2017 MRWCC ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AWARDS NOMINATIONS

The The Milk River Watershed Council Canada (MRWCC) is looking for nominations to honour individuals, families, commercial businesses and environmental groups that are good environmental stewards of the Milk River watershed. Nominations are in the following

categories:
Individual
Family
Commercial business

Environmental group

Nominate a deserving individual, family, commercial business or environmental group
that has demonstrated outstanding environmental and conservation efforts to sustain, protect, and enhance the environment within the Milk River Watershed. Self nominations are welcome. Nominations deadline is February 28, 2017. To nominate a deserving candidate or for more information please click here.

Congratulations to our 2016 Award Winner!

121A8778.JPGThe MRWCC is pleased to present Nelson & Paula Doenz as the 2016 Environmental Stewardship Award winners. Nelson and Paula were chosen for their outstanding conservation efforts to sustain, protect, and enhance the environment within the Milk River Watershed. 

Nelson & Paula Doenz have been involved in the agriculture industry for 42 years. They have been ranching and farming within the Milk River Watershed and Milk River Ridge near Warner. They have been involved in the Environmental Farm Plan and have implemented many beneficial management practices on their operations over the years including pasture watering systems and pasture management.  Both Nelson & Paula have been involved in the Red Creek Watershed Stewardship Group since its inception in 2013. They have been involved in many of the projects on Red Creek and have helped encourage other community members to become involved as well. They have worked hard to recognize the potential of good management and enhancement practices such as completing Riparian Health Assessments with Cows and Fish. The Doenz family has demonstrated the value of Sustainable Agriculture to the County of Warner and cattle industry as a whole. Nelson and Paula are currently transitioning to pass on their wealth of knowledge and dedication to their land on to the next generation. 

Please join the MRWCC in congratulating Nelson and Paula as the 2016 Environmental Stewardship Award winners. The Doenz family was awarded a gate sign to display for years to come.

Milk River Watershed Council Canada 2015 Heritage Trees

2015 Heritage Trees-By-William King website.jpg

About a year ago the Milk River Watershed Council Canada launched a Heritage Tree Project. The goal of the project is to allow residents of the Milk River watershed to celebrate the pioneering spirit of the community by identifying and nominating trees of local significance within the watershed.

A Heritage Tree is a notable tree of its size, form, shape, beauty, age, rarity, significance or other distinctive features. It can be a living relic that displays evidence of significance in the community. Heritage Trees are native to the community and can be of any age (old or newly planted). Some examples of a Heritage Tree can be:

  • A prominent community landmark; a specimen associated with a historic person, place, event or period;
  • A representative of a farm or farmstead planted by ancestors within the community;
  • A tree associated with local folklore, myths, legends, or first nations traditions;
  • A tree that can be chosen to be planted in honour of a loved one that you will care for over the years;
  • Named in honour or tribute of a loved one

This year, we have been privileged to have some trees nominated for the Heritage Tree foundation. William King nominated these trees for their historic significance.  

In the early 1900, the Hall family; Peter and his wife Meta moved to Southern Alberta and settled on a land near Milk River at 2-10-W4, now owned by John Ross. While living there, they cut green cottonwood poles and drove them in the ground for corral posts. These green limbs took root into big trees and are still evident today over 100 years later. Peter and Meta spent their last years on the ranch in 1-8W4. Peter died in 1943 at the age of 83. Meta moved to Lethbridge where she died in 1950 at the age of 79. Most of the family was buried on a hillside along the Milk River.

The resiliency of these native cottonwood trees still standing over 100 years captures the pioneering rugged nature of many of the first members of the Milk River community. And demonstrates our ability to work with nature to improve our watershed.

MRWCC Heritage Trees will be acknowledged by:

  • Featured on the MRWCC web at www.milkriverwatershedcouncil.ca
  • Wildlife/livestock proof to protect them from damage
  • A recognition plaque
  • Plantings of new protected Legacy trees will also be encouraged under the Heritage Tree Program

We hope that identifying these trees enables the MRWCC and community-minded organizations to locate potential native seed/cuttings sources. Collecting these seeds will ensure the succession planting of legacy trees for future generations.

Let’s keep the Heritage Tree program going! Anyone is invited to nominate a tree for Heritage Tree recognition; Watch out for nomination ads in fall of each year.

Identifying Heritage Trees will help ensure the sustainability of our riparian forests for future generations to enjoy. Trees play pivotal roles in providing habitat for many wildlife species, and stabilize fragile prairie soils in erosion prone areas.

We are currently seeking nominations for the 2017 Heritage Trees!

The MRWCC is currently inviting nominations for the 2017 Heritage Tree Program.

More information on the 2017 nominations.

To nominate a tree or for more information please contact us at 403 647-3808 or email mary@mrwcc.ca