Oct 23, 2018
Here’s the short of it. By January 1, 2019 the Saamis Archaeological Site, informally known as the Kin Coulee off leash dog park, will require all dogs to be on leash. This is a big change from the community’s traditional use and will make many unhappy. Council worked to find a compromise, but has limited options right now.
Finding a replacement for this popular off leash area will not be easy. It has a number of features that make it uniquely suited to an off leash area. However, this use conflicts with two sensitive issues—cultural heritage and environmental degradation—that take precedence due to our legally required responsibilities. Dogs are not primarily responsible for the damage to the site, but the situation has deteriorated to the point where regular use is no longer sustainable. Cultural and environmental resources cannot be moved. Off leash parks can be moved and we’ll continue to work to develop other areas.
Here’s the long of it.
The most popular dog park in Medicine Hat
I didn’t fully realize the extent to which the Saamis Archaeological Site is the most popular dog park in the city. (Technically it’s not a dog park, but because dogs are allowed to be off leash in all environmental reserve areas the site has organically grown into a de facto dog park.)
The Parks and Rec Department estimates that the site’s human traffic count at approx 150,000 with thousands of dogs every year. It’s easy to see why the site is so popular. Centrally located, the Saamis Archaeological Site captures the essence of prairie beauty. A shortgrass prairie field ringed by coulees with a babbling brook running through it. You can see the whole lay of the land regardless of where you are. Dogs are free to romp off leash and play with other dogs rarely out of sight of their owners no matter how far or fast they can run. After stretching their legs running through the open grass they can cool off in the creek. The site’s natural boundaries keep dogs far from roads.
The conflict at this site relates to two other sensitive issues converging at the Saamis Archaeological Site: the cultural history and the sustainable use of Seven Persons Creek.
The Saamis Archaeological Site
This is the official name of the 36 hectares in the valley of Seven Persons Creek. In 1984 the site was designated a Provincial Historical Resource because of its cultural importance. This area served as a winter/early spring campsite that was intensively occupied repeatedly between 1390 and 1820.
Of course, there are many areas throughout Alberta with archeological artifacts. Afterall Alberta has been continually inhabited for thousands of years with an archaeological record across the province. A map of found artifacts from First Nations history blankets almost every square mile. If an artifact hasn’t been found in an area, it likely only because we haven’t looked there yet.
But the Saamis Archaeological Site is especially important. Plains First Nations sites are comparatively rarer and the site holds an excellent intact record of plains culture over hundreds of years encompassing an evolution of prairie culture.
Artifacts from human habitation abound throughout the site. The lower flats contain evidence of large-scale bison butchering and meat processing activities. The upper reaches hold evidence of campsite activities: a number of campfires (hearths), roasting pits, and concentrations of bones and fire-broken rock. The artifacts encompass cultural activities, economies, and trade. Tools from Montana and North Dakota quarries have been found. In addition to bison processing remains from other animals have also been found including eagle, antelope, wolf, fox, and bear.
What is especially important is that many of the artifacts are from pre-contact times.
Archaeological studies have identified that artifacts are concentrated primarily over these 36 hectares. Found artifacts drop off when looking at the land in the adjacent Paradise Valley Golf Course and Kin Coulee Park. That’s why this particular area was designated with special status. The fragility of the site is clearly seen from archaeological images. Some features rest just inches below the surface.
Provincial Historical Resource
The importance of the artifacts comes with responsibility. Not simply a moral imperative to preserve history, but in this case a more concrete legal one. While this designation is the purview of the province the responsibility of protection falls locally.
I’ve edited this image for ease of reading to only include some relevant passages.
In other words the province holds the hammer on this issue. The province can hold the city accountable by either fining us or conducting the remediation work themselves and billing us.
Why now?
This situation was not created overnight. It has been decades in the making. Prior to its Historical Resource designation, the area saw considerable use. For years parts of it was used as a cattle feedlot. There are other remnants of heavy use, like vehicle tracks. Another factor was the city’s decision to allow dogs off leash in any environmental reserve areas in the city. This meant that the site would allow off-leash dogs. After its historical designation the area grew into the popular park it is today. Its popularity caused further damage. The most recent stress factors were the floods of 2010 and 2013 which eroded the banks of Seven Persons Creek exposing artifacts.
Artifacts from a bison processing site. These artifacts have unfortunately been lost.
Although the city knew this site required protection under the Historic Resources Act it fell below our radar and we didn’t notice the mounting problems until the situation grew bad enough to warrant drastic action. If the city had undertaken incremental steps over the years to remediate some of the issues we might not have needed such drastic changes in short order, but hindsight is 20/20.
As recently as two years ago we approved the installation of a James Marshall mural celebrating this off-leash area. Thanks to an incredibly generous gift from Dennis & LaDonna Schnider and Bert & Donna Propp the mural adorns the entrance to the site. This decision makes clear that even the city recognized the off-leash use of the site as a major and primary use. In light of the current controversy this doesn’t seem like the wisest decision.
