Project Profiles - Canada

New Hope for Carmanville Community
by Rachel Bryant, Eastern Habitat Joint Venture

"Carmanville was a town in a state of depression," laments Diane Eastman. Huddled in the shelter of Rocky Bay, on central Newfoundland's northeastern coast, the Carmanville community was deeply affected by the economic lull that depressed much of rural Newfoundland. Times are still hard, but Carmanville has been buoyed by a promising commitment to wetland stewardship.

Eastman, who chairs the community's new habitat committee, now proclaims, "Our stewardship has made Carmanville a better place to live, just by changing peoples' attitudes. It gives us a positive outlook and that's what we need."

In Carmanville, attitude changes toward conservation have translated into greater protection for the wildlife that inhabit its wetlands. The community's burgeoning appreciation for its intricate network of bogs, ponds, and salt marshes stems from and strengthens Carmanville's Municipal Stewardship Program.

The program was born in early 1995, when a municipal stewardship agreement was signed with the Eastern Habitat Joint Venture. Under the agreement, Carmanville zoned its most productive wetlands as protected areas.

This encouraged ecologically sustainable practices in some areas and in others prohibited development and potentially destructive land-uses from degrading waterfowl staging, nesting, and chick-rearing habitat. American black ducks, ring-necked ducks, and common loons nest near Carmanville's productive ponds. These ponds, and Middle Arm Bay's shallow salt marshes, provide staging habitat for many species, including common goldeneye, northern pintail, scaup, and scoter.

Carmanville residents are now more aware of the importance of healthy, undisturbed wildlife habitat. The construction of a walking trail near Carmanville Pond catalyzed this increase in public awareness.

Since the trail was built, local birder George Brinson's phone rings more than ever. He is delighted to relate, "I get more and more people calling me, saying 'I was up at the pond and saw this, or that,' asking me questions about the birds. Before stewardship, I rarely got anybody calling me."

Melvina and Eugene Blackwood walk the trail almost every day. Their exposure to the pond and birds has changed their thinking about wild spaces. "I never really thought about it before," reflected Melvina, "but habitat protection has become important to me, seeing what I've seen on the trail. The birds need these places for so many things—migrating, feeding, nesting."

The Carmanville residents' appreciation of wildlife habitat now extends beyond its protected wetlands. With the new surge of public interest, the town council now closely scrutinizes potential affects of land-use proposals on habitat and wildlife. For example, a recent proposal was rejected because of potential negative affects to American black duck nests and water quality. "I don't think that ever would have happened before the wetland stewardship agreement," said Eastman.

Eastman hopes visitors and surrounding communities can learn from Carmanville's rewarding stewardship experience. The habitat committee plans to create a wetland interpretation center within the next year.

For more information, contact Rachel Bryant, Eastern Habitat Joint Venture, Newfoundland and Labrador, Building 810, Pleasantville, St. John's, Newfoundland A1B 4J6, (709) 729-2547, rachelbryant@mail.gov.nf.ca.

Siksika Nation and DUC Enjoy Long-time Partnership
by Ron Montgomery, Ducks Unlimited Canada

The Siksika Nation and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) became partners in wetland enhancement projects on First Nation lands during the 1940s. In 1947, following the irrigation rights transfer from the Canadian Pacific Railway Company (CPR) Irrigation System to the recently formed Western Irrigation District, ditch dredging was completed from Namaka to Stobart. Two years later, DUC constructed a concrete control structure to replace the aging CPR wooden outlet control on Stobart Lake.

Located 20 kilometers southeast of Strathmore, Alberta, three interconnected lakes named Namaka (540 hectares), Ballina (154 hectares), and Stobart (546 hectares) were recognized as crucial waterfowl breeding, moulting, and staging sites.

In 1957, DUC constructed the original wooden-staved Hammerhill Flume, which provides a source of fresh irrigation spillwater to Stobart Lake. In 1976, DUC and the provincial government purchased upland nest cover around Namaka Lake and improved water-conveyance works for all three lakes.

In 1977, the Siksika Nation initiated another project with DUC to address inadequate cattle grazing and stock-water needs. A 68-hectare water body known as Blackfoot Marsh now receives a permanent water supply from a diversion structure on Stobart Drain and a 3-kilometer canal to the marsh. Eleven earthen islands constructed within the body of the marsh provide waterfowl-nesting sites.

The Susie Slough project is located approximately 3 kilometers south of Gleichen immediately east of Secondary Highway 547. Constructed in 1995, this project comprises both wetland and upland nest cover. The Siksika Nation has entered into a water service agreement with the Irrigation District to ensure an adequate water supply for the complex.

Several conveyance works and containment dams have been constructed by DUC to regulate and supply water to the four wetlands that encompass 130 hectares. Upland nest-cover enhancement, totaling over 4,100 hectares, was made possible by designing and implementing an agreed-upon deferred rotational grazing system. Cross fencing, tame pasture conversion, and development of stock-water sites by DUC ensures optimal waterfowl production during the critical nesting period. In addition to three natural islands, three rock islands were also placed in the wetlands, adding to available nest cover.

In 1998, about 20,000 ducks and shorebirds died due to a recurring outbreak of botulism in Stobart Lake. Fortunately, a solution was found in the design and construction of remedial engineering works, which now enhance the lake's water quality and water circulation. The Siksika Nation has also entered into a water-management agreement with DUC to address marsh-management goals.

Ducks Unlimited Canada is proud of the partnership forged with the Siksika Nation to enhance and develop mutually beneficial projects on First Nation lands. It looks forward to another more than half century of working together to conserve wildlife habitat.

For more information, contact Ducks Unlimited Canada's Prairie District Office, P.O. Box 818, Brooks, Alberta T1R 1B7, (403) 362-4827.