#RM Corman park

[delicatelysublimeforester]

Did you know that the “linear urban park” has its history with Frederick Law Olmstead’s vision for a “shaded pleasure drive” for visitors travelling into an urban setting as they approached on foot or by horse drawn carriage.

The linear greenway gave way to auto parkways envisioned by Robert Moses.

November 20 book launch of Man of the Trees Man of the Trees: Richard St. Barbe Baker, the First Global Conservationist, written by Paul Hanley with a foreword by HRH Prince Charles and introduction by Jane Goodall hosted by William Thomas Molloy OC SOM QC LL.D LL.B, at the Top of the Inn Ballroom, Sheraton Cavalier Hotel

White-tailed Deer Fawn. Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area. Saskatoon, SK, CA

Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, Saskatoon, SK, CA Spring time

Then greenbelts were the brainchild of Ebenezer Howard, Rexford Tugwell and Benton McKaye.  These greenbelts were pioneered to control urban growth. Saskatoon had its own green belt envisioned by  Bert Wellman, Saskatoon Planning Department, who literally got out of his office, and walked around Saskatoon’s perimeter in 1960 choosing high spots of land for scenic beauty. Together with City Planner Bill Graham Wellman worked on parkways and planted trees for the 1960 Circle Drive Parkway at these sites. The afforestation areas, golf courses, and Diefenbaker park as well as several green spaces are a part of this concept, and have been incorporated into the Circle Drive plan as is evident around Gordie Howe Bridge completing the southern portion of Circle Drive in Saskatoon.

The current approach by long range planners is typified by the ecological vision, creating greenways and green networks utilising naturally occurring features such as  river, swale and creek systems.

The city of Saskatoon long range planners design within city limits (the narrow black line bordering the afforestation areas is a portion of the city limits boundary shown on the map).  The afforestation areas are within city limits and are part of the Blairmore Sector Plan Report; planning for areas around the afforestation area and West Swale inside of Saskatoon city limits.

Surrounding the city, in the rural areas, the  P4G Saskatoon North Partnership for Growth The P4G consists of the Cities of Saskatoon, Warman, and Martensville, the Town of Osler and the Rural Municipality of Corman Park; plans for areas around the afforestation area and West Swale outside of Saskatoon city limits

Bibliography:

Marcus, Clare Cooper and Carolyn Francis.  People Places Second Edition. Design Guidelines for Urban Open Space.  ISBN 0-471-28833-0.  John Wiley and Sons, Inc.New York.  1998 page 132

For more information:

Blairmore Sector Plan Report; planning for areas around the afforestation area and West Swale inside of Saskatoon city limits

P4G Saskatoon North Partnership for Growth The P4G consists of the Cities of Saskatoon, Warman, and Martensville, the Town of Osler and the Rural Municipality of Corman Park; planning for areas around the afforestation area and West Swale outside of Saskatoon city limits

Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area is located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada north of Cedar Villa Road, within city limits, in the furthest south west area of the city. 52° 06′ 106° 45′ Addresses: Part SE 23-36-6 – Afforestation Area – 241 Township Road 362-A Part SE 23-36-6 – SW Off-Leash Recreation Area (Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area ) – 355 Township Road 362-A S ½ 22-36-6 Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area (West of SW OLRA) – 467 Township Road 362-A NE 21-36-6 “George Genereux” Afforestation Area – 133 Range Road 3063 Wikimapia Map: type in Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area Google Maps South West Off Leash area location pin at parking lot Web page: https://stbarbebaker.wordpress.com Where is the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area? with map Where is the George Genereux Urban Regional Park (Afforestation Area)? with map

Pinterest richardstbarbeb

Facebook Group Page: Users of the George Genereux Urban Regional Park

Facebook: StBarbeBaker

Facebook group page : Users of the St Barbe Baker Afforestation Area

Facebook: South West OLRA

Contact the Meewasin Valley Authority at 402 Third Avenue South Saskatoon, SK S7K 3G5 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. The MVA has begun a Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area trust fund. If you wish to support the afforestation area with your donation, write a cheque to the “Meewasin Valley Authority Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area trust fund (MVA RSBBAA trust fund)”. Please and thank you! Twitter: StBarbeBaker Please contemplate joining the SOS Elms coalition or make a donation to SOS Elms ~ leave a message to support the afforestation area 😉

1./ Learn.

2./ Experience

3./ Do Something: ***

“I believed that God has lent us the Earth. It belongs as much to those who come after us as to us, and it ill behooves us by anything we do or neglect, to deprive them of benefits which are in our power to bequeath.” Richard St. Barbe Baker

Green Spaces Did you know that the "linear urban park" has its history with Frederick Law Olmstead's vision for a "shaded pleasure drive" for visitors travelling into an urban setting as they approached on foot or by horse drawn carriage.

[ultra-greenmojo-me]

Saskatchewan man dies following grain mixer entrapment

A Saskatchewan man has died following a late night work incident. Warman RCMP responded to a report of a 41-year-old man trapped inside a grain mixer in the RM of Corman Park, Sask. The incident took place around 11:40pm, and both Medavie ambulance and the Osler fire department responded to the scene. STARS air ambulance... Read More source https://www.realagriculture.com/2019/12/saskatchewan-man-dies-following-grain-mixer-entrapment/

[falconridgegrp-blog]

Developer behind $1B solar community in Saskatoon aims to start in three years

The developer behind a proposed $1-billion community powered entirely by rooftop solar panels thinks Saskatoon city hall should make the neighbourhood a priority.

Jeff Drexel, president of Vancouver-based Arbutus Properties, appeared before a city council committee on Tuesday to explain how the merits of the Solair project align with city hall priorities.

The community is being planned for privately owned farmland on the southeast edge of Saskatoon, east of the city's Rosewood neighbourhood, most of which is located in the Rural Municipality of Corman Park.

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Drexel, who revealed he hopes to start construction in the next three years, said the 2,200-home community represents the largest scale for a sustainable neighbourhood in Canada.

“There's nothing that's even close,” he told the planning, development and community services committee. “We're hoping for support (from city hall), but ultimately we have confidence in our plan.”

One of the sticking points for the proposed neighbourhood could be its location. Although the land is located inside an area slated for expansion by the city, the process of annexing land from Corman Park could be long, the committee heard.

Drexel said he has already had discussions with the RM. The committee endorsed exploring how the community could be incorporated into existing plans to develop the area that lies east of Saskatoon.

Arbutus plans to return in January with a more formal presentation for city hall.

“I like the name,” Coun. Troy Davies said. “It sounds like a movie.”

The $1 billion in investment is already in place, Drexel told reporters. The starting cost for a single-family home in the neighbourhood is $349,000, he added.

The target population for Solair - 7,000 people - is smaller than most new Saskatoon neighbourhoods. Brighton, which is being developed north of the land proposed for Solair, is expected to one day house 15,000 people. https://constructionlinks.ca/news/developer-behind-1b-solar-community-saskatoon-aims-start-three-years/ Established in 2003, Construction Links Network is a peer-to-peer network sharing platform for the construction, building and design community. This one-of-a-kind platform provides the tools necessary to source and distribute the latest news, videos, events and innovative products / services the industry has to offer which helps our members plan, design and build great projects around the world. #construction #building #architecture #engineer #safety

[cleancutpage]

Fair is fair in the cannabis lotto

This post originally appeared on Saskedge Blog and is republished with permission. Find out how to syndicate your content with theBrokerList.

It seems like unlikely odds, Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority announced that all businesses awarded a cannabis retail permit were selected at random.

A University of Regina statistics professor told the Leader-Post that he’s calculated the odds of one company winning permits in four locations is a one in 1,319,760 chance.

May the odds be in your favour

Prairie Sky Cannabis, a Regina-based company, won licenses in Battleford, Estevan, Martensville and Moosimin.

It may seem highly unlikely that they’d be drawn four times, but they did submit for 28 jurisdictions in sweetening that chance.

The lottery was legitimized as SLGA involved KPMG to help draw candidates.

Qualified applicants were assigned specific numbers and pulled in individual draws by community at random, according to SLGA.

Tweed Grasslands out of Yorkton was the biggest winner with five licences each in Fort Qu’Appelle, Humboldt, Meadow Lake, Melville and the RM of Corman Park.

In their case, they had applied to all of the 32 communities eligible for permits.

There were only a few other companies awarded multiple permits.

One step closer

Though there is no legalization date targeted yet, the businesses that did submit applications are confident things are on track.

I’ve speculated on the commercial real estate implications of this previously.

With the federal bill allowing the retail sale of marijuana, there will still be provincial and municipal regulations to adhere to as well.

Many communities, like Saskatoon, have already began to solidify their rules including a $20,000 licensing fee.

The City of Saskatoon is defending that value by estimating the cost of implementing and overseeing the new licensing.

The general consensus is that the legislation should pass federally this summer allowing businesses to be open by late summer or early fall.

Half of the provinces are licensing private retailers, which is the case for Saskatchewan; the other half will be government run.

Next steps

Regulators speculate that once Bill C45 is has passed, the legalized retail sale of marijuana could happen within eight weeks.

Posted by Kelly Macsymic

The post Fair is fair in the cannabis lotto appeared first on The Saskatchewan Edge.

RSS Feed provided by theBrokerList Blog - Are you on theBrokerList for commercial real estate (cre)? and Fair is fair in the cannabis lotto was written by Saskedge.

Fair is fair in the cannabis lotto published first on https://greatlivinghomespage.tumblr.com/

[delicatelysublimeforester]

Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area in the fog

Over the past year and a half, Jeff Hehn, the ambassador of the Fatbike Fatlanders Brigade, has been meeting with the various people and departments of the City of Saskatoon engaged in the WinterCity YXE strategy.

Currently the plans for growing the WinterCity campaign machine-groomed trails to include non-motorized recreational activities such as possibly fat bicycling, cross-country skiing, skijourning, snow shoeing, horse back riding, winter hiking, and sliding snowshoeing. Along with the trails, signage, waymarking sites, or kiosks may display maps, trail names, interpretative signage, trail etiquette, event and seasonal information.  “The trails in the forest are quite flat which makes for good winter riding and they seem to get the right number of riders to prevent significant ice.*”

“Management of human use of trails in wild areas must be based on information relating trail quality to use. ~Weaver” To protect the vegetation, and environment trails are designed in the winter amidst the Caragana, creating safer trails, and also encouraging users to remain on the groomed trails, mitigating environmental damage. Education posted on social media, or upon waymarking signs during spring thaws will help to prevent damage to the trails and to the forest, ensuring trail maintenance.

“We want to create a more resilient economy outside of the summer and Christmas seasons,” said director of environmental and corporate initiatives Brenda Wallace.CBC

Eco-tourism is certainly growing, as is the City of Saskatoon. More and more folks are recognizing the health benefits of outdoor physical activity. The WinterCity YXE trails can be seen as a fantastic way to improve the quality of life for residents of Saskatoon and the Rural Municipality of Corman Park 344. Additionally, those visiting the City of Saskatoon, during the winter months would certainly be enchanted by the magnificent hoar frost and woodland scenes in this mixed woodland forest.

