Residents welcome at Nose Creek clean up

The City of Airdrie is encouraging residents to take part in the 11th annual Nose Creek Clean Up and Watershed Awareness Day, June 2 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The event is being put on by the Nose Creek Watershed Partnership (NCWP) and for the first time will include family activities and education displays about sustainability and watershed stewardship from various groups, such as Trout Unlimited Canada, Cows and Fish and the Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation.

“Nose Creek runs right through the centre of Airdrie, it is a very visible part of Airdrie,” said Amanda Ginn, the City’s sustainability coordinator. “We have neighbours downstream, so we know it is our duty to help keep it clean.”

The City of Airdrie has been a member of the NCWP, a non-profit group dedicated to protecting the riparian areas and improving water quality in the Nose Creek watershed, since its inception, 11 years ago.

Nose Creek not only offers habitat to a variety of wildlife, including migratory birds, beavers and muskrats, but is also a recreational destination for many Airdronians, according to Ginn.

During the public engagement session for AirdrieONE, the City’s sustainability plan, residents told staff repeatedly how they value the waterway. Protecting and restoring Nose Creek is one of the City’s priorities and is now reflected in its plan under Sustainable Natural Environment, according to Ginn.

“Citizens have told us they value (Nose Creek) and use it a lot,” she said. “They value the pathway system and the fact that it is so accessible.”

In past years, up to 40 people, including Airdrie aldermen and Mayor Peter Brown, have attended the clean up. This year, Nose Creek Watershed Partnership Coordinator Erin McMahon hopes to see even more.

“Getting the garbage and debris out of the creek… improves the water quality,” said McMahon. “(The event) is a great opportunity (for the NCWP) to interact with the community.”

Several businesses are getting involved this year, including an Airdrie dive business that is hoping to bring scuba volunteers to help clean out the waterway.

Organizers will meet with participants in Nose Creek Park at 10 a.m. From there, volunteers will fan up and down the creek, cleaning the shoreline of as much of the creek as they are able. Volunteers will pull accessible garbage out of the creek. In past years, the debris has included large items such as bikes, shopping carts and a fire extinguisher. Everyone, including families and clubs are welcome to the event, which provides the municipality and citizens a great opportunity to work together in support of Nose Creek.

For more information about the NCWP, visit http://nosecreekpartnership.com