PRAIRIE CONSERVATION COORDINATING COMMITTEE 1991 ANNUAL REPORT ISBN 0-86499-787-6 Published: April 1992 For more information about the Prairie Conservation Coordinating Committee, contact: Gerald McKeating Chairperson, 1991-1992 c/o Canadian Wildlife Service 4999 - 98 Avenue EDMONTON, Alberta T6B 2X3 Tel: (403) 468-8903 Fax: (403) 495-2615 Ian W. Dyson Secretary c/o Alberta Forestry, Lands and Wildlife Bag 3014, 530 - 8 Street South LETHBRIDGE, Alberta T1J 4C7 Tel: (403) 381-5430 Fax: (403) 381-5723 Chairperson's Report 1 The Prairie Conservation Action Plan (PCAP) and the Prairie Conservation Coordinating Committee (PCCC) 2 Summary of Meetings 2 • Stettler, April 1991 2 • Waterton Park, September 1991 2 Key Achievements 3 • Wildlife Values Training 3 • Protection Issues, Canadian Forces Base Suffield 3 Implementing the PCAP 4 • Implementation Commitments 4 Selected List of Completed Commitments 4 Selected List of New Commitments 5 • Implementation Workgroups 6 Protection Issues - Lost River/Milk River 6 Landowners and Native Habitats 6 Maintaining Wildlife and Habitat in Municipalities 6 Environmental Education 7 Urban Native Prairie Areas 7 • Conservation Data Centre 7 • Cooperative Prairie Conservation Initiatives 7 Environmentally Significant Areas Inventories 7 Energy/Prairie Project 8 Rumsey Regionally Integrated Decision (RID) 8 M.D. of Acadia Tax Recovery Lands 9 Riparian Cottonwoods Conservation and Management Strategy 9 Appendices • Member Agencies 11 • PCAP Goals and Terms of Reference 12 • University of Calgary Course Outline 13 Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2017 with funding from University of Alberta Libraries https://archive.org/details/annualreport1991prai CHAIRPERSON'S REPORT The past year has witnessed some significant progress in the implementation of the 1988 Prairie Conservation Action Plan in Alberta. The highlight of our efforts was the wildlife values training course organized through the University of Calgary, which brought together a diverse group of wildlife and agriculture resource managers. This exchange of information and sharing of objectives demonstrates the ability of agriculture and wildlife interests to work together to achieve common goals. We hope to organize this training course again in the next few years. Through the stimulus of the PCCC, the Department of National Defence and Envi- ronment Canada reached an agreement in principle to establish the Canadian Forces Base Suffield National Wildlife Area. This sensitive ecological area covers over 400 square kilometres and contains some of the finest natural prairie in Canada. Over the years the Department of National Defence has exercised excellent stewardship over the land and clearly has demonstrated the positive role private landowners can play in conserving prairie heritage. The year 1991 was also marked by important individual efforts by various agencies— both private and governmental— directed towards prairie conservation. The cooperative nature of the Prairie Conservation Coordinating Committee has enhanced this work by providing a broad perspective and an increased knowledge base. We also are in the process of streamlining our approach to reaching the goals of the Prairie Conservation Action Plan. To this end, we established an Executive Committee in 1991 representing a cross-section of members. Work groups are now being set up to develop work plans that will guide efforts to achieve each action plan goal. With such a large multi-agency committee, this streamlining of procedures will be vital to its success. The prairie landscape is subject to many demands from individuals or agencies who utilize its resources. At times, these demands conflict with other needs or with perceptions as to how the landscape can be used. The success of the Prairie Conservation Coordinating Committee lies in its ability to bring together these competing concerns, to resolve problems and to increase our understanding of each other's perspective. Our experience has clearly shown that there is much in common among all members. It is this goodwill and constructive concern of our members that makes prairie conservation happen. Over the past year, it has been my pleasure to work with many dedicated people. I thank you all. In particular, I wish to recognize the strong efforts of Ian Dyson. Gerald McKeating Chairperson, 1991-1992 -1- THE PRAIRIE CONSERVATION ACTION PLAN The Prairie Conservation Action Plan (PCAP) is the result of a three-year World Wildlife Fund Canada program, the "Wild West" program. Published in the fall of 1988 and released jointly by WWF Canada and each of the three prairie provinces, the plan is a five- year action plan aimed at prairie-wide efforts to conserve, protect and manage native and parkland species, communities and habitats. The Prairie Conservation Coordinating Committee (PCCC) is the Government of Alberta's response to the challenge posed by the PCAP. It was established in 1989 to ensure that the goals and intentions of the PCAP are carried out. With over four dozen member organizations it