The Bow River, between Calgary and Carseland, has a well deserved reputation in the fly fishing community of being a world class "blue ribbon" trout stream.
However, there are some who float the Bow who seem oblivious to this, and who treat our river as a garbage dump.
One long time fly fisher, Peter C., sent us a fishing report. At the end of his report, he wrote:
"It is disappointing to see all the trash left by weekend floaters - broken glass, food hampers and left over float tubes and clothing. My dog was lucky not to cut his feet. I wonder what the landowners think? Will we get banned from using the river bank?
By the time I reached McKinnon's I had a garbage bag full of junk. It just p--s me off to see the abuse of the river bank. All we seem to be able to do is pick up other people's trash."
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Courtesy: Yellowstone River Cleanup
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We invite all Bow River fly fishers to join hands in a "Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup" (GCSC) event scheduled for the weekend of Sept 17 & 18 - The 2nd Annual "Blue Ribbon Bow River Cleanup".
Take along a pair of canvass gloves, a few garbage bags and a pen or pencil on your float trip that weekend. See if you can match Peter C.'s efforts by leaving your reach of river a little bit cleaner that you found it on that particular day.
If you're planning a walk and wade trip anywhere along the lower Bow River, consider doing the same.
This event applies to any section of the river, from the Glenmore Trail/Graves Landing boat launch to Johnson's Island at Carseland Weir.
To be part of this event, GCSC asks each participant for two things:
1. All participants MUST sign the Liability Waiver
2. Participants fill out and submit their Data Card, which is a record of what garbage was picked up.
After your participation in this event, I would ask that you please scan and email your completed Waiver forms and Data Cards to michelle@bowrivershuttles.com.
As the volunteer "GCSC Site Coordinator" for this event, I will compile the results from the Data Cards into the Group Summary Card and submit that to GCSC.
We encourage everyone who is planning to be on the Bow River on that weekend to make of point of signing up and being part of this national campaign!
To register for this event, please contact me with your interest as soon as possible. I will send you the Waiver form and the Data Card.
Finally, here is a link to our GCSC page: Blue Ribbon Bow River Cleanup
Thank you.
Kindest regards,
Michelle Magotiaux
Garbage Pickup:
a) Fish Creek Provincial Park and Wyndham-Carseland Provincial Park: The managers of the Provincial Parks have notified their respective contractors that there might be extra garbage at those boat launches on that weekend.
b) McKinnon Flats: Alberta Conservation Association has advised their contractor of the same.
c) Policeman's Flats and Legacy Island: Bow River Shuttles will pick up extra garbage at those sites.
The Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup is the largest cleanup in Canada and one of the largest cleanups in the world contributing to the Ocean Conservancy's International Coastal Cleanup. Since inception of the program, nearly one million kilograms of shoreline litter has been removed from our fragile ecosystem.
Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup
