The South East Alberta Watershed Alliance and the Society of Grasslands Naturalists hold nature walks every Wednesday at 10 a.m. in parks across the city.--NEWS PHOTO KENDALL KING
kking@medicinehatnews.com
Medicine Hat’s ponds are looking spick and span this spring thanks to an initiative started by local conservationists.
The adopt-a-pond initiative was first established in 2021 by Martha Munz Gue, founder of the South East Alberta Watershed Alliance. The goal is to keep local bodies of water clear of litter and invasive species and bring attention to the importance of clean water.
“It started last year in January, when I was trying to figure out what we should do for World Water Day,” Munz Gue told the News. “(Around that time) a lady phoned me and said, ‘I want to do some volunteering; what can I do for the parks?’ … I asked, ‘Do you live near a pond?’ and she said ‘yes.’ I asked, ‘Would you like to adopt that pond?'”
“She adopted that pond March 5 of last year,” said Munz Gue. “That gave me the inspiration to ask other people.”
After consulting with SEAWA and the Society of Grasslands Naturalist members, Munz Gue connected with the city’s parks department, which gave the initiative its full support.
“(It’s) a collaborative project between the Society of Grasslands Naturalists, SEAWA and the city,” said Munz Gue.
Currently, 20 ponds in Medicine Hat and area are part of the initiative, with only two unspoken for. The adopt-a-pond initiative has become so popular, it led to adopt-a-creek, adopt-a-river and adopt-a-path initiatives.
Originally, individuals and families were the primary adopters, however Munz Gue has recently been working with local organizations and businesses to adopt larger areas.
“We’ve run out of ponds. I say, we’ve spilled over to the creek and now we’re flowing over to the river,” Munz Gue laughed. “We’re trying to get different groups to adopt these larger stretches along the river. We’ve got most of the north side of the river in negotiation and now we’re looking for somebody to do the part in Strathcona Island Park and Lion’s Park up to the YMCA.”
There are no prerequisites needed to be an adopter, however anyone who wishes to do so must agree to four terms.
“Firstly, they agree to visit their pond every week or two so they can fall in love with it; secondly, pick up any trash they find; and thirdly, report any invasive species. … The Interpretive Centre, the SEAWA office and the Parks office will all give help with using the EDDMaps app for reporting invasive species. Once we report to the EDD maps app, they confirm the identity and then if it is an invasion species … they’ll refer it to the proper authorities,” said Munz Gue.
The final condition is to encourage others to get involved.
“Once you start visiting the ponds, you learn layer upon layer (of the ecosystem connected to it),” Munz Gue said.
While litter is an obvious problem for local ecosystems, Munz Gue explained invasive species are equally troublesome. The consequence of not getting rid of invasive species is spread, taking up existing land and making it so native species are unable to survive.
“Our own local things – like Saskatoon berries, chokecherries and currents – have a struggle to compete with (invasive species),” she said.
Not only can invasive species harm plants, they can have a negative effect on animals as well.
“With the thickets of (the Russian Olive) in the more mature trees, there are spikes,” said Munz Gue. “(Sometimes) an animal as big as a deer couldn’t get through that Russian Olive to get to the water.”
Pesticides are not an option, as they can harm the water system, so Munz Gue believes the best system is to have individuals or groups monitor the areas through adoption.
Anyone interested in adopting a pond, creek, portion of the river or path is asked to contact Munz Gue at 403-526-2226. She also invites interested parties in attending weekly neighbourhood nature walks, every Wednesday at 10 a.m. The next neighbourhood nature walk will take place on March 30. The walk begins at the pond behind Masterpiece Senior Residence.
