Lac La Nonne

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Lac La Nonne Riparian Improvement Projects
Lac La Nonne Enhancement and Protection
Association www.lepa-ab.com
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An hour NW of Edmonton, south of the town of
Barrhead
youll find the Lac La Nonne Watershed
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This 300 km-square sub-shed of the
Athabasca/Pembina river basin
consists of rolling farmland, aspen forest,
streams, wetlands and lakes.
Including two of the regions recreational lakes
Lac La Nonne Nakamun Lake
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around whose shorelines numerous subdivisions
and 2 summer villages
make up the majority of the watershed population.
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Concerns about declining water quality and
quantity in the watershed
resulted in the launch of the Water Quality
Assessment and Improvement Project
by the Lac La Nonne Enhancement Protection
Association in the spring of 2004
Which included the development of three on-farm
riparian beneficial management practice
demonstration sites.
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Area Farm families were approached with the idea
of sharing their land to Demonstrate different
strategies for grazing livestock in riparian
areas (green zones of lush vegetation next to
streams, lakes, ponds and wetlands)
The focus of these riparian BMP demonstration
projects is to increase awareness of how
agricultural impacts on natural resources can be
mitigated through a combination of off-site water
development, fencing and controlled grazing
strategies while maintaining the economical
viability of the agricultural industry
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managing livestock access to riparian areas can
reduce nutrient inputs to surface waters and
provide critical rest to willows and native
grasses during spring and fall
deep-rooted vegetation is important for
maintaining healthy riparian areas
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Kirchner
in 2004 Lac La Nonne Enhancement Protection
Association-LEPA
working together with Kirchner Farms established
the first Riparian
Beneficial Management Practice Project south-east
of Lac La Nonne
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to demonstrate the Improved Utilization and
Sustainability
of watershed resources on productive agricultural
property
PROJECT SITE IN RED
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A riparian
assessment on the property by Alberta Riparian
Habitat Management Society - Cows and
Fish identified the extent of damage to stream
and riparian areas from some 50 years of
livestock grazing
SITE IMPACTS
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PROJECT ACTIVITIES
Field staff from Agriculture Agri-Food
Canada Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration
and Alberta Agriculture, Food Rural
Development assisting volunteers and owner to
layout project activities
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A shallow well was excavated to find a clean
groundwater source adjacent to riparian zone
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a 16 foot culvert was set in place with washed
gravel for a well casing resulting in a good
clean water source with adequate flow for
livestock operation on the property
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Solar panels, batteries and a water pump were
installed and the immediate area fenced to
protect animals and equipment
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A 1250 gallon tank with electric float-switch to
control pump operation was placed on nearby hill
for regulation of water flow to livestock trough
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Water distribution lines were buried between
well, storage tank and watering trough by an
agricultural member.
Plow supplied by PFRA
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With assistance from landowner, a new fence and
gates were erected around stream wetlands
creating a RIPARIAN pasture
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Completing project, volunteers positioned 350
gallon livestock water trough to supply all three
pastures as livestock is rotated
cattle being transferred to another pasture
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GRAZING STRATEGY
Management of riparian areas by seasonal
livestock rotation controlling grazing during
critical growing cycles only A working BMP
demonstration site
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PROJECT OUTCOMES
Restoration of native riparian grasses, willow
and shrubs to provide shelter and forage for
livestock and wildlife
Cottagers and farmers worked side by side to
achieve the first riparian management
demonstration site in the region
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Tour
On September 22, 2004 area agricultural
producers and lake residents were invited to
tour Demonstration Project and participate in
grande opening
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George VanderBurg MLA Whitecourt/Lac Ste Anne (on
right) and Harvey Thompson LEPA President unveil
project signage
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Alberta Agriculture and PFRA staff
describing BMP development and operation to area
cottagers and farmers
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measuring sustainability of riparian areas and
natural pastureland presented by Cows and Fish
(Alberta Riparian Habitat Management Society)
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Kirchner family and visitors viewing project
components
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A lunch and discussions on the Water Quality
Assessment Improvement Project and future BMP
opportunities completed the tour
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Wood
In financial partnership with John Norma Wood
second Riparian Demonstration BMP Project was
established in 2005
on Majeau creek, a major tributary feeding into
Lac La Nonne
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This demonstration project involves two sites on
the Wood farm
the second a wetland feeding into creek
one spanning Majeau creek
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SITE IMPACTS
Area 2 overgrazing results in contaminants
draining into area waters from nearby uplands
Area 1 stream banks and bed devastated by years
of livestock foraging
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PROJECT ACTIVITIES
Landowner in consultation with volunteers
regarding riparian fence positioning along creek
and wetlands
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this included selecting a suitable location for a
