SENSSA‐Fulbright Ecoblitz
Final Report
August 2013
SENSSA‐Fulbright Ecoblitz Final Report August 2013 Fulbright Award Holder: Toddi Steelman, PhD, Executive Director Ecoblitz Coordinator: Anson Main, MLA, PhD Program School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan Major funding for the Ecoblitz was provided by: Table of Contents Introduction .................................................................... 1 Proposed Project ............................................................ 3 Partners .......................................................................... 3 Goals ............................................................................... 4 Summary......................................................................... 4 Highlights ........................................................................ 6 Evaluation of Project Success ......................................... 6 Conclusion .................................................................... 10 Acknowledgements ...................................................... 12 SENSSA Fulbright Ecoblitz Final Report Introduction As we continue to expand city borders and increase urban populations, urban land management is a critical part of our future. Pristine rural areas are being replaced by heavily altered environments. Concrete and other human‐made structures are the norm in today’s urban world. Urban landscapes are dominated not by naturally‐occurring vegetation and biological patterns, but instead, by residential and commercial buildings and paved surfaces. This type of landscape is the complete opposite of most ecological study areas. Therefore, our understanding of urban ecology – a relatively new sub‐field of study within the larger field of ecology – is more important than ever before. We are now called upon to understand and actively manage, conserve and monitor the more naturalized portions of land that are within or connect to our cities, in order to maintain long‐term sustainability of our cities and ecosystem services. Saskatoon is home to the Northeast Swale – a 2800 hectare (ha) naturalized area within an ever‐
The Meewasin Valley Authority is a 1
increasing zone of urban residential development.
conservation organization The Swale contains portions of several ecosystems dedicated to conserving the natural including rocky uplands, wetlands and small segments and cultural heritage resources of of untouched native prairie, an ecosystem that is the South Saskatchewan River steadily in decline globally. Between the work of Valley in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan consultant groups and a previous citizen science and area. With the support of the event, an extensive inventory of the numerous plant Province of Saskatchewan, the City and animal species that use the Swale as habitat was of Saskatoon and the University of made on May 29 and 30, 2011. At that time, over 200 Saskatchewan, Meewasin different plant species, 103 avian species, including undertakes programs and projects some of which are endangered (the short‐eared owl, in river valley education, the common nighthawk and the uplands sandpiper),2 development and conservation. By numerous aquatic insect communities and various creating opportunities for public mammals were identified as using the site as breeding awareness and enjoyment, and foraging habitat. Recognizing the importance of Meewasin strives to increase these natural assets, organizations such as Meewasin understanding and to ensure a Valley Authority, the City of Saskatoon and members vibrant and healthy river valley. of the School of Environment and Sustainability (SENS) (“About Meewasin,” from at the University of Saskatchewan want to play a role www.meewasin.com) in conserving and managing these important urban resources. The opportunities created by conserving such a great ecological resource are many: an urban lab for outdoor education, recreational potential with the implementation of a properly designed trail system, promotion of ecosystem services such as natural drainage and flood attenuation, and maintenance of numerous plant and animal species and their associated habitat. However, 1, Meewasin Valley Authority (February 27, 2013). Northeast Swale Resource Management Plan. Retrieved from: http://www.meewasin.com/common/pdfs/about/document_library/NEswaleRMPDRAFTFEB272013.pdf Website accessed August 13, 2013. 2
Ibid. August 2013
1 SENSSA Fulbright Ecoblitz Final Report there are equally as many, if not more, challenges with the land management of the Swale. Human encroachment is impending, impact on sensitive species is likely, and changes to natural disturbance and flow patterns will be altered by increased surface runoff from surrounding urban spaces. On June 26 and 27, 2013, a group of students and faculty from the University of Saskatchewan, along with volunteers from the City of Saskatoon and Meewasin Valley Authority, set out to collect ecological data from the Northeast Swale in Saskatoon. The event, called the Ecoblitz, was led by SENSSA, the School of Environment and Sustainability Students’ Association. Such data collection is critical to understand how sites function and for more fully understanding the consequences if development in the Northeast Swale is proposed. Long‐term