The creeks running through Cochrane are about as prevalent as cowboy hats on Labour Day in Cochrane; and on Sept. 2, Bow Valley Habitat Development, one of the groups responsible for keeping the green space around the creeks natural and healthy, was given roughly $21,000 in federal grants.
The National Conservation Plan was launched May 14 by Federal Government Fisheries and Oceans Minister Gail Shea under the Recreational Fisheries Conservation Partnership Program.
The program has been utilized by Habitat Development since spring 2014 and has seen over 9,000 trees (soon to be 11,000), willows and other various shrubbery planted by local advocate and director of Habitat Development Guy Woods with the help of others in the group and various masses of students from most local schools.
Blake Richards the Member of Parliament for the Wild Rose riding was on hand to present the cheque to Woods and said it is imperative that government continue to support programs that increase the health of Alberta’s creek beds and leave a legacy for future generations.
“The programs that are set in place will help to protect fish habitats by planting and conservation efforts through private groups like Bow Valley Habitat,” said Richards. “This is exactly the kind of program that we can all support. It’s important to make sure that these kinds of green spaces are protected so that locals and tourists can get out and enjoy what we have.”
