Dear Editor,
Now that the amalgamated Town of Diamond Valley has jurisdiction and joint stewardship of roughly eight kilometres of the Sheep River, I would like to take this time to strongly urge mayor and council to approach the management of the remaining natural areas along this watercourse with careful consideration of the intrinsic value of this heritage.
This includes the area west of the Turner Valley bridge, the stretch of river between the gas plant and Black Diamond, and the river north of Black Diamond. Please do not view these areas as “marginal” or “undeveloped” but rather as priceless green infrastructure that provides economic, environmental, health and social benefits, also known as ecosystem services.
In my view, the river valley is the living heart of our community, providing connection to the natural rhythms of the seasons, and grounding locals in that quality of outdoor and rural life that is much sought after by those who move here. As our community grows, we should preserve and honour those qualities.
In the two decades-plus that I’ve lived in Black Diamond, I’ve enjoyed the privilege of being able to regularly walk, run, bike and snowshoe in these natural areas. My life has been enriched by observing the wildlife that make these places home. In fact, it is the wildlife that activate the outdoors and provide connection to nature.
I remember particularly the time a newborn moose calf that must have just been born in the valley, follow its mother across a meadow on unsteady legs. I’ve also seen whitetail deer, black bear, red fox, bald eagles and osprey fishing, a Swainson’s hawk nest, year-round resident owls and colonies of bank swallows (a federally listed threatened species), and much more, all just a 10-minute walk from my door.
The fact that these places are within walking distance is important. Driving upriver to Kananaskis on the weekend is great, but not everyone has the time, the vehicle, money for gas or the conservation pass, but almost everyone can access our river areas for daily health and wellness benefits.
If the Town has a view to improving these areas, accessibility should be a concern, however any infrastructure plans will have to consider that much, if not all, of it is within floodplain zones. Connectivity may be a task prioritized by some, perhaps a pathway system linking the two former towns on the south side of the river. I vote we prioritize green connectivity, ensuring wildlife corridors are not further degraded by our actions.
Bruno Canadien
Diamond Valley
