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Bradner Farms and Healthy Streams

7/29/2015

Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay - Pixabay License Free for commercial use No attribution required

By Heather Lemieux

Growing up in Bradner I spent a lot of time in Bradner's creeks and ravines with fellow farm kids. A favourite pastime on hot sunny days was to meander down to Beaver Creek (Nathan Creek) swimming hole, where 56th Ave. met Interprovincial Hwy. (58th Ave.) Recently at the Bradner Flower Show I was introduced to the Glen Valley Watershed Society (GVWS). I learned a lot about the importance of healthy streams working better with healthy farming practices.

Environmental problems from an unhealthy stream can affect land and livestock. The following are some sensitivities I found listed in a Fisheries and Oceans Canada brochure.

Lack of streamed vegetation leads to increased bank erosion and stream sedimentation. Native plants, Salmonberry, Willow, Red-osier dogwood and Hardhack have deep roots that help stabilize the stream banks, protecting your valuable land from erosion
Runoff from uncovered manure piles can contaminate water, increasing the transmission of diseases. Covered piles reduce contaminated runoff, improving water quality and reducing the spread of diseases
Uncontrolled livestock access to the stream can result in bank erosion, trampling of vegetation and fouling water quality. Controlling animal access with fences and livestock watering stations protect stream-side vegetation, bank stability and water quality
Improperly stored fuel, pesticides and fertilizers can leach into groundwater, contaminating wells and surface water
Excess nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) from manure can result in algae blooms, reducing water quality
Straightening and dredging streams can lead to increased bank erosion and chronic sediment and drainage problems. Allowing the natural stream side channels to meander increases the amount of water that it can hold during periods of high-water and flooding
Undersized culverts impede drainage, increasing upstream flooding
Lack of over hanging vegetation and shade increases growth of inserted grasses, trapping sediments and reducing drainage. Overhanging vegetation helps filter surface runoff and improves water quality
Rain runoff from bark mulch and wood waste placed near the stream can contaminate surface water. Stream-side vegetation helps filter surface runoff improving water quality
Spraying pesticides near the stream, especially during windy or wet conditions, may result in contaminated surface water. Flood plains increase the capacity of the stream to hold water during high flows, reducing flooding

Healthy streams have clean cool water, beds of clean gravel and cobbles and are rich in oxygen. Riparian vegetation provides food, nutrients, shade and plant roots stabilize the stream banks, minimizing soil erosion. Streamed vegetation also acts as a buffer from farm activities, reducing the amount of sediment and excess nutrients transported by runoff, improving water quality. Pools, riffles and large woody debris provide homes for fish and insects. Having good water quality supports healthy crops and sustainable agriculture and improved drainage increases the productivity of farm land. This allows crops to be planted earlier in the spring and healthy stream is good for agriculture and the environment.

So, through education and by keeping our streams healthy we can all experience the benefits for our farms, fish and wildlife. Keeping water ecosystems healthy is an important part of our special community here in Bradner and beyond.

Links
Glen Valley Watersheds Society
Fisheries and Oceans Canada

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Dinner Event at Williams Park

7/22/2015

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Photo Source - Langley Explorer

There is no place like Williams Park to beat the heat during the summer!

On August 18th, 2015 from 5:00 - 8:00 pm the Glen Valley Watershed Society will be partnering with the Lower Fraser Aboriginal Society to offer dinner in the park, a chance to come together with our community, stewardship groups, members of LEPS and families to celebrate the beauty of the Salmon River Watershed.

Members of our restoration teams will be on hand to discuss three of our major restoration projects - The North Langley Fingered Wetland Project and the Salmon River and West Creek Enhancement and Restoration Projects.

Family activities include the life cycle salmon board game, salmon hats and a nature scavenger hunt!

Some food will be provided but we welcome you to bring along a picnic of your choice or participate in a pot luck.

Registration required for planning purposes, please contact Sarah at [email protected]

Williams Park, 68th Ave. & 238th St., Langley BC

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Lost & Found Dog

7/9/2015

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UPDATE - THIS IS MADDIE AND SHE IS REUNITED THANKS TO THE FINDER AND POST!! JULY 16th, 2015 - SMALL FRIENDLY FEMALE DOG FOUND IN BRADNER ON JULY 10th, 2015 - We found this sweet pup in our neighborhood, the Bradner Community. She’s lovely calm. Doesn’t bark much and has peach on her back. Weird underbite a bit to one side. Maybe 2-3 years old, probably a Momma dog at some point too. She gets along with kids and dogs without barking. Very friendly. No tags on her collar. Any leads would be appreciated. Townshipline and Ross Road was where she was picked up, in Abbotsford farmlands (aka Bradner).

Photo Source - Petsearchers Canada

UPDATE - Note from McMath Family - We reunited this cutie her owners. It seems they contacted animal control, who I think saw this ad and pointed them our way.

One little 6 year old girl was over joyed, but another little 8 year old girl devastated to lose her new best friend. Btw, puppy’s name is Madison, (Maddy). Owners saw her run into the bushes with her two other dogs and not return with her buddies later on and started to assume coyotes got her. Owners from Chilliwack were working on a house in Abbotsford and are not really Facebook savvy. Happy endings for a lucky pup. Thank you Missing Pets IN BC!

Image - Submitted

Bradner, BC - A very friendly small dog was found this morning running down the middle of Townshipline Road. Please contact Matthew McMath at 778-552-5088 to identify collar.

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