Leave No Trace Canada

Leave No Trace

Paddle Alberta is a Partner with Leave No Trace Canada. Our member organizations are encouraged to introduce the Leave No Trace 7 Principles to their members. Please contact Paddle Alberta if your organization would like to consider an awareness workshop for your club and community.

When paddling consider the following principles from the Leave No Trace Program: Leave No Trace River Corridor and Outdoor Ethics

7 Principles of leave no trace

  1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
  2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
  3. Dispose of Waste Properly
  4. Leave What You Find
  5. Minimize Campfire Impacts
  6. Respect Wildlife
  7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors

 


 

River Use Impact Studies And Site Impact Mitigation

“A 1980 study by Randy Washburne and David Cole found that more than 70% of those surveyed listed vegetation loss and soil compaction at campsites as frequent problems.” (Soft Paths-NOLS) Increased recreational use has also created problems with human waste disposal. Paddle Alberta has embarked on several projects to identify and minimize impact of recreational river and lake users. The current project has included putting pit toilets at heavily used river put ins and campsites. It is an ongoing project that also involves increasing user awareness and stewardship. More specific project information can be found on our Remote Outhouse Program page.