At this time, the main weakness of the Winter City YXE trail network in the afforestation areas is the fact that motorized vehicles still have access to a portion of the afforestation areas. Motorized vehicles are devastating to trails, and the hard work, time and effort put into grooming trails disappears in one instant if a motorized vehicle decides to go out “mudding”, pop 360s or dump trash in the forest. At this time this is the main conflict facing the success of the WinterCity YXE trail strategy at the afforestation area.  It is hoped that a solution to this dilemna may soon be found.

There is no doubt that good trails, offer to the public recreational enthusiast, skiier, bicyclist, snowshoer, or hiker features such as great views, diverse landscapes, and excellent proximity to both the urban neighbourhoods of Saskatoon, and the rural areas of the RM of Corman Park 344.

All, in all, trails increase both physical and mental health benefits, and the overall fitness of the user population. Families, and organizations have an opportunity to enjoy nature outdoors. Located in the city, trails afford an excellent means to educate visitors about the natural environment and surrounds. Very importantly, trails create both healthy and safe environments for the afforestation area, which, in turn creates peaceful, and enjoyable community awareness. Trails also afford a tourism opportunity, and indeed, does make Saskatoon a better place to live.

At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us. – Albert Schweitzer

A humble and grateful thank you is extended to Jeff Hehn, and the Fatbike Fatlanders Brigade Fat Fun For Fine Folks (Fat Tire Club) , for their work to create a Man of Trees trail network, and to enhance tourism within the afforestation areas. It surely may be that all fat bicycling, cross-country skiing, skijourning, snow shoeing, horse back riding, winter hiking, and sliding snowshoeing enthusiasts will surely be able to appreciate and savour the heightened expression of the forest with a well-groomed and maintained trail system.

“If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.” ~Anne Bradstreet

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Charlton, Johathan. City Hall wants to know: How can Saskatoon be more fun in the winter?” Saskatoon Star Phoenix. January 25, 2017.

Cranbrook Community forest Trail Plan Cranbrook Community Forest Society. Draft Version 10. 1/16/2016

City of Saskatoon Council Policy C09-011 Trees on City Property.

Doyle, Sabrina. Best Canadian Cities to visit in winter. These urban centres really know how to heat up the chilly months. November 10, 2016.

Environmental Leadership | Saskatoon.ca City Hall > Our Performance > Performance Dashboard > Environmental Leadership.

Feeling dreary about winter? City of Saskatoon trying to change that. New strategy designed to improve winter life, economy, accessibility, culture. CBC News. January 24, 2017

** For the Love of Winter. WinterCity Strategy Implementation Plan. The LoveofWinter-ImplementationPlan.pdf City of Edmonton. September 10, 2013.

*** For the Love of Winter Strategy for Transforming Edmonton into a World-Leading Winter City. (pdf)

Lun Liu, Hui Wang Hui Wang Hui Wang, Chunyang WuChunyang Wu. A machine learning method for the large-scale evaluation of urban visual environment. a Department of Land Economy, University Cambridge Department of Land Economy, University Cambridge School of Architecture, Tsinghua University of Architecture, Tsinghua UniversityMachine Intelligence Laboratory, Department of Engineering, University Cambridge

* Ministry of Tourism, Sport and the Arts. Ministry of Environment. Recreation Trails Strategy for British Columbia. Phase 1: Background Report Appendix 2 Survey Results. May 2007. Province of British Columbia Published by: British Ecological Society. DOI: 10.2307/2402226. Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2402226. Page Count: 6

PotashCorp WinterShines 2017: Saskatchewan’s Premiere Winter Festival. January 28 – February 5, 2017 Saskatoon Winter City Strategy Update – City of Saskatoon

Weaver, D. Dale and T. Trampling Effects on Vegetation of the Trail Corridors of North Rocky Mountain Forests Journal of Applied Ecology. Vol. 11, No. 2 (Aug., 1974), pp. 767-772

WinterCityYXE: Saskatoon’s Winter City Strategy | Saskatoon.ca

WinterCityYXE: Saskatoon’s Winter City Strategy

WinterCityYXE Guide

WinterCityYXE interactive map

Winter Cities Shake-Up Presentation – Alternative Approaches to Fostering a Winter City in Smaller Communities January 3, 2017. Community Planning Conference Presentations. YXE Winter City | Optimist Hill Campaign

“Your greatest gift to others is to be happy and to radiate your happiness to the entire world.” – Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Afforestation WinterCity YXE Over the past year and a half, Jeff Hehn, the ambassador of the Fatbike Fatlanders Brigade, has been meeting with the various people and departments of the City of Saskatoon engaged in the WinterCity YXE strategy.

[delicatelysublimeforester]

Wild rose

Baby Deer ~ Fawn

Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) photo credit William Warby

Pelican Preenning

An heartfelt thank you goes out to the Rural Municipality of Corman Park 344 for such careful attention protecting and securing the south entrance to the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area! So all that remains there is now just one laneway left to go! The Stewards, stakeholders, and residents of Cedar Villa Estates wish to send thanks your way for taking time to help secure the Afforestation Area, which will, indeed help to preserve the area in perpetuity.

We sincerely appreciate your efforts, it has made a world of difference for the residents bordering on the afforestation area.

Thank you again for everything you’ve done. We look forward to working with you again in the future, indeed.

Silent gratitude isn’t much use to anyone. -G.B. Stern

For more information:

Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area is located in Saskatoon, SK, CA north of Cedar Villa Road, within city limits, in the furthest south west area of the city. Wikimapia Map: type in Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area Google Maps South West Off Leash area location pin at parking lot Web page: https://stbarbebaker.wordpress.com Where is the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area? with map Facebook: StBarbeBaker Facebook group page : Users of the St Barbe Baker Afforestation Area Facebook: South West OLRA If you wish to support the afforestation area with your donation, write a cheque please to the “Meewasin Valley Authority Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area trust fund” (MVA RSBBAA trust fund) and mail it to Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area c/o Meewasin Valley Authority, 402 Third Ave S, Saskatoon SK S7K 3G5. Thank you kindly! Twitter: St Barbe Baker Pinterest richardstbarbeb

The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention. -Oscar Wilde

Oxygen, is the first call on the forests. Because we can live less than five minutes without air. The second call on the forests is water. We can live less than five days without water. And the third call on the forests is food. We can live less than five weeks without food. And so these I regard as the first three of the forests.

The next thing of importance is the preservation of accelerated erosion. If you remove tree cover you have accelerated erosion. I say “accelerated” erosion because erosion is going on all the time to some extent. Now what would come next?

The balance of nature is very fragile, a forest is fragile. What is a forest! Would you like my definition of forest? A forest is a society of living things, the greatest of which is the Tree. Would you accept that? ~Richard St. Barbe Baker

RM of Corman Park Appreciation An heartfelt thank you goes out to the Rural Municipality of Corman Park 344 for such careful attention protecting and securing the south entrance to the Richard St.

[delicatelysublimeforester]

Saskatoon and Area for CNC YXE DNU

Saskatoon and Area for CNC YXE DNU

Besides the City of Saskatoon the map shows that the surrounding area includes Asquith Bergheim Blucher Blumenheim Borden Bradwell Clavet Dalmeny Delisle Eagle Ridge Furdale Gledhow Grandora Langham Martensville Neuhorst Pike Lake Shields St. Denis Swanson the RM of Aberdeen 373 the RM of Colonsay 342 the RM of Corman Park 344 the RM of Dundurn 314 the RM of Grant 372 the RM of Great Bend 405 the…

[delicatelysublimeforester]

World Wetlands Day! February 2

Wetlands for Disaster Risk Reduction

World Wetlands Day Logo Wetlands For Disaster Risk Reduction

February 2 heralds both the groundhog day and World Wetlands Day! World Wetlands Day was declared as February 2 by RAMSAR. “Canada is the only country in the world that has selected a wetland engineer as its national animal. We need to ensure that wetlands are better represented in the places we protect in the future. Wetlands are places of immense biological importance that also support our economy and well-being. “Kraus

American_Beaver Castor canadensis Adapted from image courtesy Steve CCxSA2-0

Pelican Preenning

Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and West Swale Wetlands in the fog

The West Swale Wetlands in the City of Saskatoon are of extreme importance in mitigating drought in flood in the Municipal City of Saskatoon, neighbourhood of Montgomery Place, hamlet of Cedar Villa Estates and the Rural Municipality of Corman Park 344. “Wetlands act as a natural sponge, absorbing and storing excess rainfall and reducing flooding. During the dry season, they release the water stored, delaying the onset of droughts and reducing water shortages.” Muskoka Watershed Council

The West Swale Wetlands are vitally important, as they are a main lowlands channel between the North Saskatchewan River through Rice Lake, the Afforestation Area formely known as George Genereux Park , the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, Chappell Marsh Conservation Area having the confluence in the South Saskatchewan River at Maple Grove.

“Water is essential to life and socio-economic development.” Page v What is needed is an reliable water source with suitable water quality. “Riparian forest buffer systems (RFBS) are streamside ecosystems managed for the enhancement of water quality through control of nonpoint source pollution (NPS) and protection of the stream environment. The use of riparian management zones is relatively well established as a best management practice (BMP) for water quality improvement in forestry practices…Riparian ecosystems are connected to aquatic ecosystems through the hyporheic zone. (age 687 Lowrance

The Prairie Eco-zone locates bedrock aquifers laying beneath the basal aquitard of the Precambrian and Paleozoic rocks. “Aquifers (waterbearing zones) are defined as saturated geological units which have sufficient permeability to yield economic quantities of water to a water supply well. Aquitards are units which, though saturated, do not yield sufficient water to a water supply well.” Maathius Page 127. The aquifers are contained within Cretaceous shale. The Tyner Valley aquifer along with other buried valleys reside on top of the bedrock and are invaluable for groundwater supply.

The Judith River Formation formed in the Late Cretaceous is also called the Belly River formation. This formation has fine to medium grained sands, silts and clays deposited in a deltaic environment. The water supply of the Judith River is invaluable to agricultural, municipal and industrial users. “Potable water is only found in and above the Judith River formation since water in the older formations is too salty for human or animal consumption.” (Maathius page 127.) Surface precipitation flows from the surface of the land into the Judith River Formation, and from this aquifer the waters flow into the Tyner Valley aquifer. The Tyner Valley aquifer has its confluence with the Battleford Valley aquifer, which thence flows into the North Saskatchewan River. The Tyner Valley aquifer is a major pre-glacial chert and quarzite gravel aquifer overlain with sands from the Empress group. The Tyner Valley Aquifer is a major aquifer system. These bedrock aquifers are capable of producing more than 200 gallons per minute gpm) from an individual well.

