Reflecting on my Time Monitoring the North Saskatchewan River
Alex Wong sampling the North Saskatchewan River
As we begin the new year, Alex Wong, who worked this summer as the Community-Based Water Monitoring Coordinator in Edmonton took some time to reflect on his learnings from the North Saskatchewan River. He wanted to share his experience of getting to know the river and the Edmontonians who love it.
First and foremost, I was really struck by Edmontonians' passion for the North Saskatchewan River (NSR) and the massive Valley that surrounds it. On many occasions, I was stopped by curious dog walkers, boaters, canoers, or waders who were curious about our monitoring work and excited to share their experiences on the river with me. In addition to this, I’ve been blown away by the interest from Edmonton’s volunteer community. It was a pleasure getting to know our volunteers. They learned about our work and sampling procedures, asked interesting questions, and braved the elements with me for the entire season, and I’m truly grateful to have shared this experience with them.
During my time monitoring, I got to experience firsthand just how much the different sampling areas along the NSR vary in terms of access and usage. Some areas, such as the Capilano Boat Launch, were very accessible, thanks to paved pathways leading directly into the water, while others, such as the Terwillegar Dog Park, require traversing down steep, muddy slopes. As for usage, some sites are very popular with boaters, canoers and swimmers, while others are more popular for beach walkers and picnics.
I got to meet with many different non-profit organizations that are working hard to preserve the River Valley as a valuable green space for residents and wildlife. I am grateful for the work of the community to help protect this beloved place that I am proud to call home.
Alex Wong leading volunteers during a sampling session
It’s been an absolute pleasure working with the Swim Drink Fish team to build our water monitoring program in the Edmonton area. We're excited to be part of this vibrant community moving forward and we are incredibly grateful for all of the support we have received from everyone who loves the North Saskatchewan River as much as we do!
