2010 Highlights
2010 Alberta Stream Watch Annual Report
Two Officer Assistants were hired, covering Oldman, Nordegg and Rocky Mountain House regions. The primary purpose of regular patrols is to help protect fishery resources on specific river systems like North and South Ram, North Saskatchewan, Bighorn, Blackstone, Oldman, Livingstone and their tributaries. Collectively, student officers made over 600 face to face contacts with resource users.

In 2010, Alberta Justice directed $10,700 in fs to Stream Watch from fish and wildlife violations. In 2010, we fmished the work with the Alberta Conservation Association on a three-year bull trout study on the Ram and Fall Creek river systems. In the fall of 2007, the program started with a field assessment of the spawning run. Lower Fall Creek was walked, angled and snorkeled to complete redd surveys. In 2008, genetic samples were collected from the Ram and North Saskatchewan and some Fall Creek bull trout were radio telemetry implanted to determine overwintering locations. The project final report and related studies showed Fall Creek as being a significant spawning area for bull trout and the work resulted in the closure of Fall Creek to angling from the upstream falls to the confluence with the Ram River.

2009 Highlights
2009 Alberta Stream Watch Annual Report
Three Officer Assistants were hired, covering Oldman, Nordegg, and Rocky Mountain House regions. The primary purpose of regular patrols is to help protect fishery resources on specific river systems like North and South Ram, North Saskatchewan, Bighorn, Blackstone, Oldman, Livingstone and their tributaries. Collectively, student officers made over 1860 face-to-face contacts with resource users. In 2009, Alberta Justice directed $27,612 in fines to Stream Watch from area fish and wildlife violations. In 2009, we continued to work with the Alberta Conservation Association on a three-year bull trout study on the Ram and Falls Creek river systems. In the fall of 2007, the program started with a field assessment of the spawning run. Lower Falls Creek was walked, angled and snorkeled to complete redd surveys. In 2008, genetic samples were collected from the Ram and North Saskatchewan and some Falls Creek bull trout were radio telemetry implanted to determine overwintering locations. The project final report will completed in 2010.

2008 Highlights
Six Officer Assistants were hired, covering Oldman, Nordegg, Sundre, Hinton and Grande Cache regions. For the first time, in 2008, Stream Watch placed an Officer Assistant on the Oldman system in south west Alberta. The primary purpose of regular patrols is to help protect fishery resources on specific river systems like North and South Ram, North Saskatchewan, Bighorn, Blackstone, Oldman, Livingstone and their tributaries. Collectively, student officers made over 2,000 face to face contacts with resource users.

In 2008, Alberta Justice directed $30,125 in fines to Stream Watch from area fish and wildlife violations. In 2008, we continued to work with the Alberta Conservation Association on a three-year bull trout study on the Ram and Fall Creek river systems. In the fall of 2007, the program started with a field assessment of the spawning run. Lower Fall Creek was walked, angled and snorkeled to complete redd surveys. In 2008, genetic samples were collected from the Ram and North Saskatchewan and some Fall Creek bull trout were radio telemetry implanted to determine overwintering locations. The project will continue in 2009. In 2008, Stream Watch supporters had two positive meetings with the Minister of Sustainable Resources to develop future plans for the organization.

2007 Highlights
Five Seasonal Enforcement Officers were hired in 2007. They were employed in Rocky Mountain House, Nordegg, Sundre, Hinton and Grande Cache regions. Collectively, student officers made over 2,000 face-to-face contacts with resource users. In 2007, Alberta Justice directed $41,755 in fines to Stream Watch from fish and wildlife violations.

In 2006, a plan was developed with Alberta Conservation Association for a three-year bull trout study on the Ram and Fall Creek river systems. In the fall of 2007, the program started with a field assessment of the spawning run. Lower Fall Creek was walked, angled and snorkelled to complete redd surveys.

2006 Highlights
Three Seasonal Enforcement Officers were hired in 2006. They were employed in the Rocky Mountain House, Nordegg and Grande Cache regions.

Collectively, student officers made over 2000, face-to-face contacts with resource users. Alberta Justice directed $7,700 in fines to Stream Watch from area fish and wildlife violations.

Other Highlights and Programs
Standing Policy Committee Presentation. In 2004, Stream Watch made a presentation to the Standing Policy Committee of the Government of Alberta requesting increased funding for more on-the-ground fisheries and enforcement personnel. In addition, Stream Watch asked the government to initiate clear and enforceable legislation that will penalize those who damage the streams and environment.

Fall Creek Project. In 2004, Stream Watch began work on the Fall Creek reclamation project. Fall Creek is located southwest of Rocky Mountain House and is a tributary of the South Ram River . Stream Watch funding came from the special prosecutions branch of Alberta Justice in the form of $75,000 of a $100,000 fine levied against an industrial user.

The Fall Creek area is heavily used by motorized and non-motorized users and has been described as the “poster child” for stream and environmental abuse.

The purpose of this project is to provide reclamation work as well as long-term direction and planning to continue to accommodate existing and future users of the area. In this program Stream Watch is working with active participation from SRD, Alberta Off-Highway Vehicle Association, Dogleg Directional Services, Eco 4 Wheel Society and the area grazing lease holder.

CAPP Initiative
In 2004, Stream Watch worked with the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) to produce a pamphlet, Responsible Recreational Land Use in Alberta's Backcountry . CAPP recognizes that as responsible industrial developers of this region they need to help encourage stewardship from public users of the Eastern Slopes of Alberta. CAPP recognizes that the impacts associated with secondary public use on industrial access routes is difficult to control, so further work and study is required. In addition to producing the pamphlet, CAPP and Stream Watch will be working on other education materials, forums, seminars and projects aimed at reducing the irresponsible behaviors that might, in the future, lead to a reduction in access for all users.

For more information, check CAPP Brochure