Bighill Creek Preservation Society

Conservationists appeal gravel mine approval near Big Hill Springs outside Calgary

This article was written by Noel Eddey, on Friday August 4th 2023 and published by Cochrane Now.

https://cochranenow.com/articles/fight-continues-to-protect-big-hill-springs-provincial-park

Do we think the BioBlitz a success? Definitely. While we were not overwhelmed at the two contact sites, we now have over 425 photographic contributions and we are up to 21 observers. We worked on Sunday to modify the site and we were able to contact an iNaturalist whiz from U of C Geography Dept. who helped us iron out more wrinkles in our project site. We have now taken away a time restriction, so that we can continue to accept data throughout the year. We have also enlarged the map for our intake region, extending from the creek mouth, well up north of Hwy 567. So we are now ready for 2024.

iNaturalist is a broad program that can allow us to interpret data in many ways.

Thanks for all of everyone’s efforts on Saturday – we have launched something that we hope we can control. and find very useful.

BCPS

We thank Safeway, Save-On-Foods and Steelhead Ventures Ltd who will be providing snacks and water for our BioBlitz on Saturday June 10th.

Thank you to all of you who are planning to help. With the app I Naturalist you need to join our project: Bighill Creek BioBlitz and then upload your photos anytime from now until July 31st.

It will be our first time doing a BIOBLITZ event. We hope you can help us for a few hours to help us gather this data.

Our society, Bighill Creek Preservation Society, is holding our first BIO BLITZ on June 10^th. We are looking for volunteers. Our Bio-Blitz will be staged at two locations: Cochrane Ranche and at the Fourth Avenue bridge.

With the help of the I-Naturalist , we want to gather data and photos of all living species in the area. It will give us a snapshot of animals, insects, plants; the biodiversity of this area at this point in time.

Although we have some wildlife surveillance cameras set up in the valley, we are missing information on the biodiversity of the area.

Thank you to SAFEWAY and SAVE -ON-FOODS who will provide us with some snacks!

If you could help even one hour, please contact me at info@bighillcreek.ca.

Thank you for considering helping us.

Lyse for BCPS

Ice, Glaciers, Gravel and Oil – Cochrane North Field Trip
FIELD TRIP GUIDE
Saturday, June 3, 2023 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Alberta Wilderness Association “Adventures for Wilderness Program”
This field trip will be led by Senior Geologist Tako Koning, email takokoning@hotmail.com &
tako.koning@gmail.com, cell phone: 587–284–3411
For more information on the Alberta Wilderness Association please refer to
www.AlbertaWilderness.ca
LOGISTICS
This field trip is three–fold: (1.) View some outstanding glacial geology in this area (2.) Learn about
the impact on the environment of some major gravel mining operations (3.) Learn about the
impact on the environment of some major oil producing operations using hydraulic fracturing.
This is a day trip. Not a lot of driving but many stops. No hiking is required. Please pack liquids
and sun and possible rain protection. You will also need to pack a lunch. The lunch stop is not
yet picked, it will depend on the progress we make as we drive from stop to stop.
We will meet at the parking lot at Cochrane Ranche in the town of Cochrane. This is located in
the western part of Cochrane on the north side of Highway 1A. If some attendees wish, we can
arrange to car pool from there to reduce the number of cars on the trip. Note also we will have
a bathroom break at the Shell gas station at the corner of Highways 22 and 567.
Directions to the Meeting Place are as follows:
–If you are driving from Calgary via Highway 1 (Trans–Canada Highway), take the turnoff northwards to Highway 22 (The Cowboy Trail) to Cochrane. Turn right at Highway 1A, also called
Bow Valley Trail. Then the entrance to Cochrane Ranche is 250 meters to the left (north).
-If you are driving from Calgary via Highway 1A, on entering Cochrane stay on 1A. At the bottom
of the hill, drive past 4 Avenue N where there is a traffic light, and continue on 1A for another
350 meters and you will see the turnoff into Cochrane Ranche.
I will be there standing by my blue Subaru Forester. Please plan to be there at 9:00 AM. Please
be on time so that the group does not need to wait for you. If you are delayed, please call me on
my cell phone at 587-284-3411.
Meeting Place: Parking Lot, Cochrane Ranche
We will meet here and have everyone sign the necessary waiver and discuss the logistics of the
field trip. Bathrooms are available here. Turning left from the parking lot onto Highway 1A will
take a little patience and caution since there is a lot of two-way traffic on this part of Highway
1A. From there we will drive to the traffic light at 4 Ave N and turn left (north) to Stop 1. If our
convoy of cars is broken up due to the traffic, I will be waiting just north of the turn off and we will regroup there… 