is the largest and most broadly representative committee of its kind in Canada. SUMMARY OF MEETINGS The PCCC held combined meetings and field trips in 1991: • Stettler, April 1991 A field tour of the Rumsey aspen parkland was conducted the evening before the business meeting. Rumsey is the largest remaining undisturbed block of native aspen parkland in the world. Thus, it was identified by the PCAP as requiring provincial protection. Alberta Recreation and Parks has designated an ecological reserve at the northern end of the parkland and Alberta Forestry, Lands and Wildlife is developing a local land-use plan for the balance of the parkland area. In a tour conducted by Public Lands staff, PCCC members visited several sites in the ecological reserve and in the parkland area. The tour focused on reclamation activities for petroleum and natural gas facilities. Members reviewed planning activities for both areas and discussed grazing land management and historical resource values. The meeting focused on ways in which member organizations can contri- bute to implementing the recommendations of the PCAP. Workshops were held addressing the dual themes of representing individual interests and communicating PCCC member organizations. activities back through Darcy Beach, a Fish and Wildlife District Officer, provided members with his "hands-on" perspective on fish and wildlife conservation and Loney Dickson, Shorebird Specialist with the Canadian Wildlife Service, gave an illustrated talk on current shorebird research. He emphasized the work to designate protected sites of various levels of significance under the Western Hemispheric Shorebird Reserve Network international agreement. A field tour of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP) First Step activities on the Buffalo Lake moraine was conducted by Brett Calverly of the Alberta NAWMP Centre. Members viewed a variety of site management techniques including rotational grazing, land purchase, chemical fallowing, the underseeding of legumes and the construction of small nesting islands. The tour concluded with a site inspection of property purchased to provide upland nesting cover. • Waterton Lakes National Park September 1991 The mountains meet the prairie at Waterton and this meeting commenced appropriately with an evening field trip to the fescue grasslands of Waterton Lakes National Park. The tour was conducted by the Canadian Parks Service and the Waterton Biosphere Association with assistance from staff of the Agriculture Canada Research Station in Lethbridge. During the tour members were briefed on park planning policies, the designation of an environ- mentally significant fescue site, road construction rehabilitation, and reclamation techniques. Tour coordinators talked about how soil science, plant ecology and historical, climatic and cultural factors have affected the distribution and health of the park's fescue grassland community. -2- THE PRAIRIE CONSERVATION CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE In addition to activity updates, the business meeting addressed several administrative items, including financing of PCCC's operations, progress on a communications strategy and methods of enhancing the effectiveness of future meetings. Dr. Peter Achuff of the U.S. Nature Conservancy talked about the U.S. experience in adopting Conservation Data Centres to provide common, accessible environmental resource information. Charlie Zinkan, Park Superintendent, outlined some current administrative and management challenges associated with running a national park. The meeting was followed by guided hikes. KEY 1991 ACHIEVEMENTS Two PCCC workgroups completed their work in 1991 with impressive results. • Wildlife Values Training In July 1990 the PCCC established a workgroup, chaired by Doug Olson of the University of Calgary (U of C) and including representatives from Alberta Agriculture, Alberta Forestry, Lands and Wildlife, the Canadian Wildlife Service and the Alberta Association of Agricultural Fieldmen. The group was charged with action on a PC AP recommendation under Goal No. 7 "Agricultural field personnel, district agriculturalists and wildlife biologists should receive training in the value and preservation of native habitat and all wildlife". In response, members organized a training course entitled "Retaining Native Prairie and Wildlife Habitat in an Agricultural Landscape". The course was conducted by the U of C's Faculty of Environ- mental Design on 10-12 June 1991 at the Brooks Pheasant Hatchery (see Appendix 3). About 30 registrants including habitat biologists, district agriculturalists, resource agrologists, range specialists, soil conservation specialists and agricul- tural fieldmen attended the course. Evaluations were extremely positive. The modest proceeds from the course were donated to the Antelope Creek Habitat Development Project. The PCCC is exploring the possibility of conducting the course again in 1992. • Protection Issues, Canadian Forces Base Suffield The PCAP noted the existence of a large area of relatively