In Saskatchewan years of drought and high water tables are cyclical. During years of drought, groundwater is looked upon to help sustain the water supply. “Movement within and recharge of the Judith River Aquifer is limited by the highly impermeable shale that lies above this aquifer. “~Prairie Provinces Water Board. Attention to the recharge of the aquifers enhances the best management policies. “The low hydraulic conductivity of thick till and bedrock aquitards limits the rechard to deeper aquifers.” Maathuis page v. Deep aquifers show increasing rechard through the months of October and March. A shallow or surficial aquifer will show an increase in water coinciding with spring meltwaters and summer rains.

“In Saskatchewan approximately 45% of the population relies on groundwater as a source of drinking water .” (page v) Additionally groundwater is also useful for agricultural irrigation, and industrial purposes.

The Meewasin Valley Authority explains that in regards to low lying areas such as a swale, they offer “high quality biodiversity, proximity to urban areas, economic benefits for recreation and education and a natural filter for our air and water. The swale contains wetlands that provide a means of flood control for the surrounding community.”

“Evidence shows that wetlands mitigate some natural disasters and lower the risks for people: first, by reducing the immediate physical impacts and second, by helping people survive and recover in the aftermath. “The Conversation The Meewasin Valley Authority manages the wetlands and afforested areas east of the wetlands located in the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, along with the owners of the land, the City of Saskatoon. They have worked together in partnership honouring the 1972 city council acclamation to “preserve in perpetuity” the 660 acres of afforestation areas.

Alongside the dedication of the afforestation areas as parks in 1979, the City of Saskatoon implemented a Growth Management Strategy with objectives, goals and priorities …resulting in specific community plans, programs, policies and actions which will control and channel all development to satisfy special local community requirements. The absence of such plans …is usually followed by uncontrolled, unplanned, meaningless urban sprawl, unsightliness, rapid rises in real estate values, rampant speculation, and all the associated socio-economic ills which cause social unrest and dissatisfaction, physical decay and detioration of the urban fabric.File No. C. 17-10-1 This program has moved forward as Shaping Saskatoon and Saskatoon Speaks.

World Wetlands Day serves to raise public awareness and impress upon everyone the need and imperative for a healthy wetlands. “most of us are largely unaware of how wetlands safeguard us. In fact, we often see wetlands as wasteland; something to be filled in or converted to other uses. Scientists estimate that at least 64 per cent of the world’s wetlands have disappeared since 1900.”Muskoka Watershed Council Things you can do for your wetlands!.

Following in the footsteps of the 2015 community clean up, three times in 2016 community volunteers rallied together to clean the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, situated in the low lying area of the West Swale. Not only did the riparian forests and ecosystem benefit from the clean up efforts, but so did the wetlands of the West Swale. “With 71 per cent of our planet covered in water, it makes sense to focus on the health of our waterways” on World Wetlands Day.Fong

Karla Guyn, CEO for Ducks Unlimited Canada, “Canada is home to 25 per cent of the world’s wetlands. This is both a privilege and responsibility. World Wetlands Day reminds all Canadians of the critical role they play in our lives and the need to conserve them.” Water Canada

What can you do personally?

Visit a wetlands

Find out more about our wetlands in Saskatoon – the West Swale Wetlands, the Northeast Swale, Richardson Ravine, Beaver Creek

Enter the photo competition

Take a walk with the birds in the West Swale Wetlands with a guide book in hand.

Initiate a volunteer clean up of the Afforestation Area formerly known as the George Genereux Park (in the west swale wetlands)

Contact your city or RM councillor, the RM of Corman Park 344, an environmental or green group, the city of Saskatoon and the MVA about the importance of wetlands.

“When the trees go, the rain goes, the climate deteriorates, the water table sinks, the land erodes and desert conditions soon appear.” ~Richard St. Barbe Baker. 1954

Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area Clean ups

Cleanup – spring of 2015

July 2016 Trash clean-up Summary

A Tree-mendous Result October clean up 2016

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Akatay, Jane. World Wetlands Day: a fragile habitat for Fethiye’s feathered friends. Fethitye times. February 2, 2017

Celebrating World Wetlands Day in Canada Water Canada.

Christiansen, E.A., W.A. Menseley and S.H. Whitaker. Groundwater in Southern Saskatchewan. Atlas of Saskatchewan. Editor K.I. Fung. Page 68. Modern Press. 1969.

Christiansen, E.A. and B.J. Schmid. Galcial geology of Southern Saskatchewan – University of Saskatchewan.

City of Saskatoon. Section C General Administration and Finance. Growth Management Strategy. File No. C. 17-10-1. January 2, 1979.

Dunn, Christian. World Wetlands Day Highlights Importance of Vital Habitats. February 2, 2017.

Exaggerating the value of wetlands for natural diasaster mitigation is a risky business. The Conversation.

Goal 2: Protect Interprovincial Groundwater Aquifers Prairie Provinces Water Board (PPWB) Current Knowledge Saskatchewan Research Council. SRC Publication No. 11304-2E00. April 2000.

Fong, Jean. Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup Asks Canadians to Do Their Part on Earth Day and Beyond Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup April 22/2015 Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup

Guide for World Wetlands Day 2 February. Wetlands for Disaster Risk Prevention. From 2 February 2017 to 2 March 2017. young people between the ages of 18 – 25 years are invited to participate in a photo contest for a chance to win a free flight to visit a Wetland of International Importance!

It’s World Wetlands Day: Muskoka Watershed Council on the importance of wetlands for disaster risk reduction Muskoka Watershed Council. Doppler online.

  Kraus, Dan. Opinion: Why Canada matters on World Wetlands Day. February 2, 2017

Kraus, Dan. Why Canada Matters on World Wetlands Day. Huffington Post. February 1, 2017

Layout 1 Meewasin Northeast Swale Brochure for Web. Meewasin Valley Authority.

The Northeast Swale Saskatoon’s Ancient River Channel

Lowrance, Richard et al. Water quality functions of Riparian Forest Buffers in Chesapeake Bay Watersheds. Springer-Verlag New York Inc. Environmental Management Vol 21. No. 5 pp 687-712.

Maathuis, Harm. Groundwater in Southern Saskatchewan. Atlas of Saskatchewan. Celebrating the Millennium Edition. Page 127-128. Editor Ka-iu Fung. 1999. University of Saskatchewan. ISBN 0-88880-387-7.

Maathuls, H. The quality of Natural Groundwaters in Saskatchewan. Prepared for Saskatchewan Watershed Authority.

Meewasin Northeast Swale Meewasin Valley Authority

Padbury, G.A., Donald F. Acton, Colette T. Stushnoff. Ecoregions of Saskatchewan Canadian Plains Research Centre. Compiled by Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management University of Regina Press, 1998 ISBN 0889770972, 9780889770973

People see wetlands as wasteland (February 2 is World Wetlands Day.) CanIndia News.

Photo Contest – World Wetlands Day – Wetlands help us cope with extreme weather events.

Violata, Annalyn. Wetlands helping reduce the risk of disasters. SBS Your Language.

Wetlands: Why we need to take care of them, what can we do? Zee Media Bureau. February 2, 2017

World Wetlands Day. TimeandDate.com

World Wetlands Day. – official site

World Wetlands Day on Facebook

World Wetlands Day on twitter

World Wetlands Day on Instagram:

World Wetlands Day RAMSAR

World Wetlands Day IWMI. International Water Management Institute.

World Wetlands Day. Wildlife Preservation Canada.

World Wetlands Day 2017: Wetlands for Disaster Risk Reduction. Around the World.

World Wetlands Day. Nature Conservancy Canada

World Wetlands Day. Wetlands for Disaster Risk Reduction UNESCO.

World Wetlands Day Wikipedia.

World Wetlands Day. Republic of South Africa. Department of Environmental Affairs 2017 . Wetlands: Why we need to take care of them, what can we do? Zee Media Bureau. February 3, 2017

For more information:

Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area is located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada north of Cedar Villa Road, within city limits, in the furthest south west area of the city. Wikimapia Map: type in Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area Google Maps South West Off Leash area location pin at parking lot Web page: https://stbarbebaker.wordpress.com Where is the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area? with map Facebook: StBarbeBaker Facebook group page : Users of the St Barbe Baker Afforestation Area Facebook: South West OLRA Contact the Meewasin Valley Authority in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. The MVA has begun a Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area trust fund. If you wish to support the afforestation area with your donation, write a cheque to the “Meewasin Valley Authority Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area trust fund (MVA RSBBAA trust fund)”. Please and thank you! Twitter: StBarbeBaker

“Man has lost his way in the jungle of chemistry and engineering and will have to retrace his steps, however painful this may be. He will have to discover where he went wrong and make his peace with nature. In so doing, perhaps he may be able to recapture the rhythm of life and the love of the simple things of life, which will be an ever-unfolding joy to him.” ~ Richard St. Barbe Baker

World Wetlands Day! February 2 World Wetlands Day! February 2 Wetlands for Disaster Risk Reduction February 2 heralds both the groundhog day…

[delicatelysublimeforester]

LAST CHANCE: Give your favourite charity; The Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc, the chance to WIN $20,000!  The “Safety in  the Forest” campaign from Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. is raising the necessary funds to provide wildlife friendly motorized vehicle barriers to mitigate illegal trash dumping, as part of our Great Canadian Giving Challenge .  https://www.canadahelps.org/en/gcgc/117680  Continue reading for the Background as to why the heck are we raising money?

Safety in the Forests for everyone!

Medicine Wheel, all is interconnected. Wanuskewin balance and harmony four elements, fire, earth, air and water, are taught through the 6 directions of the medicine wheel. South Great Grand Spirit Thunderbird, Okimaw Piyisiw rain, water East, the sun, Kisikaw Pisim, warmth and light, West Grandfather wind, Kisinipaw Otin, providing the four seasons, North is Kisinipaw Pawkaw Mostos, the Spirit of the Buffalo. The Sacred, the Great Spirit, Kici-Manitou is White above and Mother Earth, Mamawow Nakwaimo Aski, is Green below.

Permanent wetlands in the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area with cattails and emergent vegetation in the summer

Horned Grebe Podiceps Auritus breeding colours

Donations will help support the work required to install Jersey Barriers and gates for legitimate motorized vehicle users.  This action supports those who appreciate an urban regional park and wetlands inside of the City of Saskatoon, and to minimize future damage and dumping and illegal users so we still have a greenspace in the future.  Thank you for all donors to our fund raising campaign, yay! Your support is appreciated!

Every $1 donated* to the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc  in June earns the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc a chance to win $20,000 (minimum $3 donation required  https://stbarbebaker.wordpress.com/

And…That’s  not all, because we are a charity and you get a charitable tax receipt, you get 53% of your donation back on your Canadian Income Taxes at tax time!!!  Woo Hoo!!   Challenge ends on June 30, 2020 at 1:59:59 am CST the $20,000 award is announced July 1, 2020!

