
tact Dennis Edell at 416 918 4448 or via e-mail
at, [email protected].
The Doug Cressman Chapter is Trout Un-
limited Canada’s first chapter in Saskatchewan
and is honored to be given the opportunity to
name the chapter after the late Doug Cress-
man, former CEO of
Trout Unlimited Canada.
Doug saw a need for the
presence of Trout Un-
limited Canada in Sas-
katchewan and initiated
the organizations first
projects to protect and
preserve the coldwater
streams in the province.
The Doug Cressman
Chapter’s focus is cen-
tered on the protect-
ing, preserving, and
restoring the coldwater
streams of the French-
man River watershed, which includes Be-
langer, Sucker, Conglomerate Creeks and the
upper Frenchman River. These waters contain
native and naturalized populations of cold wa-
ter fish species, some of which only are found
in this area of Saskatchewan.
many guests to go home as winners. The big
winner for the evening, however, was definite-
ly Canada’s trout and the coldwater resources
they and we need to survive.
Trout Unlimited Canada and the Edmonton
Auction Committee wishes to thank everyone
Excavating overwintering pools on Policeman Creek. TUC photo.
Former TUC CEO, the late Doug Cressman. His memory will live on with the creation of TUC’s first-ever Saskatchewan chapter. TUC photo.
Currents: Volume 18, No. 3 • Summer 20126
TUC NEWS FROM NATIONAL
If you are interested in becoming involved
with the Doug Cressman Chapter and its con-
servation efforts within the Frenchman River
watershed please contact Matt Tyree via e-mail
Interested in forming a chapter in your
region? Please contact Kimberly Davidson,
Director of Member & Chapter Relations at
1-800-909-6040 or via e-mail at kdavidson@
tucanada.org.
Red Deer River Clean-Up — 2012
L eaving it better than you found it was
the theme of the 2012 annual Red
Deer River Cleanup campaign that
was held on June 3, 2012. This annual event
was sponsored by The City of Red Deer, Nova
Chemicals, Tim Hortons, and Trout Unlimited
Canada’s Central Alberta Chapter.
The weather was perfect for the over 100 pas-
sionate volunteers who gathered garbage along
the Red Deer River and its tributaries within
the Red Deer city limits. People from the com-
munity, which included Trout Unlimited Can-
ada members, enjoyed a rewarding experience
knowing they were making a difference.
The volunteers focused their energy on 14
kilometers of river and creek shoreline col-
lecting about 650 kilograms of garage! The
substantial amount of garbage reflects the
necessity for continued education to reinforce
the importance of keeping our waterways and
riparian areas clean.
The Central Alberta Chapter believes that
it is important to develop a community with
a strong environmental con-
scious that celebrates ‘green’
initiatives such as the Red
Deer River Clean-Up.
The Central Alberta Chap-
ter is proud to support the
annual spring and fall clean-
up campaigns. Activities
such as the Red Deer River
Clean-Up connect people
with their natural environ-
ment bringing awareness to
the importance of keeping
our riv-
ers and
streams
and the water within them
clean.
Doug Pullan, Central Al-
berta Chapter
flows from the Bow River upon construction
of the Trans-Canada Highway and is now en-
tirely groundwater-fed. As a result, the natural
process of large woody debris accumulating is
much slower in this system than other systems
that experience periodic high water events. In
2008 and 2009 TUC and the Bow Headwa-
ters Chapter added spruce trees to function as
overhead cover within a 300 metre reach of
the creek. This work followed up on a similar
project that took place in 1987. Studies show
that trout tend to spawn within a few metres
of cover such as large woody debris, which
provides a place to rest and protection from
predators. This is consistent with findings of
fall redd surveys completed by TUC staff and
volunteers at Bill Griffiths Creek.
Twenty-six volunteers joined TUC biolo-
gists Lesley Peterson and Brian Meagher to
complete the fifth annual electrofishing assess-
ment at Bill Griffiths Creek on May 9, 2012.
This sampling effort was part of an ongoing
monitoring program to evaluate the effective-
ness of the TUC habitat enhancement project.
