RBC Foundation Natural Edge
Carrot River Valley Watershed Association Inc. was able to restore 470 m2 of shoreline habitat thanks to Natural Edge Program, RBC Tech for Nature support
July 2022- Melfort Sk. – In partnership with nine other grassroots groups across Canada, Carrot River Valley Watershed Association Inc. is proud to have participated in the national launch of the Natural Edge Program thanks to generous funding by the RBC Foundation through RBC Tech for Nature. The Natural Edge Program was created in 2013 and piloted in Eastern and Central Ontario by Watersheds Canada, a national nonprofit and charitable organization. To date, over 177,332m2 of shoreline habitat has been naturalized through the program.
In 2021, the Natural Edge Program delivery regions expanded to include British Columbia, New Brunswick, and more areas in Saskatchewan and Ontario. Each delivery region had a trained community group who delivered the program locally. Through the Natural Edge Program this past year, Carrot River Valley Watershed Association Inc. naturalized 4 properties and restored 469.5m² of shoreline using 70 native plants.
Touted as a “program-in-a-box”, the Natural Edge Program provides delivery partners with the Natural Edge iOS App created by Watersheds Canada, training materials, Native Plant Database, and online administration system. Trained staff use these materials when they conduct a site visit with a landowner. As they learn more about the property and landowner’s vision for their shoreline restoration, staff use the iOS App to create a customized planting plan in real-time. These plans outline what native species of trees, shrubs, and wildflowers will be planted on the property, and where.
“We are excited to be partnering with grassroots organizations across Canada and supporting them as they bring the Program to their community” says Chloe Lajoie, Natural Edge Program Manager. Adding, “Not only has this funding from RBC Tech for Nature helped us to create new partnerships but to also make a positive impact in new watersheds across the country.”
The Natural Edge Program is a nature-based, grassroots solution for waterfront property owners and communities to use in the wake of increasing pressures due to expanding urban boundaries, human development, and climate change. A waterbody with degraded shorelines is at increased risk of:
- algae blooms and salification through increased water runoff;
- reduced terrestrial and aquatic habitat quality due to sedimentation and erosion; and
- higher water level and temperature fluctuations.
The condition of shorelines is vital to the health of a waterbody. Vegetated buffers are effective in removing up to 85% of runoff when compared to non-vegetated shorelines and are critical in mitigating the effects of climate change and human development. Through the restoration and rehabilitation of shorelines using native plant species, the Natural Edge Program addresses these issues while also being customized and aesthetically pleasing to the participating landowner.
The national launch of the Natural Edge Program was possible because of a generous donation from the RBC Foundation through RBC Tech for Nature, a global, multi-year commitment to support new ideas, technologies, and partnerships to address our most complex environmental challenges. This donation saw on-the-ground, nature-based action across Canada, benefiting hundreds of thousands of Canadians.
“At RBC, we believe in the power of innovative technologies to address and scale solutions to some of the most pressing environmental issues of our time,” said Valerie Chort, Vice-President, Corporate Citizenship & Sustainability, RBC. “We’re proud to have worked alongside Carrot River Valley Watershed Association Inc. and the Natural Edge Program to develop real-world, scalable solutions to tackle the challenges that continue to plague our environment.”
Landowners and community groups who are interested in learning more about the Natural Edge Program, using the free Canada-wide Native Plant Database, and downloading the free native plant care guides are encouraged to visit NaturalEdge.Watersheds.ca
About Watersheds Canada
Watersheds Canada is a registered Canadian charity committed to providing programs to communities across the country to engage and help individuals enhance and protect the health of their lakes and rivers. Since 2002, they have delivered freshwater stewardship programming, shoreline naturalizations and assessments, and in-water habitat restorations. To learn more, visit Watersheds.ca
About CRVWA
The CRVWA is a membership driven organization, and our members include Urban and Rural Municipalities, Resort Villages, Regional Parks, Conservation & Development Area Authorities, Wildlife Federations, and other special interest groups. Our organization began in September 2008.
The Carrot River Watershed is located in east central Saskatchewan and is part of the Saskatchewan River basin. Crossing the provincial border into Manitoba, the Carrot River Watershed covers a total area of approximately 17,500 square kilometers, with nearly 15,750 square kilometers of this total located in Saskatchewan. This area includes the City of Melfort, Towns of Arborfield, Carrot River, Kinistino, St. Brieux, Star City, Tisdale and Wakaw, 11 villages, 21 Rural Municipalities and 6 First Nations. The estimated population is approximately 25,500 people, with approximately 13,500 of this total classified as rural residents and 12,000 classified as urban residents. To learn more, visit crwatershed.ca
Ag H2Onward Webinar Series
Sign up for these webinars if you are interested in Agricultural Drainage. Register ahead on their website linked below.