BACKGROUND: The Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. formed in response to a public community users and stakeholder meeting held in 2017 between afforestation area neighbouring community associations, green groups, RM of Corman Park residents, the City of Saskatoon Councillor, the Member of Parliament, many dog walkers, and bicycle group representatives.  From the 2017 meeting it was a consensus that users, stewards and stakeholders of the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area really like the SW OLRA fenced off area without vehicles driving where there were people walking their dogs and without trash to walk around.  They feel trash is just not safe for their pets.  Users liked the Jersey Barriers strategically placed around the east side of the afforestation area providing a safe place to walk without vehicles dumping trash, and people driving around roughshod in the green space where there were people on foot or on bicycle.  A unanimous voice was heard that this safety was needed for the West side of the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area near Sk Hwy 7 and at George Genereux Urban Regional Park. That is why money is being raised to create safety for the users whether on foot or on bicycle, safety for the greenspace habitat and safety for the actual urban regional park.  Money is needed for motorized vehicle mititagation barriers, and to install – at least one park identification sign like at the North East Swale.  Wouldn’t it be nice to have interpretive signs also which expound upon the value and appreciation of the greenspace?  The 2017 meeting had a good turn out and the minutes are online.

AND just last night someone rode a motorized vehicle into the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area.  Usually when advised that this area is an urban regional park, people will say they didn’t know that they were illegally trespassing, and they leave, and they say they will not come back.  This person said, that they just didn’t care.  The came here before and that they will come here again, and that they just don’t care if they get a fine.  Now, then would this kind of behaviour be acceptable in the Chief Whitecap Park?  Cranberry Flats? Northeast Swale? Beaver Creek?  No.  These aforementioned areas are City of Saskatoon greenspaces.  Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area is an urban regional park greenspace, and why do people just not care about the value of it for the current or the next generation?  Why do people have to dump trash, and destroy it and place into peril endangered species?  Why do people say they just don’t care?  Why do people not care about nature, and about their heritage and natural environment?

The amazing thing is that the City of Saskatoon as owners of the land does care about the environment.  Environmental Leadership is a part of the City’s Strategic Plan 2013-2023 and watches Saskatoon’s Ecological Footprint as a success indicator.  The City of Saskatoon Environmental Advisory Committee and administration have come forward with a grant for the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and George Genereux Urban Regional Park.  This is truly much appreciated.  The Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. realize that in the City of Saskatoon budget there is no funding for the afforestation areas.  That being said, the City of Saskatoon environmental grant will make a difference at the afforestation areas is truly amazing, and does indeed show the City of Saskatoon’s commitment to the newly adopted Triple Bottom Line policy C08-001.   What is the triple bottom line policy?  In a nutshell from the City of Saskatoon Governance and Priorities Committee Report C08-001, the “Triple Bottom Line means an approach to sustainability whereby environmental health and integrity, social equity and cultural well-being, and economic prosperity and fiscal responsibility are integrated into decision making in a way that produces equitable solutions and mitigates undesirable trade-offs.”  There are City of Saskatoon administration professionals working together with the MVA and the users and stakeholders of the afforestation areas who came together in a meeting, and from which arose the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. to fill a gap.  Whereas, the City of Saskatoon has no money in the budget for the afforestation areas and the environment, the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. have received grants from green groups such as EcoFriendly Sask and Sask Outdoors as well as donations from citizens across the City of Saskatoon to protect and conserve these urban regional parks.  It is heart warming, and something which is truly wonderful, that in these times of COVID-19, that the citizens of Saskatoon continue to come forward to set the afforestation areas right!  We cannot go door to door engaging with the population, and yet the people in Saskatoon are communicating through sharing, and word of mouth to protect these greenspaces submitting donations and calling us 306.380.5368 with bottle donations for the virtual bottle drive practicing safe social distancing.  Not only does the civic administrative body of the City of Saskatoon think that environmental leadership is a priority, but the actual residents in the City of Saskatoon have come forward with donations, and offers towards the virtual bottle drive.  Thank you, ever so much!  Barriers and signs will do so much to protect the semiwilderness habitat for users of the greenspace, to protect the wetlands, and to allow future generations to appreciate the area.  Allowing a greenspace to become a trash dump is something that the residents of the City of Saskatoon don’t agree with.  Allow us to say thank you again to the City of Saskatoon Environmental Advisory Committee and City of Saskatoon administration who have come forward with a grant for the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and George Genereux Urban Regional Park. There are residents who do care about urban regional parks and the environment.  Not everyone says that they “just don’t care.”

The Meewasin Valley Authority as managers of the land and as a non profit charity have the mission; “to ensure a healthy and vibrant river valley, with a balance between human use and conservation by:

Providing leadership in the management of its resources;

Promoting understanding, conservation and beneficial use of the Valley; and

Undertaking programs and projects in river valley development and conservation, for the benefit of present and future generations.”

The city has said they have NO Money for these amazing parks allocated in the city budget, but they are between a rock and a hard place, as they do want to provide environmental leadership. Please, please pass around the word to conserve these spaces, join us and support your city.  PHONE   306.380.5368   EMAIL   friendsafforestation@gmail.com

IF you would like a voice or have an opinion about the Afforestation Areas, please join the non profit charity Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc..  We meet once a month via ZOOM meetings now that COVID is upon us.  PHONE   306.380.5368   EMAIL   friendsafforestation@gmail.com

We are also accepting Recyclable Bottles and Cans.  Thank you for everyone who has called 306.380.5368 or emailed friendsafforestation@gmail.com to have bottles picked up.  Or called to drop off recyclable bottles and cans.  One Jersey Barrier costs about $500.  One Gate to allow emergency and service vehicles access is another $500.   More than one are needed.  Please help and support the endeavour to protect the afforestation areas in the manner  decided upon at a community meeting by a mixed group of neighbours, users, stakeholders, and stewards. A charitable tax receipt can also be issued for recycle donations so you get 53% of your donation back on your Canadian Income Taxes at tax time AND you don’t have to stand in the long line ups.

For directions as to how to drive to “George Genereux” Urban Regional Park

For directions on how to drive to Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area

For more information:

Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area is located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada north of Cedar Villa Road, within city limits, in the furthest south west area of the city. 52° 06′ 106° 45′ Addresses: Part SE 23-36-6 – Afforestation Area – 241 Township Road 362-A Part SW 23-36-6 – SW Off-Leash Recreation Area (Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area ) – 355 Township Road 362-A S ½ 22-36-6 Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area (West of SW OLRA) – 467 Township Road 362-A NE 21-36-6 “George Genereux” Afforestation Area – 133 Range Road 3063 Wikimapia Map: type in Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area Google Maps South West Off Leash area location pin at parking lot Web page: https://stbarbebaker.wordpress.com Where is the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area? with map Where is the George Genereux Urban Regional Park (Afforestation Area)? with map

Pinterest richardstbarbeb

Facebook Group Page: Users of the George Genereux Urban Regional Park

Facebook: StBarbeBaker

Facebook group page : Users of the St Barbe Baker Afforestation Area

Facebook: South West OLRA

Instagram: St.BarbeBaker

Twitter: StBarbeBaker

You Tube Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area

You Tube George Genereux Urban Regional Park

Please help protect / enhance /commemorate your afforestation areas, please contact the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. (e-mail / e-transfers)

Canada Helps

1./ Learn.

2./ Experience

3./ Do Something: ***

We owe it to ourselves and to the next generation to conserve the environment so that we can bequeath our children a sustainable world that benefits all.~ Wangari Maathai

“ If a nation saves its trees, the trees will save the nation. ” ~ Richard St. Barbe Baker.

Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes. Carl Jung

Why are we raising money? LAST CHANCE: Give your favourite charity; The Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc, the chance to WIN $20,000!

[delicatelysublimeforester]

A three minute video introduction to the

2020 Green Vision

You Tube RCE Green Vision

Thank you to RCE Saskatchewan Education for Sustainable Development for this honour. The Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and George Genereux Urban Regional Park are a mixed woodlands situated in the West Swale of Saskatoon. Through the Green Vision, Saskatoon will continue to have valued afforestation areas to mitigate climate change, therefore, heritage, semi wilderness wildlife habitats and recreational greenspace will be safe and protected.  In the 2013-2023 CoS Strategic Plan, then city manager, Murray Totland asks, “What would Saskatoon look like if it grew to half a million people? And then we need to consider, “What do we want it to look like?” Our 2020 Green vision is for a healthy, safe green space with thriving and diverse ecosystems with protection of wetlands, woodlands, and grasslands, and an inter-connected West Swale eco-system to support sustainable growth and environmental leadership.

Regional Centre of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development RCE Saskatchewan. Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Aeas Inc. 2020 Green Vision

The City of Saskatoon CoS and P4G are currently planning 7-8 neighbourhoods with 70,000 people, a new employment sector, and a rural industrial-commercial area all next to the afforestation areas. The Cities of Saskatoon, Martensville and Warman, the Town of Osler and the RM of Corman Park have formed the Saskatoon North Partnership for Growth (P4G). 

Our 2020 Green Vision pro-actively engages, and seeks protections regarding these urban afforestation areas and their ecosystem. The environmental non-profit charity, Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. formed to protect and preserve these significant heritage sites by ensuring safety, restoring, developing, and maintaining the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas with a view to commemorating the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas and educating the public about them. The 2020 green vision supports environmental sustainability. The Friends encourage management and cost-effective solutions for addressing the challenges to sustainably support the environment. The Friends work towards environmental sustainability through research, education, policy change, collaboration and partnerships in achieving targets. Education enhancing pro-active actions, investments and expanded capacity stops the degradation of the ecosystem, the loss of biodiversity and increases the recognition of the aesthetic, natural, historic, cultural, social and spiritual importance of the afforestation areas in our application for municipal heritage status.

Every past and future trash cleanup sees continued improvement, yet more is needed, such as the need for improvements, protections and education to keep up with the growing population, increasing pressures and demands on the ecosystem. Sustainability is indeed, thinking about the day after tomorrow. The critical habitat of the Horned Grebe, one of the federally listed species, is subject to illegal motorized vehicle trespass along the wetlands shoreline, resulting in invasive species, habitat loss, and nutrient loading from illegal trash dumping.

Managing woodland ecosystems sustainability will maintain the biodiversity and protect the small yellow lady’s slipper listed in the provincial rare species database. “The significant problems we face today cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them.” Albert Einstein. Environmental stewardship and guardian roles for youth, and afforestation area users are enhanced through place-based learning. Ecosystem sustainability education brings awareness, networking and education brings about the capacity for successful conservation. “In the end, we will conserve only what we love. We will love only what we understand. We will understand only what we are taught.” Baba Dioum.