undisturbed prairie within the Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Suffield and encouraged cooperative conservation efforts to increase protection of flora and fauna. The plan recommended that major portions of the area be given significant conservation status. The Suffield workgroup was established in July 1990 and chaired by Donn Cline (Alberta Recreation and Parks). Major Brent McDonald (CFB Suffield), Gerald McKeating and Tim Coleman (Canadian Wildlife Service) also played lead roles. Representatives of the Alberta Wildlife Association, Alberta Forestry, Lands and Wildlife and Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society also participated. The workgroup conducted a number of meetings and a field tour of CFB Suffield. From this cooperative effort, the extent of the environmental stewardship exercised by the base became evident. For example, the base has an environmental protection plan to ensure that military training activities do not compromise important environmental values. It also has designated large areas of the base off limits to military activity. Each year, two third-party committees provide environmental advice about oil and gas and domestic grazing on the base. While recognizing this exemplary environmental stewardship, some members of the group continued to struggle with the issue of whether or not some form of designated protection was needed. Various options were considered, including a proposal for a -3- THE PRAIRIE CONSERVATION ACTION PLAN federal-provincial agreement which might establish conservation lands as an Ecological Reserve. In September 1991, following consultations with Environment Canada (Canadian Wildlife Service), the DND agreed in principle to set aside a portion of the base as a national wildlife area. The national wildlife area will remain part of CFB Suffield and will continue to be managed by the DND. In the event of any long-term changes in the status of the base, however, the national wildlife area designation will ensure continued protection of environmentally significant lands. The protected area includes the Middle Sand Hills in the north-east section of the base and an area in the south-west comer. These areas are prime habitat for the prairie rattlesnake, pronghorn antelope, white- tailed deer, mule deer and a number of endangered or threatened birds including the ferruginous hawk, burrowing owl and Baird's sparrow. IMPLEMENTING THE PCAP A key task for the PCCC is to encourage effective implementation of the recommendations of the PCAP. In addition to its "Key Achievements", the PCCC continues to make progress on a number of fronts. • Implementation Commitments The PCCC records the commitments each member agency has identified to assist in achieving PCCC goals and action recommendations. This document is updated annually. Some of the notable items follow: Selected List of Completed Commitments • Production of a report on areas of significance in the Bodo-Altario block of Northern Fescue grassland. (Public Lands) • Production of study of intermittent wetlands in the parkland. (Public Lands , World Wildlife Fund Canada) • Completion of range inventories on 76 100 hectares. (Public Lands) • Development of a protected areas management course. (Public Lands , University of Alberta) • Production of a report on management guidelines for livestock grazing on foothills fescue prairie. (Agriculture Canada , Public Lands) • Acquisition of four environmentally significant sites and establishment of one conservation easement on private land. (Public Lands) • Preparation of a management plan for the Milk River Natural Area and Kennedy Coulee Ecological Reserve. (Alberta Wilderness Association, Alberta Recreation and Parks, Fish and Wildlife Division, Public Lands) • Mapping of environmentally significant and sensitive areas and critical sage grouse habitat in the southern region. (Fish and Wildlife) • Purchase of a 53-hectare parcel of land along the Oldman River near Picture Butte. The parcel comprises mixed grass upland, fragile river breaks and river floodplain having high wildlife value in an intensively developed agricultural area. (Public Lands) • Mapping of cottonwoods along the St. Mary, Belly and Waterton rivers. (Alberta Environment) • A range management plan for the native prairie lands in the Remount Pasture in the Special Areas was completed. (World Wildlife Fund Canada, Special Areas Board, Ducks Unlimited) • Provincial management plans were developed and approved for peregrine falcons and the piping plover. (Fish and Wildlife) • Natural and Protected Areas (NAPA) spent $55 470 in funding projects to determine the status and identification of the locations of populations of rare species, including literature review of all plant species considered rare in Alberta, rare plants and animals of sand dune habitats, mountain plover studies. Environ- mentally Significant Areas (ESA) studies, and rare plant locations in Poll Haven. Studies on -4- THE PRAIRIE CONSERVATION CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE Brewer's sparrow were