Projects

Message from the Chair

The Red Deer River Watershed Alliance has had another very productive year, and we look forward to continuing our work together with our members and stakeholders to promote the importance of watershed management.

I would like to thank the Executive Director, Beverly for her past year’s work and the projects that have come to fruition because of her dedication and knowledge. She has attended many events on behalf of the Alliance and has coordinated many of our committees and projects. We also welcome our new staff, Donna and Andrea and truly appreciate their work and commitment.

The RDRWA would like to thank those organizations for allowing their staff to participate on our Board of Directors. The RDRWA gratefully acknowledges the value of our Board members’ time. The success of our organization is directly related to the time these individuals commit to the RDRWA mission and the expertise and dedication they bring to the RDRWA. Even though they have other jobs, they volunteer their time to the Alliance, which is very much appreciated.

Thanks also goes to our supporters, the participating municipalities and the Government of Alberta for the funding that has generously been given. We look forward to their continued support and we are working towards having industry more involved in the Alliance and on the Board. Our key project for the upcoming year is completing our State of the Watershed Report. We encourage those in the watershed to actively participate.

Earl Graham
Chair
May 2008


Accomplishments for 2007/08

Enact and Empower

  1. The Alliance signed an operating/funding agreement with Alberta Environment for $255,000
  2. Obtained core funding of $103,239.50 through the generousity of 35 municipalities representing approximately 206,500 residents.
  3. Hired Manager on May 1, 2006.
Operate
  1. Hired a Program Coordinator on September 17, 2007.
  2. Hired an Administrative Assistant on October 15, 2007.
  3. Expanded the RDRWA contact database (members, like organizations, partners, resource people, agencies and schools) 
  4. Established a 2007/8 work plan and project priorities
  5. Established a 2007/8 events timetable
  6. Held regular meetings of the 4 working committees - Education/Communication, Finanace and Fundraising, Membership and Stewardship.
Engage and Communicate
  1. Expanded RDRWA membership by 40% through personal contacts at events, information fairs.
  2. Completed the RDRWA Communications Strategy and started implementation of the Strategy October 07 
  3. Responded to over 60 requests for speaking engagements/information fairs.
  4. Published 4 issues of RDRWA newseltter Reach Out; (June, September, December, March)
  5. Held Annual General Meeting in Red Deer, June 2007 
  6. Held two general meetings (Olds November 2007, interrelation of agriculture in the watershed, Trochu March 2008 Oil and Gas and Watershed Management
  7. Enhanced design and content of RDRWA website.
Sharing Knowledge
  1. Developed fact sheets on watershed management.
  2. Provided a coil-bound and electronic copy of the RDRWA atlas to every municipal library and middle and high schools in the Red Deer River Watershed.
  3. Commenced building an information and data base and made components available on the website.
Educate
  1. Designed and developed youth brochure featuring the new RDRWA mascot "Leo the Frog".
  2. Initiated work with a teacher's watershed kit targeted towards grade 7/8 which will feature a Red Deer River Watershed poster. 
Foster Stewardship Programs  
  1. Held our 2nd annual Watershed Planning & Advisory Council/Watershed Stewardship Group meeting on January 29, 2008 in Red Deer.
  2. Hired summer student from Olds College to work with 12 stewardship groups in the Red Deer River watershed, set direction and assist with implementation of projects.
  3. Distributed the RDRWA Stewardship Kit.

Watershed Planning

  1. Participated in the South Saskatchewan River Basin workshops.
  2. Participated in the provincial Watershed Planning & Advisory Council Summit October 2007.
  3. Provided advice on, and actively participated in, provincial initiatives: Alberta Water Council's Water for Life Renewal, Wetland Policy review, and Watershed Planning and Framework Governance, Cummulative Effects workshop, along with the Provincial Land Use Strategy and the Intra basin Water Coordination Committee.
  4. Initiated our State of the Watershed project.  Developed Terms of Reference for the SOW, Steering Committee and Technical Advisory Committee.  Developed an RFP and invited 6 companies to submit proposals.  Filled the position on the SC and TAC and hired Aquality Environmental Consulting Ltd.