The afforestation areas were preserved in perpetuity in 1972 by city council The Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. is a non-profit charitable incorporation formed with a mission to honour the council decision of 1972, and to continue onwards to conserve the Saskatoon afforestation areas which we love. During the COVID-19 protocols come out with i-Naturalist loaded on your smart phone to help document the biodiversity and enjoy the afforestation areas with social distancing. Please support the habitat of endangered species, marvel at the rich and diverse heritage and celebrate the eco-system wonders.

Please consider connecting with the RCE community on facebook (RCESask) and twitter (@saskRCE)

The Trembling Aspen is also referred to as the Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx) May 25, 2019

Photo of Richard St. Barbe Baker Courtesy: University of Saskatchewan, University Archives & Special Collections, Richard St. Barbe Baker fonds, MG 71

Autumn picture of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas supported by the non profit group Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. Please join now, like, support, share.

Make A Wish Day

Grasshopper_Sparrow CC2.0 dominic sheronY

For directions as to how to drive to “George Genereux” Urban Regional Park

For directions on how to drive to Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area

For more information:

Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area is located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada north of Cedar Villa Road, within city limits, in the furthest south west area of the city. 52° 06′ 106° 45′ Addresses: Part SE 23-36-6 – Afforestation Area – 241 Township Road 362-A Part SW 23-36-6 – SW Off-Leash Recreation Area (Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area ) – 355 Township Road 362-A S ½ 22-36-6 Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area (West of SW OLRA) – 467 Township Road 362-A NE 21-36-6 “George Genereux” Afforestation Area – 133 Range Road 3063 Wikimapia Map: type in Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area Google Maps South West Off Leash area location pin at parking lot Web page: https://stbarbebaker.wordpress.com Where is the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area? with map Where is the George Genereux Urban Regional Park (Afforestation Area)? with map

Pinterest richardstbarbeb

Facebook Group Page: Users of the George Genereux Urban Regional Park

Facebook: StBarbeBaker

Facebook group page : Users of the St Barbe Baker Afforestation Area

Facebook: South West OLRA

Instagram: St.BarbeBaker

Twitter: StBarbeBaker

You Tube Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area

You Tube George Genereux Urban Regional Park

Please help protect / enhance /commemorate your afforestation areas, please contact the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. (e-mail / e-transfers)

Canada Helps

1./ Learn.

2./ Experience

3./ Do Something: ***

We owe it to ourselves and to the next generation to conserve the environment so that we can bequeath our children a sustainable world that benefits all.~ Wangari Maathai

“ If a nation saves its trees, the trees will save the nation. ” ~ Richard St. Barbe Baker.

Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes. Carl Jung

  RCE Green Vision A three minute video introduction to the 2020 Green Vision You Tube RCE Green Vision Thank you to RCE Saskatchewan Education for Sustainable Development for this honour.

[delicatelysublimeforester]

Check page “A4” of the Saskatoon Star Phoenix dated April 15, 2019.

Spring Sunset Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area

The Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area includes the south parts of section 22 and 23 township 36 range 6 west of the third meridian, and the Zoning Notice on page A4 mentions that the 310.4 acres of land on SW 22 36 6 W3 and SE 22 36 6 W3 are being changed from DAG1 to AG, “applied to lands used for the provision of public utilities.”  DAG1 means that the land is currently designated under the Corman Park – Saskatoon Planning District Zoning Bylaw.  Section 22 are those lands which basically are west of the Chappell Marsh wetlands, and section 23 to the east.  By altering the zoning to AG, it will infer that the entirety of the Richard St. Barbe Baker becomes AG (section 23, is already classified as AG, and was annexed Aug 2, 1963, and is currently totally within the City Planning district. City of Saskatoon Expansion of City Limits Map

The George Genereux Urban Regional Park 147.9 acre greenspace is located at NE quarter section 21 township 36 range 6 west of the third meridian, and has a civic address of 133 Range Road 3063.

This self same parcel of land so described above is being changed from the current interim zoning description DAG1 which means land designed without adequate services as shared with the RM of Corman Park 344 planning in conjunction with the City of Saskatoon planning.  The change will be from DAG1 to FUD – Future Urban Development for the community services department, planning and development.     “The FUD District is intended to apply land use controls and provide interim land uses and regulations until urban development occurs.”  This parcel of land was totally annexed into the City of Saskatoon boundaries on Sept 1, 2015, though remained in DAG1 (the Corman Park – Saskatoon Planning District Zoning Bylaw).

The question arises, why the George Genereux Urban Regional Park  is not being classified the same as the other neighbouring afforestation area named Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, which is classified as AG or agricultural district.  AG refers to “lands used for the provision of public utilities” and both afforestation areas, were classified as urban regional parks during the naming by city council in 1979.

Both George Genereux Urban Regional Park and  Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area are home to the Sask Energy Transmission line from the Queen Elizabeth Power Station to sites north and west of the QE.  Similarly both afforestation areas are home to the Trans Gas  natural gas lines, so it is an anomaly that they are being classified differently for the Building Standards city department when they are removed from the ” Corman Park – Saskatoon Planning District Zoning Bylaw” and plunked directly into the “Saskatoon city zoning bylaw” (not shared).

And the other question is why are they being classified as AG or agricultural district, and not as park space or naturalized area?

Please phone Paula Kotasek-Toth for further information.  City council will hear all submissions on the proposed amendment April 29, 2019 at 6:00 pm in City Council Chamber, Saskatoon, SK.  Please send a written submission before this date to

His Worship the Mayor and Members of City Council

C/O City Clerk’s Office, City Hall

222 Third Avenue North

Saskatoon, SK

S7K 0J5

Thank you.

For directions as to how to drive to “George Genereux” Urban Regional Park

For directions on how to drive to Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area

For more information:

Blairmore Sector Plan Report; planning for the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area,  George Genereux Urban Regional Park and West Swale and areas around them inside of Saskatoon city limits

P4G Saskatoon North Partnership for Growth The P4G consists of the Cities of Saskatoon, Warman, and Martensville, the Town of Osler and the Rural Municipality of Corman Park; planning for areas around the afforestation area and West Swale outside of Saskatoon city limits

Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area is located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada north of Cedar Villa Road, within city limits, in the furthest south west area of the city. 52° 06′ 106° 45′ Addresses: Part SE 23-36-6 – Afforestation Area – 241 Township Road 362-A Part SE 23-36-6 – SW Off-Leash Recreation Area (Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area ) – 355 Township Road 362-A S ½ 22-36-6 Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area (West of SW OLRA) – 467 Township Road 362-A NE 21-36-6 “George Genereux” Afforestation Area – 133 Range Road 3063 Wikimapia Map: type in Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area Google Maps South West Off Leash area location pin at parking lot Web page: https://stbarbebaker.wordpress.com Where is the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area? with map Where is the George Genereux Urban Regional Park (Afforestation Area)? with map

Pinterest richardstbarbeb

Facebook Group Page: Users of the George Genereux Urban Regional Park

Facebook: StBarbeBaker

Facebook group page : Users of the St Barbe Baker Afforestation Area

Facebook: South West OLRA

Twitter: StBarbeBaker

You Tube Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area

You Tube George Genereux Urban Regional Park

Should you wish to help protect / enhance the afforestation areas, please contact the City of Saskatoon, Corporate Revenue Division, 222 3rd Ave N, Saskatoon, SK S7K 0J5…to support the afforestation area with your donation please state that your donation should support the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, or the George Genereux Urban Regional Park, or both afforestation areas located in the Blairmore Sector. Please and thank you!  Your donation is greatly appreciated.

1./ Learn.

2./ Experience

3./ Do Something: ***

  “St. Barbe’s unique capacity to pass on his enthusiasm to others. . . Many foresters all over the world found their vocations as a result of hearing ‘The Man of the Trees’ speak. I certainly did, but his impact has been much wider than that. Through his global lecture tours, St. Barbe has made millions of people aware of the importance of trees and forests to our planet.” Allan Grainger

“The science of forestry arose from the recognition of a universal need. It embodies the spirit of service to mankind in attempting to provide a means of supplying forever a necessity of life and, in addition, ministering to man’s aesthetic tastes and recreational interests. Besides, the spiritual side of human nature needs the refreshing inspiration which comes from trees and woodlands. If a nation saves its trees, the trees will save the nation. And nations as well as tribes may be brought together in this great movement, based on the ideal of beautifying the world by the cultivation of one of God’s loveliest creatures – the tree.” ~ Richard St. Barbe Baker.

“Be gentle – gentle – gentle with the tree,….Put your hands like this to bless it…I want you to feel your love going out from your fingertips to the …[tree], and, you know, this will help it grow, make it happy…We love to be blessed don��t we? And the trees love to be blessed. ..” ~Richard St. Barbe Baker

  The q

    Zoning Map Clean up Check page "A4" of the Saskatoon Star Phoenix dated April 15, 2019. The Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area includes the south parts of section 22 and 23 township 36 range 6 west of the third meridian, and the Zoning Notice on page A4 mentions that the 310.4 acres of land on SW 22 36 6 W3 and SE 22 36 6 W3 are being changed from DAG1 to AG, "applied to lands used for the provision of public utilities."  DAG1 means that the land is currently designated under the Corman Park - Saskatoon Planning District Zoning Bylaw. 

[delicatelysublimeforester]

“When the trees go, the rain goes, the climate deteriorates, the water table sinks, the land erodes and desert conditions soon appear.” ~Richard St. Barbe Baker. 1954

World Wetlands Day! February 2

  Photo by rawpixel.com on Pexels.com

SONY DSC

A bit of fog and hoar frost in the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus)

Horned Grebe Podiceps Auritus

Horned Grebe Podiceps Auritus

February 2 heralds both the groundhog day and World Wetlands Day! World Wetlands Day was declared as February 2 by RAMSAR. “Canada is the only country in the world that has selected a wetland engineer as its national animal. We need to ensure that wetlands are better represented in the places we protect in the future. Wetlands are places of immense biological importance that also support our economy and well-being. “Kraus

  The West Swale Wetlands in the City of Saskatoon are of extreme importance in mitigating drought in flood in the Municipal City of Saskatoon, neighbourhood of Montgomery Place, hamlet of Cedar Villa Estates and the Rural Municipality of Corman Park 344. “Wetlands act as a natural sponge, absorbing and storing excess rainfall and reducing flooding. During the dry season, they release the water stored, delaying the onset of droughts and reducing water shortages.” Muskoka Watershed Council

The West Swale Wetlands are vitally important, as they are a main lowlands channel between the North Saskatchewan River through Rice Lake, the Afforestation Area formely known as George Genereux Park , the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, Chappell Marsh Conservation Area having the confluence in the South Saskatchewan River at Maple Grove.