Dog owners are right to wonder if dogs are being scapegoated after all dogs are not the biggest problem in the history of the site’s degradation. However, unfortunately we are at a point where even the small damage caused by dogs can’t be safely absorbed by the site. We are trying to control all off trail activity at the site, not just dog traffic.
From council’s briefing note: It has been determined that the Site can no longer be sustained by its heavy year-round public use. Management strategies must therefore be initiated to protect and preserve the Site, its natural features and delicate riparian areas.
We made a mistake and now the city is left with no good options.
Seven Persons Creek
The second sensitive use in the area is Seven Persons Creek. The popularity of the area is due in large part to the creek. Maintaining water access for dogs emerged as one of the most important concerns.
Sevens Person Creek and Ross Creek are rare and beautiful prairie creeks. By in large the creeks and the water are healthy and in good shape. Unfortunately, the riparian areas (the landscape between the land and the water) have seen significant wear and tear in the Saamis Archaeological Site. Again, this degradation has been occurring for decades. Yes, you might make the case that such degradation is due to natural causes, but it is within our power to stabilize banks and reintroduce shoreline vegetation. This work would improve the health of the creek. Anyone who has walked along the creek in other areas know they are positively Edenic in comparison.
The South East Alberta Watershed Alliance (SEAWA) is a local not-for-profit dedicated to promoting sustainable use of waterways in our region. Recognizing that the Seven Persons Creek watershed needed help SEAWA secured funding and partners to restore a number of areas along this creek, including areas within the Saamis Archaeological Site. They are leading the creek restoration project with the city signing on as partner.
The deteriorating situation at the site attracted the attention of a number of groups wanting to help. At the outset none of these groups imagined that the city would have to eliminate off-leash access.
Restoration Options
Council heard loud and clear from the community about protecting this off-leash area. After the initial restoration plan was submitted to council we referred the issue back to staff to look for alternative options that would maintain off-leash access. We explored the idea of a rest use rotation where different areas of the park would be cordoned off allowing them to recuperate, then moving the fences while allowing the rest of the site to remain open.
However, this would require substantially more ground disturbance when fence posts were moved. Something the province was concerned about in an archaeologically sensitive site. The province preferred our original restoration plan.
Moving forward the plan for the site is very much the same as the original restoration plan. We’ll work to reintroduce vegetation where needed. We’ll work on restoring the banks of Seven Persons Creek with the intent of creating an engineered hard water access for dogs. But the long term plan was to eliminate off-leash access and that remains the same with the updated plan.
We had initially proposed a fenced off-leash area within the site as temporary measure. This wasn’t attractive to dog owners because of the lack of water access. We are working on water access for dogs, but the new plan eliminates the fenced off leash area.
The Future
Medicine Hat is the most dog friendly city in Alberta. Other cities limit off-leash dogs to specific off-leash dog parks. Our city allows off-leash dogs in all environmental areas. That means Medicine Hat has more space for dogs to roam than any other city. Here is the map of those areas. (If you’re colour blind like me, the second map will be easier to read.)
Click here for the Trail Guide. Please note this has not been updated yet.
Saratoga Dog Park on Factory Street SE is one official off leash park. Through this process we learned it needs improvement. Echo Dale Park is another option with tons of room to roam and water access.
As I said in the beginning the features of the Saamis Archaeological Site make it uniquely suited to being a great off-leash area including:
a central location for easy access
the go-to gathering place for dogs to socialize
water access for dogs
a wide open and contained space
away from roads
But now we know what features to look for for a new dog park area.
I wish we had a clear solution to this problem, but we don’t right now. I’d like to meet dog owners to talk about options. One of the issues that emerged is that dog owners are not represented by any association. That makes communication difficult and harder to engage the community. Dog owners will need to start by organizing themselves as a group.
We recognize the need to develop an alternative off-leash park or parks. Democracy depends on mobilizing people and it was good to see that energy and spirit alive and well in Medicine Hat. Let’s put that energy towards developing alternative dog parks in the city. It’ll take time and work, but I’m sure we can make this right. Dog owners can call me (403-952-5382) and we’ll get started.
This is by no means a one-sided issue. Council has also received comments from residents happy that dogs will be leashed at the Saamis Archaeological Site. Many people are afraid to ride their bikes down there with dogs running and jumping on them. I have heard this complaint about off-leash dogs in other parts of the city as well. It’s a good reminder for dog owners that off-leash does not mean out of control.
We will see an evolution of the use of the site with more interpretative signage communicating the importance of this site. We hope to encourage more education and different uses of this important park.
When I hear of other countries that can’t protect or lose their cultural heritage I wince. The thought of this happening in the heart of our city causes me anxiety. The Saamis Archeological Site contains significant cultural and environmental resources for our city. We must be good stewards for future generations. We looked for alternative options, but there was no compromise possible in this case.