Oldman Watershed Council

It’s not difficult to see that Clancy Holthe is a farmer when you meet him;
he has a warm, open face that’s always quick with a smile, a strong,
callused handshake, and an eagerness to chat about the weather, 4-H, and
more. Clancy’s farm is nestled in amongst the coulees, sitting alongside
the Little Bow river like they’re old friends. During the photography tour
held at the property, goats, cattle, horses, and one happy little pig posed
for pictures while the Holthes proudly explained how their operation is
run. It’s clear that everything is done with a quiet demeanour and a
determination that can only be ancestral, a grit that’s been passed down
through generations of farmers that has helped them push through drought,
recessions, sick livestock, and more. Last fall, willows were staked along
the banks of Clancy’s property in an effort to decrease erosion and promote
a healthy riparian area. Before the stakes were even fully secured in the
ground, Clancy spoke of the potential for more. The enthusiasm for the
future and what it could hold is both exciting and inspiring. Farming is
more than a job; it’s a legacy, and one that Clancy intends to carry on.
Agricultural producers take their jobs as stewards very seriously; there’s
no doubt that the land is in very good hands at the Holthe farm.

Watershed Stewardship Assistants Shannon Hart and Conlan Donahue were lucky
enough to sit down for an interview with Mike Munton. Mike is the owner and
operator of Benchmark Angus and Ben’s Quality Meats. In agriculture,
especially the cattle business, the interactions with water and the land
are crucial components of the industry. They are responsible for creating
delicious food products that residents across the country enjoy eating
almost every single day. Mike tells us how he is leading the industry in
the ways of producing food that people enjoy, while going the extra mile to
take long term care of the part of the watershed his operations reside in.
We enjoyed some fantastic doughnuts from Bootsma Bakery while diving deeper
with Mike into what it takes to produce food in the cattle industry.

he winter morning air may be brisk but the welcome is warm for Doug Kaupp,
the City of Lethbridge’s manager of water, wastewater, and stormwater. The
smell of coffee and baked goods lingers in OWC’s boardroom, where Doug has
spent numerous hours acting as the chair of the OWC Board of Directors.
Doug’s professional role is to not only provide clean drinking water to
130,000 Lethbridge residents, but to also treat the wastewater coming from
industry and households; additionally, he’s also willing to get his hands
dirty to improve the state of the watershed! Whether he is exacting
vengeance on spotted knapweed at a local weed pull, planting willow after
willow, or learning more about food production, he is always striving to
give back to the area he calls home. Doug is quietly unassuming, though
there is a twinkle in his eye; the passion for what he does is clear as he
expertly explains the connections between people, industry, and the
headwaters. Just as the water he manages is vital to the watershed, it is
inarguable that Doug Kaupp is equally essential to the water.

t was September 2017 when my classmates and I jumped on a school bus on
route to Timber Ridge as part of our typical fall field trip schedule, at
Lethbridge College. We had a list of to-do’s when we arrived at the ranch,
which included setting up bat detectors, wildlife cameras, and tube traps
for hair collection. As we neared our arrival at the ranch, we traveled
west on a gravel road, the road wound into the Porcupine Hills where we
entered a paradise of grasslands, mixed forests, and beautiful wetlands. I
still remember where we parked. As we exited the bus single file, Glen and
Kelly Hall greeted us with big smiles and a heart full of passion for
conservation and particularly Timber Ridge. Brad Taylor, a former Alberta
Conservation Association (ACA) employee, and now our professor, had met
Glen and Kelly years prior working with them on the property, and
graciously introduced us students to them.

“Wow, this is beautiful,” We whisper to each other as we slip through the
large metal gate into an outdoor patio, lush with plants and brightly
coloured chairs. A door opens to our left and Kelti Baird welcomes us to
Theoretically Brewing Co., the business she created with Kris Fischer. We
step into the cool air of the building, grateful to be out of the September
sun. There are vines crawling across the ceiling towards the door,
beckoning us into the brewery. The inside is vibrant yet cosy; there are
jewel tones and patterned fabric to get lost amongst, accented by southern
Alberta décor. It isn’t hard to imagine the taproom, though quiet today,
bustling with laughter and endless flights of delicious ales as people
gather to discuss politics, pets, and everything in between.  

Intro by Brandon Regier. Interview and transcription conducted by Brandon Regier.I had the opportunity to interview Cody Spencer, a friend of Oldman Watershed Councils, and a local bison rancher here in Southern Alberta. Cody grew up in the area in and...

The driveway had been repaired since our last visit, and our ascent was
smooth. Perched atop a grassy knoll, Api’soomaahka’s (William Singer III)
home is one of many on Kainai Nation. Rolling hills and prairie stretch out
toward Chief Mountain, dappled with varying hues of green from the patches
of native grass crawling over the landscape. Api’soomaahka came to greet us
as blackbirds swooped overhead. 

Hear first-hand from our staff and volunteers about the highlights of our
fall field season!

The theme of this year’s KEPA Summit was “Water Conservation for the
Future.” We learned about many exciting projects happening in our watershed
and beyond, and OWC’s very own Executive Director was honoured in a special
ceremony.