Dear editor:
Guy Woods is to be congratulated on receiving support for his initiative to improve riparian habitats and water quality for aquatic life in Big Hill Creek.
It should not be forgotten, however, that the Little Creeks and Rough Fescue Appreciation Society (LCARF) has been active in another local watershed – Horse Creek – since 2012. We were the first group to raise the issue of the brackish- and phosphorus-laden water that was pumped for three summers in a row into the Horse Creek. Recently, Big Hill Creek was brought into the mix. Neither creek deserved that.
Both provide spawning habitat for trout in the lower reaches – something that may have been destroyed if either creek was used long term to assist ‘dewatering’ the Cochrane Lake.
At last, the AESRD (Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development) has done the right thing – a line, albeit overland and temporary, directly into the Bow River.
Spawning of one species of trout takes place in the fall with the other two species laying eggs in the spring.
LCARF did employ a fisheries biologist to electrofish in 2012.
Brook, brown and rainbow trout were found in early September in the lower reaches of Horse Creek. We have missed the window to safely repeat the project in 2014, but after April 2015 intend to employ Palliser Environmental Ltd. to see if the trout are still happy to call Horse Creek home and therefore contribute to an excellent and world-renowned fishery that exists in the Bow Basin.
Please visit LCARF.ca for more info on what we do.
Sarah Leete