monitoring of ecological resources is typically not prioritized in many urban environmental areas. The Ecoblitz documented areas of priority and concern and allows for understanding of present site resources, habitat for highly diverse avian communities, rare plant and invasive species ranges, wetland aquatic insect communities and measures of water quality. By compiling a data set beyond the basic species inventory of the Northeast Swale, we hope to actively assist organizations such as the Meewasin Valley Authority in the creation of management plans for future conservation of such key natural areas in the City of Saskatoon. The Northeast Swale … “A prized natural feature within Saskatoon’s urban landscape: a refuge for wildlife and people alike, where disturbance mimics natural patterns, biodiversity is high, native species flourish, and residents or visitors of Saskatoon can learn from and enjoy wilderness right outside their own backyard” (Northeast Swale Vision 2013, Meewasin Valley Authority). August 2013
2 SENSSA Fulbright Ecoblitz Final Report Proposed Project Grant Amount Received: Eco‐
Leadership Program: $4,000 Our proposed project was to identify and collect extensive biological data on the current ecological resources of the Northeast Swale, while engaging community partners in order to facilitate increased understanding of this important city resource. Graduate students would act as environmental leaders, coaching smaller groups of volunteers during data collection, facilitating ecological site interaction and educating participants about their area of expertise. We aimed to formulate data to not only monitor changes to the site, but to identify present and future areas of concern for land management. These data would then be shared with all project partners to help structure conservation plans. Partners Ecoblitz 2013 had several partners. We had undergraduate and graduate students, faculty representatives and representatives from each of the following partners:  City of Saskatoon, Environmental Services Branch  City of Saskatoon, Land and Water Branch  City of Saskatoon, Watershed Protection  Meewasin Valley Authority  School of Environment and Sustainability Students’ Association  School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan  Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan  Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan August 2013
3 SENSSA Fulbright Ecoblitz Final Report Goals 1) Teaching participants using environmental and sustainability demonstrations (e.g. habitat management, ecological engagement) leading to improved community and environmental engagement; 2) Interacting with municipal government officials, scientists, and students to collect extensive biological data about the Northeast Swale (e.g. quadrat plant studies for rare/invasive species, water quality measurements); 3) Creating an open dialogue between community partners through interactive learning and data‐sharing to raise awareness about this unique environmental area and how Saskatoon’s regional community can effectively manage and sustain important ecosystem services. Summary The SENSSA‐Fulbright Ecoblitz took place on Wednesday, June 26 and Thursday, June 27, 2013. Project work began at 8 am and, typically, all volunteer groups were finished by 3:30 pm. Approximately 30 individuals volunteered over both days, with members of partner organizations helping to collect ecological data to help better inform conservation, monitoring and management decisions for the Northeast Swale. Volunteers had a range of field work experience levels; some had no formal training in field data collection and others had extensive training. This allowed for increased environmental education and teaching opportunities, with more knowledgeable students and volunteers teaching those individuals who were expanding their skill sets. This type of community engagement directly helps to grow support for these urban ecology resources. A teaching‐learning component was an important element for this type of project, and improved future student training for more interactive learning projects. With such a wide variety of participants from different areas of municipal government, it was possible to more extensively raise awareness of the value of resources like the Swale. Graduate students and faculty from SENS led small groups of volunteers in six areas of conservation interest. These were: 1) measurement of water quality parameters to assess wetlands and associated habitat; 2) surveys of aquatic insect communities as a response measure to water quality changes; 3) distribution of rare plant species; 4) current areas of concern for bird habitat and nesting; 5) levels of noxious weeds and invasive species and their distribution; and, 6) prairie crocus surveys. August 2013