“Water is essential to life and socio-economic development.” Page v What is needed is an reliable water source with suitable water quality. “Riparian forest buffer systems (RFBS) are streamside ecosystems managed for the enhancement of water quality through control of nonpoint source pollution (NPS) and protection of the stream environment. The use of riparian management zones is relatively well established as a best management practice (BMP) for water quality improvement in forestry practices…Riparian ecosystems are connected to aquatic ecosystems through the hyporheic zone. (age 687 Lowrance

The Prairie Eco-zone locates bedrock aquifers laying beneath the basal aquitard of the Precambrian and Paleozoic rocks. “Aquifers (waterbearing zones) are defined as saturated geological units which have sufficient permeability to yield economic quantities of water to a water supply well. Aquitards are units which, though saturated, do not yield sufficient water to a water supply well.” Maathius Page 127. The aquifers are contained within Cretaceous shale. The Tyner Valley aquifer along with other buried valleys reside on top of the bedrock and are invaluable for groundwater supply.

The Judith River Formation formed in the Late Cretaceous is also called the Belly River formation. This formation has fine to medium grained sands, silts and clays deposited in a deltaic environment. The water supply of the Judith River is invaluable to agricultural, municipal and industrial users. “Potable water is only found in and above the Judith River formation since water in the older formations is too salty for human or animal consumption.” (Maathius page 127.) Surface precipitation flows from the surface of the land into the Judith River Formation, and from this aquifer the waters flow into the Tyner Valley aquifer. The Tyner Valley aquifer has its confluence with the Battleford Valley aquifer, which thence flows into the North Saskatchewan River. The Tyner Valley aquifer is a major pre-glacial chert and quarzite gravel aquifer overlain with sands from the Empress group. The Tyner Valley Aquifer is a major aquifer system. These bedrock aquifers are capable of producing more than 200 gallons per minute gpm) from an individual well.

In Saskatchewan years of drought and high water tables are cyclical. During years of drought, groundwater is looked upon to help sustain the water supply. “Movement within and recharge of the Judith River Aquifer is limited by the highly impermeable shale that lies above this aquifer. “~Prairie Provinces Water Board. Attention to the recharge of the aquifers enhances the best management policies. “The low hydraulic conductivity of thick till and bedrock aquitards limits the rechard to deeper aquifers.” Maathuis page v. Deep aquifers show increasing rechard through the months of October and March. A shallow or surficial aquifer will show an increase in water coinciding with spring meltwaters and summer rains.

“In Saskatchewan approximately 45% of the population relies on groundwater as a source of drinking water .” (page v) Additionally groundwater is also useful for agricultural irrigation, and industrial purposes.

The Meewasin Valley Authority explains that in regards to low lying areas such as a swale, they offer “high quality biodiversity, proximity to urban areas, economic benefits for recreation and education and a natural filter for our air and water. The swale contains wetlands that provide a means of flood control for the surrounding community.”

“Evidence shows that wetlands mitigate some natural disasters and lower the risks for people: first, by reducing the immediate physical impacts and second, by helping people survive and recover in the aftermath. “The Conversation The Meewasin Valley Authority manages the wetlands and afforested areas east of the wetlands located in the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, along with the owners of the land, the City of Saskatoon. They have worked together in partnership honouring the 1972 city council acclamation to “preserve in perpetuity” the 660 acres of afforestation areas.

Alongside the dedication of the afforestation areas as parks in 1979, the City of Saskatoon implemented a Growth Management Strategy with objectives, goals and priorities …resulting in specific community plans, programs, policies and actions which will control and channel all development to satisfy special local community requirements. The absence of such plans …is usually followed by uncontrolled, unplanned, meaningless urban sprawl, unsightliness, rapid rises in real estate values, rampant speculation, and all the associated socio-economic ills which cause social unrest and dissatisfaction, physical decay and detioration of the urban fabric.File No. C. 17-10-1 This program has moved forward as Shaping Saskatoon and Saskatoon Speaks.

World Wetlands Day serves to raise public awareness and impress upon everyone the need and imperative for a healthy wetlands. “most of us are largely unaware of how wetlands safeguard us. In fact, we often see wetlands as wasteland; something to be filled in or converted to other uses. Scientists estimate that at least 64 per cent of the world’s wetlands have disappeared since 1900.”Muskoka Watershed Council Things you can do for your wetlands!.

Following in the footsteps of the 2015 community clean up, three times in 2016 community volunteers rallied together to clean the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, situated in the low lying area of the West Swale. Not only did the riparian forests and ecosystem benefit from the clean up efforts, but so did the wetlands of the West Swale. “With 71 per cent of our planet covered in water, it makes sense to focus on the health of our waterways” on World Wetlands Day.Fong

Karla Guyn, CEO for Ducks Unlimited Canada, “Canada is home to 25 per cent of the world’s wetlands. This is both a privilege and responsibility. World Wetlands Day reminds all Canadians of the critical role they play in our lives and the need to conserve them.” Water Canada

What can you do personally?

Visit a wetlands

Find out more about our wetlands in Saskatoon – the West Swale Wetlands, the Northeast Swale, Richardson Ravine, Beaver Creek

Enter the photo competition

Take a walk with the birds in the West Swale Wetlands with a guide book in hand.

Initiate a volunteer clean up of the Afforestation Area formerly known as the George Genereux Park (in the west swale wetlands)

Contact your city or RM councillor, the RM of Corman Park 344, an environmental or green group, the city of Saskatoon and the MVA about the importance of wetlands.

“When the trees go, the rain goes, the climate deteriorates, the water table sinks, the land erodes and desert conditions soon appear.” ~Richard St. Barbe Baker. 1954

Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area Clean ups

Cleanup – spring of 2015

July 2016 Trash clean-up Summary

A Tree-mendous Result October clean up 2016

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Akatay, Jane. World Wetlands Day: a fragile habitat for Fethiye’s feathered friends. Fethitye times. February 2, 2017

Celebrating World Wetlands Day in Canada Water Canada.

Christiansen, E.A., W.A. Menseley and S.H. Whitaker. Groundwater in Southern Saskatchewan. Atlas of Saskatchewan. Editor K.I. Fung. Page 68. Modern Press. 1969.

Christiansen, E.A. and B.J. Schmid. Galcial geology of Southern Saskatchewan – University of Saskatchewan.

City of Saskatoon. Section C General Administration and Finance. Growth Management Strategy. File No. C. 17-10-1. January 2, 1979.

Dunn, Christian. World Wetlands Day Highlights Importance of Vital Habitats. February 2, 2017.

Exaggerating the value of wetlands for natural diasaster mitigation is a risky business. The Conversation.

Goal 2: Protect Interprovincial Groundwater Aquifers Prairie Provinces Water Board (PPWB) Current Knowledge Saskatchewan Research Council. SRC Publication No. 11304-2E00. April 2000.

Fong, Jean. Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup Asks Canadians to Do Their Part on Earth Day and Beyond Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup April 22/2015 Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup

Guide for World Wetlands Day 2 February. Wetlands for Disaster Risk Prevention. From 2 February 2017 to 2 March 2017. young people between the ages of 18 – 25 years are invited to participate in a photo contest for a chance to win a free flight to visit a Wetland of International Importance!

It’s World Wetlands Day: Muskoka Watershed Council on the importance of wetlands for disaster risk reduction Muskoka Watershed Council. Doppler online.

  Kraus, Dan. Opinion: Why Canada matters on World Wetlands Day. February 2, 2017

Kraus, Dan. Why Canada Matters on World Wetlands Day. Huffington Post. February 1, 2017

Layout 1 Meewasin Northeast Swale Brochure for Web. Meewasin Valley Authority.

The Northeast Swale Saskatoon’s Ancient River Channel

Lowrance, Richard et al. Water quality functions of Riparian Forest Buffers in Chesapeake Bay Watersheds. Springer-Verlag New York Inc. Environmental Management Vol 21. No. 5 pp 687-712.

Maathuis, Harm. Groundwater in Southern Saskatchewan. Atlas of Saskatchewan. Celebrating the Millennium Edition. Page 127-128. Editor Ka-iu Fung. 1999. University of Saskatchewan. ISBN 0-88880-387-7.

Maathuls, H. The quality of Natural Groundwaters in Saskatchewan. Prepared for Saskatchewan Watershed Authority.

Meewasin Northeast Swale Meewasin Valley Authority

Padbury, G.A., Donald F. Acton, Colette T. Stushnoff. Ecoregions of Saskatchewan Canadian Plains Research Centre. Compiled by Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management University of Regina Press, 1998 ISBN 0889770972, 9780889770973

People see wetlands as wasteland (February 2 is World Wetlands Day.) CanIndia News.

Photo Contest – World Wetlands Day – Wetlands help us cope with extreme weather events.

Violata, Annalyn. Wetlands helping reduce the risk of disasters. SBS Your Language.

Wetlands: Why we need to take care of them, what can we do? Zee Media Bureau. February 2, 2017

World Wetlands Day. TimeandDate.com

World Wetlands Day. – official site

World Wetlands Day on Facebook

World Wetlands Day on twitter

World Wetlands Day on Instagram:

World Wetlands Day RAMSAR

World Wetlands Day IWMI. International Water Management Institute.

World Wetlands Day. Wildlife Preservation Canada.

World Wetlands Day 2017: Wetlands for Disaster Risk Reduction. Around the World.

World Wetlands Day. Nature Conservancy Canada

World Wetlands Day. Wetlands for Disaster Risk Reduction UNESCO.

World Wetlands Day Wikipedia.

World Wetlands Day. Republic of South Africa. Department of Environmental Affairs 2017 . Wetlands: Why we need to take care of them, what can we do? Zee Media Bureau. February 3, 2017

For more information:

Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area is located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada north of Cedar Villa Road, within city limits, in the furthest south west area of the city. Wikimapia Map: type in Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area Google Maps South West Off Leash area location pin at parking lot Web page: https://stbarbebaker.wordpress.com Where is the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area? with map Facebook: StBarbeBaker Facebook group page : Users of the St Barbe Baker Afforestation Area Facebook: South West OLRA Contact the Meewasin Valley Authority in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. The MVA has begun a Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area trust fund. If you wish to support the afforestation area with your donation, write a cheque to the “Meewasin Valley Authority Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area trust fund (MVA RSBBAA trust fund)”. Please and thank you! Twitter: StBarbeBaker

“Man has lost his way in the jungle of chemistry and engineering and will have to retrace his steps, however painful this may be. He will have to discover where he went wrong and make his peace with nature. In so doing, perhaps he may be able to recapture the rhythm of life and the love of the simple things of life, which will be an ever-unfolding joy to him.” ~ Richard St. Barbe Baker

immense biological importance “When the trees go, the rain goes, the climate deteriorates, the water table sinks, the land erodes and desert conditions soon appear.” ~Richard St.

[delicatelysublimeforester]

What is your new year’s resolution?

“We sited all the buildings on site, by hand.  Believe it or not, some designers will draw a footprint on a plan, and the contractor will lay the structure out on the site and just build it.  A better way to do it is to stand on the site with the drawings, look for places where you can avoid major trees and watercourses, put flags in the ground where you want buildings to go, get the flags surveyed, and make any adjustments to avoid significant trees or patches.”  page 157

In a city owned afforestation area, can you recognize these animal footprints?

