Wetland Therapy Underway in Sparwood
Wetlands have disappeared at an alarming rate in the Elk Valley. They have been filled in for development, drained for urban expansion, and paved over for roads and railways. Last week Elk Valley citizens got their feet wet and hands muddy to enhance a small wetland in Sparwood.
Hard working volunteers in the heat helping wetlands in Sparwood.
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August 03, 2017
Elk River Map & Guide
If you haven't heard, we've released our new, one-of-a-kind Elk River Map & Guide! This guide includes valuable information about river access, white water classification, fishing regulations and fish handling, picnic/swimming sites and more along the length of the Elk River from Elkford to Koocanusa! Now available for $10 at many local retail shops in Fernie, Sparwood and Elkford.They will also be available at the Canada Day festivities in the kids zone tomorrow. Thanks to our sponsors Columbia Basin Trust, Tourism Fernie, District of Sparwood and Canadian Tire Fernie!
July 12, 2017
Selenium Concerns
While Teck is working hard to address the selenium issue in our watershed, there have been challenges that prove it is a difficult situation to solve. We should all monitor the progress on reducing the selenium levels in the Elk River Watershed, in our own backyards and our downstream neighbours. Check out these articles for some interesting updates and perspectives on water quality in our watershed:
http://flatheadbeacon.com/2017/07/07/save-downstream-waters/
http://flatheadbeacon.com/2017/…/05/b-c-putting-waters-risk/
http://flatheadbeacon.com/…/teck-committed-health-lake-koo…/
http://flatheadbeacon.com/…/failure-water-treatment-plant-…/
July 11, 2017
Stewarding Silver Springs with MAST Students
Back in April, ERA joined forces with the College of the Rockies' Mountain Adventure Skills Training Program (MAST) students to continue in our efforts to steward Silver Springs. ERA has been and is continuing to care for Silver Springs, from the development of a proper parking lot to the ongoing work involved in building a backcountry toilet. The MAST students joined these effort on April 18, 2017 to help build a trail and install information and interpretive signs leading up to Silver Springs. You can read the full article here!
June 02, 2017
Annual General Meeting for 2016
Thank you to everyone who came out to the Elk River Alliance's 2016 Annual General Meeting! To anyone that wasn't able to make it, you can check out the report here! Thanks again for making 2016 such an amazing year for the Elk River and our community.
March 09, 2017
2016 AGM
You might have thought you missed it, but you didn’t! Our 2016 AGM is coming up, and will be held upstairs at the Fernie Arts Station (601 1st Avenue) on Thursday, March 2nd 2017 from 6pm to 7pm. Come celebrate 5 years of valuable work in the Elk River Watershed!
February 21, 2017
Water Monitoring and Climate Change in the Upper Columbia Basin
Land use and climate change in the Columbia Basin are affecting the water quality and aquatic ecosystems, but little is known about to what extent this is currently affecting our water, or what we can expect in the future. That is why countless efforts have been made by water groups to help characterize these effects on our water. The Columbia Basin Trust commissioned a study on the water knowledge in the Columbia Basin, and you can read the full report here! If you don't have time to read the whole thing but still want to know what's going down with your water, you can read the highlights here!
Thank you to everyone who has helped out with the Community Based Water Monitoring program! It is because of people like you who take the time to collect data and work together to learn about the natural world we live in that information like this is available!
February 13, 2017
Westslope Cutthroat Trout Population Assessment
Teck commissioned a multi-year assessment on the current status and overall health of Westslope Cutthroat Trout in the Fording River watershed. This study was conducted by Westslope Fisheries Ltd. from 2012 to 2015, and the results provide an analytical look at how healthy, robust and sustainable the Westslope Cutthroat Trout population is. If you have concerns regarding resource development and recreational use in the area, you can read the report here! 
February 05, 2017