North Saskatchewan River valley parks system

The location of the present post-glacial river valley was created as a result of ice-marginal deposition. Archaeological sites from around the area suggest that the First Nations have used the resources found in the North Saskatchewan River valley for thousands of years, and may have even modified the river valley to a certain degree. The vegetation found in the river valley changed dramatically from the late 1700s to the 1900s, partly owing to climatic change during the Little Ice Age. The introduction of non-native vegetation may be attributed to the arrival of Métis and European farmers; who also harvested trees for lumber, and used the valley as a grazing area for their livestock. along the North Saskatchewan River, October 1870 Industrial developments in the river valley occurred during the late 19th and early 20th century, after the establishment of Fort Edmonton in 1811 and the completion of the Edmonton, Yukon & Pacific Railway in 1903. During this period, resources from the river valley were extracted in order to build and maintain the settlement (and later city) of Edmonton. The earliest brick-making and coal mining operations in the river valley occurred in the 1840s; with dump sites, gravel pits, and lumber yards built into the river valley during the late-19th and early 20th century. By the 1900s, most of the river valley was cleared of trees for lumber. Developments and the extraction of resources in Edmonton shifted from the river valley to the tablelands in the 1920s as resources began to flow into the city from further distances; allowing for the river valley's ecosystem to reestablish itself. As well, river valley communities were built in Walterdale, Rossdale and Riverdale. By the 1920s, Edmonton's river valley in Edmonton held dumps, golf courses, gravel pits, sewage plants, transportation corridors, and parks. The last coal mine in the river valley closed in 1970. During the mid-20th century, proposals to use the river valley for a highway network were treated positively. Groat Ravine was covered with a road. Work on a freeway in MacKinnon Ravine Park was begun but was stopped due to fervent opposition, In 1996, an ad hoc group of volunteers known as the River Valley Alliance (RVA) was formed from municipalities in the metropolitan area that the river passed through, including Devon, Edmonton, Fort Saskatchewan, Leduc County, Parkland County, Strathcona County, and Sturgeon County; with the aim to connect the riverside parks as a larger park system. The RVA itself was formally incorporated in 2003. Along with the provincial and federal governments, the RVA led the development of several plans for the park, including a concept plan in 1998, a trail plan in 2000, an updated concept plan in 2003, and a plan of action in 2007. The latter plan is a C$605-million plan to develop a metropolitan park system. ==Parks==

The North Saskatchewan River Valley park system, including its associated ravines, holds over 30 urban parks forming a part of the larger park system. Collectively, these parks form the largest municipally-operated urban park and the largest contiguous area of urban parkland in the country. The park system encompasses over of land. Several municipal parks and Strathcona Science Provincial Park form the North Saskatchewan River valley parks system. Municipal parks that form a part of the system include: • Gallagher Park (): It is named after former mayor Cornelius Gallagher and is the site for the annual Edmonton Folk Music Festival. • Gold Bar Park • Goldstick Park • Government House Park • Henrietta Muir Edwards/Rafters Landing • Hermitage Park • Irene Parlby Park • Kinnaird Park • Kinsmen Park • Louise McKinney Riverfront Park • MacKinnon Ravine Park • Mill Creek Ravine • Nellie McClung Park • Queen Elizabeth Park • Rio Park • Riverdale Park • Rundle Park • Sir Wilfrid Laurier Park • Terwillegar Park (): located on the east bank of the North Saskatchewan River, and features a large off-leash area, mountain bike and hiking trails, as well as a spot to hand launch canoes into the river. • Victoria Park • West River's Edge • Whitemud Park • William Hawrelak Park Among the various municipally-maintained parks in Edmonton, the ones located in the river valley hold the highest availability of washrooms and picnic sites. The majority of the parks in the river valley have trails that connect to other areas of the park system. The river valley also holds a number of recreational facilities including baseball fields, dog parks, playgrounds, slipways, sports fields, and tennis courts. Although there exists a concentration of recreational facilities in the river system, service facilities including equipment rentals and food and beverage facilities remain scarce in the river valley. As of 2007, it was estimated that 10 million guests visit the river valley annually, making it the second most visited site in Alberta after the West Edmonton Mall. However, concerns were raised that higher visitation rates to the river valley, along with the continued urban developments within it, may cause disruption of local wildlife, and threaten the long-term health of the river valley. Trails The river valley holds more than of maintained trails that loosely connect the parks together. ==Geography==

in the background. The river cuts northeast through the city. The North Saskatchewan River valley park system extends approximately and encompasses over of land; although the river valley itself holds of dedicated parkland. Most of the park system surrounds the North Saskatchewan River, a river that cuts northeast through the Edmonton Metropolitan Region, and through the centre of Edmonton. The course of the river has been modified during the early 20th century as a result of damming, and for transportation purposes. Dams have also been built into the river, with its waters still used for agricultural purposes. The North Saskatchewan River valley is one of the few remaining natural areas in the region, with other portions of the metropolitan area having been industrialized or urbanized. The river valley has undergone changes due to past human developments; although the depth and slope of the river valley helped to limit the degree of developments within it. Most of the river valley is made up of grasslands although small sections of it are forested. There are 22 ravines associated with the river valley. Within the city of Edmonton, the river valley and its 14 associated ravines cuts at a depth of . Soil flows are not uncommon along the slopes of the unstable river valley. In years with low snow and rainfall, fires are more common. Although sections of the river valley are made up of public parks, portions of it are also held under private ownership. As of 2020, the RVA continues to pursue the acquisition of private land around the river valley in order to fulfill the vision of an uninterrupted, connected trail system. Private facilities located in the river valley include EPCOR Utilities' Gold Bar Wastewater Treatment Plant. Additionally there exist several thousand properties and residential homes that are situated within of the river valley. A number of public parks and golf courses are located in the river valley. In addition to its recreational uses, the river valley is also used to provide a number of ecological services, including carbon sequestration, erosion control, and stormwater management. Taken together, it is estimated the river valley provides approximately CA$350 million to $650 million in services to the region per year. ==Fauna and flora==

The North Saskatchewan River valley helps support a high level of biodiversity. A comprehensive survey of the river valley's fauna and flora does not exist, although it was estimated that there are at least 325 vascular plant species, 50 types of mosses, and 40 lichen species. It is estimated that there are 150 bird species, 50 mammal species, 27 fish species, and seven amphibian and reptile species in the river valley. in the North Saskatchewan River valley The river valley was historically dominated by alder, balsam poplars, and willow trees, although most of these trees were logged during the 19th century. As a result, the majority of the trees that stand in the river valley date after 1900. During this period a number of non-native fruit and vegetable species, shrubs, and trees were introduced into the river system. The river valley presently support a variety of flora such as aspen, balsam poplar, white birch, white spruce, and other types of grassland flora. Forests in the river valley contrast other forests in the region, which are more aspen and balsam poplar-heavy dominant; whereas forests in the river valley typically hold a larger amount of black and white spruces. Other types of plants found in the river valley include poison ivy, and Saskatoon serviceberries. The river valley's riparian zone is primarily made up of wetland habitats with grass, sedges, and willows; although in select areas, the forests will extend to the river's edge. The river valley serves as a wildlife corridor for animals to travel to other conservation areas. Because the river valley serves as a wildlife corridor, several wildlife crossings were built in locations where highways cross the river valley. Animals commonly found in the river valley includes coyotes, great horned owls, lake sturgeons, North American porcupines, pileated woodpeckers, plains garter snakes, walleye, and white-tailed deer. Cougars that have made their way into Edmonton usually arrive via the river valley system. == See also ==