ELKWATER, Alta. — With fluffy clouds occasionally hiding the sun and gusty winds blowing the prairie grass like waves on a green ocean, it was a good day to appreciate the prairie.
The prairie appreciation festival held June 8 near Elkwater drew a few dozen participants to explore grassland biodiversity, grass, forb, shrub and insect identification and other elements of the prairie ecosystem.
Geoff and Melanie Watson hosted the event on their 17 quarters of native grassland and hay fields.
Geoff Watson said he thinks it’s important to show the public all the attributes of native prairie and to use government programs and the services of conservation groups.
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“What I’m looking to do is to get agricultural programs tied in with environmental programs,” he said.
“If you try to do it on your own, you can’t afford to do it. There’s fencing projects, there’s off site watering, riparian areas, portable shelter belts. All that stuff can all be done with some assistance.”
The public also needs to know ranchers are conscious of environmental health and watersheds, he said.
A stubble field stands across the road from the Watson property, and although he worries about gradually depleting native grass, he said there is room for various kinds of agriculture.
“Are we doing the right thing or are they doing the right thing? That depends on the operator,” he said.
“All we can do is look after what we have. There’s a happy medium somewhere.”
