In which the writer proposes:

Splitting conventional wisdoms and inspecting for rot.
Wrestling with the status quo.
Weighing environmental and economic absurdities.
Disentangling metaphors.
Showing posts with label Gilpin Grasslands Park. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gilpin Grasslands Park. Show all posts

Wednesday, 11 April 2018

E.COLI in RANGELAND STREAMS 2017: The problem continues.


Our new report:      for 2017 is the fourth in a series of reports documenting E.coli in range-land streams.       
see the full report:    here

The project began in 2007 and has shown that  E.coli counts are almost entirely related to range-cattle presence or absence and that E.coli counts that could be attributable to wildlife (in the absence of cattle) are negligible or frequently nil.

Monthly stream testing going back to 2007 firmly established the patterns of contamination to the point that further monthly testing at our own considerable expense is no longer necessary to prove the point. It is interesting however to periodically sample, based on cattle activity in riparian zones, and when observations suggest, that contamination is likely.

Our new report again focuses on Johnstone Creek, Ingram Creek, Gilpin Creek and the Gilpin.

Notably two of the areas of sampling are within Provincial Parks, Johnstone and Gilpin.

As in past years the stream contamination speaks to the inability or unwillingness of oversight agencies to prevent damage and contamination on public-lands.

For the full 2017 Report and links to the three preceding reports,       here



dugout in Gilpin Grasslands. See report for contamination results.
click to enlarge

Same oozing dugout as in above picture.
click to enlarge
 

 

 

Friday, 17 March 2017

GILPIN GRASSLANDS SAGA: 2016 Edition


The sorry history of “range management” in the Gilpin continued in 2016.

For the complete story see extended article at:     http://www.boundaryalliance.org/gilpin_saga2016.pdf

 The video below tells part of the tale, and if your devices and download speed allow, the video is viewable at up to 1920 x 1080 high definition.

Drone views provide a new perspective.

In 2016 we saw repeats of earlier issues plus some new ones.
  • Range cattle invading, damaging, and  contaminating parkland, and a protected area at Gilpin Creek.
  • New wildlife unfriendly fencing installed in the Gilpin.
  • Flooding of Lost Lake area by tenure holder or agents through failure to set up cattle waterer.
  • Will the tenure holder do the right thing in 2017 to prevent damage? Will Range Branch, MFLNRO, ensure it?
  • Cattle grazing on public land makes no economic or ecological sense
For previous articles on problems in the Gilpin and on range cattle issues see www.boundaryalliance.org