Observations
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14 September 2025
Tawatinaw Valley Retreat dock by Shawna Vollema
Ducks,Canada geese, speckle bellied geese,evidence of beavers Sample taken from end of floating dock Cattails, water sedge and lily pads can be seen from location
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1 August 2025
Helliwell Lake Bridge (RR 250) by Petra Rowell
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27 July 2025
Tawatianw River Lagoon - Athabasca by Lisa Allan
We have learned that this pond is supposed to be a fish spawning area attached to the Tawatinaw, but it looks like there is no channel connecting the two now. A local biologist did find frog and toad hatchlings last year, so something is growing there! Under the matted aquatic plants, the water is very clear. There were some black-coloured birds at the far west end, but we couldn't observe what species. Looked like some beaver activity as well. Something was making a trail! There was deer scat around, too.
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27 July 2025
Tawatinaw River - Town of Athabasca by Lisa Allan
Willows on the bank here are coming in slowly, but there is competition from grass and tansy. Could hear birds all around, but did not see them. The testing site had a backward flow with high levels from the Athabasca pushing in. Upstream, the water level was much lower, indicative of the dry weather we have been having.
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7 July 2025
Tawatinaw Valley Retreat dock by Shawna Vollema
Questionable whether the water temperature is accurate Freshwater shrimp and tiny fish present
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8 June 2025
Tawatinaw Valley Retreat dock by Shawna Vollema
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2 June 2025
Tawatinaw River - Town of Athabasca by Lisa Allan
The Tawatinaw at this location is at its highest so far this year. It was pretty low, even a few weeks ago. There is backflow coming in from the Athabasca, which is also at its highest so far this year. Water is very opaque.
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2 June 2025
Tawatianw River Lagoon - Athabasca by Lisa Allan
We saw a family of Mallard ducks. It looked like 3 babies. Heard a frog. The water was clear and had no smell. Some small mats of algae and blooming water plants. The Tawatinaw is relatively high, with some backflow from the Athabasca coming in. The Athabasca is higher than it has been this year. The channel connecting Tawatinaw and the lagoon is still silted over or quite small, even with the Tawatinaw being higher.
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30 May 2025
French Creek by Petra Rowell
Area impacted by a forest fire a few weeks ago (early May 2025). Lots of mature spruce burned but grass is already coming back. Lots of frogs by small feeder stream leading into French Creek. Birds included phoebes, flycatchers, kingfisher, red-winged blackbird. Creek has a gentle flow; water is brown but clear.
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16 May 2025
Helliwell Lake Bridge (RR 250) by Petra Rowell
American Coot, Red-winged Blackbird, Mallard, Canada Goose, swallows, Northern Shoveller, White-throated Sparrow, Spotted Sandpiper, Rock Doves, frogs, grebes, Common Goldeneye and 3 people in a sailboat.
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29 April 2025
Tawatinaw Valley Retreat dock by Shawna Vollema
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23 April 2025
Helliwell Lake Bridge (RR 250) by Petra Rowell
muskrat, Common Loon, Canada Goose, lots of frogs singing
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11 November 2024
Tawatianw River Lagoon - Athabasca by Lisa Allan
The lagoon was frozen. Couldn't take tests. The game trail to the lagoon is being well travelled.
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11 November 2024
Tawatinaw River - Town of Athabasca by Lisa Allan
There was a lot of garbage around the site! The banks are starting to freeze up, and the water depth seems higher than last month.
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27 October 2024
Tawatinaw Valley Retreat dock by Shawna Vollema
