See what Alberta Conservation Association biologists get up to at 3 am! This spring, we did a walleye spawning assessment in the early morning hours using boats and spotlights to help us see the fish. It was the first step in this multi-year project to restore riparian vegetation and hopefully take some pressure off Lac La Biche’s walleye stock. The Owl River is a primary spawning river for Lac La Biche walleye, but unfortunately the river also needs some riparian restoration. Parts of the river’s walleye spawning area run through land used for livestock grazing. Long-term grazing in the area has reduced riparian vegetation and increased nutrient loading in the river. Our work to restore the riparian vegetation should give the spawning fish better habitat and also reduce algae blooms caused by the river’s current nutrient load to help fry migrate out to the lake more successfully. Our biologists plan to do this by working with landowners to fence off the river so that cattle can’t reach it. For more information, visit our website: www.ab-conservation.com. Video provided by Michael Short from Let’s Go Outdoors.