Jim Creek LTPBR Installation Workdays

Freshwater Conservation Canada is continuing its work to restore degraded stream habitats in the Porcupine Hills of southwestern Alberta this field season, with projects at several sites. At Jim Creek, TUC plans to implement an emerging restoration technique known as low-tech process-based restoration (LTPBR). This technique utilizes natural building materials to construct two types of temporary, instream structures: beaver dam analogues (BDAs) and post-assisted log structures (PALS). These structures introduce complexity to the stream, and BDAS mimic natural beaver dams by pooling water, ultimately leading to increased water storage, enhanced floodplain connectivity, and improved instream and riparian habitat conditions. Eventually, we hope that our efforts in several area streams will help recover native fish communities in the greater Porcupine Hills area and enhance the ability of these watercourses to withstand extreme flow events, such as floods and droughts.