co-funded with the Provincial Museum. NAPA funded a review of herbarium records for all Alberta rare plant species. (Public Lands) Studies were conducted on the status and location of the plains hognosed snake, mountain plover and northern leopard frog. (Public Lands, World Wildlife Fund Canada) Supported volunteer involvement in wildlife surveys, such as the May Species Count, the provincial phenology survey, the Breeding Bird Atlas, Operation Burrowing Owl and the northern leopard frog and plains hognosed snake campaigns. (Public Lands, World Wildlife Fund Canada) A pamphlet was prepared by Range Management and Conservation and Coordination explaining the relationship between sound range manage- ment practices and soil conservation. Over 10 000 copies have been distributed to date. Range Management has completed a pamphlet explaining the principles of grazing land management espoused by the division. (Public Lands) Prairie for Tomorrow produced and distributed a brochure on its program. A poster entitled "Sharing the Prairies" and an accompanying Alberta Landowner Conservation Directory have been completed and distributed. With several other agencies and organizations. Prairie for Tomorrow is supporting the production of eight factsheets for inclusion into the series "Alberta's Threatened Wildlife". This program is also cooperating in the development of public information material for the Antelope Creek Habitat Development Project, the Canadian Wildlife Service Raptors and Prairie Grassland landowner manuals, and a public education program on endangered species with the County of Strathcona. (World Wildlife Fund Canada) Provincial museum inventory of the flora and fauna of the McIntyre Ranch grasslands is approximately 85 per cent complete. Publication of results is expected by 1993. (Alberta Culture and Multiculturalism) • The Adopt- A-Stream program is in the pilot stage and is being tested with community groups. (Alberta Environment) • Publication of a report identifying key migratory bird sites south of 60 degrees latitude. (Canadian Wildlife Service) Selected List of New Commitments • Conduct inventory work on 15 400 hectares of rangelands. (Public Lands) • Acquisition of four parcels of private land with high conservation values. (Public Lands) • Reservation /notations used on public lands in the Southern Region are being reviewed and extended to ensure that environmentally significant and sensitive public lands are appropriately protected. (Public Lands, Fish and Wildlife) National endangered species recovery plans will be developed by the Committee on the Recovery of Nationally Endangered Wildlife for swift fox, Baird's sparrow, burrowing owl, ferruginous hawk and loggerhead shrike. (Fish and Wildlife, Canadian Wildlife Service) Natural and Protected Areas will develop information papers on specific issues related to the management of native prairies and parkland over the next five years, such as burning, management of deciduous forests, management of riparian areas and fragmentation. (Public Lands) Four projects are under way with ranchers to demonstrate and measure the cost benefits of several grazing systems to improve range conditions and productivity of grasslands and to safeguard other resource values (Warner, Lundbreck, Brooks and Aden). (Public Lands) The Range Management program is assisting the Siksika Nation in developing a range management plan for the 38 850 hectares of mixed-grass prairie on the reserve. (Public Lands) -5- THE PRAIRIE CONSERVATION ACTION PLAN • Range Management is responsible for a Reclama- tion Research Technical Advisory Committee study to identify ways to minimize industrial disturbance to native prairie from pipeline construction. (Public Lands) • Implementation Workgroups The following summarizes the current status of implementation workgroups addressing specific PCAP action recommendations. and habitats through landowner support and acknowledgement programs. MEMBERSHIP World Wildlife Fund (chair), Alberta Agriculture, Canadian Wildlife Service, Ducks Unlimited, Federation of Alberta Naturalists, Fish and Wildlife, Public Lands, University of Calgary, Waterton Biosphere Association. STATUS Workgroup: Protection Issues - Lost River/Milk River ACTION RECOMMENDATION The Lost River portion of the federal Onefour Research Station and the Milk River area are home to several rare and endangered plants and animals such as the short-homed lizard, mountain plover, pronuba moth and soapweed. Parts of these areas have been proposed as Natural Areas and ecological reserves that should be given permanent protection. MEMBERSHIP Public Lands (chair), Alberta Recreation and Parks, Agriculture Canada, Alberta Cattle Commission, Alberta Wilderness Association, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Canadian Wildlife Service, Fish and Wildlife. STATUS The workgroup held several meetings and gained consensus on follow-up recommendations. A number of specific PCAP recommendations largely have been addressed. Species inventories have been conducted, several sites have received