HomeDucks Unlimited Helps Calgary Plan Suburban Development
to Include Wetlands 
Strathmore AB, Feb. 1 – On the eve of World Wetlands Day, Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) today announced its partnership with the City of Calgary to hopefully reduce the future destruction of important wetlands as the result of the city's expansion.
The driving force behind new subdivisions is the demand for new low-density single family housing units, which accounts for most of the city's new housing activity. Chris Manderson, natural parkland management specialist with the city's Park Development and Operations department, asked DUC for advice in mapping and classifying existing wetlands and watersheds on the city's fringe.
"We don't have much in the way of tools to protect any sort of natural areas," Manderson said. "We're losing wetlands at a tremendous rate. Most are getting filled in without a thought."
Now that existing wetlands have been mapped, the data will be prepared for use in a Geographic Information System (GIS) that will assist city staff in trying to convince developers to incorporate key wetlands into the design of sub-divisions. Ducks Unlimited will use the information to coordinate its wetland conservation activities for waterfowl, other wildlife and people in the area surrounding Calgary.
"We're helping the city identify, prioritize and incorporate the value of wetlands to wildlife and people in the areas that will ultimately be a part of the city," said Jerry Brunen, a habitat specialist with Ducks Unlimited Canada. He said DUC's suggestions for storm water management in the city may also encourage the use of wetlands to help improve water quality.
The city requires developers to include storm water retention ponds in new developments to prevent urban wastewater from flowing directly downstream and ultimately to the Bow River. These retention ponds have typically been constructed, deep basins with steep sides. They provide very little benefit to wildlife and offer very little value in terms of filtering out impurities from water.
"Ducks Unlimited offered suggestions on how to naturalize retention ponds and make them function more like wetlands," Brunen said. "Sloped edges will support wetland plants and improve a wetland's ability to filter water before it travels downstream. Eventually, we'd love to see systems of existing wetlands retained in suburban developments. While providing residents with natural areas to explore and enjoy, the wetlands could serve a dual purpose by progressively filtering water."
Brunen identified Calgary's first wetland community, Bridlewood Creek, as an example of how easily wetlands can function in urban areas. He also said Calgary's citizens are keen to learn about the province's wetlands. Staff at the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary can't keep up with the demand for wetland education programs.
This year's World Wetlands Day, on February 2, is the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Convention on Wetlands in Ramsar, Iran. The convention provides a basis for international cooperation in the conservation and wise use of wetland ecosystems. More than 1,000 areas in 118 countries have been identified as Wetlands of International Importance. In Canada, 36 Ramsar wetlands have been designated, including three in Alberta: Beaverhill Lake, Hay-Zama Lakes and the Peace-Athabasca Delta. Visit www.ramsar.org/wwd2001_index.htm for more information on World Wetlands Day.
