Aquatic Biomonitoring in the Ghost Watershed
In 2019, GWAS initiated its Water Monitoring Program. Following the Canadian Aquatic Biomonitoring Protocol (CABiN) developed by Environment and Climate Change Canada, GWAS has been sampling sites across the Ghost Watershed with the help of trained contractors and volunteers since 2020. Undertaking monitoring following the CABiN Protocol was a recommendation from the Ghost River SOW Report (2018).
You can download the reports for each sampling year following the links below:
Photo: CABiN sampling team in 2021, M. Wagner
Ghost River Watershed Cumulative Effects Study
In 2010, GWAS hired the ALCES Group to undertake a cumulative effects study for the Ghost Watershed.
The project was funded by Aberta Ecotrust Foundation, the Calgary Foundation, the City of Calgary, CPAWS and Y2Y.
The project was undertaken in two phases.
The Phase I Report was released on August 8th 2011 and Phase II focussing on Beneficial Management Practices was released on January 25, 2013.
You may also watch a narrated version of the modeling results of the Phase II report by clicking here.
Riparian Health Inventory of the Ghost Watershed by Cows & Fish
In 2010 GWAS was able to engage Cows & Fish in a riparian and wetlands health assessment inventory due to the generous funding provided by the Alberta Conservation Association (ACA), the Land Stewardship Centre (LSC) and partner funding by Cows & Fish. The study was also supported by the City of Calgary.
Phase I: The first Phase of the project focussed on the Waiparous Creek sub-basin area of the Ghost Watershed.
Phase II: The second Phase of the Riparian Health Inventory project focussed on the remaining part of the Ghost Watershed and its tributaries. Phase II was generously funded by Alberta Conservation Association and Cows & Fish.
Initial Ecosystem-based Conservation Plan 2010/11:
Prepared by Herb Hammond of Silva Ecosystem Consultants
In 2009 GWAS hired Forester and Ecologist Herb Hammond from B.C. to undertake an ecosystem analysis of the Ghost Watershed. In 2010 Herb Hammond and his team completed a Phase I assessment of the Waiparous Creek sub-basin including a comprehensive map set describing the character of the region. The goal is to gain a better understanding of the composition, structure and function of the Ghost Watershed’s Ecosystem and to identify thresholds.
The project was undertaken in collaboration with the Alberta Wilderness Association and funded by the Calgary Foundation, RBC Blue Water and the Bow River Basin Council.
A progress report prepared in Spring 2010 can be downloaded below. There are two versions of the Final Report presentation on Phase I. The short version file is 5.5 MB and the detailed version is 15.5 MB.