BurningChrome

If every project always worked within threshold limits then there would be no need for any regulatory enforcement/compliance. Since such a thing exists, then I'd suspect that sometimes there is a disconnect between the engineers or consultants who wrote the plans and the folks actually doing the work. Like bcube said, the only true vindication is if they show up on site after someone calls in a complaint when seeing significant turbidity and determine that they are within the thresholds.

So OHVs or peoples' trucks in the water - bad. Backhoe in the water - ok.

This sounds like the best solution for folks who want to fish down there. Just know that if you do happen to be trespassing at the time and spray the dog you're in the wrong and could be charged.

Feel free to share it anywhere. I can say this mostly because I think I reviewed and edited it for him at least a dozen times

Probably a good idea for people to read this: http://aep.alberta.ca/lands-forests/shorelands/water-boundaries.aspx

Is there an official announcement? I've heard rumours but nothing concrete.

Go into your favourite fly shop and ask them which service they use. Guides need someone very reliable since a missed or late shuttle reflects poorly on them and the shop and can result in loss of tip and repeat clients. That's what I did when I got my Watermaster and have since only used Mel.

Already trying to make a difference. This ad will be aired on CJOC in Lethbridge. https://clyp.it/xciewks1#

TOO POLITICAL!

Well, even though I'm one of those socialist lefties I'll help you out. First, you can start by writing a letter to Mr. Jean as one of his voters stating that if he were to roll back all the changes that he would lose your vote. Second, if he does not change his stance and the WRP merges with the Conservatives you can buy a membership and support another leadership candidate - one who will not roll back the changes. Third, if you haven't already, fill out the survey stating your support for the changes. If the majority of the people who fill out the survey support the changes then no politician in their right mind would continue to say they'll roll them back. If all that fails I guess I'll see you at our next meeting, comrade

Actually I don't think the new regs take effect until April 1st according to http://www.albertaregulations.ca/fishingregs/

Just realized something. There's nothing in the new regs about the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary...

They have an app for it too. Search for "Alberta rivers" in the Play store.

Talking about the reporting station for Calgary? Pretty sure that station was broken last summer by construction work.

I don't tie on them myself, but this is worth a read if you do. http://flyfishalberta.com/jensenflyfishing/new-video-trouble-at-the-mustad-ranch/

Yup, we need to stop worrying about how long it has been here and concentrate on limiting/slowing the spread by anglers and other recreational river users. Everyone say it with me - clean, drain, dry.

I'm ok with the increase for now. They can always make more adjustments next year after seeing if this makes any difference. I'm actually more disappointed that there was no change in barbed vs barbless hooks, especially on 0 limit waterbodies.

They jacked up the license fees for non-residents too.

It isn't a done deal yet. We should thank them by filling out the survey to provide feedback on the plan and let them know they've made the right decisions.

That's because the previous government had no plan to manage OHV use and just let them go where they pleased. OHV use is currently allowed on 90% of public lands in Alberta.

Absolutely. They've already run full page ads in the Calgary Herald, Edmonton Journal, and Lethbridge Herald - possibly others as well. It'd be nice to see them actually invest the money in creating sustainable trails and rider education instead.

We still need to keep encouraging people to fill out the draft management plan survey though. Everything I've heard says that the overwhelming majority of responses to it have been from OHV users. One of the guys from Backcountry Hunters and Anglers went to the info session at Chain Lakes last weekend and was told by the Parks folks that they need to hear a lot more support from our sectors (hunters, anglers, hikers, paddlers, etc). I agree - a well-engineered, sustainable trail system could even be a tourist attraction like Moab and the Rubicon. I'm not anti-OHV, I'm only opposed to irresponsible use. Kevin Van Tighem wrote an excellent op-ed about the need for OHVs to have trails and I agree with him. I wouldn't want to see this happen. There shouldn't be any OHV use so close to the headwaters, even if it's responsible use. There are still a bunch of issues around soil compaction and sedimentation even with responsible use. Plus I think either way we need parklands without the constant noise and fear of being run over.

Yeah that's why I only use kijiji as a last resort. I post all my fly gear in the trading post here and on the Alberta Flyfishing - Buy, Sell, Trade Facebook group. Had pretty good luck that way.

The conversation about this has been absolutely dominated by the OHV users. Don't just fill out the survey but send it to any hunters and anglers you know who may not have filled it out yet. This isn't only about OHVs either - the draft management plan also bans motorized random camping aka the squatters we all know and love.

Man that's a tough one. I've seen lots of people online completely lose it even when the person pointing out poor handling did it very tactfully. I haven't been in this position yet though so I'll let you know what I do if it ever happens. I think the problem here is that people see the hero shot but don't know how they got there. They only see that frozen moment in time and can't see that maybe the fish was in the water right up until a second or two before the shutter opened. I think some people might concentrate so much on replicating that photo or getting some other perfect composition that they end up handling the fish much longer than they should. Maybe the real problem is that the magazines need to stop showing the same old type of hero shots. I'm so bored with them that I'd much rather see a picture of a release or a fish half submerged or anything different than the typical arms stretched out, elbows in, forced perspective shot. I think you alluded to the real problem. Because of social media some people are so obsessed with getting lots of followers or "likes" that they take a pic of every single fish they catch, not just the first or the finer specimens. I've also seen A LOT of people on social media take multiple pictures of the same "good" fish from different angles just so they can post it days or weeks apart as different fish. I always have a good laugh when I see someone post a pic from the Bow "today" and the background is sunny and blue skies when it was overcast all day. I even saw pictures posted in the fall claiming to be from that day where the grass on the banks was still green but it had actually turned brown a couple weeks before. Hell, I even heard a story of one Instagrammer who fishes the Bow and has lots of followers changing their hat and jacket during a "hero shoot" for that sort of purpose. Sorry, guess that's my rant