Jasper National Park’s Heritage River:

Jasper National Park’s Heritage River:Jasper National Park’s Heritage River:

The

Athabasca

Canadian Heritage Rivers System

• Outstanding natural beauty

• Historical significance

• River recreation

The Athabasca River

• Longest river in Alberta

• Longest undammed river in the prairies

• A glacially-fed river that originates from the Columbia Icefield

• Glacial meltwater full of rock flour

• Section of the river in JNP nominated to the Canadian Heritage Rivers System

Outstanding Natural Beauty: From Start to…

• Ends at the Peace-Athabasca Delta

• One of the major drainage conduits for western Canada

Finish

• Also spelled “Athabaska” and “Athapaska”

• Athabasca watershed used for hunting and fishing by many FN groups - a practice that continues today.

Cultural Significance: The Place Where There are Reeds

• Fur trade• Railway/ Road

construction

Cultural Significance: European Arrival

• Rafting, canoeing, kayaking

• Fishing, camping• Wildlife watching• Municipal,

agricultural & industrial use

Recreational Value: Present Day

• Correcting fish habitat fragmentation

• Fishing regulations

What Parks Canada is doing to Address Human Impacts on the River

• Parks Canada & Municipality of Jasper’s new sewage treatment plant

What Parks Canada is doing to Address Human Impacts on the River

• Five pulp mills• Low-end sewage

treatment plants• Oil sands

Tailings ponds adjacent to the Athabasca River hold water contaminated by oil sands operations. Photo: David Dodge, The Pembina Institute

Human Impact: Beyond the Borders of Jasper National Park

Examples of Environmental Stewardship

• Awareness campaigns aimed at strengthening people's awareness and connection to the river

• Voicing Albertans' concerns and expectations regarding the Athabasca and Alberta's future.

• http://www.connectingthedrops.ca/video/qs05

Keepers of the Athabasca Keepers of the Athabasca Watershed SocietyWatershed Society

Connecting the DropsConnecting the Drops

Finding the Balance

SustainabilitySustainability

Resource Resource DevelopmentDevelopment OtherOther

StewardshipStewardship

SpiritualitySpirituality

Athabasca Athabasca River River BasinBasin

If you drink from the waters of the Athabasca River, you will return to drink

the water again. -- Native Legend

If you drink from the waters of the Athabasca River, you will return to drink

the water again. -- Native Legend

• Historically and currently, do you think there have been conflicts between different groups (Aboriginals, fur traders, industry, farmers/ranchers) who use the Athabasca River? How have/might these be resolved?

• Why is the Athabasca River so important to us?

• What can you/we do to protect the river?

Discussion Points:

Sources

• Gadd, B. (1995) Handbook of the Canadian Rockies

• http://www.connectingthedrops.ca/

• Canadian Heritage Rivers System http://www.chrs.ca/