FORT MACLEOD, Alta. — Money from the Oldman Watershed Council’s legacy fund continues to help southern Alberta producers with their water protection projects.
Two testimonials at the OWC’s annual Holding the Reins conference Feb. 11 described off-site watering and fencing projects, both designed to protect riparian areas in southwestern Alberta.
Judy and Einar Nelson, who ranch near the Oldman River headwaters north of Lundbreck, Alta., are members of the Bob Creek Watershed Group formed 10 years ago.
The group has used OWC funding and expertise to install remote watering sites that keep cattle out of the river, which contributes to less erosion and higher water quality.
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The region at the base of the mountains has many springs, several of which have been cribbed to provide stock watering using solar pumps.
Einar Nelson said there are now 16 remote watering sites that use large recycled tires as troughs.
He said cattle prefer to drink from the troughs rather than the river, and deer use them as well. Bears have also been seen bathing in them, he added.
Dave Layton, who has a 350-ewe sheep operation near Glenwood, Alta., used OWC legacy funding to erect electric fences along the river near his third-generation farm.
The fences prevented his sheep from eating young trees and kept grizzly bears from eating lambs.
“They are a nice light snack for a grizzly bear,” Layton said.
One bear, thought to be at least partially responsible for the loss of 50 lambs two years ago, was captured and relocated. Funds from OWC and the Waterton Biosphere Reserve were used to install an electric fence that has successfully deterred other predators.
