A Rocky View resident is hoping to see portions of the county’s landscape return to its past glory.
Sarah Leete, who took up residence in the Cochrane area in 1979, has announced the creation of the Little Creeks and Rough Fescue Appreciation Society (LCARF).
The group, which is yet to receive its official society status, will work to promote the importance of small creeks, encourage good stewardship of riparian habitats and promote replanting of rough fescue grass.
“My wish would be that if anyone has a chance to reconstitute land that they would try to do it with native grasses,” said Leete. “The other thing is that if people do disturb land along creeks, that they make sure they deal with the noxious weeds.”
Leete, who describes herself as a ‘horse person,’ has made her living from boarding horses and teaching riding lessons.
Farming the land of her quarter section, which includes a spring that feeds into Horse Creek, a tributary of the Bow River, has taught Leete about grass and water management over the years.
“In 1979, I didn’t know rough fescue from a toad stool,” she said. “I didn’t come into this as a knowledgeable grass person.”
But that has all changed. Leete is now a vocal proponent of the native, perennial bunch grass that once grew all over the prairies and provided fodder for herds of bison, deer and elk.
She also actively promotes its cultivation, saying that rough fescue is an excellent forage material for horses, as it maintains much of its nutrition during the winter and is easier to chew than many cultivated varieties, such as alfalfa.
The plant is suited to its native environment, and can be grown anywhere the land has not been cultivated, said Leete, adding that she has discovered pockets of rough fescue on her land.
“I am encouraged that, on my quarter, the rough fescue has spread,” said Leete.
Along with her desire to see native prairie grasses spread across the region, Leete said preserving watersheds is of utmost importance.
Her focus on small tributaries and creeks is a grassroots attempt to educate landowners about the oft-forgotten resource.
“There are many watershed preservation groups,” said Leete. “I just felt there were little creeks that were also important.”
Leete’s key concerns around riparian areas are the damage that can be done by livestock and invasive weeds.
“Some of the small holders, they think it is wonderful to have a creek going through, but then they don’t treat it very well,” she said.
Although details aren’t finalized, Leete, along with the four like-minded people on the LCARF board, hopes to host awareness sessions as early as this winter, likely in conjunction with Cows and Fish, an Alberta riparian habitat management society.
Other initiatives may include educating interested oil companies about the merits of restoring the land with rough fescue, which may already be occurring, according to Leete.
“Several have gone well and beyond when they restore the land,” said Leete. “Sometimes they just need to be asked.”
Leete is pleased with the response she has received thus far for her education-based society.
“Most people realize that when we run out of good water, we are hooped,” she said. “People are really keen to get on board.”
Whatever the outcome, Leete is pragmatic about the possibilities.
“You aren’t going to change peoples’ mind,” she said. “But let’s get the message out to the youngsters and other people who are receptive.”
For more information, contact Leete at [email protected]