designated protection and a number of others are under protective notations. The workgroup will present its final report in 1992. The workgroup presented a final report at the September 1991 meeting. Members compiled a list of citations that can be used to foster stewardship of private lands or that summarized key program areas. A summary of the main mechanisms to promote private stewardship was also provided. Members agreed to pursue the intent of this action recommendation through implementation of the Municipal Soil and Water Conservation Planning Pilot Project coordinated by Alberta Agriculture. Maintaining Wildlife and Habitat in Municipalities ACTION RECOMMENDATION Regional and municipal planning commissions should set objectives to protect wildlife and wildlife habitat on both private and public lands within their jurisdictions. A target of at least 10 per cent of land should be maintained. All major ecosystems within the jurisdiction should be represented. The commissions should immediately undertake inventories of the native habitat within their boundaries, to identify the area's species, ecosystems and ecologically sensitive sites. Provincial managers of public lands should agree to these regional planning objectives. MEMBERSHIP Landowners and Native Habitats ACTION RECOMMENDATION Non-government conservation organizations and government agencies should encourage and support a landowner's decision to maintain native wildlife Oldman Regional Planning Commission (chair), Calgary, Edmonton Metropolitan, Battle River, Palliser, Red Deer and Southeast Regional Planning Commissions, Alberta Energy, Alberta Recreation and Parks, Federation of Alberta Naturalists. -6- THE PRAIRIE CONSERVATION CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE CURRENT STATUS This workgroup was initiated in April 1991. The group developed a preliminary list of measures available to municipalities that would allow for the protection of environmentally significant areas. Environmental Education ACTION RECOMMENDATION Environmental education, including wildlife conser- vation, should be incorporated into the school cur- riculum. All schools should be encouraged to grow natural gardens or to care for a natural area nearby. MEMBERSHIP Alberta Environment (chair), Alberta Agriculture, Alberta Recreation and Parks, Canadian Parks Services, Canadian Wildlife Service, Ducks Unlimited, Fish and Wildlife, Public Lands and the Waterton Biosphere Association. STATUS This workgroup was not formally initiated until September 1991, but the chairperson had done some preliminary work and tabled a report at Waterton which had a selected list of environmental education programs. Specific objectives for the workgroup were identified and Alberta Environment's Education Branch will facilitate an initial meeting in 1992. Urban Native Prairie Areas ACTION RECOMMENDATION Small native prairie areas near towns and cities should be recognized, preserved and used for educational, recreational and inspirational purposes, e.g. Calgary's Nose Hill. MEMBERSHIP Federation of Alberta Naturalists (chair), Alberta Municipal Affairs, the Battle River, Calgary, Edmonton Metropolitan, Oldman River, Palliser, Red Deer and Southeast Regional Planning Commissions, University of Calgary. STATUS A research proposal has been drafted. As a preliminary measure, all major urban municipalities are being polled to produce an inventory of what has been preserved to date and to identify potential opportunities. • Conservation Data Centre The PCCC has noted the lack of easily accessible information for identifying prairie ecosystems and endangered or valuable prairie grasslands. The PCCC identified the U.S. Nature Conservancy's Conserva- tion Data Centre (CDC) system as a cost-effective way to collect, manage and provide access to biological data. The PCCC is recommending that the Alberta government implement the CDC with support from other levels of government and the private sector. An advisory committee of all stakeholders should be developed to oversee the project. • Cooperative Prairie Conservation Initiatives During 1991 there has been considerable movement for several progressive cooperative prairie conservation initiatives. Included here are projects which have not been initiated formally by the PCCC as a committee, but where there is direct PC AP /PCCC linkage and where several member organizations have played key roles. ESA Inventories PROJECT Production of inventories of ESA for rural municipalities. PCAP/PCCC LINK The PCAP recommends that inventories of remaining native prairie be undertaken at the habitat sub-region level. The inventories undertaken in the Oldman River Regional River Planning Commission area in the mid-late 1980s are cited as a model. -7- THE PRAIRIE CONSERVATION ACTION PLAN PCCC MEMBERS INVOLVED Alberta Forestry, Lands and Wildlife agencies, the Battle River, Palliser, Red Deer and Southeast Regional Planning Commissions, the Special Areas Board, World Wildlife Fund Canada. CURRENT STATUS During 1991, ESA inventory reports were produced for the