4 SENSSA Fulbright Ecoblitz Final Report Areas 5 and 6 directly respond to more extensive master’s degree projects being undertaken by two SENS students in the Master of Sustainable Environmental Management Program. These baseline data will help to inform future conservation decisions for the greater Northeast Swale site as urban development pressures increase. Conservation Areas of Interest (Description of Data Collected) 1) Water Quality and Wetland Habitat: Site wetlands were measured for basic water quality parameters (dissolved oxygen, temperature, conductivity, pH, salinity) and water samples were collected at various points along larger ponds to measure the influence of surrounding land use. Water samples were tested for phosphates, nitrates, ammonia concentration, turbidity and general water color. Further, standard measures of wetland habitat were taken including: water depth, basin fill, wetland classification, dominant plant species, sediment description and overall habitat description. 2) Aquatic Insect Communities: Each wetland sampled was surveyed for aquatic insect communities. The presence/absence of certain species is often a valuable indicator of water quality as more sensitive species are not found in poorer wetland habitats. Dip net samples of both the water column and benthos (sediment) were collected with all insects being sorted into their order and family and, in some cases, being identified to species level. 3) Distribution of Rare Plant Species: Instead of taking a general inventory of the site, more sensitive species were located by walking the larger site, the use of larger transects and careful examination of previous areas where rare species had been sighted. These plants were marked with GPS points and then more closely examined to understand their present distribution and overall health. 4) Bird Habitat/Nesting: Mist netting was used to capture various site species followed by bird banding of those species caught in nets. The avian survey volunteers further walked the site to indicate key nesting areas and to identify current residents using the Swale as habitat. Avian inventory also indicated whether species previously found using the site were still occupying it. 5) Noxious Weeds/Invasive Species: Numerous weeds and other invasive plant species rapidly colonize sites after urban pressures increase adjacent to naturalized areas. The increase of road use, construction and emissions from surrounding vehicles create optimal conditions for invasive growth. Volunteers estimated range distribution and percent cover of a number of weed species and took GPS points of key areas for decisions of future treatment or removal. 6) Prairie Crocus: This is an indicator plant species found somewhat extensively throughout the Northeast Swale. Volunteers attempted to not only determine GPS range and distribution of this species, but also to outline specific zones of future concern. It is important to understand the current abundance of crocuses found on the site to aid in long‐term conservation. August 2013
5 SENSSA Fulbright Ecoblitz Final Report Highlights 
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Extensive wetland data were collected on eight ponds of the Northeast Swale for future monitoring. Discovery of a rare fern species, prairie moonwort (Botrychium campestre Wagner & Farrar) that has only been seen four other times in Saskatchewan. Pictured at right, the prairie moonwort is considered endangered by the Saskatchewan Conservation Data Centre.3 Thirty‐nine bird species were identified with ten being caught in mist nets and banded for long term study. Thirty‐one exotic/invasive plant species were detected, two of which had not previously been found in the swale. Three species have been targeted for early detection to prevent their extensive spread. A 50 X 50 m plot of the Northeast Swale was marked and surveyed to determine population densities of prairie crocus. Basic topographical and community data were also collected. Fourteen points over twelve different wetlands were sampled, with 1,515 insects collected. The order Diptera was most abundantly represented; this includes the families Chironimidae (midges), Simuliidae (black flies), and Tipulidae (crane flies). Evaluation of Project Success Attendance There were approximately 30 volunteers that helped collect field data over both days. On June 26th, there were 27 volunteers; this number dropped to 23 volunteers on June 27th. An additional 10 individuals who originally volunteered were unable to participate on either day for various reasons. 3
Nature Saskatchewan. 2013. “Plains Grape‐fern Underfoot.” Nature Views. Page 9. August 2013
6 SENSSA Fulbright Ecoblitz Final Report Participant Response We decided to survey participants after the event as this was a huge learning experience for everyone involved in planning. An event of this type had not previously been planned or undertaken by the SENS community or by SENSSA, and comments from volunteers will help to improve future community engagement projects. The majority of comments were positive. Ecoblitz 2013 sponsored by the Fulbright scholarship was a top notch experience full of learning and laughter. Because of Ecoblitz I was able to experience the ecological rarity and wonder of Saskatoon’s Northeast Swale which I wouldn’t have otherwise. As an aquatic toxicologist working with fish, I was able to gain hands‐on experience participating in three ecological fields that were not my own: botany, birding and aquatic insect identification. Within two days I was able to see and participate in identifying some of the 30 bird species the group found (including a tundra swan!), learn how to properly handle and band birds caught in a mist net, identify and discuss various plant species with botany