Piper Creek-A Year in Review

Piper Creek-A Year In Review-Piper Creek is a tributary of Wascasoo Creek which flows into the Red Deer River. Near the upstream limits of the City of Red Deer, Piper Creek flows through a property that was historically used primarily for agriculture. The City of Red Deer has since annexed the land and the property is the site of the Piper Creek Restoration Agriculture Project which aims to repair the land and water on the site.

2015 Trout Unlimited Canada came on board in 2015 after being awarded funding from Environment Canada’s Environmental Damages Fund for a two-year restoration project aimed at improving riparian and aquatic health along Piper Creek, and to remove an existing stream crossing. The Piper Creek Fish Habitat Enhancement Project was launched in partnership with ReThink Red Deer, the City of Red Deer, and Cows and Fish. An electrofishing survey conducted in September 2015 provided useful insight into the fish community living in the stream, and some clues about the health of the stream.

2016

Restoration activities were planned during the winter and spring of 2016, and additional funding for the project was awarded by the RBC Blue Water Fund to support the stream crossing removal and additional riparian restoration efforts. During several riparian restoration workdays, over 1400 live cuttings of Willow, Poplar, and Dogwood were harvested from the nearby Oxbows Dog Park and planted along Piper Creek. Another 175 potted native plants including Saskatoon, Balsam Poplar, Bebb’s Willow, and Gooseberry were also planted and wire fences were installed to keep the local critters at bay while these become established during their first growing season.

Fall 2016 saw the major activity of the project (the stream crossing removal) finally come to fruition. Over the span of four days in late September, Piper Creek was isolated, a fish rescue was undertaken to remove fish from the work area and an excavator was used to remove the crossing which consisted of concrete rubble, crushed culverts, and various other debris. The material was then disposed of at the nearby Red Deer Regional Waste Management Facility.

Once the crossing was removed, the stream banks were rebuilt using soil-wrapped Bio-D blocks made of coconut fibre, with layers of live Willow, and Dogwood stakes sandwiched in between. Next spring, these stakes will sprout and grow, and the Bio-D blocks will slowly break down over time. The stream banks were rebuilt to mirror the upstream and downstream banks which were undisturbed.

The old road approaches were also decommissioned using the excavator to loosen the compacted soils and create a wealth of diverse microhabitats where different plant species can establish and thrive. This area was also planted extensively with Sandbar Willow, Yellow Willow, and Red Osier Dogwood, and was seeded with four species of native grasses as well as locally collected Fireweed seeds.

Additional plantings of Trembling Aspen, Yellow Willow, Dogwood, and Saskatoon were installed along the stream banks adjacent to the crossing in late October, during the final volunteer planting event for 2016.

Next spring and summer, diligent care will be required to ensure that the preferred plant species are the ones which prevail during the 2017 growing season. Without routine weeding and watering, the area will likely return to a cover of weedy species, much like the surrounding area. Once the preferred species have reached an adequate height, they will be able to fend off the weedy species and improve habitat for the local fish, wildlife, and bird populations. Additional riparian planting may be undertaken in 2017.

TUC is grateful to all that have helped make this project a success over the last year including the above-mentioned groups as well as Olds College, Red Deer River Naturalists, Red Deer River Watershed Alliance, Red Deer College, and the Central Alberta Chapter of TUC.