following rural municipalities: County of Mountain View, County of Newell, County of Forty Mile, M.D. of Acadia, M.D. of Cypress, M.D. of Kneehills and M.D. of Starland. An ESA inventory for the Lower Red Deer Corridor (Drumheller to the Saskatchewan border) was approaching completion at year end. Energy/Prairie Project PROJECT Development of guidelines for petroleum and natural gas activity on native prairie. PCAP/PCCC LINK The project resulted from an Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB) hearing in response to concerns expressed by a leaseholder in the Altario area to a well site application on native prairie. The ERCB permitted the well to go ahead with conditions and recommended that affected agencies collaborate to develop policy guidelines to protect native prairie environments while allowing reasonable access to oil and gas resources. PCCC MEMBERS INVOLVED Alberta Energy, Alberta Environment (Conservation and Reclamation Council), ERCB, Alberta Forestry, Lands and Wildlife (Fish and Wildlife, Public Lands, Regional Coordination Services), Special Areas Board. All PCCC members had an opportunity to review draft guidelines in September 1991. CURRENT STATUS A final report was produced and endorsed by a steering committee comprised of assistant deputy ministers and a member of the ERCB. The report details guidelines for seismic, drilling, production, pipeline and reclamation activities and will be issued as an ERCB informational letter early in 1992. Rumsey Regionally Integrated Decision PROJECT Development of a local land-use plan for almost 50 sections of native aspen parkland on public land located south of the Rumsey Ecological Reserve. PCAP/PCCC LINK The PCAP recommends the retention of large areas of native aspen parkland, specifically the Rumsey block, which is the largest remaining representative site of aspen parkland left in the world. The Government of Alberta formally established 13.25 sections at the north end of the block as the Rumsey Ecological Reserve in 1990. Management issues have been repeatedly raised, particularly by public interest groups, for the remainder of the block. Surface impacts associated with oil and gas activity are the primary issue. PCCC MEMBERS INVOLVED Alberta Culture and Multiculturalism, Alberta Energy, Alberta Forestry, Lands and Wildlife (Fish and Wildlife, Public Lands, Regional Coordination Services), Alberta Recreation and Parks, Alberta Wilderness Association, the ERCB. A number of other key stakeholders were also involved in drafting the plan. All PCCC members had an opportunity to review a draft plan in September 1991. The PCCC and individual member agencies provided input. CURRENT STATUS A draft plan has been produced under the coordination of Public Lands which attempts to ensure that Rumsey's unique ecosystem is maintained while allowing for the responsible use of the area's resources. The draft plan was publicly reviewed at Big Valley in November 1991. At year- end the planning team was compiling a summary of all public feedback. -8- THE PRAIRIE CONSERVATION CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE M.D. of Acadia - Tax Recovery Lands PROJECT Retention of environmentally significant parcels of native grass prairie tax recovery lands in the M.D. of Acadia. PCAP/PCCC LINK The PCAP recommends retention of native grass prairie. The M.D. of Acadia had developed a draft sale policy for 84 quarter sections of tax recovery land, but heard about the PCCC initiative through the media and made contact with the members. PCCC MEMBERS INVOLVED Alberta Forestry, Lands and Wildlife (Fish and Wildlife, Public Lands, Regional Coordination Services), Palliser Regional Planning Commission, World Wildlife Fund Canada. CURRENT STATUS Several meetings were held and an ESA inventory was produced. Public Lands and the M.D. Council spent much time working on a land exchange proposal that would meet community, social, economic and environmental needs. At year-end a land exchange proposal was being implemented that would see most of the land retained as native prairie. The old sale policy has been cancelled. Riparian Cottonwoods Strategy PROJECT To develop a conservation and management strategy for riparian poplars in southern Alberta. PCAP/PCCC LINK This project was funded by Prairie for Tomorrow— a three-year joint funding program which, like the PCAP, was a product of World Wildlife Fund Canada's "Wild West" program. The advisory group which steered the project was comprised predominantly of PCCC members and the PCCC has reviewed and provided input to the project. PCCC MEMBERS INVOLVED Alberta Environment, Alberta Cattle Commission, Alberta Forestry, Lands and Wildlife (Fish and Wildlife, Regional Coordination Services), Federation of Alberta Naturalists, World Wildlife Fund Canada. CURRENT STATUS During 1991, a draft strategy was formulated based on a review of information on the biology, status and current management of riparian poplars and on the issues and management options identified by a broad range of stakeholders through interviews. The PCCC