experts while searching for rare and elusive plants, conduct water quality tests, and learn how to collect and identify emergent aquatic insects. Some of these techniques I now feel confident I could replicate on my own in the future, the water quality and emergent insect collection particularly. Another benefit of participating in Ecoblitz was to work with Saskatoon City, Meewasin Valley and University of Saskatchewan employees and professors, each of them experts in their fields. I learned so much from talking and walking around with them! It was such a joy to meet and work with everyone. Judging by the smiles on everyone’s faces all day long and the camaraderie in the group, I think it’s safe to say that everyone felt the same. Through talking to my new friends I was able to gain a better understanding of the types of jobs available upon graduation. I appreciate the chance to learn about future opportunities and to network with potential employers. Should an event such as Ecoblitz happen again I will be the first to volunteer. Thank you to Fulbright and Anson Main for making Ecoblitz 2013 possible! – Jenna Zee, MES Student, SENS August 2013
7 SENSSA Fulbright Ecoblitz Final Report Having never been to the Northeast Swale before, I was pleasantly surprised to know that we have such a treasure in our city. I worry though about future and current development and how it will impact the Swale (roadways, bridge, neighbourhood developments), but hopefully more work like this will help protect the Swale and highlight the value of it. I think a lot more could also be done to communicate to the public what the Swale is, why it is valuable, and how people can get involved to protect it. A quick Google search simply doesn’t bring up a lot and I think general knowledge about the site is low. – Shannon Dyck,
Environmental Coordinator, City of Saskatoon Environmental Services It was a good experience, and a great opportunity to get exposed to the world of field work. I'd recommend it for anyone who is considering a career in research and wants to get exposed more to what it's actually like working in the field. You get to see things from a different perspective and learn some skills that you can't really learn too many other places. – Trevor Gallagher, U of S Toxicology Undergraduate Student
Thank you for the opportunity to participate in the 2013 Ecoblitz. It was good to get out in the field again! The opportunity to make connections with the participants from other organizations in a hands‐on environment is very much appreciated. I look forward to future Ecoblitz events. ‐ Twyla Yobb, Watershed Protection Manager, City of Saskatoon August 2013
8 SENSSA Fulbright Ecoblitz Final Report Lessons Learned The support provided by the RBC‐Fulbright Eco‐Leadership Grant was critical for the success of this project. Funding, such as that provided by this grant, is essential for a group such as SENSSA to do applied work within the context of an event like the Ecoblitz, while striving to engage the public, raise awareness, and make a difference in the greater community. However, this particular type of project – citizen science and field work collection – brings its own challenges. In order to accurately collect enough data to make a difference, it is important to have enough trained individuals to work with those interested in volunteering, who simply want to learn or help out with data collection. Originally, the event was scheduled to be held in the late spring in order to capture early growth, nesting and insect emergence. We also wanted to involve local schools and take advantage of more volunteer opportunities before summer vacations started. However, with extreme snowfall accumulation across the Canadian Prairies this year, the start of the ecological growing season was delayed by upwards of 3 weeks. This delayed the Ecoblitz until late June. Many student volunteers and other volunteer ecological experts couldn’t then participate, as they had their own fieldwork to do. We had to compromise by having fewer groups collecting a more diverse array of information in order to balance volunteers with little to no fieldwork with those who were more extensively trained. Community partners are a key component of this type of project; however, overall logistics and project planning become difficult when so many partners have competing interests regarding the site or the type of information they want collected. This affected not only site selection, but also the dates of the event, the resources available to us, and led to a few last minute changes. In retrospect, it would have been more useful to set dates early and have a backup plan in case of issues. Interestingly enough, many volunteers initially seemed to be quite concerned with the amount of time they would spend in the field. The hours were therefore reduced to accommodate schedules. Once most people were out at the Swale, they seemed less concerned with time and actually seemed frustrated by the shorter day. Should an event like this happen again, it would be better to have an extremely long day or have a more balanced day (the same amount of time before and after lunch). Although this was a highly successful event, with a great amount of useful data collected, it may be more beneficial to host an event that is immediately appropriate for all skill levels. In other words, volunteer events such as urban re‐forestation or riverbank clean‐ups are much easier to organize and require less expertise to successfully undertake. These August 2013