2020 Aquatic Invasive Mussels Monitoring Program
Aquatic Invasive Mussels Monitoring Program
Photo Taken at Struthers Lake.
This past summer, Carrot River Valley Watershed CRVWA, monitored lakes within the Watershed for Aquatic Invasive Species. Placing substrate samplers in Codette Lake, Tobin Lake, Struthers Lake, Wakaw Lake, Lucien Lake, Kipabiskau Lake, Greenwater Lake. Volunteers at Wakaw Lake also placed substrate sampler at various places within Wakaw Lake. The Clean, drain, dry signage was posted at all docks.
With the upcoming ice fishing season, it is also important to note that ice fishing gear can also bring invasive species like the Zebra mussel, to other invasive free lakes. Remember to clean drain dry all your gear when enjoying the winter fishing season.
If you see a substrate sampler hanging from the dock at any of the above listed lakes please feel free to give the CRVWA a call, to learn about the importance of keeping our lakes free from invasive species.
This project we have partnered with, Fish and Wildlife Development Fund Invasive species centre.
SAW Presents 2021 Poster Contest
The theme this year is Wetlands & Wildlife. Lets see what the schools in the Carrot River Valley Watershed can come up with this year. Teachers can email the CRVWA at crwatershed@gmail.com with there poster contestants or if they have any questions regarding the contest. The Contest runs from now until May 14th 2021. Then the winner of the CRVWA will go on ahead to the Provincial SAW poster contest. All posters have to be hand drawn on a paper size of 8.5 X 11 inches. Any art media can be used; pencil crayons, crayons, markers, oil pastels, paint etc. We will also need your name, school division, grade, school, teachers name and phone number and parents/guardians name and phone number. There is also a link above with more information.
Building Green – Rain Barrel Workshop
Join us on August 13th, 2019 for our annual rain barrel building workshop – Building Green! This year we have two additional speakers – Andre Bonneau of the Ministry of Agriculture discussing escaped ornamental plants and their impact on the landscape, and Bryce Zosel of Zosel Tree Farm talking to us about using native plant species in our landscaping!
Contact us to register today! Spots are limited so register early.
Invasive Species Workshop
Join us on January 17, 2019 from 5:00 – 0:00 PM at the Melfort Legion Hall for an evening of learning! Presentation topics will include: invasive plant and animal species and current CAP funding opportunities.
Registration is $20 and closes on January 4th. Limited spots are available, so register yourself and a friend today!
To register, call the Carrot River Valley Watershed Association at 1(306)752-1270 or email crwatershedaegp@gmail.com.
We Are Hring!
Watershed Technician
(One year term position September 15, 2018 – October 1, 2019)
We are seeking a motivated and passionate individual to fill our one year term Technician position.
The Watershed Technician will work with CRVWA staff, board members, municipalities, agricultural producers, and watershed residents to promote stewardship activities in the watershed area, including farm stewardship, source water protection, shoreline assessments and naturalization, and developing educational materials, newsletter articles, workshops and brochures. Approximately 50% of the Watershed Technician’s time will be dedicated to the delivery of the Canadian Agricultural Partnership Programming and the remaining 50% will be dedicated to source water protection, shoreline naturalization and other related projects as assigned by the Watershed Manager.
See job description for full details. Watershed Technician Job Description
Apply by submitting cover letter, resume and two references to Charlotte Asplind, Watershed Manager by email, mail or in person before 5pm on August 23rd, 2018.
Charlotte Asplind, AAg., Watershed Manager
Box 40, 202 Main Street, Melfort, SK, S0E1A0
crwatershed@gmail.com
(306) 752-1270
Pasture Field Day – July 4, 2018 at Burnt Out Creek Ranch
Plan on attending our Pasture Field Day at Burnt Out Creek Ranch near Mistatim, SK for an afternoon of demonstrations, field tours, and presentations on topics such as algae, the ins and outs of watering systems, and available funding programs. Registration deadline is June 27, 2018.
To register, please contact the Ministry of Agriculture Tisdale Regional Office at 1(306)878-8842.
View the event post here, or you can see the poster by following this link: Burnt Out Creek Pasture Field Day – July 4 2018
For directions to Burnt Out Creek Ranch, click here: Map to Burnt Out Creek Ranch or contact us!
Building Green – Rain Barrel Workshop
Join us on June 23, 2018 from 1:00 – 5:00 PM at the Melfort Legion Hall for an afternoon of learning and fun! As well as presentations on urban water cycles and rainwater capture systems, attendees will build their very own rain barrel to take home.
Registration is $20 and closes on June 20th. Limited spots are available, so register yourself and a friend today!
To register, call the Carrot River Valley Watershed Association at 1(306)752-1270 or email crwatershedaegp@gmail.com.
View the full poster here: Building Green – Rain Barrel Workshop Poster
