On the fourth Sunday of September each year, Canada celebrates World Rivers Day. This is a day that recognizes and celebrates the many values of our waterways, and aims to create awareness and better stewardship of our environment.
Rivers and waterways are the lifeblood of our province; they connect us all and provide outstanding outdoor recreation opportunities and drinking water. They support a range of species and ecosystems, and are an important piece of our history and culture.
Celebrating rivers allows us to celebrate those that help protect our rivers. Volunteering with local conservation and stewardship efforts and fundraisers makes a positive difference to the health of your local watershed. Rivers and freshwater ecosystems are among the most imperiled ecosystems on earth, threatened by pollution, invasive species, and climate change so they need your help.
World Rivers Day also allows us to celebrate those water watch dogs that monitor water to ensure it remains healthy and safe for all users. #4watersheds is a new group that is encouraging people to take part in a project to help identify nutrient contamination hot spots using an app to test waters near them. The information collected will be used to study how Saskatchewan rivers may be contributing nitrates and phosphates downstream to other rivers and eventually to Lake Winnipeg. To learn more about this, visit their Facebook Group calledÌýNutrient Watch: Testing the Waters Together.
Wetlands, potholes, sloughs or marshes are interconnected with rivers across our watersheds. By conserving wetlands, people significantly improve the health of rivers, as the wetlands capture and store runoff and then slowly release it downstream. Nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus are removed in the process, excess amounts of which can cause algal blooms that turn rivers and lakes green, and can be toxic to fish, people, and other animals. Wetland conservation is a value-added approach, since along with water quality benefits, this single action also protects us from flood and drought, helps fight climate change, and provides wildlife habitat.
Celebrating your local river is easy! Learn something new about it, the wildlife and plants that live in or around it, its history and how it benefits your community. Bring others along, encouraging them to enjoy these special waterways as well. Take pictures and create memories, and share your experiences on social media. Rivers also offer many recreation opportunities including angling, paddling, hiking, and bird watching. (Remember, boating can contribute to the spread of invasive species like zebra mussels so please clean, drain, and dry your boat and equipment before use.) Get outside and enjoy!
ÌýMichael Champion, Head of Industry and Government Relations, Ducks Unlimited Canada – Saskatchewan
ÌýDucks Unlimited Canada (DUC) is the leader in wetland conservation. A registered charity, DUC partners with government, industry, non-profit organizations and landowners to conserve wetlands that are critical to waterfowl, wildlife and the environment. Ìý
