Lesser Slave Watershed Council Vision
A healthy resilient watershed that is valued and stewarded by engaged citizens and communities.
Mission Statement
The Lesser Slave Watershed Council works to improve and maintain a healthy watershed through education, planning and implementation of shared initiatives in support of communities and ecosystems throughout the region.
What does the LSWC do?
The LSWC is a non profit, charitable organization governed by a multi stakeholder volunteer board of directors. The LSWC is the Watershed Planning and Advisory Council for the Lesser Slave Watershed, a Water for Life Strategy partner in Alberta.
Our work includes:
- Monitoring and reporting on the health of the Lesser Slave Watershed.
- Collaboration with governments and stakeholders on watershed management planning and implementation.
- Creating and delivering education and outreach programs that raise water literacy and encourage environmental stewardship.
- Promoting and supporting on the ground projects that improve watershed resiliency.
News and Upcoming Events
Watershed Resiliency Workshops for Landowners!
Smith - August 12, 2021
The events are free to attend, and there will be coffee and refreshments provided! We hope to see you there!
To register for the SMITH workshop - Thursday, August 12, 2021 6:30-8:30pm - Click HERE
Waterlution: Young Water Speaks Travelling Expedition
The LSWC has an exciting new exhibition coming to the Lesser Slave Watershed! One day only! Join us Saturday, July 24th for the "Waterlution: Water Speaks Travelling Art Expedition” at the Joussard Community Hall! We will have the exhibit set up from 10am to 4pm!This event is an opportunity to showcase water related works of art that tell the story of water from various perspectives! It is a Canada-wide exhibit that showcases the winners and honorable mentions of the Young Water Speaks storytelling contest! The exhibit is full of unique stories from various perspectives, and uses different types of media to illustrate the stories! The event is free to attend and everyone is welcome! We will have information, refreshments, and goodies for the kids, plus lots of art to look at!
We hope to see you there! For more information, please contact Kate at (780) 523-9800 or by email at [email protected]
LSWC Bursary Fundraiser 2021!
The Lesser Slave Watershed Council is selling rain barrels made from repurposed drums from Bim's Carwash in High Prairie!
Rain barrels are a great way to conserve water to help the environment! Rain water can be used to water your garden or lawn, and helps to filter rain water, keeping it clean and out of our storm drains! Did you know that the rain water and run off that enters our storm drains is not treated before it is sent back into out natural waterways? Help mitigate the effects of storm water run off by reusing your rain water with a rain barrel!
Each rain barrel is $60, and all proceeds will go towards funding our bursary! The LSWC accepts cash or cheques (payable to the Lesser Slave Watershed Council). We ask that you pick up your orders from our office, located at 4833 52nd Ave. High Prairie, AB., by appointment ONLY.
If you are interested in purchasing one of our rain barrels, please contact us to place your order:
email: [email protected]
phone: (780) 523-9800
Direct Message us on Facebook
LSWC's Elliott & Rosche Memorial Bursary - Applications Due June 1 Annually
Great news! The LSWC is proud to announce a new bursary honoring two of our late founding board members! The bursary is available to anyone living in the Lesser Slave Watershed and registered to attend a post-secondary program at a recognized institution. The application deadline for this opportunity is June 1st, annually; any applications received after June 1st will be saved for consideration in the following year. The bursary will be awarded to a post-secondary student pursuing environmental sciences, biology, earth sciences, or a water focused program. For more information about the bursary and to apply, click here. We are currently accepting applications for the 2022-2023 academic year! Applications will be accepted until June 1st, 2022.
The bursary is funded by donations. Want to donate to help shape the future of young minds? Donate here, or contact the LSWC office for alternative ways to donate. All donations $20 or more are eligible for a tax receipt.
2021 Recipient: Sarah Cairns!
The LSWC is proud to announce the recipient of our inaugural Elliott & Rosche Memorial Bursary for the 2021-2022 academic year, Sarah Cairns! The application period was short this year, running from April 16th to June 1st, for which we received 3 applications! We are so happy to award this bursary to Sarah! She is currently attending post-secondary at Olds College, pursuing a Land and Water Resources Diploma, with a double major in Environmental Stewardship and Rural Planning and Land Reclamation and Remediation, for which she plans to complete in 2022. From there, Sarah will transfer to the University of Alberta to complete a Bachelor of Environmental Science with a major in Conservation Biology. We wish her the best in her studies! Board members George Keay and Nona Elliott, alongside the LSWC executive director, Meghan Payne and watershed mascot Phil, were delighted to present the bursary to Sarah at the LSWC office on June 25th, 2021.
Left to right: George Keay (LSWC Board Member), Nona Elliott (LSWC Board Member), Phil (Watershed Council Mascot), Sarah Cairns (Bursary Recipient), Meghan Payne (Executive Director LSWC)
Contribute to the LSWC Through Citizen Science!
Want to become a citizen scientist for the LSWC? Check out the ABMI NatureLynx app!
Do you go for nature walks? Bird watch? Take pictures of different plant or animal species? Do you get excited about biodiversity?
Check out the Lesser Slave Watershed group, see what species have already been found within the Lesser Slave Watershed, and add your own sightings!
Add to our Missions:
- Counting Biodiversity in the Lesser Slave Watershed
- Finding the Cool and Unusual in the Lesser Slave Watershed
- Invasive Species in the Lesser Slave Watershed
All data from the ABMI NatureLynx app is open sourced, and can help more than just the LSWC to determine biodiversity, species occurrence, and so much more! Consider taking the time to make a difference in science and data collection today!
Do You Take Awesome Photos in Our Watershed?
Are you an amateur photographer? Do you have calendar worthy photos from within the Lesser Slave Watershed? We want to see them! Send photo entries to [email protected] to enter them in our 2022 calendar photo contest! We are collecting photos year round!
Please include a message stating that you would like to enter the photo for the 2022 calendar, and let us know who took the photo, so we can give credit to the photographer! Please note that all entries submitted may be used in future promotional materials in the future.
Become an LSWC member
Receive updates, news letters, project reports and vote at the AGM- Click here