Welcome to the Milk River Watershed Council Canada

The Milk River watershed is a unique watershed located in the most southern part of Alberta. It is unique, known not just for its dry climate, extraordinary landscapes and diverse plant and wildlife communities but also for the direction in which the Milk River flows. The Milk River is the only watershed in Alberta that drains south to the Gulf of Mexico. Alberta shares the Milk River watershed with the province of Saskatchewan and the State of Montana, U.S.A.

Water shortages are not uncommon in the Milk River watershed. As the problem of water scarcity continues to grow, proper water and watershed management is critical. The Milk River Watershed Council Canada is committed to working with government and non-government agencies, other non-profit organizations, industry and Milk River watershed residents to effectively manage watershed resources.

Anyone living and/or working in the Milk River watershed is invited to participate. Please browse through our website and see how you can get involved in the many exciting activities of the MRWCC!

MRWCC 7th Annual General Meeting

The MRWCC will be hosting the 7th Annual General Meeting on April 4, 2011 at the Milk River Civic Centre. We are pleased to have the Blackfoot Challenge group (a landowner based group in Montana that coordinates conservation and enhance the natural resources and rural way of life throughout the watershed) join us this year as our key note speaker. There will be a number of other key speakers on water and watershed management.

To register for the AGM please call 403 647-3808; email mary@milkriverwatershedcouncil.ca or download the registration form and mail to:

Milk River Watershed Council Canada, Box 313, Milk River, AB, T0K 1M0.

Hope to see you at the AGM!!

News

Meet the New MRWCC Executive Director!

Tim Romanow was the successful candidate for the position of Executive Director with the MRWCC. He joined the MRWCC from Cardston County where he had been employed for six years. Tim’s responsibilities revolved around the County’s Sustainable Agriculture Program with an emphasis on community initiatives involving grazing and riparian area management. Prior to this Tim worked for the Aquaculture Centre of Excellence at Lethbridge College, and ran the Invasive Weed Control Program with Parks Canada in Waterton Lakes National Park. Tim has a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Science, a Diploma in Renewable Resource Management, and a Certificate in Fish and Wildlife Technology. Tim joins the MRWCC with a wealth of experience having worked closely with the MRWCC in the past as a member of the Research and Monitoring Team, assisting with activities such as the annual water monitoring program, a very successful Stockman’s Range School, and the State of the Watershed Report to name a few. Tim is knowledgeable in working closely with multi-stakeholder groups formed to meet common goals of local and provincial watershed issues. He began his new role on October 2, 2011.

You can contact Tim at 403-647-4342 or email tim@milkriverwatershedcouncil.ca or simply visit him during working hours at the Milk River office Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

2 Erle Rivers' Students in Milk River are among the winners of the Agrium's Caring for our Watersheds contest

Students in Southern Alberta care about the health of our watersheds. Agrium’s Caring for Our Watersheds contest wrapped up on May 1, 2011 at the Calgary Zoo when top finalists competed in the

110 proposals were received from Grades 7-12 students who answered the question, “What can you do to improve your watershed?” Students researched their local watershed, identified an environmental concern and came up with a realistic solution. Community judges selected the top entries to compete at the finals.

Jessie Tollestrup and Jodi Doenz from Erle Rivers School in Milk River were among the 6 winners in both their categories. (Jessie - Grade 10 to 12) and Jodi - Grade 7 to 9).

Congratulations Jessie and Jodi!!

Cuppers Coffee Partnership

T0K 1M0 Joe is a blend of coffee created by Milk River residents, Andrew and Roxy Smith.

Cuppers Coffee of Lethbridge roasts only the finest of Arabica coffees. They will mix up this smooth blend upon request at their store at 1502 - 3rd Avenue S. It can also be ordered through the MRWCC office. For using a photo taken by Sandi Riemersma on the label of this coffee, a portion of all sales of T0K 1M0 Joe will go to the Council to further its goals of stewardship within the watershed. For ordering details, click here.