The Little Creeks and Rough Fescue Appreciation Society (LCARF) is requesting $4,000 from the Town of Cochrane to continue ongoing water quality monitoring of Horse Creek.
Sarah Leete of LCARF was on hand to explain to council members her non-profit society’s efforts to get a better understanding of Horse Creek’s water value over the next two years, in an all-around goal of maintaining the water’s aquatic life, drinking quality for livestock and source of activity for area residents.
Leete referred to the creek and a healthy surrounding watershed as ‘natural capital’ for the region, and that an unhealthy watershed would result in a cost to taxpayers.
Leete said the LCARF have been monitoring the creek since April, testing water from four different sites twice a month until June and once from July to October.
Some key discoveries were a sharp peak in June of suspended solids at a monitoring location at the middle of the creek where construction was occurring. The perceived cause of this spike was due to erosion of exposed soil.
Suspended solids can transport bacteria, cover fish-spawning habitat and shorten the lifespan of irrigation pumps.
Another, somewhat drastic increase in readings, was of fecal coliforms, which can impact human and livestock health.
Fecal coliform bacteria rose at the middle and lower sites from June to August, frequently exceeding irrigation and recreation guidelines.
Discharge from Cochrane Lake – high water levels were diverted into Horse Creek to avoid flooding in the MonTerra subdivision – reduced fecal bacteria through dilution in June.
An indication that the water is in fairly stable health is the discovery of an abundance of trout inhabiting lower Horse Creek: Three rainbow, nine brook and 16 brown trout. There was an absence of trout at middle Horse Creek, with only brook sticklebacks found.
The LCARF believe reasons for this is superior riparian health, a rocky creek-bed, better stream flow and good in-stream cover to moderate water temperature at the lower section of the creek.
In the next two years, LCARF is hoping to continue to monitor the water temperature and quality in Horse Creek, complete fisheries work, increase their membership and start a newsletter.
The $4,000 requested from the town is to be used in partnership with requested funding from other municipalities and organizations, including Rocky View County, which Leete said was considering a $10,000 contribution to the cause.
Palliser Environment, LCARF’s consultant, recommends three years of baseline water data to provide the most accurate picture of the creek’s health. The society’s proposal supports similar regional, provincial and municipal initiatives and in turn is in the best interest for area stakeholders and residents to ensure a healthy watershed system.
The society does not solely monitor Horse Creek, but various creeks and fescue areas throughout the region.
In 2012, LCARF had a budget of $22,500 through their fundraising efforts. They are hoping for the same figure to work with in 2013.
