CALGARY (Staff) – Alberta is searching for rivers of merit.
Since it joined the Canadian Heritage Rivers program last February, a consortium has been formed to find Alberta rivers deserving special designation because of natural, human or recreational importance.
Kathy Telfer of Alberta Environmental Protection says Alberta already has two heritage rivers, the Athabasca and the North Saskatchewan. Their status was achieved because they run through national parks.
Initiated by environmental protection, the Alberta Heritage Rivers Consortium studies potential heritage rivers and will produce a list of nominees by the end of 1995.
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When a river is suggested, people in the community affected must approve the nomination. The province then sends the name to a national board that decides whether it’s worthy. Once a river is approved, a management plan is developed by all concerned, including landowners, aboriginals, business and other interested groups.
The entire river or portions of it may be awarded the designation.
The plan designates “how we manage the use of the river valley in order that its integrity is not breached, yet still has economic value come out of it,” said Telfer.
Canada has a number of historically important rivers which include “working rivers” used for transportation, tourism or fishing.
Clearwater River in northeast Alberta may be nominated. It’s a transportation corridor and is already a heritage river on the Saskatchewan side, said Telfer.
The Heritage Rivers consortium can be reached at (403)465-6699.