To know more download this file. You will find a map included.

file:///C:/Users/Owner/Downloads/Cochrane%20Field%20Trip%20June%203%202023.pdf

Bio Blitz in Bighill Creek, June 10, 2023 10:00-4:00

(If weather inclement, we will postpone one week to June 17th)

BCPS is interested in having a snapshot look at the range of biodiversity to be found in the lower portion of Bighill Creek. On June 10 we will host a day of data gathering from the Cochrane Ranche , up to the east end of the Bighill Creek Reserve lands (where footbridge is). We have permission for the day to roam Mt. St. Francis lands along the forested creek east of the 4th Street bridge to the end of the BCPS Reserve and up the open north slope to the top of the escarpment. Maps will be provided.

Register:

Please register at info@bighillcreek.ca.

Specimens:

We encourage people not to pick plants or take stones/artifacts/insects/spiders with them, rather to download the iNaturalist App, store relevant information there to transfer to BCPS and take photos.

iNaturalist:

iNaturalist is easy to load onto your mobile phone. Just go to iNaturalist in your browser and follow instructions. This tool may prove useful to you for years to come.

Contact Tables:

BCPS will have tables with maps and data sheets as well as “experts” to talk to you and receive data, at two locations. One will be at the picnic area at the Cochrane Ranche near the parking lot adjacent to |1A, by the Historical Museum. Toilets are available there.

We will also have a table at the turnaround area just north of the 4th St. bridge across Bighill Creek. No toilets are available here. Water will be available at both table sites.

Maps and Data Sheets:

Available on BCPS website and facebook page after June 1.

FIELD TRIP TO THE COCHRANE NORTH AREA

Alberta Wilderness Association (AWA) Program “Adventures For Wilderness”

Field Trip on June 3, 2023 to the Cochrane North Area to see and learn about the following:

• Glacial geology including viewing two spectacular glacial melt-water channels north of Cochrane.
• Learn how glaciers deposited gravel in glacial channels, moraines, and eskers.
• Learn how gravel mining can much impact on the adjacent environment.
• Visit oil producing frack pads and learn about the pluses and minuses of such operations.
• See some beautiful areas in the Cochrane North area including the Big Hill Springs Provincial Park area, Lochend and Dog Pound areas

This is a full day field trip from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM beginning in Cochrane.  Anyone can sign up for this trip but the cost is $50 per person or family.  This is a donation to the Alberta Wilderness Association and is tax deductible.

For more details contact go onto the Alberta Wilderness Association’s website and click on “Events” and “Adventures For Wilderness”.  The field trip leader is Tako Koning, P.Geol., Senior Geologist – Consultant and you can contact him at tako.koning@gmail.com  or phone him at 587-284-3411.

Nature Alberta, (whose mission, vision and goals are listed below) has created a list of conservation priorities which they believe need to be acted upon by the next our provincial government. To view their recommendations, go to:

https://naturealberta.ca/conservation_priorities/

Mission Statement of Nature Alberta

“To be a strong voice and an active champion for the greater appreciation and conservation of Alberta’s natural environment.”

Their Vision

Alberta’s natural heritage is widely enjoyed, deeply appreciated and thoroughly protected.

Their Goals

To achieve our mission, Nature Alberta:

• helps Albertans increase their knowledge and appreciation of Alberta’s native species and natural ecosystems;
• supports and promotes the activities of our member clubs and serves as an integrating hub for the network;
• promotes the formation of new natural history clubs throughout the province; and
• provides a unified voice for naturalists on conservation issues.