PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. (Staff) – The owners of one of British Columbia’s oldest ranches received the environmental stewardship award at the recent B.C. Cattlemen’s Association convention in Prince George.
Doug and Marie Mervyn, owners of Alkali Lake Ranch, received the award for their conservation efforts and innovative farm management practices.
Established in 1858 in the Cariboo-Chilcotin region of B.C., the Mervyns bought the ranch in 1977. It has 15,000 hectares of deeded land and controls another 80,000 hectares of Crown range. This past winter the Mervyns ran 1,600 brood cows and 1,500 calves.
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The ranch also has a large feedlot which the owners rebuilt in 1992 to prevent runoff into nearby Alkali Creek. They fenced off the creek, built wind belts, drilled a well and installed heated watering systems.
Besides other ranch improvements, a waterfowl sanctuary was established on Alkali Lake which has enhanced wildlife in the area. They set out 50 birdhouses for bluebirds, re-established pheasants in the area and introduced wild turkeys, quail and chukars.
Weed control programs monitor noxious plants like knapweed.
The Mervyns are now being considered for the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association National Environmental Stewardship award.
