Water, snow and ice support a wide range of recreational and tourism related activities. Whether we are skiing in the mountains, canoeing at Maligne Lake or fishing at a pond in the foothills many of us do not well appreciate the ecological impact that our pursuit of fun is having on the health of Alberta’s lakes and streams. This impact becomes clearer when we consider that every road, building, hotel and campground that has been constructed to support our activities and every nonnative trout that has been placed in our lakes and streams has had an impact on the health of aquatic ecosystems. One has to wonder what the future will hold if we consider that at present rates, scientists estimate that the world’s human population will double by the year 2050. When combined with the stresses of climate change it is clear that we will be hard pressed to avoid declines in water quality, species loss and the alteration of native landscapes.
The aquatic habitats that we use today and leave for tomorrow are a product of some good and some misguided management decisions that society has made. In the following sections we will see how increased use of our mountain parks and the growth of urban populations affect downstream ecosystems through effluent discharge and larger water allocations for municipal purposes. In addition, we will call attention to the concern that global warming could lead to a thinning snow cover and earlier melting of the ice cover on lakes. These changes will not only affect our recreational use of water but will also have economic and biological costs that may result in species loss and migration of native species.
- Tourism is Alberta’s fourth-largest industry, employing 100 000 people and bringing approximately $4.4 billion into the economy in 2000.
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- Alberta has six distinct natural regions, each contributes to the biological diversity in the province.
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- Recent assessments of Banff National Park concluded that it does not ensure the long-term protection or ecological integrity of ecosystems found within its borders.
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- Fisheries Management is an art and a science: Visit this site for an introduction to Alberta’s Wonderful World of Fishes.
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- Several fish species in Alberta have been classified as "threatened" or "vulnerable".
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- Alberta’s wildlife compete with humans for access to aquatic habitat and resources. Some of these populations are in danger of extinction.
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- Climate change will cause larger spring flows in rivers and streams. It is feared that this will also cause increased sediment input that will change habitat quality and harm fish.
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- Changing river temperatures will change the types of species that are able to inhabit them.
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- Smaller river volumes will reduce the number of fish that are able to inhabit them.
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More about Alberta’s tourism industry:
Alberta has many natural features that make it a great place to experience. The province has five national parks, more than 300 provincial parks and recreational areas and breathtaking sights, which make tourism a thriving industry of the province.
Resource: A short description of the importance of the recreational use of Alberta’s rivers and streams. The Water Institute for Semi-arid Ecosystems.
More about Alberta’s distinct natural regions:
The province of Alberta is divided into six regions that feature unique habitats and species. This includes the Aspen parkland, Boreal forest, Canadian Shield, Grassland, Foothill, and the Rocky Mountain regions. The Special Places 2000 program was designed to preserve sections of each habitat to maintain species populations and provide future generations with the chance to experience the beauty of nature.
Resource: A web site produced by Alberta Special Places, Regional Summary.
More about Banff National Park:
The 1996 Banff Bow Valley Study is a comprehensive report on the state of the Bow Valley watershed in Banff National Park. This two year study was written by five experts who are independent of Parks Canada. The authors describe concerns about the degree of development within the park and question the ability of this ecosystem to support this level of human activity. The threats and concerns are largely tourist related (an industry that brings five million people to this area every year) but are also a product of the two communities, the transcontinental railway, a four-lane highway, and the ski hills and other industries. Clearly, every part of Banff National Park has been influenced in some way by human activities.
Resource: The 76 page document produced by the Banff-Bow Valley Task Force, Banff-Bow Valley: At the Crossroads.
More about the fish of Alberta:
This report provides a fascinating, factual review of the state and history of fish stocking and fisheries management in Alberta. Did you know that during the 1930s Bull trout were systematically removed and destroyed in Alberta because they were considered to be “ungodly and barbaric”? This site has lots of interesting facts on the state of recreational fishing and fisheries health in Alberta.
Resource: A 10 page document produced by Alberta Environment, Focus on Fisheries Management.
More about the fish of Alberta:
There are 51 native species of fish in Alberta’s rivers along with 9 introduced species. Many populations are vulnerable to human activity including fishing and human modification of habitats. Although “Species Management and Recovery Plans” are implemented when populations reach critical sizes, future studies will determine whether these efforts have been adequate to maintain fish populations or if too little has been done too late.
Resource: This Government of Alberta web site describes how Alberta’s fish are being managed as a sustainable resource, Management Issues.
More about Alberta’s wildlife:
Much of Alberta’s wildlife is found in and near aquatic habitats. We encounter and in some cases disturb or displace these species when we “recreate” in their homes. This site provides links to information about all of Alberta’s native species. It also provides links to a beautifully illustrated 56 page document “The General Status of Alberta’s Wild Species 2000 report:” That report offers a “status assessment” for 4, 735 species that are found in Alberta – including those that are “at risk”, “may be at risk” and “sensitive” species.
Resource: A web page produced by the Government of Alberta, Threatened Wildlife.
More about suspended sediment:
Increased water volumes in a river will cause riverbanks to degrade and sediments to be released. Sediments may increase water temperatures because they absorb radiant energy. This can increase the amount of stress that fish experience because some species require specific temperatures to survive. Suspended sediment may also physically harm aquatic species because it acts like sandpaper on their bodies. Sediments can degrade spawning habitats because the areas between the gravel can be filled, reducing the amount of oxygen reaching the eggs. Chemicals also tend to adhere to sediments, which will increase the amount of contaminants within aquatic ecosystems.
More about river temperatures:
Rivers that originate in the mountains are kept cold by melting glacier ice. As the glaciers retreat, river volumes will decrease. This will result in higher water temperatures because the same amount of solar radiation will be heating a smaller volume of water. Warmer waters contain smaller amounts of dissolved oxygen than colder waters. Many aquatic species require certain levels of dissolved oxygen for their survival. Cold-water fish species, such as the Bull Trout, will be negatively affected as river temperatures rise.
More about river volumes:
River habitats may be greatly reduced as river volumes decrease. This reduces the amount of fish that can coexist in the area. Shallow spawning beds may dry out as river volumes drop.
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