9 SENSSA Fulbright Ecoblitz Final Report types of events are equally beneficial and still have a strong applied aspect that speaks to both sustainability and interaction between partner agencies. However, they do require less knowledge transfer, which was an important component of this project for the graduate students involved. Conclusion Thanks to the RBC‐Fulbright Eco‐Leadership Grant, SENSSA was able to more actively engage community members and participate in a study leading to applied results. SENS students care about sustainability of the biological resources around us and believe in conserving the benefits and ecosystem services provided by urban ecological systems. We seek to align ourselves with community partners who believe in sound management of the resources within our cities and in balancing the needs of infrastructure with nature. Students from the SENS community are future environmental leaders and seek to make their own research relevant to all citizens through more connectivity to community partners, leading events such as Ecoblitz 2013 to raise awareness of sites such as the Northeast Swale. This type of work helps to protect those sites for future use by plant, animal and even human communities. Our involvement in the field data collection will lead to more informed choices for present and future conservation plans for the Northeast Swale by both the City of Saskatoon and Meewasin Valley Authority. Grant funds were instrumental in purchasing valuable equipment for more extensive field data collection, mapping the site, accurately measuring plant community structure and composition, and analyzing water quality and nutrient loading in wetland systems. This equipment will now be used by other SENS students to help with their research. Meewasin is an excellent example of a community‐engaged partner with conservation interests in mind. August 2013
10 SENSSA Fulbright Ecoblitz Final Report Our data sharing with both the City of Saskatoon and Meewasin will increase the current knowledge of the Northeast Swale. Furthermore, Meewasin has a range of experts on staff that will benefit from the data collected by SENS. The results from the Ecoblitz will help inform scientifically‐based decision‐making, visualization of site ecology through mapping and development of long‐term environmental management plans. These types of partnerships are mutually beneficial as each organization has limited resources to undertake this type of data collection. We are hopeful that our involvement will lead to Meewasin benefitting from other granting agencies as well as they make conservation decisions for the Swale. Thanks to Fulbright’s Eco‐Leadership Grant, we hope to increase our partnerships with other environmental organizations and increase the level of participation by students in the greater community of Saskatoon. August 2013
11 SENSSA Fulbright Ecoblitz Final Report Acknowledgements Thanks to Fulbright Canada for funding support, and to Kaitlyn Innes at Fulbright Canada for her advice over the course of this project. Many people at the School of Environment and Sustainability are owed thanks: Dr. Toddi Steelman for her encouragement to undertake this project and for her sponsorship of this grant on behalf of SENSSA; Irene Schwalm for her assistance in answering many questions regarding “how to;” Sharla Daviduik for organizing equipment purchases and financial reporting, assisting with the final report and for generally being the voice of reason; and, Lesley Porter for helping to publicize the event. Special thanks go to Dr. Vladimir Kricsfalusy for sharing his knowledge of plant ecology and of the study site, and for organizing the rare plant surveys, and to Dr. Christy Morrissey for sharing her avian ecology expertise and for leading the bird banding and avian species identification. Thanks to those from the Meewasin Valley Authority who provided support for the EcoBlitz: Mike Velonas for event oversight and partnership; Luc Delanoy for his extensive knowledge of the Swale; and Sarina Gersher for sharing mapping and other data. Chris Schulz from the City of Saskatoon provided invaluable assistance with organizing permissions and access from the City of Saskatoon. Jenna Zee from SENS and Brandy Postma from Meewasin Valley Authority photographed the event; many thanks for capturing so many photos of the Swale. And, to all of the volunteers who took time out of their busy schedules to participate in the Ecoblitz – thank you! August 2013
12 SENSSA Fulbright Ecoblitz Final Report Participants School of Environment and Sustainability Dr. Vladimir Kricfalusy Dr. Christy Morrissey Jean Kayira Xi Zhao Xiaoxue Li Shweta Jarial Jenna Zee Elvis Zilefac Colleen George Jania Chilima Michael Cavallaro Meghan Kelly Nick Howitt Anson Main Matt Harmin Meewasin Valley Authority Sarina Gersher Brandi Postma Eryn Tomlinson Luc Delanoy Danielle Schindelka Curtis Theoret Taylor MacPherson City of Saskatoon Scott Colville Twyla Yobb Joshua Quintal Shannon Dyck Amber Jones August 2013
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