is sponsoring a Strategy Workshop in January 1992 to encourage input by organizations and individuals representing a wide cross-section of interests. -9- THE PRAIRIE CONSERVATION ACTION PLAN PCCC member agency representatives gathered at Calgary's Red and White club early in 1992 to plan initiatives for the coming year. Standing (1-r): Hiske Gerding, Calvin Webb, Duane Radford, Mary Penny, Peter Dickson, Linda Henrickson, Dug Major, Bill Shaw, Roger Marvin, Robert Powell, Bob Riddet, Miles Scott-Brown, Larry Simpson, F. Les Usher, Bill Mortensen, Donn Cline, John Rusling, Philip Stepney, Stephen Dobson, Bill Dolan, Andy Masiuk, Gary Stewart, Gerald Komelson, Deanna Knudson. Seated: Ann Roberts, Bas Delaney, Cynthia Langlo, Lynda Paterson, Rhonda Wehrhahn, Ian Dyson, Gerald McKeating, Louise McGillivray, Liz Savoy, Tim Coleman, J. Douglas Olson. -10- APPENDIX 1 Member Agencies F. Les Usher Rhonda Wehrhahn Linda Walton Chris Mills Mary Penny Stephen Dobson Dr. Niels Damgaard Philip Stepney Donn dine Louise McGillivray Ann Roberts Bob Riddet John Rusling Major H. Brent McDonald Bill Dolan Miles Scott-Brown Gerald McKeating Moe Mahendran Bemd Martens Andy Masiuk Gary Stewart Bill Morten sen Peter Dickson Cynthia Langlo Calvin Webb Liz Savoy Duane Radford Jim Struthers Bas Delaney Rae Runge Robert Powell Larry Simpson Lynda Paterson Linda Henrickson Roger Marvin Hiske Gerding Bill Shaw Ian Dyson Jim Muller Gordon Graydon Dug Major Gerald Komelson Phil Lulman Hartman Nagel J. Douglas Olson Larry Frith Ed Curry Dennis Sherrat Monte Hummel Agriculture Canada Alberta Agriculture Alberta Association of M.D.s & Counties Alberta Cattle Commission Alberta Energy Alberta Environment Alberta Fish & Game Association Alberta Culture and Multiculturalism Alberta Recreation and Parks Alberta Tourism Alberta Wilderness Association Battle River Regional Planning Commission Calgary Regional Planning Commission Canadian Forces Base Suffield Canadian Parks Service Waterton Canadian Parks & Wilderness Association Canadian Wildlife Service (Chairman - PCCC) CN Rail Coal Association Coordination Services, Alberta Forestry, Lands and Wildlife Ducks Unlimited Eastern Irrigation District Edmonton Metropolitan Regional Planning Commission Energy Resources Conservation Board Environment Council of Alberta Federation of Alberta Naturalists Fish and Wildlife Division, Alberta Forestry, Lands and Wildlife Fish and Wildlife Division, Alberta Forestry, Lands and Wildlife Land Information Services Division, Alberta Forestry, Lands and Wildlife Municipal Affairs Natural Resources Conservation Board Nature Conservancy Canada Oldman River Regional Planning Commission Palliser Regional Planning Commission Public Lands Division, Alberta Forestry, Lands and Wildlife Recreation Parks and Wildlife Foundation Red Deer Regional Planning Commission Regional Coordination Services, Alberta Forestry, Lands and Wildlife (Secretary - PCCC) Southeast Alberta Regional Planning Commission South Peace Regional Planning Commission Special Areas Board Special Areas Advisory Council TransAlta Utilities Unifarm University of Calgary Waterton Biosphere Association Western Stockgrowers Association Wildlife Habitat Canada World Wildlife Fund Canada -11- APPENDIX 2 PCAP Goals 1. Identify the remaining native prairie and parkland. 2. Protect at least one large, representative area in each of the four major prairie ecosystems (Mixed Prairie, Tall Grass Prairie, Fescue Prairie and Aspen Parkland). 3. Establish a system of protected native prairie ecosystems across the three prairie provinces and, where possible, create connecting corridors. This system should include representative samples of each habitat subregion. 4. Protect threatened ecosystems and habitats by preparing and implementing habitat management and restoration plans. 5. Protect and enhance the populations of prairie species designated nationally or provindally as vulnerable, threatened or endangered by implementing recovery and management plans. 6. Ensure that no additional species become threatened, endangered or extirpated. 7. Encourage governments to incorporate conservation of native prairie more explicitly in their programs. 8. Encourage balanced use of private lands that allows sustained use of the land while maintaining and enhancing the native biological diversity of the prairies. 9. Promote public awareness of the values and importance of prairie wildlife and wildlife places. 10. Promote research relevant to prairie conservation. Terms of Reference Authority Initiated by the Government of Alberta. The committee is consultative apd advisory to member organizations. It does not have legislative, management or program authority or responsibilities. The acceptance of committee recommendations will remain at the individual discretion of member organizations. Duration The committee's duration is tied to the Prairie Conservation Action Plan, 1989-1994. The committee will exist until 31 December 1994. This tenure may be extended at the discretion of the committee. Purpose 1. The purpose of the committee is to encourage effective implementation of the Prairie Conservation Action Plan in Alberta and to provide an ongoing profile for prairie and parkland conservation initiatives. 