Updates on the Ghost River State of the Watershed Report and plans for next year will be among the topics discussed at the annual general meeting of the Ghost Watershed Alliance Society (GWAS) this Saturday, Nov. 23.

There will also be information on the guided Walks in the Watershed and streambank restoration events.

The GWAS is looking for volunteers to assist with their 2020 projects and to serve on their board of directors, says Marina Krainer. GWAS executive director.

"For example, we are looking for volunteers that could take photos at different times of the year in the watershed to set up a little bit of a water monitoring program.

"We also do have other volunteer opportunities to get engaged with our walks and hikes in the watershed as well as with some water quality sampling," she continues.

The society has had a busy year, and continue to expand upon creating further awareness of watersheds among students from Cochrane and Calgary. 

"We've also had a couple of field trips with Cochrane schools into the Ghost Watershed where they did some water quality testing, and learned a little bit more about how you can keep a watershed healthy."

Three years in the making, the indepth Ghost River State of the Watershed (SOW) Report of 2018 provides an objective, science-based overview of available data and information to assess the current condition of the watershed. The report also outlines data and knowledge gaps and provides recommendations on ways to improve our understanding of the watershed.

Since the release of the report, GWAS has been actively working on its dissemination. They received support from the Land Stewardship Centre to undertake a series of workshops engaging stakeholders, decision-makers, educational institutions, and the public to discuss opportunities and options to move forward the report's recommendations. Two workshops have been held to date with two more to follow in the New Year.

The Ghost Watershed is almost 1,000 km2 in size. Situated along the Eastern Slopes, west of Cochrane and within the Municipal District of Bighorn, the Ghost River and its tributaries flow through a diverse landscape, discharging into the Bow River via the Ghost Reservoir.

The meeting takes place at The Crossing at Ghost River, located 20 km northwest of Cochrane, just off Hwy. 40. Doors open at 9:15 a.m. when fresh muffins, coffee and tea being served. The meeting runs from 9:45 a.m. until noon.

Admission is free, although donations are welcomed. The meeting also offers the opportunity to purchase and renew memberships for 2020. The cost is $20 for families and $10 for individuals.