Volunteers included 11 high school students
from Canmore Collegiate, three biologists
from the federal Department of Fisheries and
Oceans, staff from Alberta Parks, and mem-
bers of the Bow Headwaters Chapter of TUC.
Many of the Bow Headwaters Chapter volun-
teers have been involved in previous efforts to
revitalize this local creek. After hearing about
this opportunity from these members, several
new volunteers were eagerly recruited to par-
ticipate in this year’s effort.
Electrofishing workday volunteers had the
opportunity to see four different salmonid spe-
Fifth Annual Bill Griffiths Creek Sampling Day
B ill Griffiths Creek
is an important
Brown Trout spawn-
ing tributary in the upper Bow River system.
Once a side channel of the Bow River, Bill
Griffiths Creek became isolated from flashy
A young volunteer releasing a brown trout during the May 9th Bill Griffiths Creek Sampling Day. TUC photo.
Bill Griffiths Creek brook trout. TUC photo.
Central Alberta Chapter’s 2012 clean-up crew. Doug Pullan photo.
Trout Unlimited Canada’s National Newsletter 7
TUC NEWS FROM NATIONAL
cies throughout the day. Brown trout made up
the majority of the 158 fish captured; the crew
also captured 10 brook trout, one mountain
whitefish and one bull trout. This was the first
bull trout captured by TUC during the spring
electrofishing effort at Bill Griffiths Creek.
The next volunteer opportunity for on Bill
Griffiths Creek will be the Bow Headwaters
Chapter’s redd surveys in the fall of 2012 to
assess spawning activity in the creek in rela-
tion to the habitat enhancement structures.
For more information about the project,
please see previous Bill Griffiths Creek project
reports located in the Technical Reports sec-
tion of the TUC website, www.tucanada.org.
National Yellow Fish Road™ Day
N ational Yellow Fish Road™ (YFR)
Day was a complete success! On
Friday, June 8 2012, Trout Unlim-
ited Canada (TUC) celebrated over 20 years
of education through the Yellow Fish Road™
conservation program. The program’s one
simple but important message, “Storm water
goes into our local streams and river untreat-
ed,” is a reminder to some and new infor-
mation to many.
TUC’s Yellow Fish Road™ Day coin-
cided with the beginning of Rivers to
Oceans Week. The event provided an
opportunity to better understand our
connection to fresh and salt water en-
vironments, watersheds and what we
can do to protect and keep watersheds
healthy for both people and wildlife.
Initiatives like this help TUC achieve
its goals by protecting and improving
water quality within our local water-
shed, not just fish but for everyone
downstream. Over 700 K-9 students
from Calgary’s Langevin Science
School, along with teachers and par-
ents, painted their Bridgeland com-
munity yellow, with ‘Yellow Fish’. 75
groups marked more than 300 storm
drains and distributed 2,400 door
hangers. Excitement filled the air as
students accepted the challenge of making
a difference in their watershed. When asked
Some of the 700 Langevin School students involved in National Yellow Fish Road™ Day. TUC photo.
Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi (back right) with ??? and student painters at National Yellow Fish Road™ Day. TUC photo.
Currents: Volume 18, No. 3 • Summer 20128
Help us help the trout — join today! Visit us at tucanada.org
TROUT UNLIMITED CANADA
Jeff Surtees Chief Executive Officer [email protected]
Kimberly Davidson Director of Member and Chapter Relations [email protected]
Dean Orlando Director, Finance and Administration [email protected]
Jack Imhof National Biologist and Director of Conservation Programs [email protected]
Don Pike Director, Special Events [email protected]
Lynn Robb Director of Conservation Education [email protected]
Amanda Graham Director of Development [email protected]
Phil Rowley Marketing & Communications [email protected]
Brian Meagher Alberta Provincial Biologist [email protected]
Len Yust Director of Development [email protected]
Silvia D’Amelio Ontario Provincial Biologist [email protected]
Lesley Peterson Project Biologist [email protected]
Erin McMahon Nose Creek Project Coordinator [email protected]
Stacey Stevens Ontario Office Coordinator [email protected]
Mary Finch Bronte Creek Watershed Stewardship Specialist [email protected]
National Office: Ste. 160, 6712 Fisher St. SE Calgary, AB T2H 2A7 Tel: 403-221-8360 Fax: 403-221-8368 1-800-909-6040
Ontario Office: Rm. 273, Axelrod Building, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1 Tel: 519-824-4120 ext. 56588 Fax: 519-780-1696
[email protected] tucanada.org
Currents layout: David Soltess, [email protected]
about the experience afterwards the students
used words such as, “Fun, cool, awesome and
great.”