  “When faced with a project where that sense of place- the sense of a landscape as part of a larger water world, for instance – has been lost, it sometimes helps to start with just the idea of place and see what we can do to restore that.  This kind of visioning process may lead to the actual restoration of a riparian landscape.” page 113

  Mallard Ducks Chappell Marsh. West Swale Wetlands Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area. Saskatoon, SK, CA

Chappell Marsh. West Swale Wetlands. Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area. Saskatoon, SK, CA

“Okay, I thought, we are all “designing green,” but unless we completely change the way we live, the landscape as we know it is not going to survive.  Much as my profession might spend its time trying to make beautiful places for people to connect with nature and each other, we are still totally steeped in the culture of consumerism, held back by our own bad habits.” page 34

“I have started to make the connection between being wild and delving deeper into what it means to be environmentally oriented.  I am starting to believe that there is something about how unruly our process is, how rich and full of life our landscapes can be, that points us toward environmental health.  It has less to do with thinking about best practices in our heads than with experiencing wildness on a physical level…It is the messy undergrowth beneath the trees that allows life to thrive; life happens in the places you do not keep well manicured and chemically treated. ” page 34

  A bit of fog and hoar frost in the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus)

Horned Grebe Podiceps Auritus breeding colours

“What are the measurable effects of designing wild landscapes, beyond just appealing to people like me?  There are three key perceived benefits to making wild landscapes.  One is obviously the habitat they provide for species other than humans.  Another is a benefit to humans and wildlife: the way in which wild landscapes promote stewardship.” page 35

  “We have to remember that the end product of all our work is pleasure in our surroundings, relief from stress, and connection to something bigger than ourselves…Once your have shifted into the mindset that does not isolate what is wild from what is design, the beauty of each species seems as intentional as the most formal of gardens.  Bringing these two scales together – the scale of the designed landscape and the scale of a single species – is our challenge for the next decades.” page 230

The Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and George Genereux Urban Regional Park are amazing forested areas.  Learn more as the City of Saskatoon, and surrounding area  developed by the Partnership for Growth P4G partners move forward growing to 1/2 million people. P4G is made up of a collaboration between the Cities of Saskatoon, Martensville and Warman, the Town of Osler and the RM of Corman Park #344.  ”

Saskatoon Growth Plan to Half a Million.”

City of Saskatoon future growth maps

P4G maps.

Bibliography:

Ruddick, Margie.  Wild by Design.  Strategies for creating life-enhancing landscapes.  Island Press. 2016

Planting and growing increasing quantities of trees is the scientific solution to Earth’s environmental dilemma.  Richard St. Barbe Baker

For more information: Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area is located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada north of Cedar Villa Road, within city limits, in the furthest south west area of the city. 52° 06′ 106° 45′ Addresses: Part SE 23-36-6 – Afforestation Area – 241 Township Road 362-A Part SE 23-36-6 – SW Off-Leash Recreation Area (Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area ) – 355 Township Road 362-A S ½ 22-36-6 Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area (West of SW OLRA) – 467 Township Road 362-A NE 21-36-6 “George Genereux” Afforestation Area – 133 Range Road 3063 Wikimapia Map: type in Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area Google Maps South West Off Leash area location pin at parking lot Web page: https://stbarbebaker.wordpress.com Where is the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area? with map Where is the George Genereux Urban Regional Park (Afforestation Area)? with map Facebook: StBarbeBaker Facebook group page : Users of the St Barbe Baker Afforestation Area Facebook: South West OLRA Contact the Meewasin Valley Authority at 402 Third Avenue South Saskatoon, SK S7K 3G5 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. The MVA has begun a Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area trust fund. If you wish to support the afforestation area with your donation, write a cheque to the “Meewasin Valley Authority Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area trust fund (MVA RSBBAA trust fund)”. Please and thank you! Twitter: StBarbeBaker Please contemplate joining the SOS Elms coalition or make a donation to SOS Elms ~ leave a message to support the afforestation area  😉

1./ Learn.

2./ Experience

3./ Do Something: ***

  The simple act of planting a tree, which is in itself a practical deed, is also the symbol of a far reaching ideal, which is creativ in the realm of the Spirit, and in turn reacts upon society, encouraging all to work for the future well being of humanity reather than for immediate gain. Pelecanus erythrorhynchos

  Wild Vision Designing What is your new year's resolution? "We sited all the buildings on site, by hand.  Believe it or not, some designers will draw a footprint on a plan, and the contractor will lay the structure out on the site and just build it. 

[delicatelysublimeforester]

The city of Saskatoon, and the Rural Municipality of Corman Park #344 have collaborated.  Together they installed a fence alongside Township Road 362A (Cedar Villa Road).

Fence on the south side of Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area parallel to Township Road 362A (Cedar Villa Road) along with signs stating No Dumping of any Material. Fines up to $25,000 Bylaw #8318 Call 975-2486 to report illegal dumping. No Motorized Vehicles allowed. City of Saskatoon.

Fence on the south side of Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area parallel to Township Road 362A (Cedar Villa Road) along with signs stating No Dumping of any Material. Fines up to $25,000 Bylaw #8318 Call 975-2486 to report illegal dumping. No Motorized Vehicles allowed. City of Saskatoon.

City Council had previously voted to accept the proposal for vehicle barriers for the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area.

Eliminating illegal use of motorized vehicles in the afforestation area and the wetlands will eliminate unprecedented erosion, ecological and habitat damage. Taking responsibility and accountability for the environment will increase public appreciation for a picturesque urban forest for educational classes, naturalists, bird watchers, winter fat bike cyclists, hikers and walkers  on properly planned and designed pathways to mitigate the ecosystem footprint.

The two signs erected state: “No dumping of any material.  Fines up to $25,000.  Bylaw #8318.  Call 975-2486 to report illegal dumping.  No motorized vehicles allowed.  City of Saskatoon.”

It is wonderful that the east side of the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area has responded so well to the installation of Jersey barriers, and now illegal trespass by motorized vehicles in the forest has declined to virtually none. It is such a relief!

The chain link fencing combined with the page wire fence around the South West Off Leash Recreation Area, allows service vehicles to enter and the fencing keeps the dog walkers and the off leash dogs safe, and illegal trespass by motorized vehicles is also none.

The neighbouring residents of Cedar Villa Estates should also be able to enjoy that same level of ease and comfort living next to the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area as they are.  So, appreciation and great thanks are extended out to the Rural Municipality of Corman Park 344 and the City of Saskatoon to mitigate and reduce  illegal trespass by motorized vehicles at this next area of the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area  along this stretch on the southern perimeter of the forest.

Thank you for keeping the illegal trespass by motorized vehicles out of the forest, indeed.

Photo by rawpixel.com on Pexels.com

Thank you to the civic officials of the City of Saskatoon and the RM of Corman Park 344

Photo by rawpixel.com on Pexels.com

Parent and Child in Nature

Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus)

    For more information:

Blairmore Sector Plan Report; planning for areas around the afforestation area and West Swale inside of Saskatoon city limits

P4G Saskatoon North Partnership for Growth The P4G consists of the Cities of Saskatoon, Warman, and Martensville, the Town of Osler and the Rural Municipality of Corman Park; planning for areas around the afforestation area and West Swale outside of Saskatoon city limits

Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area is located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada north of Cedar Villa Road, within city limits, in the furthest south west area of the city. 52° 06′ 106° 45′ Addresses: Part SE 23-36-6 – Afforestation Area – 241 Township Road 362-A Part SE 23-36-6 – SW Off-Leash Recreation Area (Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area ) – 355 Township Road 362-A S ½ 22-36-6 Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area (West of SW OLRA) – 467 Township Road 362-A NE 21-36-6 “George Genereux” Afforestation Area – 133 Range Road 3063 Wikimapia Map: type in Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area Google Maps South West Off Leash area location pin at parking lot Web page: https://stbarbebaker.wordpress.com Where is the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area? with map Where is the George Genereux Urban Regional Park (Afforestation Area)? with map

Pinterest richardstbarbeb

Facebook Group Page: Users of the George Genereux Urban Regional Park

Facebook: StBarbeBaker

Facebook group page : Users of the St Barbe Baker Afforestation Area

Facebook: South West OLRA

Contact the Meewasin Valley Authority at 402 Third Avenue South Saskatoon, SK S7K 3G5 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. The MVA has begun a Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area trust fund. If you wish to support the afforestation area with your donation, write a cheque to the “Meewasin Valley Authority Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area trust fund (MVA RSBBAA trust fund)”. Please and thank you! Twitter: StBarbeBaker Please contemplate joining the SOS Elms coalition or make a donation to SOS Elms ~ leave a message to support the afforestation area 😉

1./ Learn.

2./ Experience

3./ Do Something: ***

“I believed that God has lent us the Earth. It belongs as much to those who come after us as to us, and it ill behooves us by anything we do or neglect, to deprive them of benefits which are in our power to bequeath.” Richard St. Barbe Baker

    New Fence, Woo Hoo! The city of Saskatoon, and the Rural Municipality of Corman Park #344 have collaborated.  Together they installed a fence alongside Township Road 362A (Cedar Villa Road).

[delicatelysublimeforester]

“Man’s life, in sickness and in health, is bound up with the forces of nature, and that nature, so far from being opposed and conquered, must rather be treated as an ally and friend, whose ways must be understood, and whose counsel must be respected.” ~Lewis Mumford. Page vii

Bohemian Waxwing Bombycilla Garrulus Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Canada

Rabbit

Northern Leopard Frog

White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

“In the selection of areas intrinsically suitable for conservation, the factors selected were: features of historic value, high quality forests and marshes, bay beaches, streams, water-associated wildlife habitats, intertidal wildlife habitats, unique geological and physiographic features, scenic land and water features, and scarce ecological associations. “Page 107

The Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and “George Genereux” Urban Regional Park, both provide historic value, high quality forests, unique geological features, scenic land, and scarce ecological associations.  Though, both are classified as wetlands, the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area features the permanent wetland of the Chappell Marsh with its water-associated wildlife habitats.

“The salient factors selected for determining recreation areas are:

Passive

Unique Physiographic Features

Scenic water features, streams

Features of historic value

High-quality forests

High-quality marshes

Scenic land features

Unique geologic features

Scarce ecological associations

Water-associated wildlife habitats

Field and forest wildlife habitats

Active

Bay beaches

Expanse of water for pleasure craft

Fresh water areas

Riparian lands

Flat land

Existing and potential recreation areas

Areas most suited for urbanization are determined separately for the two components of urbanization: residential and commercial-industrial developments.” Page 112

The Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and “George Genereux” Urban Regional Park are both existing and potential recreation areas, are very much flat lands, feature field and forest wildlife habitats, comprise unique physiographic features, encompass high-quality forests, features of historic value, and unique geologic features.  The West Swale is a unique Pleistocene event which is unique and separate from the North East Swale. 

