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Frenchman River Biodiversity Project

Community-Action Research in Southwest Saskatchewan

The Aim of the Project

How can we keep the Frenchman River healthy?

This question brought biologists, social scientists and residents of southwest Saskatchewan together through the Frenchman River Biodiversity Project (FRBP). The aim of the project was to assess the health of the Frenchman River and the sustainability of local activities such as agriculture and ranching. The participants also wanted to study aquatic biodiversity, water quality, regional demographics and the different points of view of the residents about the Frenchman. The project ran from 2003 to 2008 as a joint initiative of the Canadian Museum of Nature and the Royal Saskatchewan Museum.

The Choice of Study-Site

Southwest Saskatchewan was chosen as the study site partly because it is an arid, prairie landscape that is expected to get even drier from climate change. Also, because the Frenchman River flows from the Cypress Hills in Saskatchewan southward into the Missouri River in the United States, it provides habitat for aquatic species such as the brassy minnow that are more typical of southern locations.

Local residents know how important it is to look after water, and many believe that the Frenchman is in relatively good shape. But they are also worried that its condition may deteriorate over time. Local warming is a special concern because the entire flow is already allocated for various uses, including potable water, irrigation and livestock ranching. In light of the fact that the Frenchman River is a navigable, international waterway, it is also governed by the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909.

The Research

The FRBP was modelled after the Rideau River Biodiversity Project, which emphasized input from local stakeholders. But instead of studying all species of animals and plants, researchers focused on aquatic insects and molluscs. These animals can serve as biological indicators because they are very sensitive to water pollution and habitat degradation.

The FRBP was also inspired by other river-basin studies that involved residents in research and monitoring activities. Training on water-quality testing and species identification was offered through local high schools. The FRBP also created an identification guide for aquatic invertebrates that was made available to residents as support material. You will find this and other interesting resources among our downloadable documents.

New Report Published in 2010

Molluscs in the Frenchman River were surveyed from 2003 to 2008 by the partners of the Frenchman River Biodiversity Project. A report on the mollusca (bivalves and gastropods) (1.7 Mb PDF) features species typical of a northern prairie, and includes freshwater mussels (Unionidae family), sphaeriid clams (Sphaeriidae family) and snails (Ancylidae, Lymnaeidae, Physidae and Planorbidae families).

The species found in this survey should be seen as partial as other species of molluscs are likely present in this river system. A number of molluscs mentioned in this report could be used as valuable ecological indicators such as the freshwater mussels.

The report is also available in the Downloadable Documents page.

The Results

The FRBP has allowed residents to learn about the biology of the Frenchman basin and how they can take care of the river. Overall, the Frenchman River appears to be relatively healthy, having a typical invertebrate fauna and no evidence of invasion by exotic invertebrates. There are, however, localized water-quality issues that need attention, such as elevated levels of fecal coliform bacteria. Further work is needed to determine how aquatic ecosystems are affected by local land-uses and management practices.

Our Partners

The Frenchman River Biodiversity Project (FRBP) is a multidisciplinary research project in which a number of agencies are participating. The study began in 2003 and will conclude in 2008. Jointly chaired by the Royal Saskatchewan Museum and the Canadian Museum of Nature, the FRBP Steering Committee works in partnership with the region's residents, university researchers and representatives of provincial and federal departments.