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UID:28872-0@www.visitcalgary.com
DTSTAMP:20260623T115137Z
DTSTART:20260628T150000Z
DTEND:20260628T160000Z
SUMMARY:Ice\, Glaciers\, Gravel\, and Oil at Cochrane North
DESCRIPTION:This is a field trip visiting the beautiful area within and jus
 t to the north of Cochrane. The area is located within the Bighill Creek wa
 tershed which covers an area of approximately 175 square kilometers.\n\nThe
  trip will begin by viewing the Bighill Creek valley in Cochrane. This vall
 ey originated as a major glacial meltwater channel. The steep sides of the 
 valley expose the underlying 60-million-year-old Paskapoo sandstones which 
 form cliffs and were used as buffalo jumps by the First Nations inhabitants
 . The valley is also a home for deer\, moose\, elk\, cayotes\, cougars and 
 even the occasional bear and wolf. It is also home to a variety of birds\, 
 ranging from waterfowl to raptors. The valley is within the rapidly expandi
 ng town of Cochrane with its population having increased to 40\,000 people.
 \n\nVarious organizations including the Bighill Creek Preservation Society 
 and the Alberta Wilderness Association are concerned about the environmenta
 l impact of a number of gravel mines encroaching near to Big Hill Springs P
 rovincial Park. We will view two active producing gravel mines and also vie
 w two soon-to-be-developed very large gravels mines which in the past year 
 have received government approval. The latter two mines could damage the su
 bsurface hydrogeology and water migration paths which constitute the spring
 s in the park. These springs are both mineral and thermal springs which flo
 w at a constant +6 degrees C even in the middle of winter when temperatures
  can be as low as -40C. Indeed\, the Big Hill springs were ranked by Tera C
 onsultants for Parks Canada as being the fourth top mineral spring in Canad
 a. We are not opposed to the mining of gravel and recognize that gravel is 
 critical for our economy. However\, these newer gravel mines are located in
  the worst of all places relative to Big Hill Springs Provincial Park.\n\nR
 apidly expanding oil production activity is happening in the Cochrane North
  area. We will also visit three oil production sites where prolific product
 ion of oil is the result of hydraulic fracturing. The technology of this pr
 oduction will be explained. In terms of the impact on the environment\, pro
 duction of oil using hydraulic fracturing allows for up to eight horizontal
  wells to be drilled from a single production “pad” which is much prefe
 rrable to earlier times when typically one oil well was drilled vertically 
 on locations every 80 or 160 acres. The bottom line is that this new techno
 logy has much less of an environmental footprint than using the technology 
 of twenty years ago. Nevertheless\, hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas pr
 oduction can be controversial since very large volumes of water are used an
 d there situations where frac pads are placed too close to the homes of loc
 al ranchers or residents of acreages.\n\nJune 28\, 2026 – 9:00 a.m.\n\nCo
 chrane Ranche (meeting location will be emailed to participants a few days 
 before the event) \n\nDifficulty – Easy (This field trip is basically a r
 oad trip with limited physical challenges. Everyone is welcome!)\n\nRegistr
 ation by donation.\n\nhttps://www.visitcalgary.com/events/ice-glaciers-grav
 el-and-oil-at-cochrane-north\n\nhttps://www.albertawilderness.ca/product/ad
 venture-for-wilderness-cochrane-north-2026/
LOCATION:Historic Cochrane Ranche\, 20 Bow Valley Trl\, Cochrane\, Alberta\
 , T4C 1E2
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