The most restrictive factors which are common to these developments are also identified:

Slopes

Forested areas

Poor surface drainage

Areas susceptible to erosion

Areas susceptible to flooding.” Page 113

The Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and George Genereux Urban Regional Park are both areas susceptible to flooding, and both are amazing forested areas.  Learn more as the City of Saskatoon, and surrounding area  developed by the Partnership for Growth P4G partners moves forward to grow to 1/2 million. P4G is made up of a collaboration between the Cities of Saskatoon, Martensville and Warman, the Town of Osler and the RM of Corman Park #344.  “After much consultation with the public and their own administration, the City of Saskatoon approved its official Growth Plan to Half a Million.”~Kelly Macsymic Commercial Real Estate News 

City of Saskatoon future growth maps

P4G maps.

Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area Sunlight on the Colorado Blue Spruce (Picea pungens) saplings

Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area in the winter fog.

.  

“We need nature as much in the city as in the countryside.  In order to endure we must maintain the bounty of the great cornucopia which is our inheritance…It is not a choice of either the city or the countryside: both are essential, but today it is nature, beleaguered in the country, too scarce in the city which has become precious…Our eyes do not divide us from the world but unite us with it….Man is that uniquely conscious creature who can perceive and express.  He must become the steward of the biosphere.  To do this he must design with nature.” Page 5

“The simple act of planting a tree, which is in itself a practical deed, is also the symbol of a far reaching ideal, which is creative in the realm of the Spirit, and in turn reacts upon society, encouraging all to work for the future well being of humanity rather than for immediate gain.”  Richard St. Barbe Baker

Bibliography:

McHarg, Ian L.  Design with Nature.  25th Anniversary Edition  John Wiley and Sons, Inc.  Toronto, ON, ISBN 0-471-55797-8, ISBN 0-471-11460-X Pbk.  1992

For more information: Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area is located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada north of Cedar Villa Road, within city limits, in the furthest south west area of the city. 52° 06′ 106° 45′ Addresses: Part SE 23-36-6 – Afforestation Area – 241 Township Road 362-A Part SE 23-36-6 – SW Off-Leash Recreation Area (Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area ) – 355 Township Road 362-A S ½ 22-36-6 Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area (West of SW OLRA) – 467 Township Road 362-A NE 21-36-6 “George Genereux” Afforestation Area – 133 Range Road 3063 Wikimapia Map: type in Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area Google Maps South West Off Leash area location pin at parking lot Web page: https://stbarbebaker.wordpress.com Where is the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area? with map Where is the George Genereux Urban Regional Park (Afforestation Area)? with map Facebook: StBarbeBaker Facebook group page : Users of the St Barbe Baker Afforestation Area Facebook: South West OLRA Contact the Meewasin Valley Authority at 402 Third Avenue South Saskatoon, SK S7K 3G5 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. The MVA has begun a Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area trust fund. If you wish to support the afforestation area with your donation, write a cheque to the “Meewasin Valley Authority Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area trust fund (MVA RSBBAA trust fund)”. Please and thank you! Twitter: StBarbeBaker Please contemplate joining the SOS Elms coalition or make a donation to SOS Elms ~ leave a message to support the afforestation area  😉

1./ Learn.

2./ Experience

3./ Do Something: ***

We feel that our greatest victory remains to be won when man will realize his oneness with the trees, the creatures and with all living things, not ours to destroy, but to be handed on for the enjoyment of future generations. – Richard St. Barbe Baker.

Mankind as steward of the biosphere "Man's life, in sickness and in health, is bound up with the forces of nature, and that nature, so far from being opposed and conquered, must rather be treated as an ally and friend, whose ways must be understood, and whose counsel must be respected." ~Lewis Mumford.

[delicatelysublimeforester]

The area around George Genereux Urban Regional Park will be surrounded by rural commercial/industrial growth according to the P4G plans. (source and map page 26-27)

A Stantec report showed potential heritage concerns south of Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation area and north of Hodgson Road. Currently the West Connector Route for the proposed provincial Saskatoon Freeway shows Hodgson road as the main access onto Valley Road and into the city of Saskatoon.

The Blairmore Sector Housing Development is shown on the map entitled West Connector Route Feasibility Study Figure 2.4 Existing and Future Land Uses

The planning studies of the P4G includes Corman Park, Saskatoon, Warman, Martensville and Osler, includes the area around Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, and George Genereux Urban Regional Park.

The planning studies of the P4G includes Corman Park, Saskatoon, Warman, Martensville and Osler, includes the area around Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, and George Genereux Urban Regional Park.

The planning studies of the P4G includes Corman Park, Saskatoon, Warman, Martensville and Osler, includes the area around Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, and George Genereux Urban Regional Park.

Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, Saskatoon, SK, CA

Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

So the new name for Saskatchewan Highway 7 travelling northwards within city limits is Neault Road. Neault Road naming  is the north south route begins just south of Hart Road, and north of the CNR railway overpass where Sk Highway 7 takes a corner (from travelling diagonally south west across the province to extending northwards).  Sk Highway 7 is a major  road which connects the City of Saskatoon with Vanscoy, Laura, Delisle, Zealandia, Rosetown, Fiske, Netherhill, Kindersley, and Alsask when you drive south and west along it out of the City.  Sk Highway 7 also is the highway to gain access to Provincial Highway 60 to Pike Lake Provincial Park.  (Map) (Sk Hwy 7 Route)

Travelling north  on Neault Road in Saskatoon does connect rurally with the Dalmeny Access road (highway 684). (map)

The proposed Saskatoon Freeway North route will run north and south alongside but west of  Neault Road, in such a way connecting Sk Highway 14 (22nd Street West) to the proposed new Saskatoon Freeway.  This proposed Saskatoon Freeway (bridge) will be north of (Auction Mart Road) 71 Street about one mile north of the newly opened Chief Mistawisis Bridge (Marquis Drive and the North Commuter Parkway).(map)

This new Saskatoon Freeway route is a provincial initiative, and is a topic of the P4G meetings. (Draft Regional Plan)

Saskatoon North Partnership for Growth (P4G) includes the City of Saskatoon, the Rural Municipality of Corman Park 344, City of Martensville, Town of Osler, City of Warman, Saskatchewan Regional Economic Development Authority (SREDA).  In the effort to expand the city, and area to  between 273,000 and 301,000 by 2020; 302,000 and 349,000 by 2025; 333,000 and 405,000 by 2030; and between 368,000 and 470,000 by 2035.  (source) As a matter of fact Saskatoon eyes 1M population in 50 years.

The area around George Genereux Urban Regional Park will be surrounded by rural commercial/industrial growth according to the P4G plans.  George Genereux Urban Regional Park land area was annexed from the RM of Corman Park 344 in 2005, however, Saskatoon, and the RM of Corman Park are involved in theP4G progress.(source and map page 26-27)

A Stantec report showed potential heritage concerns south of Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation area and north of Hodgson Road.  Currently the West Connector Route for the proposed provincial Saskatoon Freeway shows Hodgson road as the main access onto Valley Road and into the city of Saskatoon.  As Saskatoon and the P4G area grows in population density, employment sectors are needed as well as housing.

The Blairmore Sector Housing Development is shown on the map entitled West Connector Route Feasibility Study Figure 2.4 Existing and Future Land Uses

An employment sector includes a development of shopping malls, offices, and industrial areas for the economic trade of goods and services, to provide jobs for the projected, 300,000; 400,000 and 500,000 population density.   The City of Saskatoon has a Strategic plan 2013-2023 which encompasses seven strategic goals.(Plan) (pdf details of plan)

The Saskatoon North Partnership for Growth Regional Plan and further information for areas mainly north and north west of Saskatoon are online.  The Saskatoon North Partnership for Growth and Regional Planning is taking into consideration Natural and Heritage Resources The guiding principals of the P4G will take into account the guiding principles of Partnership, Efficiency, Sustainability, Opportunity, Equity + Inclusiveness, Flexiblity + Resilience and will follow 7 strategic directions; Regional infrastructure + services, Settlement patterns + complete communities, Regional economy + economic development, Quality of life, Governance + funding, Natural environment + drainage, along with Agriculture + Natural resources.

“Regional Wetlands Inventory and Policy

Although the Green Network Refinement Study is intended to provide a comprehensive assessment of the Green Network to inform the future management of these areas for conservation and drainage functions, there is a lack of compiled information about the type, location, and importance of wetlands across the Region. Providing an inventory for the Region will support efforts by municipalities and P4G to conserve and protect important wetlands in the short-term.

In the longer term, a Regional Wetlands Policy may be developed to support wetlands protection, conservation, and enhancement across the Region. This Policy would complement the policies for the Green Network Study Area, and detail provisions for managing wetlands across the Region; coordinating conservation, mitigation, and enhancement projects; and linking wetlands protection with flood management and control.”(source)

The George Genereux Urban Regional Park, and Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Areas are both classified as wetlands according to Stantec, and provide mitigation of flood waters.  The West Swale is a low lying geological feature created from the Pleistocene Yorath Island Spillway.   The Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area is located within the swale, and the George Genereux Urban Regional Park, is located between the swale and the CNR railway tracks.

Have you attended any Partnership for Growth meetings? P4G includes the City of Saskatoon, the Rural Municipality of Corman Park 344, City of Martensville, Town of Osler, City of Warman.  Find out how you can contribute to the plan.

For more information: Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area is located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada north of Cedar Villa Road, within city limits, in the furthest south west area of the city. 52° 06′ 106° 45′ Addresses: Part SE 23-36-6 – Afforestation Area – 241 Township Road 362-A Part SE 23-36-6 – SW Off-Leash Recreation Area (Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area ) – 355 Township Road 362-A S ½ 22-36-6 Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area (West of SW OLRA) – 467 Township Road 362-A NE 21-36-6 “George Genereux” Afforestation Area – 133 Range Road 3063 Wikimapia Map: type in Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area Google Maps South West Off Leash area location pin at parking lot Web page: https://stbarbebaker.wordpress.com Where is the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area? with map Facebook: StBarbeBaker Facebook group page : Users of the St Barbe Baker Afforestation Area Facebook: South West OLRA Contact the Meewasin Valley Authority at 402 Third Avenue South Saskatoon, SK S7K 3G5 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. The MVA has begun a Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area trust fund. If you wish to support the afforestation area with your donation, write a cheque to the “Meewasin Valley Authority Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area trust fund (MVA RSBBAA trust fund)”. Please and thank you! Twitter: StBarbeBaker Please contemplate joining the SOS Elms coalition or make a donation to SOS Elms ~ leave a message to support the afforestation area  😉

Neault Road and the Afforestation Areas The area around George Genereux Urban Regional Park will be surrounded by rural commercial/industrial growth according to the P4G plans.