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Published: December 24th 2022
Twelve enthusiastic walkers made our way through residential streets in Montgomery to
Bowmont Park . The beauty of the Bow River valley immediately engaged our senses as we climbed slightly to a constructed view point. Walking around a bend in the river, we could see
Canada Olympic Park, drab without its snow. The river, on the other hand, was dressed in snow that covered the banks, islets and ice islands in the meandering shapes at this low point in its flow.
Within Bowmont Park,
Dale Hodges Park is a storm-water treatment area. A collaboration of engineers, artists, and ecologists created this award-winning natural facility with no walls nor machinery. Coming upon it at the downstream end, we gazed in wonder at the “polishing marshes”, where bulrushes and grasses thrived in shallow water and precipitated dirt particles from the stormwater drains of northwest Calgary. The pathway continued along and over the stream that guided water through the park. Further upstream we were enchanted by the “
Nautilus Pond ”, a large circular water-flushing pond, beloved by mallards, which in this season were preening and courting, oblivious to human onlookers.
After extending our walk along the Greenway (which encircles the city), we shared a laugh with unknown pranksters
(now authorized) who affixed spurious historical signs on green park benches, such as, “This bench marks the site of the first confirmed UFO landing in Calgary 1963.”
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Isabel Gibson
non-member comment
What a great idea! I've seen ponds and constructed habitat (ecologically appropriate) used in Arizona and Nevada to provide tertiary treatment of sewage effluent, but never for stormwater runoff. It seems like a win/win/win - the water is treated/filtered, there is new habitat, and residents have interesting walking areas. Good catch on that northern flicker. I also really like the shots of the Bow with fresh snow on the banks.