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What is a greenway? Rivers West has defined a greenway as follows: Although the idea of a "greenway" often conjures up images of paved bike paths and hiking trails, this is often a misconception. A "greenway" is simply a linear open space, along a natural corridor such as a river. In truth, depending on their purpose and objectives, greenways can take on a number of characteristics, including pedestrian or bike paths, interpretive trails, ecological reserves, parks, campgrounds or picnic areas or strips of land with native cover linking a combination of these features. A greenway may be a mix of private and public lands with or without public access. It is important to recognize that there are several basic types of greenways. The development of various types of greenways will have applicability in the Red River valley. Unlike most greenways, the Red River Greenway is aiming at a stretch of river over 200km long. It must therefore be varied in its nature, and over its course include a mixof all three types of greenways. Ultimately it might be a series of greenway nodes, developed incrementally and linked together along the river by buffer strips of river bottom or planted forest or prairie cover. In that regard, the greenway along the Red River may be best thought of as an integrated system of discrete components linked by the river and by narrow linear riparian strips with forest or prairie cover that act as buffers to protect the river from chemical runoff, to retard bank slumping and to provide renewed habitat for wildlife indigenous to the area. (*Taken from a report prepared for Rivers West entitled "Red River Greenway: A Strategy for Development" November 2004. This report is available on www.riverswest.ca). Please see the attached two conceptual maps –
Much of the river property is in the hands of private owners. This poses significant challenge as there will be differing perspectives on the use of private property for a greenway. Many of the objectives of the greenway can be achieved without the need to provide public access to property. Landowners can covenant – through such mechanisms as conservation agreements – to preserve the river bottom forest, restrict development, plant trees or other cover, and/or curtail tilling and chemical applications within a specified distance from the riverbank. These practices would enhance the riverbank aesthetically and structurally, assist in the protection of the water quality and restore wildlife habitat. These buffer strips of riparian lands would be chemical and livestock free zones and would ultimately become a land-based link between the other components of the greenway. It is anticipated that participation in the program will not be difficult to achieve, if the use of the land is passive. However, the provision of public access to private land (especially that land used for residential purposes) raises issues of liability, loss of privacy, fear of vandalism, etc. that will need to be addressed.
Manitoba has established the Jennifer and Tom Shay Ecological Reserve, approximately 7 ha in size, located south of Winnipeg near the town of St. Adolphe. The reserve is situated along the eastern bank of the Red River and supports river-bottom forest. This piece of relatively undisturbed river-bottom forest is a rare occurrence in the Red River valley. Subject to annual flooding, this type of habitat and the organisms that reside within it are unique in that they must tolerate periodic flooding. Biological surveys conducted within the reserve have recorded a large diversity of animals and plants. Included in the list of over 150 plant species distributed throughout the reserve is the very rare False Indigo (Amorpha fruticosa) and several other plant species uncommon to this region of Manitoba such as Assiniboia Sedge (Carex assiniboinensis), Smooth-fruited Sedge (Carex laeviconica), Moonseed (Menispermum canadense), and Riverbank Grape (Vitis riparia). Bird monitoring in the area has produced sightings of almost 180 species consisting of an exceptional variety of both resident and migrant birds including the Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus), a species listed as Special Concern by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). Research conducted on the ecological reserve has also led to better understanding of the origins, historical climate, flood patterns and geological history of the Red River valley through analysis of tree rings and radiocarbon dating of charcoal obtained from the site. An archaeological site is known from the area of this ecological reserve. The site contains artefacts indicating human occupation up to 2000 years ago, with a potentially older cultural stratum below. The exact location, extent and significance of this site would require further archaeological investigation. The Jennifer and Tom Shay Ecological Reserve is located on property previously owned by Dr. Jennifer and Dr. Tom Shay. As an ecological reserve, the Jennifer and Tom Shay site will be maintained for preservation and protection of rare river bottom forest habitat. Passive visits on foot will be allowed without a permit. All other activities will require prior approval. For more information on this site visit: www.gov.mb.ca/conservation/pai/mb_network/shay/
Rivers West has proposed the following vision for the development of a greenway along Manitoba's Red River: A contiguous greenway consisting of a series of natural areas, trails, parks, historical and or cultural attractions, linked together by forested or native prairie buffer strips, working together to protect and enhance the quality of the river and the riparian area: to provide a place where people can preserve and enjoy the beauty, culture and heritage of the Red River corridor from the land and from the water. More specifically, the goals for the development of Manitoba's greenway may include: Each of these goals contributes to the provincial objective of sustainable development and translates into benefits that Manitoba and the Red River corridor will accrue with the establishment of the greenway. For more information contact Greenway on the Red and Rivers West. Manitoba Greenway Information provided by: LORNA HENDRICKSON |