2. The committee will establish a focus and profile for the cooperative pursuit of initiatives identified in the Prairie Conservation Action Plan. It will • serve as a forum for information exchange and cooperation between key organizations with interests in or jurisdiction over prairie conservation initiatives; • allow key contacts to get together periodically to review the plans, projects and programs of member organizations, to assess progress and to integrate program efforts; • constitute a cooperative partnership between different levels of government and non-government organizations in sharing major responsibility for implementing the Prairie Conservation Action Plan, while also allowing both groups to share their experiences and strengthen mutual goals and objectives; • encourage members to tailor their own programs, policies or initiatives to meet the goals of the Prairie Conservation Action Plan; • review progress in implementing the Prairie Conservation Action Plan in Alberta; • identify gaps and recommend measures to fill them in such areas as inventory deficiencies or new program requirements; and • adopt media communication strategies as appropriate to ensure that significant initiatives and accomplishments are widely communicated publicly. 3. The committee will encourage coordination and comple- mentarity between major conservation-related initiatives such as the Prairie Conservation Action Plan, the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, the Alberta Conservation Strategy, and Federal /Provincial Soil Conservation initiatives. -12- APPENDIX 3 Retaining Native Prairie and Wildlife in an Agricultural Landscape A block course organized by the University of Calgary, Faculty of Environmental Design COURSE OBJECTIVES: 1. To promote the value and preservation of native prairie and its wildlife. The course will be of interest to district agriculturalists, agricultural field men. Special Areas personnel, range managers. Fish and Wildlife staff and others. 2. To foster an understanding of an ecosystem approach to agricultural land management that allows an integration of conservation and agricultural production objectives. 3. To increase awareness of native plant communities, as well as endangered species and their habitat requirements. 4. To identify where habitat improvement and economical agricultural practices may coincide. 5. To outline habitat improvements and management techniques as well as the various programmes and incentives that are available. 6. To encourage dialogue and understanding amongst those involved in range, agricultural and wildlife resource management. COURSE OUTLINE Location: Brooks Pheasant Hatcheiy Dates: June 10,11, & 12, 1991 DAY 1 8:00 - 9:00 9:00 - 10:00 10:15 - 11:00 11:00 - 12:00 12:00 - 13:00 13:00 - 14:00 14:00 - 15:00 15:00 - 18:00 18:30 - Ecosystem Concept in Resource Management - Dr. Rich Revel, U of C Optimizing Resource Use Decision Through Integration - Dr. Rich Revel Landscape Structure - Doug Olson, U of C Range Plant and Animal Identification Lab Luncheon Speaker Strategic Planning for Ecosystem and Land Use Zoning, F&W Policies - Duane Radford, Regional Director, Southern Region, Alberta Fish and Wildlife Range Management Principles - Barry Adams Basic Concepts of Wildlife Management - Bill Wishart Range Plant Identification Field Component and Management Opportunities Discussion at Antelope Creek Ranch - Barry Adams, Alberta Public Lands Dinner at the Cassils Hall c/w Ranch Presentation DAY 2 8:00 - 10:00 10:15 - 11:30 11:30 - 12:00 12:00 - 13:00 13:00 - 14:30 14:30 - 15:30 15:45 - 17:00 17:00 - 17:30 Principles of Forage and Field Crop Production - Mr. Tom Jensen, Alberta Agriculture Impact of Agricultural Practices - David Watson, U of A, Department of Rural Economy Discussion Luncheon Speaker: North American Waterfowl Plan - Mr. Brett Calverley, Co-ordinating Biologist, NAWMP Rare, Threatened and Endangered Species Identification and Habitat Requirements; Proposed Endangered Species Legislation - Steve Brechtel, Alberta Fish and Wildlife Reptile and Amphibian Identification and Habitat Requirements - Wayne Roberts, Curator, Vertebrate Museum, U of A Site and Habitat Improvements; Habitat Referral Systems; Riparian Areas Management - Lome Fitch, Alberta Fish and Wildlife Conservation Programmes of Agriculture Alberta - Mr. David Neilson, Resource Planning Branch, Alberta Agriculture DAY 3 AM. Field Trip to Millicent Farm - Examination and discussion of the farm and its management plan. PM. Trip to Dinosaur Park Area - Examination of various plant communities and associated land uses. Return to Brooks by 15:00. Cost: $175.00 Contact: Doug Olson, University of Calgary Faculty of Environmental Design 2500 University Drive N.W. Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4 Phone: (403)220-6685 -13- This report has been printed courtesy of the Energy Resources Conservation Board.