Crowsnest Headwaters Launches Spatial Model
Piikani sacred and cultural sites comprise first layer of comprehensive geographic information mapping of the Crowsnest watershed.
Crowsnest River and Flathead Range from bridge at end of Willow Drive, Crowsnest Pass
Crowsnest Headwaters is blessed with skills in geomatics and digital cartography. Now, that expertise is being applied to the development of an open spatial model that will identify critical natural and cultural assets that must be excluded from mining, clear-cut logging and transportation infrastructure.
We thank Yellowstone to Yukon and the Woodcock Foundation for the award of a $5000 grant for the acquisition of science-grade global positioning equipment that will enable geolocations with sub-metre accuracy.
Such accuracy will enable site location with the accuracy needed to protect indigenous sites under treaty and constitutional law. It will also provide scientific evidence for protection of species-at-risk habitat, included the remaining pods of West Slope Cutthroat Trout in the creeks flowing into the Crowsnest River.
Geolocation teams under the direction of retired geomatics engineer Jon Carter will deploy across the watershed to collect coordinates and images of critical sites. Piikani Elders, for example, will be invited to guide teams to the many Blackfoot cultural and sacred sites and trails that are ignored by conventional government mapping.
Retired engineer and digital mapping enthusiast Jim Lucas will apply the geolocated data to the master model.
Another major asset is fresh, high-resolution LiDAR data collected last year by Alberta Environment under a federal-provincial initiative to map flood hazards. This data, harvested from laser-equipped aircraft, shows ground profiles with half-meter horizontal and vertical accuracy. It can even see through trees and virtually remove structures to reveal the underlying surface elevations and contours.
The first demonstration model, with a single layer identifying Piikani Places, can be viewed now as a GIS map at: https://crowsnestspatialmap.ca/.
The layer can also be viewed in pseudo-3d in Google Earth.
For both maps, pop-out labels do not work reliably using touch screens on phones or tablets. Please use a mouse view on desktop or tablet for best results.
We invite you to contribute the geolocation of any of the many important but little-known natural and cultural sites that deserve preservation. You can mark such sites on Google Maps and email the link to us, or just describe the site and its general location.
Crowsnest Headwaters appreciates your donations to help fund our projects. We do engage politically when appropriate and thus do not qualify for charitable status. Your donations help pay for equipment and communications services. Nobody benefits personally. You may make a donation via Interac eTransfer to funding@crowsnestheadwaters.ca.
It’s free!