Carrot Creek Riparian Health Assessment Report 2001
Author(s)
James Milner
Summary
A problem faced by conservaton organizations wishing to conduct conservation, enhancement and protection programs in a geographical area is to determine the current state of habitat in the study area. The development of a riparian protection and enhancement program in the Alberta Conservation Association's Northern East Slopes (NES) region has resulted in the need to conduct assessments on priority streams. Carrot Creek is one stream in the NES that was identified as a high priority for the Alberta Conservation Association to focus its efforts on. Results from a field assessment in the summer of 2001 will help prioritize habitat that needs to be protected, and habitat where enhancement techniques could be used.
Carrot Creek is a stream that is currently being affected by agricultural land use practices throughout most of the drainage, with the majority of human-induced bank instability caused by livestock impacts. Agricultural land use will likely continue to be a major factor for years to come along Carrot Creek due to the areas capability to support such practices.
Overall the banks were in good condition in the areas assessed along Carrot Creek, however, the riparian area was cleared of mature vegetation in many places and there was little recruitment of new trees to stabilize the banks as older trees die or are harvested. The areas of bank instability located along Carrot Creek are largely associated with intensive livestock operations. It was determined that areas being impacted by horse grazing were not as severe as similar activity by cattle on Carrot Creek, however, there is still a lack of recruitment of rooted vegetation such as grasses and shrubs, which are primary successors. Improvement in grazing management practices and a reduction of other land-use activities along the creek should result in greater biodiversity in affected areas and a healthier riparian area.
Results from the riparian health assessment identified some relatively intact habitat that should be protected, and also degraded habitat that could be enhanced. The first step that needs to occur in order to improve health of the riparian area along Carrot Creek are information and education initiatives aimed at promoting good stewardship practices and natural stream processes and function.