Riparian areas provide critical functions for watershed health. Water quality and other aquatic habitat features are protected by intact and stable riparian zones. The assessment, protection and restoration of riparian areas are essential aspects of watershed management. However, consistent and broad-scale data on riparian conditions are not yet available for the North Saskatchewan River Basin (NSRB).

To address this gap, NSWA has developed a proposal to integrate a suite of riparian assessment tools for broad-scale application and apply these methods to two streams in the Edmonton region (Strawberry Creek and Horsehills Creek) in 2008. Methods that are developed will be utilized in 2009 to assess riparian conditions across the basin to support Integrated Watershed Management Planning. This project is supported through funding from EPCOR and the City of Edmonton, and will be developed in collaboration with the Alberta Conservation Association. We have also received an Alberta Ecotrust Major Project Grant Program for funding support.