Trout Unlimited Canada extends a special
thanks to teacher John Therou for organizing
the event, principal Linda Lytle for hosting it,
and the City of Calgary, in particular Michelle
Mueller for being TUC’s partner and sponsor
of the YFR program in Calgary. Thanks go
out to our own Trout Unlimited Canada staff
including: Cliona Curran and Elaine Zapata,
YFR Educators; Lesley Peterson, Biologist; and
Lynn Robb, Director of Conservation Educa-
tion, who helped to facilitate the painting day
for the school. TUC staff was inspired by these
students, who are our future leaders and water
stewards, helping ensure we have good water
quality today and always.
Yellow Fish Road™ Day participants were
honored to have City of Calgary Mayor, Na-
heed Nenshi, drop by to visit with the stu-
dents! The official launch was filmed by the
CBC and aired later on the evening news.
Stories, pictures and numbers are trickling
in from our YFR partners across the country
who held similar events like Calgary in their
communities to raise awareness of the con-
cerns with non-point source pollution enter-
ing storm drains. Remember, the passion and
commitment of Yellow Fish Road™ Day con-
tinues throughout the year.
People are welcome to download the Yellow
Fish Road™ Day Guide from the YFR website,
www.yellowfishroad.org and organize and
implement their own program at their school
or within their community.
TUC Staff Work Closely with our Partners in Conservation
T UC staff in Calgary were busy promot-
ing education and awareness at events
throughout the city leading up to Earth
Day.
Provincial Biologist, Brian Meagher lent a
helping hand at the Cows and Fish booth at
Aggie Days on Friday, April 20. Aggie Days,
put on by the Calgary Stampede’s Agricul-
ture Education Committee, is an annual event
aimed at engaging elementary school children
about Alberta’s agriculture industry. Cows
and Fish, also known as the Alberta Riparian
Habitat Management Society, lead students
though an interactive game known as, ‘Cows,
Fish, Cattledogs and Kids!’ The game utilizes
environmental questions to teach participants
about the importance of healthy riparian areas
and illustrates the links between riverbanks
and healthy and productive fish, wildlife,
vegetation, water, cattle and the landscape or
environment as a whole. For more informa-
tion, visit the Cows and Fish website at, www.
cowsandfish.org.
Biologist Lesley Peterson represented Trout
Unlimited Canada at the Wild Alberta Expo
held in conjunction with the Alberta Wilder-
ness Association’s 21st annual Climb and Run
for Wilderness on Saturday, April 21. The goal
of this event is to increase public awareness of
wilderness, wildlife, and wild water in Alberta
while raising funds for the Alberta Wilderness
Association. An estimated 1150 people partici-
pated in the fundraiser which was expected to
raise approximately $135,000. TUC was one
of 30 groups participating in the ecological
themed Expo educating and creating aware-
ness of our environment and the opportuni-
ties citizens have to learn, participate, and
take action. For more information on the event
and the Alberta Wilderness Association, visit
www.climbforwilderness.ca.
Erin McMahon and Cliona Curran took
park in the annual Ecopalooza fair put on
by the Calgary Public Library. The event cel-
ebrates Earth Day and involved various exhibi-
tors educating visitors on practical solutions to
lessening individuals’ impact on the environ-
ment. Erin and Cliona provided information
about the Nose Creek Watershed Partnership
and the Yellow Fish Road Program™ and
delighted visitors with the interactive Yellow
Fish Road watershed model.
For more information about these programs,
please visit the Yellow Fish Road™ website,
www.yellowfishroad.org and the Nose Creek
Partnership website at www.nosecreekpart-
nership.com.
TUC NEWS FROM NATIONAL