The Oldman Watershed Council (OWC) is going to have to make a successful pitch in order for the M.D. of Taber to continue its membership into the organization.
Council unanimously passed a motion earlier this month to invite Terry Kerkhoff, chairman for OWC, to make a presentation to council at its next meeting, highlighting the strengths in membership in the organization.
“I’m probably going to get in trouble for saying this, it’s a yearly membership in which it’s not that much money, but I just don’t know how much we get out of this,” said Brian Brewin, reeve for the M.D. of Taber, in which the OWC is requesting 30 cents per resident, which amounts to $2,014.
The OWC’s claims in its correspondence to M.D. council is it educates people and provides them with the tools to make positive changes, which translates into clean water supplies and healthy, functioning natural ecosystems.
Coun. Don Johnson echoed some of Brewin’s concerns but saw some worth to the watershed council in its political connections.
“I do think it is important to keep an eye on some of these issues involving agriculture and irrigation. They do have some input through water councils to the minister of  environment. They do have some influence there,” said Johnson.
Oldman Watershed Council highlighted in its correspondence eight of its accomplishments it achieved over this past year, which included completing a long-term watershed management planning roadmap. Also, a Willow Creek groundwater study will be completed in February.
Among the other accomplishments was the OWC Urban Team holding a workshop to assist municipalities with writing and implementing a water conservation, efficiency and productivity plan. Twelve watershed legacy programs projects were completed that removed 1,200 cows from riparian areas and streams, removed 500 bags of weeds and engaged 500 people in watershed stewardship. The OWC also launched a research and monitoring project directory that summarizes current research occurring in the watershed where 58 projects were found.