dugout adjacent to Area 2 wetlands
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working around farming activities (haying -
harvest) volunteers string barbwire through
pastures along Majeau Creek and wetlands fence
posts were installed by land owner for LEPA
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some new recruits learning the ins and outs of
fencing
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A major aspect of this project was the
development of an adequate water source, for this
a 200 x 80 x 18 foot 4960 cubic yard dugout
was excavated after freeze up providing a 3-year
water supply
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contractor trenching channel for supply line to
off-site well e/w solar system and water bowl to
provide a safe access to year round livestock
watering source
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Landowner and volunteers working together
completed fencing dugout and off-site well the
following spring
a Job Well Done
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Solar powered, motion controlled winter watering
system
an all seasons water source for a 60 cow/calf
operation
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GRAZING STRATEGY
providing a better alternate to seasonal use of
stream course and drainage ponds
With a good, safe year-round water source, the
plan is to leave the stream and riparian areas
reestablish themselves
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BMP OUTCOMES
sustaining Majeau Creek as a habitat for fish and
wildlife
reemergence of native plants - filtration for
agricultural runoff sediments and nutrients
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DeZaeyer
In partnership with the Watersheds two
Stewardship groups
the Lac La Nonne Watershed Stewardship Society
the Lac La Nonne Enhancement Protection
Association
and
DEVELOPED THE
De Zaeyer Farms
working together to demonstrate that agriculture
production and environment protection objectives
can and do coexist
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aerial photo looking south with the new De Zaeyer
demonstration site
Kirchner site in the foreground and Lac La Nonne
South on right
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hectares of watershed marsh and open pond
at risk due to
livestock grazing and watering
SITE IMPACTS
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PROJECT ACTIVITIES
volunteers from both watershed group with
direction of supplier assembling windmill tower
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21 foot tower nearly complete?
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windmill assembly transported to site and
volunteers prepare to erect unit on shallow well
established at edge of the pond riparian zone
temporary portable fencing setup
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The completed 30 foot windmill c/w 8-foot
aeromotor blades being erected using truck
(behind bush) and guided with tractor
a difficult undertaking for volunteers
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To facilitate raising and lowing of windmill
assembly, a hinged platform was welded atop well
casing
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System pump rods 11/2 waterline and 3
overflow drain-line from tank attached to well
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using PFRA plow landowner buries waterlines and
tracer-wire below pasture grasses
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Storage tank set on nearby hill and gravity-fed
watering trough placed at lower level
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GRAZING STRATEGY
Develop a environmentally friendly, clean water
source as a better alternative to utilizing pond
and marsh
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PROJECT OUTCOMES Land owner preserving the
bio-diversity of watershed wetlands for wildlife
and livestock
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Alberta Riparian Habitat Management Society -
Cows and Fish conducted separate riparian health
inventories of each project one within the
project area and another in an riparian area
unaffected by agricultural activities. These
inventories will be used as a monitoring tool for
change on these ongoing Riparian Improvement
Demonstration projects.
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As of the summer of 2006 three BMP demonstration
sites have been completed in the Lac La Nonne
watershed. In all, four new riparian pastures
totaling 100 acres have been created to help
manage livestock access to these sensitive areas.
New eco water sources and distribution systems
were developed at each site providing clean
easily accessible water for the landowners
livestock. It took 3 km of new fence line plus
the cooperation, dedication and hard work of a
core group of volunteers and technical personnel
to achieve this.
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Financial support was received from Canadian
Adaptation Rural Development - CRP Alberta
Agriculture Food and Rural Development
CAWFP Alberta Stewardship Network Alberta Water
for Life Our thanks to DeZaeyer Farms,
Kirchner Farms the Wood Farm Alberta
Agriculture and Food Agriculture Agri-Food
Canada Prairie Farm Rehabilitation
Administration. Alberta Riparian Habitat
Management Society - Cows Fish Lac La Nonne
Watershed Stewardship Society and Lac La Nonne
Enhancement Protection Associations volunteers
for Their Commitment, Support and Time
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Lac La Nonne Enhancement Protection
Association - a non-profit society established in
1983, now with charity status -
Our membership is comprised of local agricultural
producers, recreational users, lake residents and
resorts operators. LEPA's mandate is to preserve
the biological integrity of the Lac La Nonne
Watershed and to protect it from environmental
damage. We encourage among our members and the
public recognition of the importance of the
sustainability of all natural areas. Working
Harmoniously to improve the health of the
watershed its waters and riparian areas.
Site 1, Box 14, RR1 Gunn, AB. T0E
1A0 www.lepa-ab.com
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• Produced Narrated by
• Tim Clarke

• With assistance from
• Gisel Bourgeois Lorna MacFadzen

• Technical support provided by
• Kerri OShaughnessy - Cows and Fish

• Photography courtesy of
• Sarah Depoe - Alberta Agriculture and Food
• Jason Vanrobaeys Perry Sawchuk AAFC/PFRA
• Lorne Fitch Kerri OShaughnessy - Cows and
  Fish
• Jerry Wispinski LWSS
• Tim Clarke LEPA

Project participating landowners granted LEPA
permission to use their projects and photos for
this presentation