March would not be complete without acknowledging World Water Day celebrated on March 22. The theme for 2021 is Valuing Water! #WorldWaterDay and Water2me.
So when you are out enjoying the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, know that learning about the underground natural springs, the wetlands and the formation of the West Swale via the Yorath Island Glacial Spillway is a great way to learn about the South Saskatchewan Watershed which supplies the City of Saskatoon drinking water. A valuable commodity which is supplied by a “free” ecosystem service. This service will only provide supply if we take care of our ecosystem.
The trees and vegetation, which cover the land surface of the Earth and delight the eye, are performing vital tasks incumbent upon the vegetable world in nature. Its presence is essential to earth as an organism. It is the first condition of all life; it it the ‘skin’ of the earth, for without it there can be no water, and therefore, no life.~Richard St. Barbe Baker
Water ~ critical long range planning
“Of the earth’s thirty billion acres, already nine billion acres are desert. And if a man loses a third of his skin, he dies; plastic surgeons say “He’s had it.” And if a tree loses one-third of its bark, it dies. And if the earth loses one-third of its green mantle of trees, it will die. The water table will sink beyond recall and life on this planet will become impossible. It’s being skinned alive today…” Richard St. Barbe Baker
What is your story about how you value water? Do you value the community volunteer Clean Green Community Scene trash cleanups which keep the West Swale wetlands water fresh and clean? Do you value the Chappell Marsh wetlands located in both Chappell Marsh Conservation Area and in Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area which provide habitat for a number of species at risk waterfowl? Check out the iNaturalist.pdf pamphlet!
There are stories indeed about water and how the stewards and stakeholders of the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestion Areas value water on a variety of levels.
Did you take part in the Government of Canada freshwater management consultation? The consultation paved the way to creating a Canada Water Agency to keep our water fresh and clean! 😉 Read the Government of Canada’s Discussion Paper “Toward the Creation of a Canada Water Agency.” The University of Saskatchewan also discusses this project.
Do you value water? Do you conserve and preserve water at home? Do you appreciate walks alongside the water’s edge and observe the blackbirds, ducks, geese and herons? Do you participate in the community cleanups to keep our wetlands fresh and healthy?
For the Take It Outside Winter Staycation challenge. Email us your wetlands photograph out at Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area
Download our local wetlands bird checklist Pamphlet.
For directions as to how to drive to “George Genereux” Urban Regional Park- For directions on how to drive to Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area
- For more information:
- Blairmore Sector Plan Report; planning for the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, George Genereux Urban Regional Park and West Swale and areas around them inside of Saskatoon city limits
- NEW P4G District Official Community Plan
- Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area is located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada north of Cedar Villa Road, within city limits, in the furthest south west area of the city. 52° 06′ 106° 45′
- Addresses:
- Part SE 23-36-6 – Afforestation Area – 241 Township Road 362-A
- Part SE 23-36-6 – SW Off-Leash Recreation Area (Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area ) – 355 Township Road 362-A
- S ½ 22-36-6 Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area (West of SW OLRA) – 467 Township Road 362-A
- NE 21-36-6 “George Genereux” Afforestation Area – 133 Range Road 3063
- Wikimapia Map: type in Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area
- Google Maps South West Off Leash area location pin at parking lot
- Web page: https://stbarbebaker.wordpress.com
- Where is the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area? with map
- Where is the George Genereux Urban Regional Park (Afforestation Area)?with map
YouTubePlaylist
Pinterest richardstbarbeb
Blogger: FriendsAfforestation
Tumblr friendsafforestation.tumblr.com
Facebook Group Page: Users of the George Genereux Urban Regional Park
Facebook: StBarbeBaker Afforestation Area
Facebook for the non profit Charity Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. FriendsAreas
Facebook group page : Users of the St Barbe Baker Afforestation Area
Facebook: South West OLRA
Reddit: FriendsAfforestation
Twitter: St Barbe Baker Charity Twitter:FriendsAreas
Mix: friendsareas
Please help protect / enhance your afforestation areas, please contact the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. (e-mail / e-transfers )Support the afforestation areas with your donation or membership ($20.00/year). Please donate by paypal using the e-mail friendsafforestation AT gmail.com, or by using e-transfers Please and thank you! Your donation and membership is greatly appreciated. Members e-mail your contact information to be kept up to date! Canada Helps
United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration
- Use the UN Decade’s Visual Identity
- Make it your own
- Spread the word about the UN Decade
- Let’s Bring Back Forests
- Let’s Green Our Cities
“I thought how lovely and how strange a river is. A river is a river, always there, and yet the water flowing through it is never the same water and is never still. It’s always changing and is always on the move. And over time the river itself changes too.
Aiden Chambers
Life is like the river, sometimes it sweeps you gently along and sometimes the rapids come out of nowhere.
Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area. George Genereux Urban Regional Park. 