Cows and Fish - About Us

The Alberta Cows and Fish program was established in 1992 through a partnership between the Alberta Beef Producers; Trout Unlimited Canada; the Canadian Cattlemen's Association; Alberta Sustainable Resource Development; Alberta Environment; Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development; Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration; Fisheries and Oceans Canada; and Alberta Conservation Association. Most important to the initial success of the partnership was the cooperation of a number of southern Alberta ranches that applied riparian grazing strategies to restore riparian condition, or shared existing grazing practices that have been effective in maintaining riparian health. Since then, producers across the prairies have been involved with Cows and Fish, sharing their experiences and working with their communities on riparian health.

The Cows and Fish members and supporters are working together with farm and ranch families to foster a better understanding of how improvements in grazing management on riparian areas can enhance landscape health and productivity, for the benefit of producers and others who use and value riparian areas.

Our Mission:

To promote the improvement of riparian areas, their ecological processes and functions, through a collaborative partnership and voluntary, proactive community-based action that uses education and awareness about management options for livestock producers and their communities.

What if you don't have any cows or fish?

Cows and Fish isn't just about cattle producers and fish; it is a program to promote the understanding and appreciation of riparian areas for landowners, resource managers and the general public. We are all a part of a watershed and therefore all linked by riparian areas.

Cows and Fish relates to the understanding and management of riparian areas, those productive green zones along rivers, streams, lakes and wetlands. This landscape is important to all of us, whether we are urban or rural, ranchers, farmers, anglers, or downstream water drinkers.

To find out what watershed you live in within Alberta, check Alberta Watersheds.

Objectives:: to promote an understanding of riparian health and function
to communicate the benefits of good riparian management
to promote proactive voluntary solutions to riparian area conflicts
to demonstrate value of cooperative, interdisciplinary and community efforts in resolving resource conflicts
to improve the overall productivity and health of Alberta's landscapes and communities; to communicate the benefits of good riparian management
to promote proactive voluntary solutions to riparian area conflicts
to demonstrate value of cooperative, interdisciplinary and community efforts in resolving resource conflicts
to improve the overall productivity and health of Alberta's landscapes and communities; to promote proactive voluntary solutions to riparian area conflicts
to demonstrate value of cooperative, interdisciplinary and community efforts in resolving resource conflicts
to improve the overall productivity and health of Alberta's landscapes and communities; to demonstrate value of cooperative, interdisciplinary and community efforts in resolving resource conflicts
to improve the overall productivity and health of Alberta's landscapes and communities; to improve the overall productivity and health of Alberta's landscapes and communities

Owning the Issue:

A key feature that has empowered the Cows and Fish program has been a declaration of ownership of the riparian grazing issue by cattlemen, through the Alberta Beef Producers (ABP) and Canadian Cattlemen's Association. This declaration came before the program's inception through the ABP's environmental risk assessment, which identified riparian areas as a potential area of concern for Alberta cattle producers. More recently, this ownership has been expressed through community leaders that have taken an active role in riparian initiatives within their communities and are spreading the message of proper riparian management to their neighbours.

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